Angela Erika Kubo - The Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Apr 8, 2014

Quality Spanish chocolate at a quality price

The French and the Belgians get all the attention when it comes to good chocolate, but you have to give credit to the Spanish for introducing the treat to Europe. Cacao Sampaka, which hails from Spain, is a reminder of that: The luxury brand uses only the highest-quality ingredients and no artificial flavorings. You can try exotic flavors such as four-cheese (including Parmesan and Manchego; ¥1,728 for a box of four) or royal Xoconusco cacao (¥2,160). Pricey, but that's what you have to pay for chocolate fit for royalty. Marunouchi Brick Square; 2-6-1 Marunouchi; Chiyoda-ku; 03-3283-2238; www.cacaosampaka.jp.

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Apr 1, 2014

"Puyopuyo Tetris" snacks fall into place in your gummy tummy

Who said that you're not allowed to play with your food? Lion recently released gummy treats based on the insanely addictive new crossover puzzle game "Puyopuyo Tetris" that you just can't help but toy around with. You can put together chewy "Tetris" blocks and cute "Puyopuyo" character-shaped gummies that come in six flavors such as melon, strawberry and soda. The treats cost ¥100 per pack (plus consumption tax, which went up this week, folks), so pick up a few and see what you can create on the dinner table. If you're lucky your pack of treats may contain an elusive kangaroo-shaped gummy.

LIFE / Food & Drink

Apr 1, 2014

Where to sip on sakura this hanami season

While sakura are definitely a beautiful sight, their subtle flavor can also be enjoyed in a cocktail. ANA Intercontinental Tokyo (1-12-33 Akasaka, Minato-ku; 03-3505-1111; www.anaintercontinental-tokyo.jp) in Akasaka is among the best places in the capital to find such a creation.

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Mar 25, 2014

Scoop up a Ben & Jerry's at Kanto supermarkets

No more waiting in long lines at the Ben & Jerry's shops in Tokyo this summer — six flavors of the ice cream can now be found in branches of upscale supermarkets such as Seijo Ishii and Nissin World Delicatessen, some branches of Tsutaya and so on. You can try the popular Cherry Garcia or satisfy your chocolate craving with Chocolate Fudge Brownie anytime you want, priced ¥348 for a 120-ml cup. And good news for those who live in Chiba, Kanagawa and Ibaraki: You can also pick up Ben & Jerry's without having to make the long trek into Tokyo. A list of the 120 outlets, which will be updated as new stores are added, can be viewed online at reizoko.benjerry.jp/shoplist.html.

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Mar 18, 2014

Cronut copies hit Japan's convenience stores

No other dessert captivated Americans last year as much as the Cronut, a croissant-donut hybrid that New Yorkers reportedly line up at 4 a.m. to try. The Cronut has sparked imitations throughout the world. One of them includes the Cubic Doughnut, (¥120) available only in Circle K Sunkus convenience stores throughout Japan. They come in two flavors, chocolate crunch and strawberry milk chocolate — and while they are nowhere as crispy as a well-baked croissant, if you pop one in a toaster oven for a few seconds, you'll find yourself with an unusual snack.

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Mar 18, 2014

BrewDog: Scottish brewery's Tokyo pub has attitude on tap

Scottish craft brewery BrewDog made its first foray into Asia with the opening of its own bar in Roppongi, Tokyo, on March 1. At a preopening event the night before, the company invited guests to try some of its most popular craft beers on tap.

LIFE / Food & Drink

Mar 11, 2014

Answer the kitchen's call with a casual cookery course

While economic growth remains slow, many restaurants are feeling the pinch, as customers choose to stay home and cook in order to save money.

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Mar 11, 2014

Pastry goods the color of White Day

If you're looking to impress a special girl in your life but want to keep things simple and easy on the wallet, Shiseido Parlour launched a line of white sweets this month that will be available until White Day (March 14). The custard pudding (¥451), roll cake (¥546) and éclair (¥367) are all made with eggs with pure-white yolks, which means that everything comes out completely white — something that can't be achieved with the conventional eggs you buy at the supermarket. 1F Tokyo Ginza Shiseido Bldg., 8-8-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; 03-3572-2147; parlour.shiseido.co.jp.

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Mar 4, 2014

Sober is the new drunk at juice-cocktail bar

In an izakaya or pub in Tokyo, a glass of orange juice can look out of place among a sea of beer mugs. For a nonalcoholic drinker who chooses to avoid pints for whatever reason, going out in Japan can be hard. While beer or wine lovers have a wide variety to choose from, those who can't drink are stuck with four or five soft drinks on the menu.

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Mar 4, 2014

Happy Turn launches new vegetable flavors

For the veggie lovers out there, Happy Turn, a hugely popular fried-rice snack covered in a sweet buttery powder, now comes in two new flavors as Vege Happy: tomato and kabocha squash (¥128 each).

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Feb 25, 2014

Coco Ange's heavenly cakes

Patisserie Coco Ange, which opened in Tokyo's Roppongi district last November, showcases the creations of chef Masayuki Nakagawa, who trained in France. Each pastry and cake is a work of art in itself, and, as the shop name suggests, looks as it were crafted by the hands of an angel. Try the espoir (¥640), a beautiful creation made of Sévarome pistachio mousse with a passion-fruit jelly center, topped with a gold flake. Take your treat home or enjoy it at Sakura Cafe next door. 21 Roppongi Bldg. 1F, 6-1-12 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo; 03-5411-2525; www.coco-ange.net).

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Feb 18, 2014

Campion Ale: A pint of something fresh at new Tokyo brewpub

Between the kitchenware shops that make up Kappabashi-dori and the area around Sensoji Temple is a recently opened British-style pub that brings something new to Tokyo's drinking scene. Campion Ale not only stands out among the stalls that sell Japanese fare in Tokyo's popular sightseeing spot Asakusa, but it is also among the first wave of pubs in the city to start brewing its own beer. (Other celebrated brewpubs in the city include Pangaea in Koyama and Koenji Bakushu Kobo in Koenji.)

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Feb 18, 2014

Bourbon's sakura-flavored Mochi Chocolat an early bloomer

It's cold and the trees are still bare, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the cherry blossoms before they bloom. Bourbon is one of the first confectioners to join the wave of cherry-blossom-flavored goodies with the release of these bite-sized bits of white chocolate wrapped in soft sakura-flavored mochi, part of its Mochi Chocolat lineup. Bite into the treat and you'll find red- bean sauce. Unfortunately, like Japan's beloved flower, these sakura chocolates are only available for a limited time, so don't expect to see them on the shelves for very long!

LIFE / Food & Drink

Feb 11, 2014

Tourists offered a rare glimpse of the Japanese dining table

For visitors to Japan, a ride on the subway or the high-speed shinkansen can take you to almost any corner of the country. But those who want to learn about the daily lives of the Japanese rather than look at temples may find it difficult to gain access to the sanctuary of a Japanese home.

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Feb 11, 2014

Unleash your inner Cookie Monster

For the cookie lovers out there, New Zealand-based Cookie Time opened its first cookie bar in Tokyo's Harajuku in December. At ¥240 apiece, each cookie is warm and chewy on the inside, and each bite guarantees plenty of half-melted chocolate chunks. The brand uses only organic ingredients and claims that it doesn't use any artificial sweeteners or additives, but be warned: These cookies are so good that they will bring out the Cookie Monster in anyone. For a piece of heaven, dish out ¥280 for the ice-cream cookie sandwich. 1-21-15 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; 03-6804-3779; www.cookiebar.jp.

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Feb 4, 2014

Share a premium cocktail with man's best friend

Bar Black Sheep is a gem hidden in the middle of Shibuya for those who want to drink premium cocktails without having to empty their wallet. Customers are first greeted by the owner's dog, an adorable Shiba Inu that goes by the name Hana-chan and enjoys a pat on the head while you sip on the bar's original cocktails.

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Feb 4, 2014

Potato chips with a touch of class

Snack maker Koikeya has created a bag of potato chips that are worthy of being eaten with one pinkie in the air.

LIFE / Food & Drink

Jan 28, 2014

The logistics of a luxury Valentine's

Advances in technology have made it possible for people as far away as Japan to enjoy the best of France's chocolate delights.

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Jan 28, 2014

Playful choux creams by Nicolas Charles

Earlier this month, French chef Nicolas Charles took cream puffs to another level with the opening of his self-named store in Ginza, Tokyo. Charles fills his light, crispy choux cream pastries with various mousses and creams rather than the standard custard: Flavors include rose jelly and raspberries mixed with raspberry mousse; basil-flavored mousse mixed with strawberries tossed in balsamic vinegar; and caramel custard with caramelized apples. To play things up a bit, Charles tops his pastries with chocolate icing and two pieces of chocolate that stick out like bunny ears, among other cute designs. The choux creams are ¥630 each. www.nicolascharles.jp

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Jan 21, 2014

Have a break at the world's first KitKat store

Nestle has taken its brand to the next level with the opening of the world's first KitKat shop on Jan. 17. Opening day brought a long line of people hoping to get their hands on Sublime Bitter, Sakura Green Tea and Chili — special Kit Kat creations by renowned Japanese chocolatier Yasumasa Takagi. The couverture chocolate that covers the Sublime Bitter bar is added by hand instead of being sent through a factory conveyor belt, which means that only a limited number are sold each day — so you'd better get in line early.

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