昨年はヨーロッパを周り、その後の感謝祭の休暇に、東海岸の各都市を巡りました。新年に掛けて、やっとクリーブランドに落ち着くことができました。旅する間、いろいろな街でたくさん甘いものを食べました。今日はその中から、特に皆さんにも是非食べて欲しいと思う、世界とアメリカの絶品スウィーツについて書きたいと思います。
お菓子の都・パリ
パリは３歩あるけば気になる店に当たる程、魅力に満ちた街でした。色とりどりの総菜が並ぶ総菜専門店や、手作りの新鮮なチーズが所狭しと並ぶチーズ専門店、棚一杯にフレーバーティーが並ぶ紅茶専門店。おいしそうなものを数知れず見つけましたが、ひと際素晴らしかったのはお菓子です。パリに来ればこんなにおいしいお菓子が食べられるなら、もうアメリカでは二度とお菓子は食べなくていいと思う程おいしいお菓子にたくさん出会いました。
中でも忘れられないのは、数あるチョコレート屋さんの中でもパリ一と名高い「ジャック・ジュナン」です。ショーケースの中には宝石さながらに繊細なチョコレートが並んでいます。一粒から購入することができますが、箱入りは９個からで、アルミニウムの洗練されたパッケージに入ってきます。そして約３０種類の中から好みの味を選ぶことができます。プラリネ、アーモンド、ラズベリーなどお馴染みのフレイバーから、ジンジャーや栗の蜂蜜風味など珍しいものまで取り揃えています。私はミルクチョコレートとダークチョコレート両方合わせて５〜６食べてみたのですが、その全てが優しく、自然で味わい深く、本当にひとつひとつを味わって食べることができました。９個入りの一箱は驚く程小さいのですが、ひと粒ひと粒をまるでフルコースのように堪能することができるので、量はほんのひと口でも、満ち足りた気持ちになりました。その傑作とも言える生チョコレートに引けを取らず素晴らしいのが、特製ケーキです。私はアップル・タルトを食べましたが、香り高く焼き込まれたリンゴ・タルトの表面をしっかりとキャラメルが覆っています。齧ると琥珀のように透き通った香ばしいキャラメルがバリバリと音を立てて崩れます。甘いもの好き冥利に尽きる至福の瞬間でした。これまでに完璧な食感のキャラメルをこれまで経験したことはありません。さすがフランス。焼き菓子の本場です。もしパリに行くことがあれば、是非ジャック・ジュナンのチョコレートを食べてみて欲しいと思います。スウィーツが素晴らしいばかりでなく、店員さんも親切で丁寧に対応してくれます。
Jacques Genin
Address: 133, rue de Turenne 3e, Paris, France
Phone: +33 01 45 77 29 01
そしてもう一つ、パリで忘れてはならないお菓子はマカロンです。長い間行ってみたいと思っていたマカロンの老舗、ラデュレをついに訪れました。実はこの夏に東京を訪ねた際、ラデュレの支店に行ってみたのですが、あまり良い印象を受けませんでした。もちろん、おいしくないことはないのですが、品質に対して価格が高すぎると思いました。ところが本店は全く違いました。マカロンは完璧なまでに洗練された味わいで、美しく、価格も手頃です。人気店なので、常時並んでいますが、列は案外早く進みます。芸術品のように美しいタルトにも心引かれましたが、何しろ３歩あるくごとにおいしそうなものを見つけるので、残念ながらその時には、タルトを試す余裕がありませんでした。でも、本命のマカロンは頂くことができました。これぞマカロン中のマカロン。頬張ると、表皮はあくまではかなく繊細、中はマカロン特有のまったりとした食感を楽しむことができます。そして素材の持ち味を生かした自然な風味が口の中にふんわりと広がります。このマカロンがたった１〜２ユーロ。マカロンに心奪われていたというマリー・アントワネットの気持ちも、このマカロンを食べると、少しは分かるというものです。またパリに行って、次回は是非タルトも味わってみなければなりません！
Laduree
Address: 21, rue Bonaparte 6e, Paris, France
Phone: +33 01 44 07 64 87
ニューヨーク最高のニューヨーク・チーズケーキ
チーズケーキが好きです。特にチーズの風味が濃厚なベイクド・チーズケーキが好きです。東京に住んでいる時は中目黒のヨハンによく立寄り、チーズケーキを食べながら目黒川沿いを散歩しました。ニューヨーク・チーズケーキの本場アメリカに移り住み早３年。ところが不思議なことに、日本で出会ったチーズケーキよりもおいしいチーズケーキに出会うことがあまりありませんでした。しかし、ついにありました。日本では決して見つけられない本場のニューヨーク・チーズケーキを。それはブルックリンにあるジュニアズというお店のチーズケーキです。ジュニアズには店舗がいくつかあり、本店はブルックリン、支店はセントラルステーションとタイムズ・スクエア、そしてニューヨーク外に一店舗あります。セントラルステーションやタイムズ・スクエアに支店があるからといって、チェーン店と侮ってはいけません。熱烈なファンは出来立てのケーキを買うために、わざわざブルックリンまで遠征するのです。私も折角なので、ブルックリンの本店まで足を伸ばしました。お店はブルックリン・ハイツの繁華街に程近く、外は派手な電飾でまばゆい程に輝いています。ここでひるんではいけません。お店に入ると、両脇のショーケースに並ぶのは全てチーズ・ケーキ。引っ切りなしに人が入っては、ひとり、またひとりとチーズ・ケーキを抱えて帰っていきます。私は定番中の定番、プレーン・チーズケーキとブルーベリー・レアチーズケーキを購入しました。持ち帰って、まずはプレーン・チーズケーキを食べてみました。驚く程に濃厚で、中はとろりと溶けるような食感で、そして程よい甘さでした。クリームチーズを普通に食べてもこれほどにチーズの味はしません。一体、どうすればこれほどに濃厚なクリームチーズ風味を引き出すことができるのでしょうか。不思議です。これが門外不出・ニューヨーク一の名を欲しいままにする理由なのでしょう。ブルーベリー・レアチーズもクリームチーズのさわやかな酸味を持ちながら、プレーン・チーズケーキ同様に濃厚です。これは本当に他で味わうことはできない本物のニューヨーク・チーズケーキでした。いつか最高のニューヨーク・チーズケーキを探すという私の小さな夢が、ブルックリンの片隅で叶った日でした。
Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
Address: 386 Flatbush Avenue Ext, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Phone: (718) 852-5257
Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
Address: 386 Flatbush Avenue Ext, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Phone: (718) 852-5257
パリにもニューヨークにも負けないクリーブランドのとっておき
私は甘いもの、特に洋菓子が好きです。（既にお気づきかと思いますが。）東京にはパリにも匹敵する程レベルの高いケーキ屋が数多くあり、甘い物には事欠きませんでした。アメリカに引っ越してからというものは、スウィーツについては壊滅的な状況が続いていましたが、パリにもニューヨークにも負けない、とっておきのお気に入りの店がひとつクリーブランドにあります。それはトレモントにある「ア・クッキー・アンド・ア・カップケーキ」です。これまでこのブログでも何度か紹介しましたが、このお店のカップケーキはフロスティングとシナモンが苦手な私でも、おいしく頂くことができます。それどころか、どれもこれも試したくなり、ついいくつも買ってしまうのが悩みの種です。ブルックリンのジュニアズに行くまで、アメリカのチーズケーキの中で不動の一位を誇っていたのが、ここ「ア・クッキー・アンド・ア・カップケーキ」のニューヨーク・チーズケーキです。どちらもおいしいので比較できませんが、ジュニアズはより濃厚、「ア・クッキー・アンド・ア・カップケーキ」のチーズケーキは濃厚ですが、ジュアズよりもまろやかです。「ア・クッキー・アンド・ア・カップケーキ」のすごいところは、いつ来ても期待を決して裏切らないこと。この間は初めてクッキーを食べましたが、感動でしばし我を忘れてしまいました。これまで私にとって、クッキーはどんなにおいしくてもちょっとした菓子に過ぎませんでしたが、ここ「ア・クッキー・アンド・ア・カップケーキ」のクッキーは他のクッキーとは一線を画しています。ここまでおいしいクッキーを家庭で作るのは到底不可能でしょう。私はメキシカン・ウェディング・クッキーを食べましたが、バターの風味が口一杯にひろがり、ほろほろと口の中で崩れます。ヨックモックのクッキーも、ウェストのクッキーも、鳩サブレも大好きですが、これは全く別物です。これほどにおいしいクッキーに出会えるのは、クッキーに情熱を注ぐ国、アメリカならではでしょう。次に「ア・クッキー・アンド・ア・カップケーキ」に行く機会がありましたら、カップケーキばかりでなく、是非クッキーも食べてみて下さい。私も早く違う種類のクッキーを試してみたいと思います。
A Cookie & A Cupcake
Address: 2173 Professor Avenue, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.
Phone: (216) 344-9433
I know it's almost a month late, but let me wish a "Happy New Year" to all of my readers! I had been out of town a lot last year, and was rarely able to update my blog. I am sorry about this, and thank you very much for being a reader of my blog. Sometimes, I can be a lazy blogger, but I want to keep writing about my little finds in Cleveland. Please stay tuned!
Because of my trip to Europe, I was able to eat a lot of sweets in different places in the world. I would like to write about superb sweets in Paris, New York, and in Cleveland today.
Paris, the Capitol of Sweets
Paris was such a wonderful city. I can't believe that I hit a nice shop, literally every 3 steps. Many people had told me to expect that Parisians would not be nice, but actually, they were nice, at least to a tourist like me. They did not mind speaking in English, and they were knowledgable and friendly. I enjoyed my leisurely shopping in Paris, and found many good places. It's so difficult to choose the best because they were all excellent. If someone came up to me and said, "Name the best shop in Paris, or you die.", and then I would have to pick "Jacques Genin" and "Laduree."
"Jaques Genin" is the most talked about chocolate shop in Paris. It is a hot spot in the north Marais area. The chef, Jaques Genin, had been working for "La Maison du Chocolat" for a long time, and opened his own shop in 2008. His specialty is chocolate bonbons. When I stepped in the shop, I found 30 kinds of beautifully made chocolate bonbons in the showcase. Every single piece looked like a gem. Jacques Genin carefully chooses the best natural ingredients and turns them into perfect pieces of chocolate like a magician. They have unusual original flavors such as chestnut honey flavor, ginger flavor etc., but they also have classic flavors. I tried 5 or 6 pieces from their shop. Every single piece was fantastic. The chocolate had such delicate and balanced natural flavors of cacao and fruit. Just a piece of chocolate would make you feel satisfied almost like a full course menu does. This is an amazing chocolate shop. It seems impossible to find an excellent chocolate shop like this in anywhere else in the world. I, of course, recommend their famous bonbons, and I definitely recommend their homemade pastries too. I had an apple tart topped with caramel. It was unforgettable. The sweet fragrance of baked apple made a perfect combination with the aromatic scent of caramel. The caramel had an amazingly perfect crispy texture. I'd never experienced such an excellent caramelizing skill. You shouldn't hesitate to try whatever catches your eyes at this chocolate shop. I am sure you would love it.
Laduree
Address: 21, rue Bonaparte 6e, Paris, France
Phone: +33 01 44 07 64 87
The Best New York Cheesecake in New York
I love cheesecake, especially really rich New York style cheesecake, and I had been looking for the best cheesecake since I moved to this country. Believe it or not, even though I have been to Manhattan 14 times, I still have not had a chance to find anything as good as the cheesecake from Johann in Tokyo. Johann was my favorite cheesecake shop when I lived in Tokyo. I often went there and enjoyed their cheesecake as I strolled along the Meguro River. I had almost started to think there would be no real New York cheesecake in the U.S.A., but I was wrong. I found the New York cheesecake I had been looking for. It was from Junior's in Brooklyn. Junior's has several branches, and two of them are in Manhattan. Serious cheesecake fans cross the bridge to get freshest cheesecake at their shop in Brooklyn where their factory is. I bought their plain cheesecake and blueberry cheesecake, and tasted them back at my hotel. Those were the richest and smoothest cheesecakes I have ever tasted. It is kind of funny because even though I ate a chunk of cream cheese, it wouldn't have this rich cream cheese flavor. How on earth did they discover the way to create this richness and creaminess? I would never be able to find the perfect cheesecake I had been dreaming of anywhere else. This cheesecake is worth making a trip for - even all the way from Japan!
Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
Address: 386 Flatbush Avenue Ext, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Phone: (718) 852-5257
"Jaques Genin" is the most talked about chocolate shop in Paris. It is a hot spot in the north Marais area. The chef, Jaques Genin, had been working for "La Maison du Chocolat" for a long time, and opened his own shop in 2008. His specialty is chocolate bonbons. When I stepped in the shop, I found 30 kinds of beautifully made chocolate bonbons in the showcase. Every single piece looked like a gem. Jacques Genin carefully chooses the best natural ingredients and turns them into perfect pieces of chocolate like a magician. They have unusual original flavors such as chestnut honey flavor, ginger flavor etc., but they also have classic flavors. I tried 5 or 6 pieces from their shop. Every single piece was fantastic. The chocolate had such delicate and balanced natural flavors of cacao and fruit. Just a piece of chocolate would make you feel satisfied almost like a full course menu does. This is an amazing chocolate shop. It seems impossible to find an excellent chocolate shop like this in anywhere else in the world. I, of course, recommend their famous bonbons, and I definitely recommend their homemade pastries too. I had an apple tart topped with caramel. It was unforgettable. The sweet fragrance of baked apple made a perfect combination with the aromatic scent of caramel. The caramel had an amazingly perfect crispy texture. I'd never experienced such an excellent caramelizing skill. You shouldn't hesitate to try whatever catches your eyes at this chocolate shop. I am sure you would love it.
When we think of Paris, the images of croissants, chocolate, and wine come to mind, but there is one more thing we shouldn't forget. That is macaroons. I was able to try macaroons from the most famous macaroon shop in the world, Laduree. When I went to one of their branches in Tokyo, I actually did not have a good impression, but the experience at Laduree in Paris was totally different from my experience in Tokyo. Their macaroons were absolutely delicious, the shop was quite lovely, and their price was inexpensive! A piece of Macaroon was just 1 or 2 euros. Now I kind of understand why Marie Antoinette loved macaroons so. Because the pastry chefs were from Paris! I enjoyed sweets quite a bit in Paris. It's been just a few months since I was there, but I can't wait to go back to Paris!
Jacques Genin
Address: 133, rue de Turenne 3e, Paris, France
Phone: +33 01 45 77 29 01Laduree
Address: 21, rue Bonaparte 6e, Paris, France
Phone: +33 01 44 07 64 87
The Best New York Cheesecake in New York
I love cheesecake, especially really rich New York style cheesecake, and I had been looking for the best cheesecake since I moved to this country. Believe it or not, even though I have been to Manhattan 14 times, I still have not had a chance to find anything as good as the cheesecake from Johann in Tokyo. Johann was my favorite cheesecake shop when I lived in Tokyo. I often went there and enjoyed their cheesecake as I strolled along the Meguro River. I had almost started to think there would be no real New York cheesecake in the U.S.A., but I was wrong. I found the New York cheesecake I had been looking for. It was from Junior's in Brooklyn. Junior's has several branches, and two of them are in Manhattan. Serious cheesecake fans cross the bridge to get freshest cheesecake at their shop in Brooklyn where their factory is. I bought their plain cheesecake and blueberry cheesecake, and tasted them back at my hotel. Those were the richest and smoothest cheesecakes I have ever tasted. It is kind of funny because even though I ate a chunk of cream cheese, it wouldn't have this rich cream cheese flavor. How on earth did they discover the way to create this richness and creaminess? I would never be able to find the perfect cheesecake I had been dreaming of anywhere else. This cheesecake is worth making a trip for - even all the way from Japan!
Junior's Restaurant & Bakery
Address: 386 Flatbush Avenue Ext, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Phone: (718) 852-5257
My hidden treasure in Cleveland
Actually, I have already mentioned this little place several times on my blog. So it's not secret, but still it's hidden because this is in Cleveland, 500 miles away from New York City and 10,000 miles away from Tokyo. My comfort spot to indulge myself here in Cleveland is "A Cookie & A Cupcake" in Tremont. Every time I go there, I find something very special. I tried a Mexican wedding cookie the other day. It was fantastic. Before I tried this cookie, a cookie had been no more than a snack for me. A cookie from "A Cookie & A Cupcake" has changed my mind forever. This cookie is beyond compare. I enjoyed the very delicate flavor of quality butter and the fragile shortbread texture in my mouth. It was amazing. I can't imagine any better cookies than this. Americans have such a passion for cookies, so naturally, special techniques to create a certain texture must have been developed in this country. I can't wait to try other flavors. I am sure they will be excellent because "A Cookie & A Cupcake"has never disappointed me.
A Cookie & A Cupcake
Address: 2173 Professor Avenue, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.
Phone: (216) 344-9433
Actually, I have already mentioned this little place several times on my blog. So it's not secret, but still it's hidden because this is in Cleveland, 500 miles away from New York City and 10,000 miles away from Tokyo. My comfort spot to indulge myself here in Cleveland is "A Cookie & A Cupcake" in Tremont. Every time I go there, I find something very special. I tried a Mexican wedding cookie the other day. It was fantastic. Before I tried this cookie, a cookie had been no more than a snack for me. A cookie from "A Cookie & A Cupcake" has changed my mind forever. This cookie is beyond compare. I enjoyed the very delicate flavor of quality butter and the fragile shortbread texture in my mouth. It was amazing. I can't imagine any better cookies than this. Americans have such a passion for cookies, so naturally, special techniques to create a certain texture must have been developed in this country. I can't wait to try other flavors. I am sure they will be excellent because "A Cookie & A Cupcake"has never disappointed me.
A Cookie & A Cupcake
Address: 2173 Professor Avenue, Cleveland, OH, U.S.A.
Phone: (216) 344-9433
