Cafe Pocher : My Tamago Surprise!

Opened only in Dec 2017, Cafe Pocher isn’t those prominent hipster cafes that are located in the city region but it is fortunately not too far from Kyoto Station—approximately 15min walk. It is part of a guesthouse-cafe concept produced by a Kyoto magazine. 

I didn’t have time for it’s most popular item, a  racelette cheese hotdog sandwich that looked sinfully delicious. But I discovered something that would suit my budget and taste. Dashimaki sandwich! It is one of the four flavours that is available for takeaway. I learnt from the staff that these prepacked sandwiches are highly popular on weekdays as breakfast for the working community. These are sold starting from 8.30am and may run out by 10am occasionally. 

So I “dabao” one even though I was doubtful whether it will taste good given the fact that it wasn’t prepared fresh but packed into a brown paper bag right from the fridge. “No reheating or microwaving is needed” answered the staff upon my further enquiry on whether I should reheat ( I always do that if possible as I love my bread hot and toasty). 

Little did I expect myself to be wowed by such a humble sandwich (¥360) an hour later on my Shinkansen ride. The purple pickled vegetables from Tsukemono specialist Isoism (Kyoto is also famous for its Tsukemono aka pickles) were sour and salty but the presence did not overwhelm the juicy egg omelette which was minimally sweet. Even though the buns were kept chilled, they were still fluffy and not dry. 

The pairing of pickled vegetables and eggs in a bun was such a brilliant and unique idea that I will never forget this moment in my life. 

Breezing through the countryside in a Shinkansen and gleefully munching on a delicious find.

Cafe Pocher 

Daily 8.30am-9pm

89-1, Harikoji-cho, Nishikujo, Minami-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, 601-8422, JAPAN.

〒601-8422　京都市南区西九条針小路町89-1

京都駅八条口より徒歩13分

https://toji-pocher.com/pocher/index.html

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百春 Momoharu Kyoto : Back Alley Tamago Sandwich

Mention the word Kyoto and the word that pops up in my mind after “Matcha” is “Tamago”

The popularity of Dashimaki sando (egg sandwich) seems to have revived in recent years and the trend is more prevalent in Kansai than in Kanto region. As much as I love my desserts, I prefer my tamagoyaki to be savoury instead of sweet. Henceforth, the savoury dashimaki of the Kansai region is right up in my alley.

Hidden on the 2nd floor of a conspicuous alley of Nijou, Momoharu serves up its most popular dashimaki sando that uses at least 4 eggs and 2 slices of a typical 1kg loaf commonly sold at supermarkets. It’s a hefty amount of eggs and bread, but goes easier on your palate than La Madrague legendary Tamago sando. There’s no mayonnaise or other rich condiment/dressing, only homemade Demi glacé sauce slathered thinly on the warm fluffy bread. Salt (sorry, no pepper) can be added accordingly to one own’s preference.

The hand drip blended coffee (¥500) is another pickup but I don’t take coffee. The place is run by two ladies of different generations. This isn’t the oldest cafe in Kyoto serving dashimaki sando but one that allows you to enjoy your meal leisurely and watch the world goes by. 

百春 ももはる

京都市中京区常盤木町55  種池ビル2階

OPEN 11:00〜18:30
CLOSE 木曜日

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DAI's Deli & Sandwich Kyoto

I knew this shop was right besides Kite X Kite but I never thought it was selling giant sandwiches. I only saw some cold deli remaining in the fridge when I dropped by in the late afternoon few years ago. And never would I expect it to house such a cosy eat-in area on the 2F.



Sandwiches are the king here and the prices are just as hearty as the portions. Be prepare to splurge at least ¥1200 for the sandwiches but I like the fact that the bread is thin and the fillings are generous. I retoasted my Special Egg sandwich using the microwave on the 2F as I dislike having cold food on cold days.

The vegetables turned the bread a little soggy but all was still good. This "Special Egg" sandwich might not look anything special and the same goes for the taste to be honest. There wasn’t any of the sweet sauce like 3206 version but the bare granules of salt sparkling on the egg yolk kept the egg spirit alive.

Perhaps the unique point is the ratio of mashed egg yolk to egg white. The egg yolk is not only concentrated in the centre, but interspersed between the chunks of egg white, such that there is almost an equal amount of egg yolk and egg white in every bite

If this or the roast beef version isn’t lavish enough, there’s a lobster version going at ¥1980~  too. 

Dai's Deli & Sandwich
京都府京都市中京区槌屋町95 
Nearest station : Subway Karasuma Oike 
Mon-Sun 11am-8pm
www.dais-deli.com/

(p.s. near nishiki market so you might want to pop by for the sandwich instead of spending on don't-know-what in nishiki market)

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Kyoto：Japan's No.1 Bread Consuming City and 5 Bakeries To Check Out 非抹茶而是面包！日本全国面包消费量第一、京都热门面包店。

Many people recognize Kyoto as a city in Japan that is not only famous for temples and shrines but also matcha. However, do you know that Kyoto is the top bread consuming city in the entire Japan?

Here are 5 popular and some new bakery spots which you may like to check out: 

Shinshindo 進々堂

A Kyoto-originated bakery with more than 100 years of history since 1913. Read here for more. Various outlets all over Kyoto 

Oike outlet:
Kyoto, Nagakyo-ku, Oike-dori, Yanagi Baba, Higashi-iri
京都市中京区御池通柳馬場東入「京都御池創生館」１F
Daily 7.30am-8pm 
For details, visit : http://www.shinshindo.jp/

ORENO PAN okumura

This French-Kyoto bakery is not affiliated to the Oreno Group and famous for its 宇治の散歩, a green tea melon pan. Some of its bread are inspired by Kyoto ingredients like tsukemono (pickles) 

Kyoto Station Outlet:

〒600-8215　京都市下京区東塩小路釜殿町31-1　京都駅近鉄名店街みやこみち内http://www.kyoto-okumura.com/orenopan.html

Le Petit Mec ル・プチメック

The No. 1 bakery ranked on tabelog. Famous for its French baguettes and croissants. Read more here about its cafe outlet in Shinjuku 

Oike Outlet
住所：京都府京都市中京区御池衣棚通上ル下妙覚寺町186番地　ビスカリア光樹1F
TEL:075-212-7735
OPEN：9：00～19：00
http://lepetitmec.com/
https://www.facebook.com/boulangerie.lepetitmec

Flip up! フリップアップ

Flip some bagels and bread onto your tray in this hidden bakery located in the quiet residential area. Unlike those American bagels, these boast a nice mochi-like chewy texture and not too dry at all. The best seller is the Chocolate Bagel but lookout for interesting flavors like Black Bean Kinako and White Figs. 

京都府京都市中京区押小路通室町東入ル蛸薬師町292-2

7:00～18:00 (or till sold out)

Closed on Sun and Mon

Patisserie Boulangerie Tatsuhito Satoi

My favourite patisserie and boulangerie! Read here to find out why. Located near university.

京都市左京区北白川追分町2 Eフラット北白川1F
Tel: 075-285-1171
8:00〜19:00
Closed on Wed 
Access
京阪電車出町柳駅下車 徒歩約15分
市バス百万遍バス停 徒歩約5分
https://www.facebook.com/Pâtisserie-TATSUHITO-SATOI-978434895584033/

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京都祇園 あのん Gion Anon : Japan's first bean paste specialty cafe

Do you like anko (bean paste) that is commonly found in traditional Japanese sweets? 

Most people I know do not because it tends to be too sweet and cloying. However, I think A-non will most likely change how we look at anko. Opened in Gion early this year, Anon serves Okashi that revolves around the theme of "An" but in a non-traditionalist way. At least it did change my perspective of "an" because I realized how versatile it could be used in desserts. I found myself liking bean paste even more after my visit. 

For instance, the An Tart was caramelized custard tart with bean paste at the base. It was like a Creme Brûlée tart but the bean paste itself wasn't outrageously sweet and the sharp bitterness from the caramel bite off any excess richness. Not to forget the excellent tart shell that produced such a brilliant crunch sound which sent me to ecstasy. Seriously, how can a Wagashi shop produce such a genius angmoh-pastry? 

The tart was definitely tastier than the Matcha Eclair which I thought needed more matcha components instead of just the bare coating of matcha chocolate.

The signature An-Pone was an uncommon pairing of red bean and mascarpone cheese which one has to assemble using the delicate Monaka shells made of Shiga rice flour.  I managed to try the seasonal matcha an-paste as well which was so yummy that I scraped the plate clean. Red bean monaka is actually a very common type of wagashi but it isn't as well know to foreigners compared to dorayaki or dangos. Many department stores do sell them but one can also get the omiyage version at Anon. The monaka shells are beautifully packed in a box with either original, lemon or matcha an-paste. 

The weakest link that day was the "Matcha" Mont Blanc that was desperate for a green veil because it was too naked white and boringly sweet. But I didn't give up or should I say, I needed something as a remedy to the unsatisfactory Mont Blanc and thus I decided to stake my bets on the An Macaron, macaron shells sandwiched with an paste. Macaron with anko? Wouldn't that be double or triple times the sweetness?

On the contrary, the answer is no. I was amazed that the macaron was actually less sweeter than the Mont Blanc. Or maybe this was because I chose the safest option of Salted Caramel out of the 5 options. It turned out to be wonderfully tasty. Instead of ganache or buttercream, the crisp macaron shells are sandwiched with bean paste, which has been blessed by the magical touch of salt.

Looking at the number of items I've had in a single visit, I was surprised that I didn't crave for savoury food or get sick of sweet stuff or bean paste after that as that will happen usually if I have a lot of pastries or chocolates in a single seating. And for ¥300 per item, the pricing is very, very reasonable and I couldn't see why I won't return again if they have new items.

I'll keep a look out to see if they do sell a jar of salted caramel an paste one day. 

Kyoto Gion Anon 京都祇園 あのん

〒605-0084 京都府京都市東山区清本町368-2

Kyoto 605-0084, Higashiyama-ku Seihonmachi 368-2

Mon-Fri 12pm-8pm
Sat 10am-8pm

Sun/PH 10am-6pm            

Closed on Tues

http://www.a-n.kyoto.jp/

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Bel Amer Kyoto: 京都高级抹茶巧克力舒芙蕾 Matcha Chocolate Souffle

Bel Amer is a renowned premium chocolate brand in Japan with retail shops in major department stores, It opened its first and only chocolate cafe in Kyoto where chocolate lovers can indulge in all kinds of "atas" chocolate desserts. Plated desserts are always more expensive than cakes in patisseries and the average price of a dessert here costs around 1080 yen (SGD 14-15) which is on par with desserts in Singapore or even cheaper.

Occupying a 2-storey mansion house unit within walking distance from Nishiki market, the 1st floor of the unit is a retail space where chocolates are displayed like expensive diamonds while the 2nd floor is a dimly-lit dining space that gave me an impression of a fine-dining restaurant rather than a casual cafe.

The menu is divided into hot and cold desserts. Rather than picking a straightforward chocolate dessert, I decided to go for the Kyo-matcha souffle on the hot menu since it was rare to find it elsewhere. For a good wait of 10min, this souffle served didn't rise as high as its classic French counterpart and neither was it just an airy pomp.
The interior revealed a moist and rather dense cakey layer that boasted an alluring dark green hue. The taste was neither too sweet nor too muted on the matcha; evidently a harmonious balance of quality white chocolate and Kyoto-originated matcha powder. Even the addition of rich chocolat sauce did not drown out the taste. This was deeply satisfying but my only gripe was that the happiness from a souffle was short-lived.

There's also a pretty cool-sounding -196 degrees chocolate marron ice cream with hot chocolate tart. Probably when I feel richer to splurge, I will come back for not only one but two or more desserts. Hopefully the Pumpkin Cream & Nuts Chocolate Affogato will still be available then.

Bel Amer Kyoto  ショコラ ベルアメール 京都別邸
京都市中京区三条通堺町東入ル北側　桝屋町66
66, Masuyacho, Nakagyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 604-8111
1F　Chocolat Shop ／ 2F　Chocolat Bar
Daily 10am～8pm ( no fixed holiday)
http://belamer-kyoto.jp

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Patisserie Rakkansha 洛甘舎 @ Kyoto: Excellent Shoyu Cake & 和風 Japanese Sweets

While most people usually head to Shijou district for Nishiki market, I prefer to wander and get myself lost in the back alleys outside the market. There are plenty of hidden gems such as new-age designer boutiques, bakeries, cafes and even artisanal craft shops that are waiting to be discovered.

As I was exploring the area by foot, I chanced upon a few patisseries that were not on my list or even featured anywhere before. One of them is Rakkansha, a young patisserie that opened in Aug 2015 and sells western cakes with a Japanese twist.

While similar concepts have been adopted elsewhere in shops like Jouvencelle or Kissho Karyo, the gateaus here exhibited a higher level of aesthetic finesse and technical sophistication. I decided to give it a try and boy, these cakes were mind-blowingly impressive. I was instantly attracted to their chouxs because they were displayed right at the entrance.

洛甘シュー (人気の洛甘シューがリニューアルしました。外の皮はさくさく、中のクリームはとろっと・・・)

Of the Black sesame, kinako, custard and matcha, I stuck to the old-fashioned matcha (250 yen) which tasted like matcha fondue when I reheated it using a hotel microwave according to the staff's advice. The choux pastry was soft but the interior was crazily delicious; warm, smooth and creamy. I did a similar thing once with beard papa's cream puff but the oil and cream split badly. It didn't happen this time round, luckily.

和心 (柚子ムースにガナッシュにと小豆を加え、日本酒でアクセントをつけたショコラタルト)
The prettiest item to me was Yuzu Chocolat Tart (500 yen) with its dainty floral adornment on the glossy yuzu mousse. If they could do away with the sugary candied azuki beans around the chocolate rim or replace the beans with some bitter cacao nibs, this would be a perfect tart that would meet the eye. The Japanese sake hidden in the chocolate ganache also contributed to a punchy aroma which I liked a lot.

洛甘ロール

もち粉を使用したモチモチの生地で白あんを巻いた、しっとりとしたロールケーキです。

The signature Rakkan roll cake (280 yen) had a plushy mouthfeel because it was made with mochi flour. Unless you are used to those sweet bean paste often found in Wagashi, the sweetness of the core (not the cream) might scare the soul out of you.

雅 (上質な抹茶で仕上げたムースの中に、求肥と餡をしのばせています。)
The Miyabi (500 yen) boasted a smooth and distinct taste of green tea both in the mousse and sponge but they could really do a lighter hand with the sweetened red beans.

My favourite was the Komachi (古町) 480yen, a shoyu Chocolate Chestnut Mousse simply because the chefs had cleverly hedged on the umami taste of the shoyu chocolate ganache to counterbalance the chestnut mousse. Savoury yet sweet at the same time. This cake also resonated with its name, which means an old town, because the taste of shoyu evoked nostalgic sentiments of the early times when life was much simpler.

This place is not as famous as Patisserie Tendresse but the style and taste of the entremets suit my palates more. With so many creative combinations yet to be explored here, I'll be right back.

Patisserie Rakkansha パティスリー洛甘舎

227-1 Sanmonjicho (Higashinotoindori), Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 604-8135

〒604-8135京都市中京区三文字町227-1藤六ビル1F（東洞院六角西北角）

Weekdays & Sundays 11am-8pm, 

Fri & Sat 11am-8.30pm

Closed on Wed

http://rakkansha.jp

Access: 3-min walk from Karasuma Oike station Exit 5

*Eat in space available*

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