不思議の国のジャック
I visited around 11:00 on April 18, 2010. I had caught some information on a unique intelligence network that this store was pretty good. Even the pre-screening was somewhat positive, and since I happened to be in Maizuru, I decided to stop by.
● Store: 7/10
The store is located just north of Nishi-Maizuru Station, heading east on the prefectural road, then north from the Lawson near the Red Cross Hospital. If you come from the north, you can reach it by heading south from the Cosmo Oil gas station. There is parking space for about 8 cars. There is also a terrace seat right in front of the entrance. Inside the store, there is a strong smell of good butter and flour. The scent of "Patisserie Plan" was also quite strong, similar to that place, so my expectations were high. I wondered where the kitchen was, and it turned out to be attached to the north side of the store, where the pastry chef was bustling around. The store had about three sections of refrigerated cases filled with petit gateaux, with over 30 varieties, a good selection for a Sunday. There were many appealing cakes at first glance, and I wanted to buy several, but I had other places to go later, so I didn't buy any petit gateaux here. Noteworthy is that credit cards are accepted. It's rare for a store of this size to accept cards, maybe only in Kansai, besides Double Bebop and here? So, service points are elevated.
● Food: 8/10
Good value for money. I had heard that this store had quite intense flavors, not typical of a local place, and this turned out to be true. This time, I had somewhere to go, so I only bought baked goods to take with me.
- Galette: ¥147, Excellent - Good value for money
A large galette with a strong buttery aroma. It has a good airy texture. It's a bit on the dry side, but when you put it in your mouth, there is a rich buttery sweetness with a refreshing aftertaste. It crumbles a bit when you eat it, which may be a bit inconvenient for some, but despite that, the taste is quite good, so it's a decent choice considering the price and size.
- Financier: ¥147, Excellent - Good value for money
Looking at the back, you see ingredients like hazelnut powder and rock salt, not typical of a local patisserie. When you open it, there's a slightly sweet and sour aroma mixed with a buttery scent. It's well baked with a nice color. The financier here has a unique taste that I've never experienced before. It has a density and texture that feels like a lightened sweet potato rather than an airy feel. The surface feels smooth, without any roughness on the tongue. The taste has a good sweetness that is not honey-like, but more restrained and pure, giving a pleasant aftertaste. A financier with a very unique taste. Some may have mixed opinions due to the lack of airy texture, but I found a delicious and unique treat in a local place, so it's a decent choice despite the slight elevation in rating.
- Goro Wafers: ¥126, Okay - Good value for money
The bag of duck wafers features a picture of Maizuru's symbol, the Goro Sky Tower. The view from the Goro Sky Tower includes not only the deep coves of the Rias coast but also overlooks Maizuru's naval port and warships, making it a wonderful spot. So, as a souvenir, it's quite a good item, but when you eat it, the surface feels powdery, giving it a dry appearance that is not very appealing. However, when you taste it, the almond powder flavor is quite strong, and it also has a subtle density similar to the financier.