Around Town

Around Town: Ciffon Bakery

We stumbled across this cute little bakery in Bunkyo, Tokyo, and–after several days of dreaming about trying some of their baked goods–we decided to visit the friendly shop to try their Nama Cream Anpan.IMG_0036Apparently the shop’s primary specialty is Chiffon Cake, which I suppose most people would guess from the name of the bakery: Ciffon Plus. My coworkers and I, on the other hand, were much too focused on the enticing pictures posted on the windows to even look at the name of the shop when passing by. We just knew we had to try the Nama Cream Anpan!IMG_0037                                                      Our little treat came in a cute paper bag.IMG_0038
Pan” means bread, “An” means sweet red bean paste, and “Nama” means fresh.IMG_0039
Look how pretty the bread looks with the single little red bean on top!IMG_0040
Here’s a view of the inside. Check out the layers: fluffy, subtly sweet, golden bread, light, fresh whipped cream, and smooth, sweet red bean paste. The three layers together make up just the right combination of texture and flavor.IMG_0041
We certainly enjoyed our Nama Cream Anpan, and have already been back for more. Sometime I’d really like to give one of the Ciffon Plus chiffon cakes a try, though that would mean I’d have to choose between several kinds: Earl Grey Tea, Cocoa Marble, and Cranberry, to name a few! Perhaps for our next Wine and Cheese Party?

Have you tried any new bakeries or baked goods lately?
xxCaitlyn

Learning

Everything’s becoming so final!

Today I signed my final contract and ohmygosh I’m freakingout. Generally, I’ve been able to distract myself from that fact that in about 3 months, we’ll be leaving. But there’s no way to avoid thinking about it when you’re signing your name and talking about the future! Of course, we have plenty to look forward to, and that’s what I need to focus on.

Not-so-fun things we’re researching:

-Shipping prices from different companies

Fun things we’re researching:

-Houses/Jobs
-Schools
-Bakeries and “marketing research” (which involves eating, of course!)

I’ve really been enjoying looking at pictures of bakeries on pinterest. I’m sure that counts as research and learning! Here are a few I like:

(vía Mela e Cannella: PARIS la ville plus belle du monde #1)

cute bakery

Lovely Italian Bakery

I really like clean, natural, simple, old-fashioned looks. If we ever open a bakery I want to have wooden floors and tables, distressed white walls, steel or copper fixtures… Time to start dreaming and designing! Anyway, I don’t have that many pins on my board yet, but if you’d like to check it out (and find the sources for the photos above), click here.

If you have any tips on the things we’re learning about, please let me know! What are you researching/dreaming about?