A Certain Day in July
A work assignment brought me to Yakumo Town, Futami District, in southern Hokkaido.
That day, due to the timing of the train and some scheduled appointments, there was unexpectedly plenty of free time. Taking advantage of the opportunity, a short break was enjoyed at Clair ITO, a renowned patisserie in the heart of the town that I’d heard about through word of mouth.
Since I had another meeting coming up in an hour, I considered taking a short break for coffee, but in these moderately hot days, I ventured to order a soft-serve ice cream.
As expected from a patisserie, the soft-serve ice cream was absolutely delicious.
The texture and mouthfeel were incredibly smooth, and the sweetness was just right. (Pardon my lack of descriptive vocabulary.)
While Hokkaido’s dairy products are often associated with the northern or eastern regions, Yakumo’s milk stood out with its undeniable quality. Combined with the skillful techniques of a true professional, the result was exceptional.
It may be presumptuous to even compare, but this soft-serve was in an entirely different league from the “ordinary” ones often found at service areas.
While indulging in the soft-serve at the eat-in area, local customers—likely housewives and elderly folks—were constantly coming in to buy soft-serve, bread, and cakes. It was heartwarming to see this patisserie clearly loved by the local community.
(The Next Day)
After finishing work in the southern Hokkaido area, there was a bit of free time (and a slight hunger to satisfy), so a return visit was made to Clair ITO.
Scolding my stomach for having eaten zaru soba just two hours earlier, I nonetheless gave in to instinct and ordered a cheesecake and coffee.
While the soft-serve had been delicious, the cheesecake was on another level entirely.
At first glance, I thought it might be the dense and heavy type of cheesecake. However, when I cut into it with my fork, the texture was light and fluffy (if that’s the right term), and as I took a bite, a gentle sweetness that perfectly complemented the cheese flavor spread across my palate.
From that point on, it was a blur.
In just a matter of minutes, the plate was clean. (The end.)
P.S.: For the record, all of this took place during a work trip, and while I was enthusiastically devouring soft-serve and cheesecake at an impressive pace, my boss was sitting directly across from me.
The parking lot is large, and it is Good to stop by!
