Lovable cake shop “Aigre Douce”

Aigre Douce, a cake shop located in Mejiro, is always full of customers. The display is filled with standard cake like strawberry shortcake, Mont Blanc, cream puffs and mille-feuille, as well as original cakes, pound cakes, baked items, and macaroons. The store resembles a sweets shop in Europe with its stylish exterior, large windows, and colorful sweets.

“The ideal store is one where locals drop by during their walk. I strive to be a cake shop that is loved by everyone from the elderly to small children.” (Norihiko Terai, pâtissier)
Mr. Terai travelled to Europe after studying in Japan and studied in France and Belgium. He returned to Japan as an instructor at the “Le Cordon Bleu” then worked as the pâtissier at “Hotel de Mikuni” before opening Aigre Douce in 2004. The store name means “sweet, tart” in French.

Western-style confectionery filled with attention to detail

A few times a year, Nakata craves the strawberry shortcake at Aigre Douce. Although it seems like any other cake shop, each cake represents the special care and attention that goes into each step from selecting the ingredients to how they are made.
“The Mont Blanc needs to be fluffy, so we prepare it only after a customer orders one. It’s best if it’s enjoyed within an hour.” As expected, the Mont Blanc is very light. The meringue is also fluffy, and the sweetness of the chestnut and the chestnut cream melts quickly with each bite. Nakata’s favorite, “Chantilly Fraise” also looks like a traditional strawberry shortcake with strawberries, cream, and sponge cake. It’s such a simple combination yet the tartness of the strawberries, the rich cream, and the texture of the sponge cake merges together perfectly in your mouth. It’s unlike any other strawberry shortcake. The other baked items are also quite popular.
There are about 10 different varieties of pound cakes available, as well as macaroons, financiers, and canelés, all of which exceed your expectations and are often purchased as gifts.

In the back, there are more than 10 young pâtissiers dressed in white busily making cakes. We inquired about the large number of staff considering the size of the shop.
“Making delicious cakes requires a lot of work, so we tend to have a lot of staff.” Being particular about the ingredients, the process, and the people. That’s probably why the cakes are so delicious.

The post A patisserie representative of Tokyo – Aigre Douce first appeared on NIHONMONO.

Customers line up for Sugiyama’s “Fresh fruit jelly”

At first glance, it looks like a ”local fruit shop”.
However, at certain time of the day, a long line forms in front of the store.
People are waiting for the ”fresh fruit jelly” made by fruit artist, Kiyomi Sugiyama.
Some people line up 3 hours before the jellies are ready, Sugiyama told us.

Sugiyama started making fresh fruit jelly in 2005.
When Nakata asked ”Why did you think about making them?”, he immediately answered, ”Because I wanted people to eat more fruit.”
When Sugiyama discovered the low fruit consumption in Shizuoka prefecture, he developed a strong desire for more people to discover the great taste of fruit. ”

“I want many people to enjoy fruits…”

“The most attractive feature of the fresh fruit jelly is the appearance. There are colorful pieces of fruit floating in shiny, transparent jelly. It is so beautiful that it’s almost a shame to eat it.
The fruit inside the jelly is very fresh, so when you eat it, the concentrated sweetness of raw fruit spreads in your mouth. The jelly’s softness adds to the refreshing taste after a meal.

Fresh fruit jelly was introduced on television and in magazines, and the number of fans grew all over the nation.
The creator, Sugiyama is bewildered by this, but in the end, he said ”I exist because of those who produce the fruit. I just sell the fruit.”
No matter how many products he sells or how famous he becomes, his determination ”to have more people eat fruit” will not change.

The post Fruit artist who delivers tastiness “Kiyoshi Sugiyama” first appeared on NIHONMONO.