Japanese sweets, which incorporate elements of Japanese culture, are now gaining attention in Western countries. In Paris, France, a gourmet powerhouse and a land of sweets, we visited beloved Japanese sweet shops and artisans in Paris to learn more about Japanese sweets.

A Dorayaki Salon de Thé Run by a French Owner

Dorayaki, with its fluffy, chewy skin and bean paste, may be a Japanese sweet that is closest to Western confectionery. Located in Paris's 2nd arrondissement, Pâtisserie Tomo is a salon de thé specializing in dorayaki. The owner, French pastry chef Romain Gaillat, has always loved Japanese tea and was naturally drawn to Japanese sweets. As he became a pastry chef and created traditional French sweets, he began to think it would be interesting to incorporate elements of French pastry into Japanese sweets.



The owner, Romain Gaillat, and a round object resembling a "dorayaki"



It was at this time that he met Japanese sweets craftsman Takanori Murata, and the two opened "Pâtisserie Tomo" in 2016. Perhaps because they resemble pancakes, they're familiar to Parisians, and in the two years since opening, "dorayaki" has become a Parisian treat, with some people buying them and eating them on the go, while others savor them with tea in the shop.



They begin baking after receiving an order. You'll often see people opening the door, lured by the aroma.

Parisian-made dorayaki, gorgeously decorated with seasonal fruits and cream.

Romain now runs the shop. Roman's original sweets are lined up in the showcase, from the standard dorayaki with just bean paste in between to dorayaki decorated with fruit and cream like French pastries. Popular sweets include the "Seasonal Dorayaki" which combines seasonal fruits and mascarpone cheese, and the "Dorayaki La Citronne" which adds yuzu to the cream.



Dorayaki filled with bean paste, matcha bean paste, yuzu flavor, and more are lined up


Dorayaki with a French pastry twist are displayed in the showcase


In the shop, you can enjoy green tea, brown rice tea, and other drinks selected by Roman, who is a fan of Japanese tea. "I want to bring Tomo's dorayaki, which has become a popular snack in Paris, to Japan," says Roman. Parisian dorayaki may soon be making a homecoming to Japan.



Seasonal dorayaki (6.5€), dorayaki la citronne (7.5€)
There is also a wide variety of teas available, including matcha, roasted green tea, sencha, barley tea, and soba tea. (Prices at the cafe)




Interviewed and written by Mori Yukiko

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She often interviews long-established Edo businesses and artisans, and is a fan of sumo, kabuki, rakugo and Edo culture.
She currently writes a column called "Adult Edo Walks" for the online magazine "Kurashi to Oshare no Editorial Office" (Shufunotomosha). She plans to start a series on Japanese sweets in 2019.