Beard Papa

Beard Papa's (麦の穂, Muginoho?) slogan is "Fresh'n natural cream puffs" -- and boy do they LIVE UP to this!!!! This Japanese company that is about a decade short, founded in 1999, has over 250 stores in Japan and 300 worldwide.

When I was first introduced to them last year, I instantly fell in love with their trademark product: Cream Puffs with Custard filling. This choux pastry shell is usually filled with whipped cream custard, available in vanilla, chocolate, and specialty flavors such as green tea, strawberry, pumpkin, Earl Grey Tea, Èclair, and coffee -- just right up my alley.(The one located at the Newest SOGO Department Store in Taipei!)(Freshly Baked Everyday in Every Location!)(Delicious Custurd Filled Cream Puffs)

Their cafes island wide are usually small and located in shopping malls -- but this serves them just fine as most people stop by to get boxes and boxes full to take home and share with the family, myself included.Beard Papa Taiwan
Beard Papa Worldwide

oh what a treat!!!

Last nite, David came home with a wonderful dessert called Canele... I had never heard of it before but am sure I have seen it at one point in bakeries in the US, if not Europe or Asia... but it was never anything I cared to order as it did not even look good -- as you can see in my accompanying photos (or maybe my photos are just bad... lols) -- anyway, it was never one to tempt my sweet tooth.... it looked like a miniature size pound cake that was a bit burnt from over baking....

I cannot even tell you how glad I am that DAVID did bring it home -- it was like biting into a piece of heaven, SWEET HEAVEN!!!! The brownish shade of the outside is due to the caramelization of the crust... But one bite into it and you will surely enjoy the soft and tender, savory taste of the custard center. Like my other favorite dessert, Flan, caneles are made of egg, milk & flour... and rum and vanilla are used to caramelize the outer part.

So this just goes to show me, once again, "I should never, ever "judge a book by it's cover...", this French dessert will surely become one of my all time FAVE!!!!