Say ‘Bonjour’ and ‘Konnichiwa’ to Cafe Japonaise

Japonaise Bakery & Cafe on Beacon Street
Japonaise Bakery & Cafe on Beacon Street
Japonaise Bakery & Cafe located at 1020 Beacon Street in Brookline. | Photo by Deb Singer.

What sets Cafe Japonaise apart from not only the cafés in the area, but from most cafés in general, is owner and pastry chef Hiroko Sakan’s decision to produce pastries that combine traditional French and Japanese baking techniques. While this might sound unappetizing to some people, it is truly an ingenious idea, and Sakan executes these delicate pastries perfectly.

The most popular pastry, and rightly so, is the Azuki Cream pastry, which has been featured on the Food Network show The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Inside of a round, flaky, freshly baked croissant, is a thin layer of slightly sweet azuki (red bean) paste with a large helping of fluffy, homemade whipped cream piped on top. Each pastry is dusted with a light layer of powdered sugar and then placed in the display case, tantalizing each customer that walks in the door.

Azuki Cream Pastry
The Azuki Cream Pastry at Japonaise Bakery & Cafe. | Photo by Deb Singer.

This unbelievable flavor combination might take a bite or two to get used to, as azuki paste is not a staple of the American diet, but it does not take long to appreciate its subtle sweetness and smooth texture. The homemade whipped cream is as light as can be and sweetened to the point that any sugar craving will be quenched. The dense azuki paste and airy whipped cream are enveloped by a buttery, flaky croissant, which adds that needed crunch to the texture palette.

Japonaise  offers a selection of coffee and espresso drinks, as well as multiple flavors of bubble tea and juice. It produces countless other creative pastries and many types of bread and cakes. In addition to baked goods, Japonaise serves made-to-order sandwiches.

The Beacon Street  location is definitely more convenient, as it is only two blocks behind central campus. However, the West Campus location is much more conducive to studying students due to its ample seating and free wireless Internet. Either way, Cafe Japonaise makes a delicious diversion.

For more information on Japonaise Bakery & Cafe go to http://japonaisebakery.com/ and follow it on Twitter

 

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