BAKED, a popular bakery in Brooklyn, New York, will open its first Japanese location on the basement floor of the Isetan Shinjuku main building on August 24th.
BAKED was founded in 2005 by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, who met in the advertising industry, at a time when New York still lacked the laid-back cafe culture found in Europe. Driven by a desire to open a neighborhood cafe where customers could enjoy not only cupcakes but also American desserts, they started with just a few ovens, a mixer, and an espresso machine. Today, their popularity is well-known across the United States, attracting attention from celebrities such as Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey.
The bakery offers a wide variety of American sweets, including brownies and decorated cakes, which have won various awards, including the French Culinary Institute's Best Dessert Award. In addition to the rich, authentic American brownie (500 yen), the store will offer a wide selection of American baked goods, including the "Whoopie Pie" (250 yen), named after the delighted "Whoopie!" customers would exclaim upon discovering it in their lunchboxes at lunchtime, and the classic baked cheesecake (1,800 yen), with a generous layer of graham cracker crumbs on the bottom and sides. Other items on offer include whole banana cakes and original blends of granola. Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito also visited the store on the opening day. "We're thrilled to finally be opening a store in Japan," they said. "We'll bring you the authentic New York flavors that make the most of the delicious ingredients. We plan to add more flavors in the future, so please look forward to it."