I had an errand at Napoleon Bakery in Apgujeong, and on the way I dropped into the Hyundai Department Store for a moment. Nothing grand – I just wanted to pick up some yuzu ponzu.
Läderach
A Swiss chocolate specialist I stumbled across inside the Hyundai Department Store food hall. Apparently it has been there for ages, but maybe because it sits right at the back (who would have thought there was a chocolate shop in a spot like that..) this was the day I first learned it existed. Given the season there were an awful lot of female customers, but I stood my ground and came away with chocolates.
Assorted chocolates
I bought a bit of everything to taste, and I was honestly surprised at how good they were. I had never had chocolate like this – put your nose to it and a lovely aroma comes up. I liked it even more than Teuscher, in fact.
On to Napoleon Bakery, which was the original goal.
I went in the evening, and the important items were already gone, sadly. So I could only get a few. The prices are not exactly cheap, but given the quality of the bread they did not feel expensive. Either way, it beats Paris Baguette by a mile.
Red bean bun, streusel bun, chausson aux pommes
The red bean bun was packed with whole red beans, so it was not too sweet and still tasted great. It lives up to being the signature item. The streusel bun was nothing special, but the quality was high. The chausson aux pommes was stuffed with cooked apple, with the cinnamon nudging the appetite along, and it was seriously good.
Chocolate bun, whole red bean bun, Blue-an, cream bun
The bread was so satisfying that I went back for another round a few days later. The cream bun, said to be the most popular item, was not overly sweet, which made a particular impression. It is old-style bread, yet so good that it reminded me a little of Kimuraya in Ginza. Napoleon Bakery branches seem to be popping up all over the place, and if they keep this standard up they should do well anywhere.