Cakes in Japan

Now that i have some time to sort out some (only some) of my 3,000+ photos.. here are some of the cake photos that i took at Takashimaya in Osaka and wondering how these cakes are made. If there are anyone who can tell me how these cakes are done, i'll be so grateful..:D

These are cakes hanging up in rods..i think they are baked in factory and then sent down to the store where they brush syrup over the rotating cakes cos there is an outer layer of sugary crust on the cake...and i saw this lady brushing and brushing and brushing..over and over...

I bought a small version of the round cake (above) to try.  Does anyone know how this is done? This looks just like our local Kueh Lapis (layer cake) in term of layers but this Japanese version taste lighter and more like sponge cake.   

This is the bigger ring cake but i bought half..as i don't think i can finish so many slices after a huge dinner. 

These Chiffon Cakes..Japanese Chiffon Cakes.  No ring in the centre and it looks so pretty, tall and neat too! How did they do it? Anyone knows? It's so tall too!  I had a sample piece and it tasted very good too!  I wanted to buy it on the last day to bring back but i forgot about it! 

Oh..hahaha..i had to sneak in this..my dessert at macdonalds which was a daily affair..as you know my son loves macdonalds! 

and this food-strap set i bought at Macdonalds (the one below) in Osaka.  The bears are the Singapore version..which i just bought it a few days ago. 

And this little fish staring at me at the aquarium in Osaka.  Very cute isnt it?  I love this shot that i took of this fish... of course there are other fishes too but i doubt you want to be bored with fishes and crabs and penguins..lol!

Happy New Year to you my friends! 

Pierre Hermé Macarons in Tokyo

Just a short post as i'm still here in Tokyo and have rather limited time on internet. I'm out all day and by the time i get back to the apartment, i'm soo tired to even check emails.   Was shopping in Isetan at Shinjuku today and stumbled upon Pierre Hermé shop. I saw the colourful macarons and was tempted to try even though each piece was really quite pricey.  Nonetheless, after i tried them, i didn't regret paying and they tasted soo good. Surprisingly, his macarons are not so sweet.  I ate 5 at one go..literally..one after another and i couldn't stop. I went back and bought another 5 more so i can eat it tomorrow morning for breakfast..hahaha.. I'm a dessert person and i need my sugar-rush in the morning and not coffee.  

Flavors: Chocolate/Caramel, Pistachio, Chocolate & Rose Macarons 

Rose Macaron

Ispahan Macaron

Ispahan: Lychee centre, Raspberry & Rose infused buttercream.

Flavors: Chocolate, Yuzu, Vanilla/Cassis, Chocolate/Caramel, Vanilla/Chocolate Macarons

And earlier the day, i went to Michelle Wibowo's sugar art's exhibition at the Imperial Arcade.  Her work is super super amazing and her fine detailed work is so awesome.  She's an all rounder...her piping work is excellent and so is her cake carving!  When i grow up, i want to be just like her!   Took quite a lot of photos but i have no time to sort them out as yet.   Anyway, my time to surf the internet is up and i need to log off now as there's a Q to use my notebook..lol!  

I miss baking....and decorating... :(

Dinner in Melbourne

Noteworthy dinners i had were at The Millswyn.  I understand its new, just opened not too long ago.  Nice environment and food is really good.  We were there for 2 nights. 

Dinner Menu on Saturday:-

The oysters pretty fresh and good. I'm not sure if they were the best triple 0s-Belon oysters but they were very good imo.  I had The Land, ie the Waygu beef..which was really delicious but i couldn't finish the entire huge steak of beef.  The Chocolate Tart was amazing..creamy thick chocolate filling with thin crispy crust - heavenly! And the milk ice-cream with vanilla salt gave a interesting twist to the entire dessert. 

Dinner Menu on Monday:-

Lots of red wine..but i didn't had any. I did taste/sip a bit of the Kir Royale and Toast to Prosperity.  Kir Royale tasted like a fruity champagne..and Toast to Prosperity was interesting as it has gold flakes in it and also chocolate liquor which i like of course!  I adored the Italian Master..sooo sooo good! The Foire Di Burrata was sooo yummy..i love the creamy centre!   Again..lots of meat..which is great too but i had a little.. i think you can tell by now i'm not so much a meat person.. i love starters and desserts - i'm not so much a main course person..lol!   I had the peanut butter ice-cream sandwhich w/ Raspberry jelly which was sooo yummy! Normally i don't like anything peanut butter except peanut butter itself on bread..but this made me change my mind. The best peanut butter ice-cream i ever had! Yums!  I tried a bit of the Pear Sorbert and it was delicious too! 

Last Day at Tokyo

On our way home..sad to leave Tokyo..(..and gotta go back to work next day..*sigh*)

Spent all the coins at this shop in airport while waiting for the plane...

Bought this..since we can't find this in Singapore: Green Tea Kit-Kat!

It's green-tea flavored white chocolate coated. Something different and unique.

Quite good, maybe because i like anything green-tea..you name it, i like it..green tea ice-cream, cha-soba (cold), green tea macarons..and the list goes on..

8th Day at Tokyo

Whole Day - Mount Fuji.

On the road (bus) on our way to Mt Fuji. There's a theme park near Mt Fuji.

Mt Fuji - view taken from Kachi-Kachi mountain (i think..lol!).

I like this photo..doesn't it look like brochure quality or what? :)

My lunch! Yummy!

At 4th Station of Mt. Fuji

Japanese guy selling bbq sotong (squid) & corn

Summit View

Small town near Mt Fuji - to check out the spring pond..

Mt Fuji view from the town

Spring Pond

This is yummy..red bean mochi.. i ate 2

more mochi

Today is the last day in Tokyo. Sad to leave...there are so many places that i have yet to see! 8 days definitely is not enough! Need 2-3 weeks! Hope to go Osaka & Hokkaido next!

7th Day at Tokyo

Brought my son to Disneyland again since he has been pestering all day long. Since already in Tokyo, might as well bring him there again before we return back to Singapore. My daughter and nephews who came along with us followed our friends out to town more shopping.

I did shopping at Disneyland instead. I got more cookie cutters and butt warmers..seriously..i have to find time to take photos of that..it's like pair of shorts and with design/print like Tigger's butt, Mickey's Butt..lol! Very cute!

My breakfast

Look at the baby prams!

Not much photos today since it is basically the same thing all over again..

6th Day at Tokyo

We spend the entire day at Tokyo Beach - @ the shopping centre Decks & Aquarius. LOL! Wanted to go town but understand that weekend, Shinjuku is VERY crowded and not very ideal for my son..i didn't want to lose him accidentally in the crowd!

DECKS shopping centre

For Parking Umbrella

McDonalds - they have Ebi-Filet & Teriyaki McBurger..which we don't have here in Singapore.

Also...Bacon Lettuce Burger..which i ordered..

...and also McPork burger...and bacon potato pie!

Interesting...since in McDonalds is Halal here..so definitely no pork!

My lunch

Giant Beetles for sale!

Explanation but i can't read...!

Snack - Octopus Taco Balls

Joypolis - Kids played there the whole afternoon - SEGA games..

Night view..(looks familiar? lol!..)

Mochi Ice-cream after dinner. I ate cold soba noodles for dinner but forgot to take photos..:(

5th Day at Tokyo

Rainy & Gloomy Day. Couldn't do much, just shopped around Ueno.

Had lunch at Pepper Lunch. It's much better than Singapore's..beef is better imo. It's self service.

You pay first with this machine and out comes a ticket/receipt which you bring to the counter for your food. Service is usually very quick. This 'ticket' machine is usually very common everywhere.

Subway art

Arrived Ueno

Dried Salmon fish

Streets of Ueno

Our Dinner

On our way back to the subway