北海道NO.1の絶品クロワッサン、、、だけじゃない、パンの数々(^o^)丿 : Aigues Vives

In July, I visited to buy croissants again this year. This is my "No. 1 Croissant in Hokkaido" and I've been wanting to visit "Pan EAST Hyakumeiten" again this year. [b:Aigues Vives in Otaru City area] [b:【Still So Popular!】] Located in Oshoro, Otaru City, even though there aren't many people around when driving through this area, the parking lot is almost full! The shop is situated on a small hill surrounded by greenery, with a beautiful view of the sea below. It truly is a wonderful location! (^^)/ [b:【Inside the Store】] As always, a fantastic variety of breads are beautifully displayed, and they serve customers one group at a time. There are so many tempting breads lined up. [b:【Purchases】] ★ Croissants @ JPY 240 × 4 ★ Fruit-Infused Lodev 390g @ JPY 897 (Contains orange, grapes, walnuts, 2.3 JPY/g) ★ Bostock @ JPY 290 [b:★ Croissant] This is a must-try item here. Glistening in appearance with great structure, it has a lovely multi-layered finish. Upon tasting, the texture is fantastic, and you can feel the layers from the edges all the way to the center. The buttery flavor is also very good, maintaining a high level of quality. I also took some home this time and reheated it in the toaster; it was delicious, but I must admit that there was some change in texture over time. In that sense, enjoying it "freshly baked" truly brings it to a whole new level of perfection! (//∇//) [b:★ Fruit-Infused Lodev] Actually, this shop specializes in this type of bread, and it’s made perfectly. The flavor of the dough becomes richer with each bite. There are plenty of ingredients, including orange peel, and it’s wonderfully made. It’s seriously delicious. [b:★ Bostock] This was my first time purchasing it, but the flavor is fantastic, likely enhanced by rum or other spirits, giving it a rich and delightful taste. Once again, everything was a hit! [b:【Final Note】] While the croissants are exceptional, the quality of the other breads is also remarkably high, making it a fantastic bakery. I truly believe it's worth traveling from Sapporo just to buy from here. Thank you for another delicious meal! (//∇//)

In July, I visited to enjoy croissants from Sapporo. This place is featured in Tabelog’s "Top 100 Bakeries in East Japan." Aigues Vives in the Otaru area. ■ About the location: It’s located in Oshoro, Otaru City. Due to nearby road changes and the subsequent extension of the expressway, access has changed, but I still love this place. It takes me just under an hour to drive from my home in Sapporo. ■ As expected, it’s very popular! The store is situated halfway up a small hill, with a beautiful view of the sea below. It’s surrounded by greenery, making for a lovely setting. Even though I visited around 1 PM on a weekday, the place was bustling with customers. Out of nowhere (no offense meant), several cars appeared in this seemingly quiet area. People were forming a line while maintaining social distance. Upon entering, the atmosphere was as charming as the exterior, with a variety of expertly crafted baked goods on display. I was glad to see that my favorite croissants were still available. ■ I decided to enjoy the croissant on-site! ● Croissant @ JPY 240 (before tax). Since there’s a change in texture by the time I get it home, I always eat the croissant here to avoid any spills (laughs). I took a bite while gazing at the sea in front of the store. The view while enjoying this croissant is unbeatable! It definitely lifts your spirits. The croissant has a crispy edge, and each bite creates a delightful crunch. The richness of the layers and texture is something you can only get here. Moreover, it has a rich buttery flavor that’s deep and satisfying. (Though I feel it might be somewhat milder than before.) I must say, this croissant is my favorite in Hokkaido! 【Afterword】 ● Rodeval Cheese @ JPY 364 (before tax). I can’t comment on it since my child finished it off (laughs). (My child said, "It was delicious!" ) This place exudes a passion for quality ingredients and baking techniques, and it still offers a fantastic selection. (I wish I could go there more often if it were closer.) During this pandemic, while our spirits and spending may be down, let’s support hard-working businesses and lift our spirits! It was a great meal! (^o^)ノ

My wife and I took a drive to Yoichi, and we couldn’t miss this place. **Aigues Vives** Located in the Otaru Shinsoro area. **About Shinsoro:** It’s read as "Oshoro." The roads have been improved, making it much easier to visit than before, when finding the turns could be tricky. By the way, this bakery is listed in Tabelog's **"Top 100 Bakeries 2017 and 2018,"** making it a bit challenging to visit and buy from. This time, we happened to arrive at just the right moment. **At the storefront:** There were several cars parked, and many people couldn't resist enjoying their treats right there (I totally understand). **Inside the store:** There was one group already, but we waited for our turn. The display was filled with delicious-looking breads. They serve a variety of lean breads, skillfully fermented to bring out the best flavors. The more you chew, the more delicious they become. They’re just as great on their own as they are lightly toasted. And among everything, the croissants are simply outstanding. I felt regret at the thought of them aging on the way home, so I definitely had to enjoy some "right away." **Purchases selected by my wife:** Croissant @ JPY 230. Pain au Chocolat @ JPY 270. Dry Cherry and Hazelnut Bread @ JPY 520. Walnut Bread @ Price Unconfirmed. **Croissant:** We enjoyed the croissants together at the store and then again at home. While gazing at the sea... although the weather wasn't great that day, the croissant's flavor was exceptional as always. Is it because they use fermented butter? The buttery aroma combined with the delightful texture of the multi-layered dough gives it a unique quality that’s truly impressive. The more you chew, the more you savor its deliciousness! Whether eaten as is at home or lightly toasted, it’s of course delightful, but nothing compares to the taste of a croissant enjoyed immediately while overlooking the sea. **Pain au Chocolat:** It’s delicious, but of course, I prefer the croissant. Sorry! (^○^) **Dry Cherry and Hazelnut Bread & Walnut Bread:** We enjoyed these with the wine purchased at "Ochigabi Winery" during our visit. They were delicious lightly toasted as well as on their own. The variety is delightful. The more you chew, the more flavorful they become. Their ability to enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients is remarkable. **Final Thoughts:** In my opinion, this bakery embodies a dedication to making bread. I truly appreciate the atmosphere of focusing on quality ingredients. Therefore, while I don't rate the service highly due to a somewhat unfriendly vibe, it doesn’t diminish my overall satisfaction. I believe it’s an exceptional bakery. Personally, I love lean breads, and this type of bread that becomes more delicious with every bite is absolutely irresistible. And the croissant. The quality of its finish is simply amazing—I always have to eat at least one while enjoying the view of the sea. I might just consider it my favorite bakery in Hokkaido. I will definitely return. It was a great meal! (^_^)/

～～～～～～～～～～～～ 【10th Visit: March 2013】 ～～～～～～～～～～～～ This is my review after a long-awaited return visit. Even in March, there was still a lot of snow during this time. From the parking lot, you can see the ocean, but unfortunately it was overcast that day, making the ocean look dreary (>-<). Also, the road leading to the store had plenty of snow (as shown in the photos). Inside the store, the atmosphere is just as welcoming as ever, with breads displayed neatly. I bought some croissants and Pain Papé again this time. ■ Croissant I couldn’t wait until I got home, so I took a bite right away. Oh, the appearance... the look, the delicate layers inside... it’s simply beautiful. And the aroma... the rich buttery flavor is outstanding, though I feel like the fragrance may not be as strong as before...? (Or maybe it’s just my imagination) The taste is perfect with a nice crisp texture and rich flavor—absolutely irresistible! (I refer to my last review for more details.) I brought one home for my wife, and she confirmed, "It’s just as delicious as last time." ■ Pain Papé From the bubbles in the interior, it feels like it’s well fermented... I lightly toasted it, and wow... [b: The more you chew, the more delicious it becomes (＝⌒▽⌒＝)] Wow, my family also noted that, "This is definitely different from a regular bread shop." As expected, a delicious hidden gem of a bakery (＝⌒▽⌒＝) I will definitely return. It was a great meal!♪ ～～～～～～～～～～～～ 【5th Visit: September 2012】 ～～～～～～～～～～～～ Here’s my review after a long-awaited return visit. Personally, the essence of bread lies in the deliciousness of lean bread. And, the rich breads that can be made deliciously at places known for their lean bread are also appealing. ■ Croissant When I bought it, it was warm, as if it was freshly baked. I couldn’t hold back and enjoyed it while looking at the sea just outside the shop. As always, the baking was perfect! Layers upon layers of dough... The texture has that irresistibly crispy feel... and a deep butter flavor. Indeed, this croissant is superb! The butter is a cut above, providing a rich flavor that only good butter can offer. The inner layers have good fermentation with air bubbles and this melt-in-your-mouth quality... [b: The flour is also different... a flavor that can’t be produced with first-grade flour...] (While first-grade flour may look whiter, second-grade flour seems to have a better taste.) The flour and butter here are obviously not like your average croissant. It’s wonderful. ■ Lodève I carelessly let my wife cut it before I could take a photo... (Hence the picture is of the cut piece... (>-<).) Again, a beautiful inner layer. Whether toasted or just as is, both ways bring out different flavors, and they’re delicious. The more you chew, the better it is, pairing well with wine. ■ Baguette Once again, it was cut by my wife before I had the chance to photograph it... (>-<). The crumb has nice air bubbles... it’s clearly well fermented. Both the crust and crumb are balanced well... The more you chew, the more flavorful it becomes. Even for breakfast or as an evening snack (with wine), it fits perfectly. ■ Thank you for the meal! I always enjoy it. The only downside is the distance, but it’s worth every bit of travel just for this place. I will come again. It was a great meal!♪ ～～～～～～～～～～～～【First Visit: September 2010】～～～～～～～～～～～～ As a bread lover, especially of hard bread, I was eager to visit this shop. [b: Aigues Vives (エグ・ヴィヴ)＠ Ranshima] The location is indeed tricky. It’s in Oshoro. After driving along the coastline from Otaru towards Yoichi along the Yoitei National Route, turn right before the tunnel. That corner is dangerous, so I held back my excitement and made a safe right turn. When I arrived at the store, it was hard to believe there was a bakery here. However, people gradually came in as if drawn to it. ◆ Croissant - Crafted with care, the finishing is beautiful, with clear layers visible on the exterior. - They must be using good butter, as it tastes deep and rich; I felt slightly guilty about the calories. - The texture is superb—the layers crumble with each bite, providing a rich flavor as you chew. - Truly, even if it's a bit expensive, it’s well worth it. (It’s not easy to make such a high-quality product for the price.) ◆ Other Breads - Sorry, I couldn’t note down the names. - The crust is relatively hard, but the inside is chewy and simply delicious the more you chew. - Depending on the type, toasting it lightly could enhance the flavor. - The air bubbles in the interior signal excellent preparation, with superb flavors/textures/mouthfeel—truly delicious. It’s not somewhere I can visit regularly, but I want to make time to go again. Thank you for the meal, and I will definitely return!