This post was written in 2012. Shop details and prices may have changed since then.
After my lunch date wrapped up… another cake date came up, so I headed for Roppongi. Fiorentina, the lounge-cum-cafe on the first floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, is very famous for its cakes, and its cakes had made it into that top-10 sweets book too.
Baked strawberry cake
Since the strawberries are baked inside, it didn’t have the fresh taste you get from a shortcake. But it was nicely balanced and delicious. It wasn’t as big as I’d expected, though.
Mille-feuille
It was good, but you can’t help comparing it to Joël Robuchon or Pierre Hermé. I think I ordered something too standard, so I’ll look up Fiorentina’s signature items and go back another time.
Herbal tea
I was more interested in the teacup than in the herbal tea.
HARBS’ strawberry shortcake
After leaving Fiorentina I moved on to HARBS. They sell an enormous slice of shortcake, and it tasted very fresh (and a little rich). I liked how generous the portion was. Good strawberry cake is only around in winter, so I have to eat plenty while I can.
Tarte Tatin from Boutique de Joël Robuchon
I bought a cake as a gift for a friend I was meeting that evening. Well, two, actually. It was refined, but it didn’t quite live up to the astonishing tarte Tatin I had at Signifiant Signifie a year ago. Will I ever get to taste that again in my life…
ChikaLicious’ New York cheesecake
This was the second gift. They don’t sell it at the main shop, but the pop-up in Roppongi had it. Tasting it, it really is good for the price. Rich cheese flavour and yet delicate. – Though the best cheesecake of my life is still Troika… – Next time I’m really going to set a date, go to ChikaLicious and have their live dessert.