A dessert shop called Maison d’Ahni had newly opened in Shirokane. It’s right in front of Maruichi Bagel, so I’d stopped by once before, but I remember thinking there was nothing special and just heading home. Then I looked into it again… and found out that those unassuming-looking desserts were actually something serious, so I went back.
Decor
Little props that evoke France. Do they source these themselves, I wonder? If I ever open a shop I’ll need to know…
Cakes
I get around this neighbourhood by bicycle, so there’s just no way for me to carry a cake home. That’s why I’d ignored the place before.
The back
This is where the gâteaux basques get baked.
Baked goods too…
There’s quite a variety.
The view from inside
The bag
They really do design well.
Today’s picks
A financier and two kinds of gâteau basque. The financier, well… there are plenty of places that do a good one, so I didn’t think this one was anything special.
Gâteau basque
The main event of the day, the gâteau basque, was a huge hit. If you’re wondering what a gâteau basque is, it’s a traditional pastry from the Basque region of France.
Like this!
From the outside it looks like a plain cookie, but there are cherries inside. This was seriously good. The outside is crisp, yet somehow the inside is so soft, which I found a bit mysterious. This one alone made the visit worthwhile.
The baked goods
Not bad at all. It made me think that if you’re going to open a shop in Shirokane, you must have some kind of ace up your sleeve.
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