The trick is treats

By on August 27, 2008
Rather than make back-to-school shopping an endurance event, try to bring a little pleasure to the table. The trick is treats; do some shopping, then stop for a treat. The kids won’t fight the fashion fittings so much if they know there’s something nice to look forward to. High on the sugar levels and crazy with the carbs, the following ‘good treat guide’  is  not for regular consumption. You have been warned. Good luck!

 

LIL’ DONUTS
In Toyosu La La Port, ‘Lil’ Donuts makes…well…little donuts. Light, doughy donut-ettes dipped and drizzled in a variety of sauces and toppings (or not, if you prefer). Flavors like choco-banana, mango-milk and my son’s favorite, cinnamon. But the real treat for the kids is the captivating donut-making contraption that squirts, fries, flips and finishes the donuts while kids look on in fascination.
www.lildonuts.com

MOCHICREAM
Oh, these are SOOOO edible! Little balls of sweet deliciousness that are wrapped in thin wisps of mochi that literally melt in your mouth. Perfectly bite-sized and not too messy. A number of tempting flavors like Honey Raspberry, Apple Pie, Caramel Pudding and Darjeeling Tea. No seating, so pick up a few on the go. Located in Akihabara, near the central exit, under Baskin-Robbins and behind Starbucks.

DOUGHNUT PLANT NEW YORK CITY
Their doughnuts are large and not always round, with more the consistency of an American layer cake than deep-fried dough. They have some interesting flavors like Coconut & Raspberry Jam. They also have bagels and cinnamon buns.
www.doughnutplant.jp

CAFÉ DU MONDE
A deep South family favorite from New Orleans. The perfect compliment to their eye-opening chicory coffee is their light, powdered, doughnut-like beignets; served with honey or maple syrup. If you’ve never had a beignet, you don’t know what you’re missing. Take home a can of their chicory coffee, too. If you go down to Louisiana, you’ll find cans of their ground coffee in any coffee-respecting pantry.
www.cafedumonde.jp/shop/index.html#

YA KUN KAYA TOAST
This Singapore coffee shop, the first in Japan, is famous for its kaya toast. Kaya is a rich, coconut-egg jam grilled with butter on toast. It’s a different taste, but an easy one for kids and adults alike. The kaya is sweet and fruity with the consistency of avocado. Goes well with a cup of Milo or milk tea. If the weather isn’t too bad, they have outdoor dining as well as indoor if you want to feel like you’re at a Singaporean stall. The service is quick and friendly. Kaya toast is the first thing we look for whenever we go to Singapore but Toyosu  LaLa Port is alot closer.
www.yakun.com


STICK SWEETS FACTORY

Need a little cheesecake, but not too much? If you’re in Shimbashi, check out this well-known Hiroshima cake shop. They offer a good selection of flavors in diet-friendly sizes. They also have other popular pastries like tiramisu and mont blanc in skinny, bar forms. Besides tasting good, they also look good. Each kind of Stick Sweet reflects such a sense of wabi-sabi that you can’t forget what country you’re in. Their cheesecake gift packs are a favorite omiyage choice in Hiroshima.
www.in-smart.co.jp/stick


SWEET FACTORY+ PLUS

Sweet tooth still not satisfied? Sweet Factory+Plus has all the favorite gummies, hard candies, and chocolates plus a few unusual ones like maple sugar banana chips and long-tailed gummy mice. Dozens of different candies, enticingly on display in clear, acrylic bins. Here, adults-in-a-candy-store have no more restraint that the proverbial kids; indiscriminately dishing scoops of sweets into the little plastic bags.
www.sweetfactoryjapan.co.jp

KODOMONO MACHI
(Children’s Town)
If you do any shopping in Kawagoe, you’ll want to let your kids run through this entire block of vintage dagashiya (Japanese penny-candy shops). In fact, you may want to make the trip out there just for Kodomono Machi. Some of the shops have a traditional feel and ¥200 buys 350g of candy in any combination. Give them a bag and off they go, scooping up and weighing sweets on the scales. It’s better than any math lesson.


SWEETS PARADISE

For the biggest sweet treat of all. 70 minutes in this dessert buffet is pretty much as good as it gets. There is a little pasta and salad to be had but you are there for the sweet stuff which is pretty much a selection of all the above. While not condoning the sugar intake just watch your kid’s eyes light up. A once-a-year treat… oh go on then… twice a year.
www.sweets-paradise.com

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