Have you ever wanted to just get dessert at a restaurant but felt bad doing so? Well, Sweets Raku will save you the embarrassment. They also offer light sandwich lunches but their specialties are the artistically crafted desserts.
I ordered the dessert set for $15 which included an amuse and a dessert of your choice. (The dessert alone costs $12.) I also chose a wine pairing to go with my main dessert.
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If you’re looking for a decent brunch place in Las Vegas without forking over an arm and a leg for brunch, head over to Eat. This industrially decorated restaurant is where the locals go. Don’t let the looks of this place fool you. The food is delicious! Using fresh, local ingredients, one bite and you’ll be hooked!
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When I travel, my favorite souvenirs are food. Wherever I travel, I will no doubt come back with cases of snacks. I love to try snacks from different countries because what’s unusual in one country is the norm in a different country. Plus, it allows me to experience different flavor combinations I would never think to go together i.e. butter flavored chocolate.
I tried my best to taste all the snacks, amongst all the meals I ate, but it was a hard feat since there was such a large variety. Japan takes their snacks seriously. Chips, chocolates, and cookies in every flavor combination possible. And then there’s the matcha; it is not JUST matcha. There’s Uji matcha, sakura matcha, matcha with soybean powder, etc. It’s like snacks on steroids. The ones I didn’t have time to try, I brought home to savor. Below is a picture of all the snacks I bought.
Yes, I fit all the snacks above, 1.5 weeks of clothes, and a bottle of whiskey all in ONE carry on suitcase. I know I’m nuts, but I LOVE my snacks. Here is a breakdown of the snacks I think are worthy of trying:
Hawaii is well known for it’s shaved ice. Having never tried the famous summer snack, I decided to give it a go. Above is strawberry, guava, and lilikoi (passion fruit). The flavors were strong and tasty but when melted down, it tasted like syrup water.
At Matsumoto’s you can order a large or small, above is the small, with up to three flavors. Extras include condensed milk, ice cream or mochi.
Studio Ghibli and My Neighbor Totoro fans can now fawn over Totoro cream puffs. Yes, a Totoro cream puff factory does indeed exist! It was opened in 2008 by Shirohige, also known as white bread in Japanese. Sources says this factory is also owned by the Miyazaki family. Hayao Miyazaki is the founder of Studio Ghibli and director of My Neighbor Totoro. Miyazaki also created a pig nosed animation of Shirohige, the baker.
This will also be the cutest place you visit. The inside is adorned with everything Totoro and Studio Ghibli. Even the bathroom has a Totoro smiling at you. Sadly, I forgot to take pictures.
You can buy your Totoro cream puffs downstairs if you choose to consume them later. If you choose to eat them there, there is a cafe upstairs. However, they do require each person to buy one drink minimum.
The flavors are seasonal and are indicated by the type of decoration Totoro adorns.
I got the strawberry cream (pink flower) and matcha green tea custard (yellow hat). My favorite was the strawberry cream because there were chunks of fresh strawberry in it.
Hello my neighbor Totoro! 🙂
The factory is located in Setagaya, about a 20 min train ride from Tokyo. When you get out the Setagaya station, make a right. Pass Lawson and make another right into the neighbor and follow the path until you reach Shirohige’s.
Strawberry Red Bean Mochi
Who knew such a concoction exists but man am I glad it does. While waiting in line for Sushi Dai, I had spotted the kid in front of me eating this. Out of hunger, I went and purchased one. It was everything I love in one bite. The Japanese strawberry has a tart yet sweet flavor to it. Overall the mochi wasn’t too sweet. It was so good that I went and bought two more.
You can find them in the first stall in the row behind Sushi Dai at the Tsukiji Fish Market. The little old man hand makes them along with characters made out of kidney and red bean paste.
(Chuo, Tokyo, Japan)
YUMTRAVELS 