Just like a Hermes Bag – Fashionable Bread♪
Even though I have been living in Kyoto for a few years now, I only recently learned that Kyoto ranks 2nd among all of Japan in bread consumption. In a city full of historical atmosphere, I had thought that rice is more preferred than bread in Kyoto, but you can find bakeries here all around indeed.
It’s been about 5 or 6 years since I found the shop Grand Marble. When you walk along Sanjo-dori Street, the glass-fronted shop stands out with its stylish colouring that resembles a Hermes store, and you are drawn toward the entrance. However, upon closer inspection, you will find that it is a Danish bread bakery. When you enter, there are various kinds of Danishes available, and the stop has such an elegant atmosphere that it resembles a fancy department store accessory counter rather than a bakery.
I bought two kinds of bread, the cheese flavour and the mango flavour--one as a present and one for myself. Each loaf of Danish bread is placed inside a stylish box, and the sweet, savoury aroma fills the room once you open the cellophane. You can enjoy the bread as is which is moist and tasty, and you can also toast it crispy so that the fragrance increases even more and leaves you in a state of bliss. I tried it both ways and both were very delicious (actually, the person whom I gave the bread to as a present served me some, so I tried both flavours), but there is one more way to enjoy the cheese flavour Danish: frozen. You put the Danish into a freezer until frozen and then eat together with wine. What a fancy way to enjoy the taste.
I went to this shop quite often to buy gifts for visits or souvenirs. It is quite expensive as one loaf costs more than 1,000 JPY, but it is a taste that you will never forget once you have tried it. You will definitely be back to purchase more! Also, you won’t be satisfied with only 1 flavour when you go to the shop, so you will have buy at least 2 flavours…
Grand Marble is famous for its signature Danish “京都三色 (Tricolour of Kyoto)”. Matcha and strawberry flavours are added into the Danish, so not only is it tasty but also it looks adorable. I’m always following the updates about the monthly limited flavours. This month is the “Gion Tsujiri Matcha and Chocolate” flavour and “Apple Caramel” flavour. I bought the apple one. I thought that would be very sweet as there was caramel, but it contained lots of apple pieces, so the taste was lighter than I imagined.
I am also interested in the new product “Deux MARBLE”, which is a Danish that lets you enjoy two flavours, maple caramel and dark chocolate, at the same time. The box is also a two-colour box--very adorable. The Danish is divided into half for each flavour. Maybe you can decide which side to eat according to your mood♪.
Grand Marble is very popular, so not only can you buy their Danishes at the official store or online shop, you can also buy them from department stores throughout Japan. On the top page of Grand Marble’s homepage, you can check information about its events to see the schedule of when and where its products are available for purchase.
It is so convenient that you can buy without going to the official store directly!
Kyoto limited products are, of course, only available in Kyoto. So when you come to Kyoto, please check it out!