Not in Japan, right here: the perfect cafe for kids on the big holiday

When the Japanese aesthetics, meets the French patisserie and lands here in Tel Aviv, only good can come out of it.

Meet the Pastry Box, our new crash (and soon, yours too)

Yael Laor

20/07/2022

Wednesday, 20 July 2022, 10:50

• Share on Facebook

• Share on WhatsApp

• Share on Twitter

• Share on Email

• Share on general

• Comments

  Comments

Mottled chestnut bread in a pastry box (Photo: Daniel Leila)

It is difficult to think of two concepts so different and distant from each other, such as "Japanese culture" and "Israeli children in the great freedom."

While our Japanese culture is usually associated with cleanliness, restraint, order and quiet, Israeli children in the great freedom, they are, well, not.

However, having said that, we will retort and say that when it comes to desserts in Japan, it is a matter of fulfilling quite a few dreams of every average kid, and yes, also for the Instagram addicts among us, of course.

After all, all the trends of recent years from souffle pancakes, through the cotton wool in shapes, the soft and colorful ice creams and many other inventions, have come to us from the land of the rising sun.

So, The Pastry Box, the new cafe that opened in recent months in the Yad Harutzim neighborhood of Tel Aviv, is on the one hand an alien that seems to have landed in the heart of the city's gray garage area, and on the other hand, it's probably the sweetest thing you can do for your kids.

Soft bear rolls filled with chocolate (Photo: Daniel Leila)

The Pastry Box was opened by the talented pastry chef Nurit Chitiat, and she defines the place as a sweet encounter between Paris and Tokyo.

Born and raised in Japan, and educated on the knees of the French patisserie and confectionery worlds, Chitiat combines French classics with the flavors and aesthetics of Japan.

At first glance, when you enter the place, it looks more like a display space, quiet and clean, probably different from any cafe or confectionery you have visited in your life, an elegant and stylish place.

Only when you go into the depths of things, do you realize that inside the glass aquariums scattered around the place, there are no art details (i.e., either) but desserts that are completely edible, and also terribly delicious.

Architect Oshir Asban was entrusted with the design of the place (and did an excellent job, if we may) with minimalist and quiet lines, which characterize Japanese culture.

The floor is covered with tiles that mimic the tatami rugs - mats that cover the floor;

The place is studded with unique podiums that display the daily offerings;

The walls are decorated with paintings and artefacts collected by Chiatiat's family, and Japanese signage of Tokyo's train stations is used to separate the four kitchen wings.

More on Walla!

Food

6 bakeries worth a visit in Tel Aviv

To the full article

Clean and quiet design, and a child who behaves accordingly (Photo: Yael Laor)

The same kitchen produces daily tarts, jams, sandwiches, chocolate, confectionery, breads and sweet and savory cookies - some in a classic way and some embedded with raw materials identified with Japanese cuisine, such as black sesame, yuzu, seaweed, macha, tea and more.

Pastry Box, is a dream come true, not only for every child (or child at heart) who will step on the spot, but also for Chitiat herself.

What started in the days of the Corona as a venture of designed boxes (hence the name of the place), with a variety of custom sweets and delicacies, has gained a real place in recent months, and in our opinion, it was a desirable move.

"At The Pastry Box I seek, for the first time, to get out of the box and produce under a physical roof the fascinating encounter between French confectionery and Japanese culture, sharing an admiration for aesthetics, precision and excellent raw materials. With the openness created in Japan "It is fascinating that it will be reflected in the connection between classic pastries and unusual combinations. These can be experienced on the spot or purchased in custom packages," says Nurit.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yael Laor (@yaellaor)

So what can be found and what is so exciting here?

The daily offer is very wide and changes daily, but among the bestsellers you will find in the breads and pastries section: speckled chestnut bread - wheat dough in three colors (NIS 32), which has already become a bestseller associated with the place, Japanese pan melon rolls - soft 'cloud' rolls in a shell Sugared crunchy dough (NIS 14), chocolate and maccha unicorn - a Japanese unicorn-shaped milk bun filled with chocolate and maccha muslin cream (NIS 17 per unit), and there are also additional fillings.

There is a selection of cakes and desserts that vary, such as chestnut tart with marsala muslin cream and candied chestnuts (NIS 9 per slice, NIS 350 for a whole cake).

Different types of chocolates and pralines.

The special breads are also made into fresh sandwiches that also change, such as a unicorn filled with wasabi, chili oil, sour cream and feta, fresh cherries, cucumber and sprouts.

There are hazelnuts coated in yuzu and raspberries (sold by weight starting from packages of NIS 30), jams and spreads such as pineapple jam and lemon grass, sweet black sesame spread, strawberry jam and basil and more.

There are popsicles in the shape of animals: strawberry ice cream in a cat-shaped chocolate coating, vanilla ice cream in a cat-shaped chocolate coating, cremboes in varying flavors such as marshmallow creme brulee made from smoked chocolate-coated marshmallow ice cream (NIS 18), frozen creme brulee (NIS 15) and more. .

Popsicles in the shapes of animals and many other surprises (Photo: Daniel Leila)

Make no mistake, the desserts are exciting for children, but certainly appeal to an adult target audience, there is a great selection of puffs and eclairs, which are made great according to the rules, in surprising flavors that will delight any human being, even one who has crossed the 30s and beyond.

It is difficult to cover everything there is to eat here in one visit, so most visitors to the place, are also tempted to pack boxes home.

The place still works very hard in deliveries, and you can catch up with the courteous staff at WhatsApp on the daily menu, and order delivery.

It really is one of the sweetest deliveries you can get as a gift or order as a treat for hospitality, but listen to us, do not miss a visit to this place.

• Food

• Food News

Tags

• coffee shop

• Confectionery

• Japan