Want Some Tea & Creme Brule With Your Lotion? Try L'Occitane Cafe In Shibuya

As I mentioned in the prevoius blog about ramen, I was in Shibuya a few weeks ago with some friends who were visiting.  My friend Ryan had printed out some travel information, including a list of things that one should check out while in Shibuya.  One of the things on the list was the L'Occitane Cafe. Perhaps you're thinking that L'Occitane is a store that sells body/skin care products and that you've never heard of L'Occitane having a restaurant or serving food?  Well, that's because the L'Occitane Cafe in Shibuya is their only cafe worldwide.  According to the travel guide's description, it's known for its convenient, spacious and relaxing atmosphere and for its "safe" dishes which are made with organic ingredients.  After walking around Shibuya, we had worked back up an appetite (well to be honest, even if I'm full, I can usually always make room for dessert) so we decided to see what all the hype was about.

L'Occitane Cafe occupies the 2nd and 3rd floors directly above the L'Occitane Store which is located at the famed Shibuya Crossing (across from the equally famous Starbucks).  It was definitely a little weird walking through a shop with skincare/beauty products in order to get to a cafe, but whatever, I went with it.  In order to access the stairs to the Cafe, you have to walk through the shop - but now that I'm thinking about it, perhaps that was intentional to get you to stop and look at their products, in which case it's brilliant (and in fact, as we were leaving, someone in our group ended up buying stuff from the shop). 

I will say, the atmosphere really was relaxing and quite spacious (well, for as far as Tokyo establishments go anyway), and it had a great view of the crossing. We had no trouble getting a table (and actually, the entire 3rd floor was empty) but this probably had something to do with the fact that it was during the week and not at a peak eating time. I was under the impression that they only served desserts, but they also serve breakfast (mostly sandwich type things) and lunch.  People at tables around us had ordered real food and everything I saw looked really good.  But we were there for dessert so I didn't bother to look at the food menu too carefully.  Now, the drink/dessert menu was a different story....

The special of the month was creme brule with fruits and ice cream (strawberry) and from the picture it looked delicious, so I knew that's what I was having.  Since I was already having an actual dessert, I decided to go with tea as my drink rather than one of the dessert drinks. No matter though, Ryan ordered the cocounut drink so I got to taste it.  I wouldn't go out of my way to order something coconut, but I have to say, that drink/dessert was really good.  It had coconut ice cream, ice and milk tea, and the combination was delicious (it got better as the ice melted into smaller chunks).  The creme brule was perfect and exactly how I like it; the presentation was impeccable and looked exactly as it did in the picture, which is something I have become accustomed to here in Japan (I'll probably be in for a rude awakening when we move).  I certainly wasn't blown away by this Cafe, but if you're in the area it's a cool spot to chill, grab some dessert and watch all the craziness down below at the crossing.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea is one of my favorite things to do.  When I lived in The Bay Area and I was in charge of throwing a birthday party, a shower or a plain ole girls' get together, you could always count on me to host afternoon tea at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco.  There's something so relaxing about enjoying a cup of tea and scones with clotted cream (you can't forget the clotted cream) with your girlfriends.  And of course you can't find a more elegant atmosphere than The Ritz.  Ah but I digress...thoughts of San Francisco are thoughts for another day.  Truly though, I really do love tea.  I once went through a phase where I was obsesed with loose leaf tea. I'd get different types and flavors, I got metal cannisters to store the different flavors and I got every tea-related accessory I could find.  These days I'm back to regular tea bags, and I even gave away tea sachets from my favorite tea maker Harney & Sons Fine Tea as favors at my wedding.  Moral of the story = I really like tea.

Afternoon Tea at the shopping plaza where I frequent quite often has a tearoom/restaurant, a small bakery where you can get fresh pastries/desserts to go, and a shop across the way that sells a lot of cute tea, lunch/bento and kitchen-related merchandise.  I constantly have to restrain myself from buying everything in sight at the shop.  I would absolutely love to buy a lunch set from Afternoon Tea (food containers, thermos, chopsticks, musubi holder, ice pack - depicted in the picture to the left), but for one thing I don't have anywhere to take it and for another, the containers really don't hold much food at all (that's probably a good thing).  Although, my new favorite website is a site "dedicated to the subject of simple bento lunches," both traditional and not so traditional.  I've already found some recipes I want to try and I really think I need to get some cute bento containers to put my creations in.

Given that I like tea, it is a little strange that it's taken me 6 months to visit Afternoon Tea.  Recently, my friend and I were arranging to meet up for coffee and although I suggested Starbucks for lack of something better, in the back of my head I knew there was somewhere I wanted to try but I couldn't think of it.  To my delight, she responded "how about Afternoon Tea?"  We met at Afternoon Tea and both got the Cream Tea Set which comes with a pot of tea and two scones (complete with fruit preserves and cream).  I ordered chai tea which was perfect.  I have since been back and tried their signature Afternoon Tea blend which I also really liked.  Since it was lunchtime, people around us were ordering actual meals (pasta and salads) which, as is customary here, looked delicious and impeccable.  On my next visit, I plan to try one of their meal sets and I'll report back.

Things About Living In Japan That Make Me Happy

Now that I've lived in Japan for six months, I've gotten somewhat of a handle on what things are like here (well at least in Yokosuka).  I am by no means claiming to be an expert, but at least now I no longer walk around with a dazed and confused look on my face all the time (although the locals might disagree).  I know that those who live here have their own likes/dislikes about living in Japan, but since this is MY blog, it's only fitting that I give MY opinion of the things, even the little things, that I like about living here.  This is certainly not an exhaustive list, just the things that came to mind first (and in no particular order).

1.  Restaurant Buzzers:  Except for the really tiny restaurants, many of the ones we've been to in Yokosuka have buzzers at the tables.  From the moment Rich and I figured out exactly what the buzzers were for, we haven't been able to stop raving about them (to each other of course).  Basically, once you're seated, the server does not come back to your table unless you press the buzzer.  You can take as long as you want to look at the menu without being asked every 5 minutes if you're ready to order and you don't have to worry about flagging the server down (both of which annoy me).  The staff is much more efficient with their time and someone is always at your table within seconds of pressing the buzzer (well in my experience that's been the case).  It's amazing how such a simple concept makes the dining experience so much better. If only restaurants in the U.S. would adopt this concept!

2.  Japanese Sweets/Bakeries:  I'm a sucker for desserts and baked goods, so I really lucked out moving to a country where there are bakeries aplenty and where they are serious about their baked goods. Whenever I'm in the mood for fresh bread or a cinammon roll, all I have to do is walk down the street to the bakery.  When I really feel like splurging, I'll catch the train and go to Saint-Germain which is a little on the pricey side, but in my opinion, their stuff is the best (here and in Hawaii).  Anywhere you go in Japan, you'll find that not only do the desserts look impeccable but they also taste really good. Even the desserts in the grocery store are top notch.  For awhile my favorite was a pancake stuffed with custard and cream (yum) and Rich's favorite was the yellow roll cake stuffed with cream and an actual banana in the middle (double yum). The only downside to this all is that it's really not good for my waistline.

3.  Vending Machines:  Vending machines are everywhere in Japan (allegedly there is one vending machine for every 23 people here).  In some places you can find five or more machines from different vendors next to each other. And I'm not talking about crappy, boring vending machines.  Japanese vending machines are famous for their number, quality of product(s) and the sometimes odd/unique products they dispense.  There are vending machines where one can purchase things like corn soup, ties, sneakers, and batteries.  Most recently, Asahi announced their new machines will be offering free Wi-Fi.  I love the fact that vending machines are everywhere because you never have to go very far when you're thirsty.  In fact, there's a vending machine pretty much right outside my front door, so whenever I'm in the mood for a coke or lemon water, all I have to do is step outside.  They also come in handy in the winter to warm up....just buy a hot coffee and then use the piping hot can to warm your hands up!

4.  Safety:  Japan is known for being a safe place.  Like anywhere else, it has its share of crime, but I did read somewhere that it has one of the lowest crime rates.  Not that I'm out by myself at night on a regular basis, but I definitely feel safe walking from the train station to my house at night alone.  Although, I'm never really alone because even at 11:00 p.m., there are usually a good number of people that get off at my station.  My girl friends that live off base also feel comfortable walking around at night which is important given that we are always walking (even though we all have cars it's just easier to walk than find parking sometimes; plus, no drinking and driving).

5.  Small Portions:  One thing I've come to appreciate living here is the Japanese philosophy/practice against waste.  I do my grocery shopping at both the Commissary on base and at Seiyu the Japanese grocery store by our house, and I've noticed a difference in the shopping habits at each.  At the commissary, there are American shopping carts and shoppers' carts are usually overflowing with stuff (mine included, but only because I try to get all my shopping for the week done in one trip).  But at Seiyu, the carts are only the size of a shopping basket, and people generally only get just enough food for that day and maybe the next day.  Also, products at a Japanese grocery store generally come in small portions, which I love because I hate throwing food away.  I think it's the greatest thing that I can buy 4 or 6 slices of bread rather than a huge U.S. size loaf because I'm the only one in the house that eats bread and I know it won't go to waste!

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

I love ice cream.  I attribute (or perhaps blame is more accurate) this love to my parents.  When I was a kid, we all felt such a sense of accomplishment when we got my dad to take my mom, brother and I to go get ice cream after dinner.  Whether it was mint chocolate chip from Baskin Robbins or strawberry from Haagen Daas, I was in heaven.  And today, each of the two freezers at  their house has, at all times, no less than five different types/forms of ice cream.  Luckily I married someone whose love for ice cream actually exceeds my own. I'm pretty sure at some point during each of our first five dates we ended up at Cold Stone, and not because of me.  Imagine my delight when I later discovered that my in-laws also love ice cream - wow, we're just an ice cream loving family. Seriously though, if Rich didn't like or couldn't eat ice cream....umm deal breaker!!

Anyway, I discovered this jewel of a place during the height of the Japanese Summer.  July and August are the most miserable months imaginable here.  It's so humid that as soon as you step outside, you're instantly dripping with sweat (attractive, right).  One day, as I waited (and sweated) for Rich to meet me near base, I looked around anxiously for somewhere, ANYWHERE that had air conditioning where I could cool down.  As I stepped into Chateraise, I literally couldn't believe what I was seeing...there before me were rows and rows of different types of ice cream.  From ice cream cups to sandwiches to popsicles to crunch bars to cones, all in a variety of different flavors, there they were waiting to be purchased by me.  One step outside however, and I was hit with the horrific reality that anything taken outside the shop (and which wasn't eaten immediately or wasn't packed in dry ice) would become a gooey mess within seconds.

Cut to today, January 14, where the average temperature here these days is a cool 45 degrees, which means I can buy ice cream from Chateraise and make it home without fear of anything melting.  In fact, as I type this post, I am devouring a strawberry cream bar, one of the 5....alright fine, 10 items we purchased after dinner.  My husband thinks it's hilarious that every time, and tonight is no exception, I try a new ice cream, my response is an emphatic "this is my favorite." Well sorry, I can't help that they're all awesome - and they ARE all my favorite.  So far we've tried the cookies and cream crunch bar, strawberry cream bar and coffee ice cream sandwich (all of which were excellent).  In other words, 3 down, about 50 more to go!!! Mom, Dad, CT Family and anyone else that comes to visit us, rest assured that you too will be able to sample the selection of ice cream that Chateraise has to offer.