By Xue Feng
I wasn’t that addicted to bread a year ago. However, after a half-year stay in Japan, my love towards bread is unstoppable. I drool in front of any bakery store and fascinate about their texture and aroma; wonder what kind of jam or cheese to pair with; give a deep thought about what kind of liquid to soak my bread in. Is it milk or hearty soup? Coffee or congee?
The sourness of the yeast and the aroma of the bread excite me whenever I pass by any bakery store. Bread are sexy and seductive to me. If you are crazy about carbohydrates, then you know what I’m talking about.
I used to have sweet tooth hence most of my carb-pleasure came from the following categories: sweet bread like brioche; asian style soft bread such as melon bun or rasin twist; custard loaded Portuguese egg tart; jam or cheese packed danish and buttery croissant. Occasionally I would get ciabatta and sourdough bread for sandwich making, but my tastebud showed no appreciation towards these European style hard bread.
Well, this is no longer true any more. Japanese bakery triggered my fascination with bread and now I’m obsessed with them.
Kobe, Japan
Although beef is the superstar in Kobe, my sole purpose of visiting there is for the bread. If you bump into any Japanese, they will acknowledge the greater quality and higher standard of Kobe’s bakery stores in general . My friend Yabu drove me around and we visited roughly ten great bakery stores in less than one hour or so. It’s not hard to guess the density of bakery stores and the frivolous competition among them.
An article about food shouldn’t be too long because the visual tells much more. My tasting report is that each of the store’s products are so unique and memorable. If you are in Kobe or anywhere else in Japan, don’t forget to try some. Actually, do try a lot so you won’t regret later.
We rushed into the store because none of us could wait any longer.
Ca Marche bakery entrance, Kobe
Ca Marche bakery products
More delicious bread and bakery
Instead of “do it yourself”, the staff will hold the tray and serve you.
Welcome to Ca Marche bakery!
Yummy!
Boulangerie Comme Chinois
* Well, all the photos are getting blurrier because I completely lost my mind and couldn’t keep my hand steady. All I wanted to do was to EAT RIGHT AWAY.
The hunger shot
Bigot bakery, Kobe
Shoppers at Bigot
Beautiful arrangement
Kobe bakery
Die Güte
One more bakery in Kobe
DONQ bakery
A small bakery
RIKI bakery, Kobe
We were so sad because everything was sold out before noon.
Lunch time! Picnic by the lake.
Lunch
Beauties!
You know how good it is by looking at yabu’s face.
After the bread we were ready to go back!
Going home happy!
Photos are copyright © Xue Feng.