Hyperlocal Tokyo

I've been coming to Midtown since it opened, but this was my first time visiting this place. I've been to Sadaharu Aoki and Mont Saint-Clair before, but I'm not really a big fan of sweets. However, this place kept popping up on my Instagram feed. It seems like Mr. Yoroizuka is a wonderful person. So, I decided to stop by when I was at Midtown. The shop has a counter where you can enjoy your treats. All the customers were women. I chose a cake and ordered a cup of Mr. Yoroizuka's original tea. There's a 150 yen surcharge if you eat your cake at the counter. The cake was delicately sweet and the sponge was delicious. The tea was a flavored tea, but the flavor wasn't too strong, so it went well with the cake. It was very tasty. Now, I have to say, from the counter, you can see a stack of cardboard boxes in the small window in front of you. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to have that visible to customers.

I visited during the cafe hours on a weekday. Previously, it was too crowded and I had to give up. This was my revenge visit. Luckily, I was able to get in right away. I chose my cake from the display case in front of the store. I had coffee to drink. I forgot the name, but I chose a pistachio cake and a strawberry roll cake. They brought it out beautifully arranged on a plate. It was almost too pretty to eat. The pistachio cream was not too sweet and rich, and it matched the flavor of the sponge cake perfectly. It was delicious. The strawberry roll cake also had a strawberry sponge cake, which looked delicious. I bought some cookies as a souvenir for my family. They were also crispy and had a strong buttery flavor! I'm glad I bought them.

This is a dessert shop owned by Toshihiko Yoroizuka, the husband of the late Naomi Kawashima, who was often seen on television. It's located in a prime spot near the entrance of Midtown, directly connected to the station, and the prices are reasonable for the quality and deliciousness! I visited on a weekday evening around 7:30 pm. There were two other customers already there, and no one else came in after. The eat-in area has about 10 seats, all at the counter. The sales area isn't very large either, so it didn't seem like they had the full lineup of desserts. 【What I ate】 Watermelon Mille-feuille ¥1500 Chardonnay ¥1000 The dessert was beautiful and sparkly, a real eye-catcher (*´ω｀*) The watermelon had a bit of a melon-like flavor, which might be a bit off-putting if you were eating it on its own. But, considering the other elements of the dessert were sweet, maybe they intentionally chose a watermelon with that flavor? For this level of decoration, ¥1500 is a good price. I also felt like they were generous with the wine pours. Thank you for the meal!

Just a few minutes from the "Roppongi Station" on the subway, you'll find Mid Town. The shop is easy to find within the complex on the first floor. Opening the heavy black door, you're greeted by a colorful array of "petit gateaux" and "original cacao" – perfect for gifts, summer greetings, or year-end presents (gift sets are also available). The blueberries and chestnuts used in the sweets are grown at the company's own farm, "Yoroizuka Farm" in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The seasonal fruits, hand-picked by Chef Yoroizuka and his staff, add a touch of love and make the desserts even more delicious! There are also "Midtown Roppongi Limited" sweets that tempt me every time, so I'm always in trouble! * Counter seating: 8 seats? * Terrace seating: 3 rows of 12 seats… The terrace isn't surrounded by nature, but offers a view of the high-rise buildings of Mid Town. ～The Journey of Owner-Chef Toshihiko Yoroizuka～ 🍫 2000 (Heisei 12): Won the "INTERSUC 2000" competition in Paris, a feat that made headlines in Japan! 🍫 2002: Launched the ToshI brand. 🍫 September 2003 (Heisei 15): Established the atelier. 🍫 September 7, 2004 (Heisei 16): Opened the Ebisu branch, "ToshI Yoroizuka EC" (combining Ecuadorian cacao and Ebisu chocolate, hence "EC") – currently closed for an extended period. 🍫 March 30, 2007 (Heisei 19): Opened "Toshi Yoroizuka Mid Town" in Tokyo Midtown (Roppongi). 🍫 November 2011 (Heisei 23): Opened "Yoroizuka Farm" in Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. 🍫 2016: Opened the Ebisu branch of "EC" (combining Ecuadorian cacao and Ebisu chocolate, hence "EC") – currently closed for a while. 🍫 November 25, 2017 (Heisei 29): Opened "ToshI Yoroizuka Tokyo" in Kyobashi Edogrand. My first visit was in 2015. Even though I had been living in Tokyo for a few years, I was still a country bumpkin at heart, and I lacked the courage to "sit at a counter and eat cake (gateau) with a fork and knife." Just as I was about to steel myself, I heard the news of Naomi Kawashima's passing. It was a year I won't forget. When I finally entered the shop, the staff greeted me warmly. "Welcome!" "I'm sorry, this is my first time here…" (Nervous laughter) The staff explained everything to me in detail, providing kind and attentive service. At the "Dessert Live" (Chef's Night), where Chef Yoroizuka prepares dishes and desserts in front of you (held irregularly, every year from New Year's Day to the 7th, reservations accepted through Instagram, etc.), he shared stories like, "I'm just a pastry chef, not a celebrity!" and behind-the-scenes anecdotes about his arguments with the late Naomi Kawashima. The talk was full of twists and turns, and it was so entertaining that the hour and a half flew by. Chef Yoroizuka is incredibly busy with producing and appearing on TV, so I'm always thrilled when I get to see him at the shop. He's also kind enough to let me take a photo with him when I leave. Like attracts like, and just as Chef Yoroizuka is a kind person, the staff are all very polite and welcoming. I started going to the gym and endured a year and a half of strict self-control. I lost 14 kg of fat (ToshI fat, haha!) and came home with a body that's less prone to rebounding. Time to start making new memories!

I visited this place for a sweet treat. *I visited in late January. The location is in the Roppongi Midtown area, directly connected to Roppongi Station. This shop is run by Yoroizuka, who is arguably the most famous pastry chef in the world. His shop has been featured on TV a lot, especially around the time he married an actress and became famous. I was drawn in by the hype and decided to give it a try. I ordered the "Couvert Cool" (¥1,500) (*Valentine's Day limited edition) and a hot coffee (¥650). First, they brought out a chestnut ice cream before the main dessert, and it was absolutely delicious! It had a strong chestnut flavor, and while it was rich, it wasn't overwhelming. The crispy something underneath was a great accent and added to the flavor. (I'm sorry, I'm not a good judge of taste... lol) Then came the main dessert. I had the image of Yoroizuka's counter sweets being amazing, and I was not disappointed. The ice cream on top was incredibly rich and dense, almost like a mousse. It was a very intense chocolate flavor, but the raspberry sauce underneath had a nice acidity that balanced it out perfectly. The occasional ganache and banana added another layer of sweetness, creating a well-balanced dessert. But it wasn't just about the taste. The textures were amazing too. Crispy, smooth, chewy, and crunchy all combined to make for a truly enjoyable experience. This was incredible! The level of perfection was truly impressive! It was like watching Naoya Inoue, with his speed, defense, and devastating offense... a dessert with perfect flavor in every aspect! So, this shop is a high-level counter dessert place, even among the famous pastry chefs who tend to be more known for their name than their actual skills. It's genuinely good!