Revisit: Once a month, I had the pleasure of enjoying a dessert course. The first dish was a maple mousse with pear and orange meringue. It was a fresh and unique flavor that I haven't had much of before. I thought it would be overly sweet based on the description I received, but it wasn't too sweet, and the orange meringue added a refreshing aftertaste, making it delicious. The second dish was a verrine. Last year around this time, it was also a chocolate cream verrine, so it felt like déjà vu! It had chocolate cream, pistachio mousse, and raspberry sauce. The combination of chocolate, pistachio, and raspberry is a classic one! However, I found the pistachio's saltiness a bit overpowering, and it lingered until the end. Overall, it was tasty, but I personally preferred last year's verrine. I love the baked goods set for $20. I bought two sets and finished them quickly because I love the sablé Breton that was included! I don't get to visit Lagado Laboratory often, but I hope to go more this year than last. Although Montage is closer, the rare opportunity to talk to the creators is something I can't miss! In January 2016, I visited Lagado Laboratory for the monthly Nowhereman dessert course. The unique atmosphere of Lagado Laboratory always draws me in. Just like last time, they served sparkling water in beakers as a reset. The first dessert was a pineapple and vanilla mousse with olive oil sponge and black pepper and pineapple jelly. The use of olive oil instead of butter in the sponge was a nice touch. The two layers of vanilla and pineapple mousse were perfectly balanced, and the black pepper added a nice touch. The smooth mousse was so delicious, I could have had more! The second dessert was a verrine-style chocolate mousse with a blend of three chocolates, flavored with passion fruit liqueur, and filled with cassis and blueberry sauce. The passion fruit aroma was enticing, and the rich chocolate mousse was overwhelming. The acidic sauce added a lovely accent. The invitation to a mysterious world for 30 minutes was enchanting, and I didn't want to wake up from that dream. I left the restaurant wanting to come back to this world again.

Located on the east side of Kyoto University, along Imadegawa Street, there is a antique shop called Lagard Research Institute. Once a month, on Monday nights, a mysterious patisserie called Nowhereman opens there. The concept is to enrich the enjoyment of pastries by stimulating the imagination of the eater through poems created by the owner. Reservations are required for dining in. For those unable to visit, the online store offers a chance to purchase their unique pastries. The online store operates for only 24 hours, creating a sense of exclusivity. I purchased "The Way to Fly in the Sky" and "I Won't Say 'You're Not Alone'" cakes. The former is a pound cake with 6 types of dried fruits simmered in orange juice and caramel. It has a moist texture with a rich sweetness. The latter is a pound cake with chocolate and 4 fruits simmered in red wine. The balance between the fruits and chocolate is excellent, with a moist texture. Both cakes are of high quality, but personally, I prefer the latter. The goal is to open the door of imagination through the "poem" and experience the pastries in a world of emotions and impressions. I look forward to trying their next pastry. If given the chance, I would love to visit the shop in person. Additionally, they offer different pastries occasionally that can be sampled here.

Nowhereman's confectionery salon operates on a fully reservation-only basis. Located on the north side of Yoshidayama, near the lagado research institute. Despite knowing the map and the exterior of the building, I hesitated at this door. Next to it, there was a postcard-like item that seemed to have been placed there about a year ago, haphazardly. As I took my seat, the service by Nowhereman, Mr. N, began shortly. He explained the confections. I won't go into details here, but if you're interested, I recommend going through the process to meet those confections. ■Tonight's confection A tart with a caramel mousse in a half-sphere shape, about 9cm in diameter. When I cut into it, the mousse had a surprisingly smooth texture. The caramel introduction was straightforward and not too intense. Moving on to the tart below, which was a lemon tart. The tart had a crispy and refreshing feel, complementing the caramel mousse. It was a delightful combination. The experience was enhanced by the dim lighting, music, and the murmur of carbonated water bubbles. After finishing, there was a moment to chat with Mr. N during the payment. He was open to sharing thoughts and answering questions. The confections were delicious, with a familiar taste that seamlessly blended in. The reservation-only eat-in experience allowed for a quiet moment to savor the confections. Nowhereman's concept of "confections that accompany sadness" is intriguing, but for now, it's all about the confections. The current clientele seems to appreciate Mr. N's world of flavors. I recommend visiting alone to fully enjoy this experience. ■Takeout - Galette Bretonne "mother": A buttery baked confection to savor the taste of butter. Blissful. ■Reference - Cake from a Tokyo event in spring 2014. Also took out the "Jubilee" confection. ***************************************** July 2014 Revisit ■Tonight's confection A mousse resembling a hibiscus in a Japanese painting. It had two distinct layers, with grated lime scattered on the surface. The upper layer was lime mousse, with a subtle citrus flavor. The lower layer was strawberry, with a dense sponge at the bottom balancing the mousse's sweetness. The depth of sweetness in Nowhereman's confections is what I love the most. The combination of strawberry, lime, and mint sauce was intense with a splashy effect. While the mousse may have various nuances, it might be challenging to leave a lasting impression. ■Takeout - Chocolate cake: Highlighted by figs and raisins soaked in wine, followed by a blissful spread of chocolate. It made me realize that chocolate can also bring comfort. Though a small slice, it didn't leave a feeling of being finished.

If I were to describe it in a plain way, it would be something like this: A pound cake with fragrant pistachios, sweet white chocolate, crunchy almonds, and orange liqueur-infused dried strawberries. That's it. Sometimes, less is more when it comes to descriptions. You'll understand once you try it. The place may seem a bit intimidating at first, but once you get used to it, you'll keep coming back. Just follow the map and opening hours, and you'll discover this place and the pastries made by him. But if you still want more information, I'll share my thoughts in a long-winded ramble. "Sometimes, The World is Mine" is a dessert that exudes a delicate sweetness that beckons me to a dreamland. The last petal gently brushed my fingertips as I reached out towards the dazzling spring sun. The world is sometimes mine. If you were to find a dessert with such a name, would you not be tempted to try it? Or do you harbor a fear of touching or reaching out due to hidden vulnerability or pain? Don't worry. The person who created this dessert likely has also overcome such nights. The tenderness that accompanies sorrow is often hard to notice, but the sweet and gentle dessert that smiles for you is here. So go ahead, reach out and give it a gentle kiss. Your world is yours. If I were to be serious for a moment, I have one thing to say. "This dessert is not special." You might be surprised by this statement. But think about it. Are the sweetness, deliciousness, kindness, joy, and fun that you need truly special? Are they unattainable? No, they're not. Happiness can be found anywhere. Nowhereman's desserts remind us of the joy in the ordinary and everyday. Also, I like to add poetry to desserts. He creates desserts inspired by poetry. It felt like we were opposites in this regard. But if we can share the deliciousness, even if we have no other common ground, I would consider that a blessing. At least I would. I bought Nowhereman's dessert and visited a neighbor who was making dishes that would complement it. The garden at this time of year is truly beautiful. If stories lie at the intersection of coincidences, then it could be called a miracle. Everyday miracles that fill our mundane lives. Even if it's just a whimsical act of the gods. For more, visit my blog: ●Fantasy CafeX http://kaeldesign.blogspot.jp/search/label/Nowhereman

On July 18, 2011, I heard an intriguing story about a pastry chef from someone. Well, to be precise, let's call him a "Western confectionery artist" rather than a pastry chef. It seems that each of the sweets in his shop comes with a "poem". A collaboration of poetry and Western confectionery... Hmm, this sounds quite interesting. When going on a food tour, it is important that the food looks "delicious" but also that it looks "interesting". So, I decided to visit Nowhereman×Lagado Laboratory on a holiday!! The owner and Western confectionery artisan, Hiroki Nagano, started his career as a miscellaneous goods buyer before transitioning into the world of Western confectionery. In 2010, he launched the creation brand "Nowhereman" based on his own poems and started Nowhereman×Lagado Laboratory in May 2011. He is a person with a very artistic approach, expressing the world of poetry through confectionery. I am very interested to see what kind of sweets he creates. I took a Kyoto City Bus from JR Kyoto Station and got off at the "Ginkakuji-michi" bus stop. The shop is located about 5 minutes west of the intersection of Shirakawa-dori and Imadegawa-dori, on the 2.5th floor of the "Miyaki Building". The signboard that says "Rock Izakaya Recoreco" in front of the building serves as a landmark. Beside the wooden door, there is a panel that says "NOWHEREMAN - Making confectionery based on self-written poems". The entrance, resembling a cave rock face, gives off a unique atmosphere, like a door to another world. The interior of the store is slightly dimly lit, with various miscellaneous goods lined up, creating a mysterious atmosphere reminiscent of the "Lagado Laboratory" in "Gulliver's Travels". There is also a cafe space at the back, but currently, they only offer takeout, with plans to introduce eat-in options in the future. In the back sales space, there is a man dressed in a chef's coat. Oh, is this Mr. Nagano? I had imagined a more artisanal figure, but he appears to be a refreshing and gentle young man. As I listened to his stories about the products, brand, and activities, I could feel his firm individuality and determination to follow his own path. While listening, I looked at the "works" displayed on the table. Each piece comes with a card containing a poem written by Nagano himself, and the name of each confectionery is the title of the poem. On this day, there were three types of baked confectionery, and I purchased "Sometimes, The World Is Mine." and "Hallelujah". [Sometimes, The World Is Mine.] 1,800 yen/★4.0 A pound cake with pistachio dough and dried strawberries kneaded in. The surface is decorated with white chocolate icing, homemade dried strawberries, pistachios, and caramelized almonds. The dough has a slightly wet texture, balancing a fluffy and moist feel. It doesn't feel too dry or heavy, and has a light and pleasant mouthfeel. The subtle pistachio flavor and the gentle sweet and sourness of the dried strawberries complement each other well. The white chocolate icing on the surface adds a gentle sweetness, while the caramelized almonds provide a fragrant and crispy texture. Each component has a distinct role, yet they all harmonize well together. [Hallelujah] 1,300 yen/★3.5 A simple chiffon cake with a vanilla flavor. The dough has an ideal texture with a pleasant elasticity on the outside and a fluffy softness on the inside. It has a delicate sweetness without being too rich or heavy, and the vanilla beans spread a light and pleasant flavor in the mouth.

In late January 2017, I heard about some delicious baked goods that can only be ordered online for a specific 24-hour period. Intrigued by the exclusive nature of these treats, I asked a friend to purchase them with me. We bought a box of "mather" galettes, which were adorned with lovely poetry. Despite the relatively high price of 1800 yen for a box of 5, the galettes were truly exquisite and worth it. The attention to detail in these baked goods was evident, and they stood out as one of the best I've had recently. I also noticed they offer pound cakes and financiers, so I plan to order from them again in the future. While purchasing may be a bit of a challenge, these treats would make a perfect gift.