Depachika, also known as a department store’s food hall, is the food mecca for foodies. An entire floor (sometimes two) devoted to all things sweet or savory.. and traditional Japanese or Western. I love going to depachika’s because of its sheer size and diversity, but mostly because of the gorgeous display of the food.
The must-buy item from the food hall for me is Fukusaya’s Castella cake. Fukusaya is the famous bakery that has been making castella cakes since 1624! The cake is intricately wrapped in boxes and layers of wrapping paper… oh the anticipation of finally uncovering the cake!
this wrapping paper depicts the founding date of Fukusaya, the shop’s various locations, and its bat-shaped logo..
Castella is a sponge cake made with sugar, flour, eggs and syrup.. which as a honey taste to it. My mom went through a crazy castella-baking phase when I was a kid and I clearly remember her frustrations on making a perfect tasting/looking castella…. so I fully appreciate Fukusaya’s castella. It’s so moist and fluffy with the perfect amount of sweetness. Yummmmmm….
This time, we also tried out the takeaway food counters at the depachika. Once again, we were shopping till very late at the Damairu Department Store and like always, I needed to take a walk in the amazing food emporium before leaving. We came across people snatching up sashimi bento boxes. Apparently the prices are slashed by half! We ended up buying 3 boxes (the best of the remaining) and ate it back at the hotel.
Even around store closing time, the sashimi still looked so fresh.. and it tasted fresh as well!
FAIM? OUI OUI!!
faim? oui oui!!!!!! 