01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A Mont Blanc is about more than chestnut flavour: the interplay of cream and sponge matters, too. The signature Mont Blanc at MALEBRANCHE Daimaru Kyoto Store layers aromatic steamed chestnuts, chestnut paste and fresh cream, all wrapped in rum cream. Some reviewers have praised its moist, smooth texture. If you are choosing a chestnut dessert, it is a natural place to start.
For a more pronounced chestnut flavour, look out for the Tamba Chestnut Mont Blanc, described as an autumn-only special. It combines Tamba chestnut cream and chestnut paste with sponge and fresh cream; one customer who bought it particularly remembered the balance between the chestnut cream and fresh cream. The Monsieur Mont Blanc, measuring 12 cm long, is a generous-sized cake: rum-scented chestnut cream encloses chopped chestnuts, fresh cream and sponge, with chestnut pieces on top. It is another option when you want a dessert to share around the table rather than a cake for one.
The Fluffy Chiffon Sandwich (Fruit), exclusive to Daimaru Kyoto Store, pairs a soft chiffon made with plenty of egg with fruit, fresh cream and custard. Some customers found the cream rich and strongly sweet, while others enjoyed the fruit and fresh cream and said they would choose it again as an everyday treat. The listed price is ¥378, making it an option when you want something more casual than a decorated celebration cake.
There are also baked sweets to take home, including Chano-ka, a familiar Kyoto souvenir. One visit report noted that the queues for fresh cakes and baked goods were separate, so deciding what you are after beforehand may make choosing easier. The shop is on the basement level 1 of Daimaru Kyoto Store and is open from 10:00 to 20:00. Drop in to browse for sweets to take away.
