[Tokyo] Juchheim Baumkuchen

Categories tokyo
[Tokyo] Juchheim Baumkuchen

Thanks to having a relative who frequently travels between Tokyo and Shanghai, my family often receive beautifully crafted Japanese confectioneries (see my previous posts on Hiyoko and Fukusaya). A present that she frequently brings is Juccheim Baumkuchen, a traditional German cake that was first introduced to Japan in 1909 by a German confectioner Karl Juchheim, and has since then be refined and adapted to the Japanese palate.

Baumkuchen literally means “tree cakes”, presumably because its layers resemble the growth rings of trees. Each layer of the baumkuchen is made with soft batter produced by whisking the egg yolk and egg white separately, and the emulsifying of the egg yolk and the foaminess of the egg white produce a soft and fluffy texture.

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[Tokyo] Toraya 虎屋

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[Tokyo] Toraya 虎屋

Toraya 虎屋 Add*: Galleria B1F, Tokyo Midtown, D-B117, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan Tel: 03-5413-3541 Hours: 11:00am-9:00pm Website: www.toraya-group.co.jp Tokyo Midtown Galleria B1F is a foodie wonderland. Sleek and stylish shops of Sadaharu Aoki, Henri Le Roux, Jean-Paul Hévin, and Maison Kayser bewitch passerby with their alluring display of bright colors and fancy garnishes. Admist all the hustle and…Continue Reading “[Tokyo] Toraya 虎屋” →

[Taipei] Smith & Hsu

Categories taipei
[Taipei] Smith & Hsu

Smith & Hsu

Add*: No.33, Section 5, Zhong Xiao East Road, Taipei 台北市忠孝東路五段33號
Tel: (02) 2747 4857
Hours: 10am-10:30pm
Website: www.smithandhsu.com
Price: [tea] 180~690 NTD [afternoon tea sets] 235~1120 NTD [salads & sandwiches] 160~220 NTD

There’s not much to complain about Smith & Hsu other than the fact that it’s almost always packed. Though the original aim of the tea shop is to create a space where one could enjoy tea in a comfortable and relaxed environment, Smith & Hsu is so popular that you can barely get a peace of mind. Irregardless, this place serves soothing tea and delicious scones, so why not give it a try?

*Multiple locations, check website for more info.


Upon seated, we were presented with a myriad of tea samples on a tray. It’s an amusing and somewhat overwhelming experience as I opened bottles after bottles, smelling blends after blends with intriguing names like “Pearls of the River Nile“, “Exquisite with Raspberry“, and “Rose of the Orient“. Can’t decide what to pick? Don’t worry, it’s part of the fun.

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[Taipei] Cha Cha Thé 采采食茶文化

Categories taipei
[Taipei] Cha Cha Thé 采采食茶文化

Cha Cha Thé 采采食茶文化

Add: 23, Ln 219, Fuxing S Rd Sec 1, Taipei 台北市復興南路一段219巷23號
Tel: (02) 2781 8289
Hours: 11:30am-10pm (afternoon tea 2-5:30pm)
Website: www.chachathe.com
Price: [lunch] 790~990 NTD (+10%) [afternoon tea] 480~580 NTD (+10%)
Visited: Mar 2011

Cha Cha Thé, one of my favorite spots in Taipei, is an elegant teahouse / restaurant by Shiatzy Chen. It is a center of calm admist the dizzying Taipei Eastern district, with beautiful interior design, tasteful merchandising, and soothing tea with dainty little bites to match. A perfect place for a quiet tête-à-tête.

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[Taipei] Matsu Noodles 馬祖麵店

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[Taipei] Matsu Noodles 馬祖麵店

Matsu Noodles 馬祖麵店

Add: No. 7, Liaoning Street, Taipei 台北市遼寧街7號
Tel: (02) 2771 5406
Hours: 24 hours
Website: www.matsu-noodles.com
Price: 100~200 NTD/person
Visited: Mar 2011

An unpretentious little place serving delicious noodles. The best part – It’s open 24 hours.

Among the choices of noodles served at Matsu, I’ve tried 黑麻麵 (noodles with black sesame paste ), 炸醬麵 (noodles with soy bean paste), 馬祖魚麵 (Matsu fish noodles) – but my favorite is still 炸麻麵 (35 NTD/small, 55 NTD/large), which is noodles served with a mix of soy bean paste and peanut paste. So simple, so good.

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[Taipei] VVG Bon Bon 好樣棒棒

Categories taipei
[Taipei] VVG Bon Bon 好樣棒棒

VVG Bon Bon 好樣棒棒

Add: 13, Lane 161, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1, Taipei 台北市敦化南路一段161巷13號
Tel: (02) 2711 4505
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 12-9pm [Sat-Sun] 11am-9pm
Website: vvgvvg.blogspot.com
Price: [sets] 350 NTD [cupcakes] 80 NTD [drinks] 120~250 NTD

VVG Bon Bon. This fairytale-come-true escape is a resplendent medley of rose petal-adorned sweets, jars and jars of marshmallows, soft pink walls, sparkling chandeliers, oversized armchairs with furry pillows. So ornate, so rococo, so…Marie Antoinette?

Grass-green oversized armchair with furry pillows, multi-colored wooden table, fresh roses and chrysanthemums…Sparkling chandeliers, nutcracker dolls, jars of pink marshmallows and cookies and candies…


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[Taipei] Sadaharu Aoki 青木定治

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[Taipei] Sadaharu Aoki 青木定治

Pâtisserie Sadaharu Aoki Paris 青木定治

Add: B2 Bella Vita, 28 Song Ren Rd., Taipei 台北市信義區松仁路28號B2樓
Tel: (02) 8729 2867
Hours: 11am-10pm
Website: www.sadaharuaoki.com
Price: [cakes] 180~200 NTD [macarons] 80 NTD

Sadaharu Aoki is known for infusing Japanese ingredients and sensibilities into French pastries, inventing creations that are a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. But as I sat myself down and dug into these alluring cakes and macarons at his new outpost in Taipei, I was disappointed.


But to start, the gorgeous display of macarons had me staring and drooling for quite a while.

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[Taipei] Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon

Categories taipei
[Taipei] Salon de Thé de Joël Robuchon

Salon de Thé  de Joël Robuchon

Add: Level 3, Bellavita, No. 28 Song Ren Road, Taipei 台北市信義區松仁路28號 BELLAVITA 3樓
Tel: (02) 8729 2626
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 10am-10pm [Sat-Sun] 10am-10:30pm
 Price: [macarons] 80 NTD [cakes] 160~200 NTD [afternoon tea set] 1040~1200 NTD

…and Joël Robuchon has finally extended his tentacles to Taiwan. Voici le salon de thé de Joël Robuchon, let’s see what we’ve got here.


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[Taipei] Mao Yuan 茂園

Categories taipei
[Taipei] Mao Yuan 茂園

Mao Yuan 茂園

Add: 185 Chang An East Rd Section 2, Taipei 台北市中山區長安東路二段185號
Tel: (02) 2752 8587
Hours: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30-9pm
Price: 350~450 NTD/person
Visited: Mar 2011

Despite my usual inclination towards chic cafes with meticulously crafted cakes and pastries, my first meal in Taipei was, but of course, reserved for some good old Taiwanese food with the family. After some debate, we decided to head over to Mao Yuan, a popular restaurant that has been serving authentic, down-to-earth Taiwanese food since 1971. How was the meal? Nothing I could complain about!

Ordering at Mao Yuan is simple. Just line up at the counter, take a look at the iced seafood selections and the chalkboard menu on the wall, then let the waitress take down what your taste buds crave at the moment.

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