It feels like Wu Baochun has lowered his prices a bit. I never bought anything when the Hanshin Arena opened; it was just too expensive before. Today, I went in and saw some more reasonably priced pastries, so I bought two cheaper ones to try. The signature pineapple cake is $40 each, and it's really delicious... Everyone should try his pineapple cakes! They aren't overly sweet, and you can actually taste the pieces of pineapple. The outer layer has a milky aroma that doesn't overpower the flavor. Although it's quite small—I finished it in two bites! I’ll come back to buy a whole box when I have more money... Then there's the Taiwanese macarons, which has 5 pieces for $50. They're just average, similar to the flavor of regular bakery ones.
🥧 Crispy Puff Pastry Egg Tart $75
Alright, this is my favorite puff pastry egg tart under $100 that I've had so far 👍. The crust is crispy, and the filling retains the egg flavor. I initially thought maybe it was just because I was hungry, but after taking a bite, I went straight to have dinner and after dinner, my thoughts remained the same.
The Brioche branch in Taichung is located on the lower floor of the Taichung department store, next to a supermarket. The location is quite obvious, and there is a dining area. The minimum spending in the dining area requires ordering a drink 🥤 or cake 🍰. Each table has a menu, and after making your selection, you just go to the counter to pay.
❤️ I got to know Brioche because of their black olive toast ❤️
For a while, for convenience, I was eating toast for almost every meal 🍞. During that time, I was really into the aroma of black olives. One day, I found out that Brioche had black olive toast, so I bought it without hesitation and couldn't wait to take several bites the moment I got it in my hands 😍.
Now, whenever I pass by Brioche, I always go in and grab two bags of black olive toast, and then I just eat toast all day long 🥰.
Hello.
I'm hungry today too! It's Harapeko-chan!
————Store Details————————————
Store Name: GONTRAN CHERRIER
Nearest Station: 7-minute walk from Omotesando Station
Address: 〒150-0001
Tokyo, Shibuya City, Jingumae 5-51-81, 2F La Porte Aoyama
Business Hours: 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM
Closed: None
Budget: ¥1000 to ¥2000
————————————————————
This time, I visited 'GONTRAN CHERRIER,' which is a 7-minute walk from Omotesando Station! They use only the highest quality carefully selected ingredients, such as original blend flour and Normandy butter, to create exquisite croissants recognized in Paris!
Mr. Gontran Cherrier is a fourth-generation boulanger from Normandy, France. After graduating from two prestigious culinary schools and working under famous chefs in three-star restaurants, he opened his own bakery in Montmartre, Paris, in 2010. His popularity has expanded beyond France, with about 60 stores in Asia, North America, and the Middle East, beloved by people around the world. He opened the Aoyama location in July 2021 with the desire to deliver crunchy, authentic French bread and flaky croissants to homes around the globe.
The croissants from 'GONTRAN CHERRIER' were recognized as one of the "most delicious croissants in Paris" by the fashion and lifestyle magazine "VOGUE PARIS" in 2019, and they were also selected as one of the "Best 10 Breads in Japan" in 2014, achieving 4th place for the best baguette in Paris in 2017...!
Using only the highest quality ingredients, including their original blend flour and Normandy butter, they beautifully express French traditions while incorporating creative originality without being bound by convention, achieving a perfect fusion in both appearance and taste.
Menu I ordered this time:
【Pain au Chocolat】
The beautiful layers of the Danish caught my eye. Inside, there was crispy chocolate, making for a fun texture!♡
Upon entering the store, approximately 40 types of bread were always displayed, with two new items introduced every month. On the first floor, you can purchase freshly made bread, sandwiches, and cakes displayed in a case for takeout, or enjoy them at the outdoor terrace seats. The second floor can be used as a café, where you can enjoy delicious bread with your favorite drink!
Once again, Harapeko-chan is fully satisfied!
Thank you for the meal.
I noticed a café with many customers on a street just off the main road, so I decided to check it out!
I visited around 4 PM on a Saturday, and there were quite a few customers buying bread. The inside of the café was spacious!
[Atmosphere]
The interior also featured books and miscellaneous goods, creating a very calm atmosphere where you can enjoy the café leisurely. Each table had a lamp on it, which contributed to a very comfortable ambiance.
[Taste Evaluation]
There were so many drink options that I was quite undecided! The osmanthus cappuccino I ordered was aesthetically pleasing, slightly bitter in taste, but its fragrance complemented the deliciousness of the bread well! The hojicha latte that my friend ordered looked very rich, and they enjoyed dipping the bread into it.
We each ordered a cinnamon roll. It was extremely good and very satisfying. The bread was fluffy.
[Overall Evaluation]
With so many menu items and the pleasant atmosphere, it makes you want to visit repeatedly! I encourage everyone to find the perfect bread and drink pairing!
🚩Xindian City Center Chain Bakery Offering a Variety of Products
St. Mary was established in Taipei in 1986 as Taiwan's first bakery chain co-invested by Japan. The St. Mary Qizhang Store is located in the Xindian city center, with the nearest MRT station being Qizhang Station Exit 1, just a 1-minute walk away. Originally across from the MRT station, the Qizhang Store reopened this August at a nearby corner location, with a larger space. The business was already quite good, and now with more bread varieties displayed, there are even more customers.
The store primarily offers take-out with no seating available. Besides various breads, the shelves also display desserts like puddings, egg tarts, cream puffs, and pineapple cakes.
Payment is made by queueing at the counter, with both cash and multiple payment methods available. Invoices can be linked to digital devices, and there is a loyalty point system for Ocard members.
Today, I came to buy a cake for a family member's birthday. The cakes are available in standard rectangular and round types, with 4-inch and 6-inch sizes for round cakes, offering different flavors. They only sell what is available in the fridge, with no restocking once sold out.
I bought three kinds of 4-inch cakes:
As a bakery in the city center, it offers such a wide variety of breads and desserts, all with decent quality. Occasionally, there are promotional events, so it's no wonder the business is consistently good.
📍Location: Canmore, Canada
This is reportedly the best bagel shop in the Rockies 🥯
Since we were passing by, of course we had to stop in and check it out!
As soon as we walked into the store, we saw a large display case full of bagels, which was quite impressive—just what you’d expect from a specialty shop.
🥯 Bagel flavors include:
Plain
Whole Wheat
Cheddar Cheese
Jalapeño Cheddar
Maple
Sesame
Cinnamon Raisin
Rosemary Sea Salt
Everything (made with a mix of onion, garlic, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and sea salt)
It’s hard to choose just from the bread itself, and then the menu is packed with a lot of flavors with different notes on the ingredients, presenting a bit of a reading challenge in English. We spent about five minutes just ordering. Eventually, I asked the staff for recommendations, and my family simply gave up and opted for plain cream cheese flavors.
The four of us ordered four bagels, which included:
-BCLT (Bacon, Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, CAD10.75, + Egg 🥚 CAD2)
🥯 Paired with an Everything bagel
I think this is the tastiest option, possibly because it has the most fillings! The protein and vegetables make it juicier and more refreshing. Everything bagels already contain many seasonings, so the overall taste and texture are rich and flavorful—highly recommended and delicious 👍
-The Eggel (CAD8.75, + Bacon 🥓 CAD2)
🥯 Paired with a Rosemary Sea Salt bagel
It's quite a basic breakfast flavor, with butter, egg, and cheddar, plus bacon. Without the vegetables, it’s a bit simpler but still tasty. Compared to BCLT, I think BCLT is tastier. The rosemary bagel has a subtle rosemary flavor, which is really good and quite special. I haven’t tasted it elsewhere. The bagel itself is highly recommended.
-Peanut Butter (CAD4.25)
🥯 Paired with a Plain bagel
The peanut butter here is only salty, while in Taiwan it’s a sweet and salty flavor, so it’s a bit unfamiliar. Just spreading peanut butter makes it a bit dry, and I could only finish about half. It needs to be paired with a drink, so it’s not really recommended.
-Cream Cheese (CAD6.5)
🥯 Paired with a Rosemary Sea Salt bagel
Classic cream cheese flavor, more moist than peanut butter. With plain spreads, you can taste the bagel carefully.
-London Fog (16oz, CAD6)
Earl Grey milk tea with a strong Earl Grey flavor, topped with a thick layer of milk foam, nice and hot; it’s great. If you like Earl Grey tea, don’t miss it.
-Flat White (12oz, CAD4.75)
-Latte (16oz, CAD6)
-Americano (16oz, CAD4.25)
Their coffee is also pretty good, worth ordering along with the meal; however, I’d recommend the London Fog more, as I find it more unique.
The bagels here are chewier, which I personally like. The Rosemary Sea Salt and Everything flavors are relatively unique. The food is tasty but on the pricier side. It’s not so good that you’d want to keep returning; rather, it’s something you’d try once. The store also sells large bags of bagels individually, so if you’re staying in the area for a while, I also recommend buying a bag of plain bagels to have as breakfast, which could be nice. If you pass by Canmore, I suggest you try it at least once.
📍Beitou District, Taipei City
A Hidden Gem Bakery in a Residential Alley 🥖
I highly recommend this amazing little bakery that makes bread with great care! The owner seems to have a cool style, and the owner’s wife is very friendly and enthusiastic. There is now a dine-in area where you can enjoy coffee with your bread.
Ever since I found this shop on Google Maps, I've been eager to explore it, and I've never been disappointed from the first purchase until now.
This shop specializes in sourdough bread, but personally, I feel every kind of bread they make is fantastic! The bread selection changes daily, so you can check the store’s Instagram for real-time updates on what’s still available.
🥘
Menu Items
🍞 Toast:
It retains a very adequate aroma and has a nice chewy bounce when bitten into. Although the price is a bit high (I remember it being 100 NTD for half the size of a regular loaf), it’s quite memorable compared to regular toast.
🥐 Croissant:
I was amazed from the first bite! Freshly baked, it has the perfect flaky and crispy layers and a full aroma. Highly recommend eating on the spot! It's an item I repurchase every time I visit.
🍄
Will return: Yes!
✏️
Little Notes:
🔸 Cash only 💰
🔸 You can pre-order bread in advance
🔸 Purchases come with paper bags without handles
【Foodholic Naizi@Taipei】
The Taipei Station was crowded with people over the weekend. I initially wanted to find a coffee shop to discuss something, but both Ueshima Coffee and Senkousha Café were full. After searching around, I finally found "Caesar Cakes" in the seating area on B1.
"Caesar Cakes" is actually located on the first floor of the Taipei Caesar Hotel, facing Section 1 of Zhongxiao West Road. However, it turns out that you can reach the B1 seating area of "Caesar Cakes" through Exit M6 of Taipei Station. It's in an area that’s somewhat similar to a food court, with other restaurants like Ginza Bairin Japanese Pork Cutlet and Hokkaido Ramen Kaiketsu Ra-Men nearby.
The B1 seating area offers a limited selection of pastries, salads, soups, and drinks, with about 12 seats available for a break. It's quite decent; the downside is that the air conditioning here is relatively weak, making it a bit warm.
Ruby Milk Tea $70
Only available iced, the milk tea is already bottled and refrigerated, so there are no ice cubes, and it’s not very cold. It's unsweetened, with no option to adjust the sugar level, resulting in a mildly flavored fresh milk tea. Since there's no sweetness, it tastes rather thin and not particularly tasty.
Considering it provides seating with no time limit, the drinks are quite cheap with a high cost-performance ratio. However, if you’re just looking to enjoy a good milk tea, I wouldn't choose this place.
Location: London, UK
Today I visited a scone shop near the British Museum for lunch and afternoon tea. Since I have a restaurant reservation for dinner, I didn’t want to eat too much and thought I’d just enjoy a delightful afternoon tea. I was super worried about having to wait in line, but luckily when I arrived, they said there was a table, so I rushed up to the second floor.
🌟 Signature Scone
They offered two kinds of spreads: one was clotted cream, and the other was strawberry jam. The scones themselves had a wonderful texture, and they paired perfectly with both spreads. I can totally understand why they’re their signature item.
🌟 Ham and Cheese Croissant
This was the only savory item out of the four dishes we ordered. Compared to other croissant places I’ve been to, it wasn’t as hot. However, it was still very soft and delicious. It's perfect for anyone who doesn’t want something sweet and prefers savory dishes.
🌟 Classic Cheesecake
This was much larger than I imagined—super, super, super big! It tasted different from the cheesecakes I usually have in Taiwan. Besides the size, the first bite had a rich cheesy flavor, and the finish had a hint of lemon acidity, which balanced out the richness of the giant cheesecake.
🌟 Apple Pie
Out of the four desserts we ordered, this was my least favorite. It didn’t have my least favorite ingredient, cinnamon, which was good, but overall the texture was rather dense, which is not what I like.
🌟 English Breakfast Tea
This was my favorite tea during my days in England. It was unsweetened and had no astringency. It paired perfectly with milk and was enjoyable no matter how you combined it.
🌟 Hot Chocolate
This was hot chocolate ordered by my family. I personally think it tasted a bit similar to what we have in Taiwan. It’s not the type made with milk, and it’s on the sweeter side. I think it complements savory foods quite well, but it’s less suitable for pairing with sweet afternoon tea.
Overall, it’s an afternoon tea place that makes you want to come back. Besides the good food, the service staff is extremely friendly, making me wonder if all Brits are as kind and willing to chat with foreigners. Moreover, when I miscalculated the cash while paying, one of the staff members said it was fine and that I didn’t need to make up the difference. Although it wasn’t a lot of money, it truly made us very happy. They’re really so friendly 💕💕💕 I highly recommend including this place in your must-dos when you visit England for afternoon tea!
One day, I stumbled upon this place on Instagram. As a lover of pistachios, I immediately saved it to my must-try list. One day, when I suddenly had a craving for something sweet, I made a special trip to this shop.
The store isn't small, but there aren't many seats for dining in; it seems to focus more on takeout. Since they sell fried donuts and fried toast, there was a bit of an oily smell inside. If you're worried about your clothes getting that smell, takeout would be a better option.
When I visited that day, the staff member didn't really seem like a staff member; he stood beside the counter like a customer. I thought he was in line behind me. It took me a while to realize he was actually a staff member since he didn’t greet or introduce anything to the customers.
Since I wanted to try the pistachio flavor, I only ordered the French donut, which was the only item with pistachio flavor available. Each order comes with two pieces, but you have to order at least four donuts at a time, so I got two pistachio and two plain custard donuts.
After ordering, the staff member placed the already fried donuts into the oil for a second frying, but it seemed like the oil wasn't very hot. As soon as I received them, I dug in, but they weren't even warm.
Plain Custard:
It tasted just as you might imagine – quite standard and the filling was reasonably generous.
Pistachio:
The first bite tasted quite salty. Having tried several pistachio gelatos in Hong Kong, which all had a salty flavor, this pistachio French donut had the same saltiness. Moreover, the pistachio filling was really sparse, which was a bit disappointing.
I didn’t finish the takeout right away and brought one pistachio donut home to eat later. After sitting for several hours, it didn’t have any oily flavor. Without the crushed pistachios on the outside, it was not salty, but surprisingly the filling was quite abundant. The amount of filling differed significantly between the two donuts.
Overall, I wasn’t particularly fond of the taste. I also wouldn’t typically go near Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, so I probably won’t be visiting again.
