One thing I do at least once a week without fail is treat myself out to some delicious food or dessert. It's very important time well spent in order to live a happy life.   Today, I went out for breakfast. I got up a little earlier than usual and headed to my favourite cafe, Bread, Espresso & which is located in Omotesando. It's really easy to get to: it's just a 5-minute walk from the A2 exit of Omotesando Station. Mornings are quiet in Omotesando, you don't see many people walking around, so it feels like a completely different place compared to its busy streets during the day.   When you enter the cafe, the smell of freshly-baked bread is the first thing to hit your senses. I sat down on one of the comfy sofa-seats and ordered myself the French toast breakfast set. There's plenty of space between tables, so it's an environment that's easy to kick back and relax in. Inside and outside the cafe are cute signs with that day's recommended menu items written on them. Next time I visit I think I'll try one of the lunchtime desserts. That's what I daydreamed about while waiting for my French toast to arrive.

French Toast Set w/Drink - ¥800

The French toast has a subtly sweet scent. It's made with one of the cafe's popular foods: the butter-loaded bread known as "Muu."   The toast's crusts were nice and crunchy while the middle part was fluffy. The soft bread just melts in your mouth when taking a bite, and your taste buds are treated to the sweet flavour of the egg. The toast is delicious as it is, and you can totally leave it at that and enjoy your morning breakfast. But if you want to take it to the next level then you can drizzle the accompanying honey over the toast, giving the sweetness an even richer flavour. I'm usually not good with the characteristic sweet taste that honey has, or the bitterness layered into the overall flavour, but this honey was on the milder side so I really enjoyed it. After my food, I enjoyed the cappuccino the barista beautifully made for me which comes as part of the set.   My 1-hour morning was spent even more relaxed than usual here. It's much different from lunchtime which is a much busier and hurried time, so I could sink in my chair and really enjoy my drink too.   Waking up early and enjoying a relaxing breakfast. That's all I did, but it helped ease my busy mind and soul. I'm a simple person, and I think I'll be able to face my week and work hard at it after this.    

Today's Presents

Futsu Furu Fig Sandwich - ¥420

Futsu Uni Fruits - ¥400

I wanted to share the happiness between friends and family on this fine day where I got to eat a delicious breakfast. These sandwiches are packed full of fruits―seasonal fruits which are best enjoyed right now. If you're wondering what other sandwiches they sell then be sure to visit.     Writer: Sayuri Mizuno (MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON)Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga

One thing I do at least once a week without fail is treat myself out to some delicious food or dessert. It's very important time well spent in order to live a happy life.   Today, I went and got my lunch early ahead of my morning work. I visited dotcom space Tokyo, a café in Harajuku where you can indulge in a laid-back experience.

©️photo Takumi Ota

The café is just a 4-minute walk from the Takeshita Street exit of Harajuku Station. Its atmosphere is so peaceful and related that you wouldn’t believe it’s right next to noisy and busy Takeshita Street. It’s a spacious place with simple and stylish furniture and furnishings. I fancied something sweet this time, so I went and ordered the Peach & Yoghurt bread.

©️photo Takumi Ota

©️photo Takumi Ota

The interior decorating scheme is based on wood; you can feel how particular they were about the furniture. It’s easy to wind down at this café due to its spacious interior. It’s common to see workers scattered throughout too. It’s a nice place to leave your desk for a little bit for lunch for a change of pace.

Peach & Yoghurt ¥680 / Iced Café Latte ¥550

The bread is piled with a generous serving of yoghurt cream and shiny peach which the light shines on. I feel happy just looking at this delicious treat. Just spellbinding! I sliced my first piece and popped it into my mouth. The bread is deliciously chewy, and the refreshing yogurt cream and sweet peach filled my mouth. The bread itself is a thick-cut slice and made by Pelican, a bakery in Asakusa. It has a chewy and moist texture you can’t find anywhere else.   The yogurt cream isn’t overly sweet, instead having a more refreshing flavour to it. When eaten together with the sweet ripened peach, the gorgeous mix blends together around your taste buds and melts in your mouth. Depending on the season, you can pick fruits other than peach too. They always have seasonal choices. I’m looking forward to their autumn and winter line-up. The iced latte has a slight acidity to it, my favourite kind of flavour. It went really well with the Peach & Yogurt bread. The café is also particular about its coffee bean selection; one of its baristas is noted to be a past “Japan champion” when it comes to coffee. I’ve got to try the hot coffee the next time I visit.   A set meal, burger or the likes would have been good too, but I had my eyes set on a sweet dessert lunch. Getting a moment to chill out and enjoy something sweet made me happy today. I recommend enjoying some autumn fruit-topped bread too as the seasons change.   Today’s Presents

Apple Juice ¥450

I’s important to share the happiness between family and colleagues on when you get the chance to enjoy something tasty. I bought them some apple juice, which is poured into a cup with a smiling face on the side. It’s made from 100% apples from Nagano. The straw is made from environmentally-friendly sugarcane.     Writer:Sayuri Mizuno（MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON）

One thing I do at least once a week without fail is treat myself out to some delicious food or dessert. It's very important time well spent to ensure happiness. I’ve been working relatively hard as of late. I had some spare time before a business meeting, so I took advantage of the occasion to treat myself to some desserts. My destination: ATELIER de GODIVA located inside Seibu Ikebukuro. GODIVA has numerous stores throughout Tokyo, but Ikebukuro’s concept store branch has an eat-in space that’s perfect for that tea or coffee break.   ATELIER de GODIVA boasts that same level of quality when it comes to their desserts, some of which are exclusive to this branch. There are only three branches: this one in Seibu Ikebukuro (Tokyo), another in Daimaru Kyoto (Kyoto), and the last in Hakata Hankyu (Fukuoka). The cake I am showing you today is a special dessert sold only in these three branches (and is takeout only at Hakata Hankyu).   The first delight I ordered was the Mousse Matcha Cherry.

Mousse Matcha Cherry: Eat in ¥980 / Takeout ¥780 (*Matcha Ice Cream is eat-in only)

Available: Until November 26, 2019 while supplies last

The shiny cake is served on a round white plate with a dollop of matcha ice cream. The pink berry sauce is drizzled around the plate to make the plating even cuter. Time to tuck in. This extravagant cake is supported by a fluffy matcha mousse topped with a crunchy chocolate sable. On top of that still are juicy cherries, adding a hint of freshness to the cake. The matcha glaze on the mousse has just the right amount of bitterness, which when coupled with the subtly sweet matcha mousse makes for a heavenly balance of flavours. Lined around the base of the mousse are sweet and sour dried raspberries which elevated the matcha-ness of the matcha mousse. The matcha ice cream which it comes with when you order to eat in is rich and creamy. I was full up after my dessert, but since I’d taken the time to come here I wanted to order a drink too... so I got a takeout Chocolixir Uji Matcha Kiwami from a shop adjoining ATELIER de GODIVA.

Chocolixir Uji Matcha Kiwami - ¥602 (*Takeout only at the GODIVA Seibu Ikebukuro branch)

This new drink is part of GODIVA’s chocolate and tea pairing series. The chefs at GODIVA have carefully selected the best varieties of tea to combine with chocolate. This one is an iced drink made with white chocolate and matcha. It’s a mix of GODIVA’s popular smooth and sweet white chocolate and rich Uji matcha. It’s crowned with a sprinkling of bitter Uji matcha powder. All of the flavours are highlighted in this sweet drink. The crunchy white chocolate pieces you sip up as you drink are delicious. It’s the kind of drink where you’re sure to find something new each time you take a drink.   My 30-minute tea break is my little self-indulgence for the day. Spare minutes in my daily schedule affords me the chance to go and enjoy some delicious desserts. You should treat yourself to some special autumntime sweets too.   Today’s Presents

Matcha Adzuki ATELIER Tablet - ¥800

It’s important to share the happiness between family and colleagues on when you get the chance to enjoy something tasty. The present I bought today was a tablet chocolate handmade in the shop. The matcha white chocolate has almonds in it as well as Japanese-style chocolate mixed with adzuki. It has a strong matcha flavour and isn’t overly-sweet. You can also request for a ribbon to be tied around it for gift-giving. It’s a chocolate that’s sure to bring anyone joy.   Writer：Sayuri Mizuno（MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON）Translator: Joshua Kitosi-Isanga