Bake Cheese Tart at Tenjin Chikagai

I first heard about Bake Cheese Tart through a good friend of mine. The face she had while raving about it was akin to someone in total euphoria while ever so gently twisting a Q-tip in his/her ear. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. One of the best feelings in the world.

So anyway, my boys and I saw a branch in Osaka, but the long line made us put off our quest to have a taste. A few days later, we saw another branch at an underground mall in Fukuoka called Tenjin Chikagai. 

I took a quick gauge at the short queue and decided that it's not that all bad. I positioned myself at what I thought was the end of the line only to be gently tapped on the shoulder by one of the crew while pointing towards the alley where the fire exit is. I told her, "I will buy cheese tarts", to which she replied, "Yes, thank you. Line there."

I wasn't able to take a photo of the area where the lady led me to, but it was the stairs leading to the fire exit, and the end of the line was all the way to the top {about three flights}! But you know what? Those cheese tarts are worth the one-hour {almost} wait.

Bake Cheese Start is an offshoot of a well-established pastry shop in Sapporo named Kinotoya. The eldest son {Shintaro Naganuma} of Kinotoya's president {Akio Naganuma} decided to sell their chilled blueberry cheese tarts freshly baked and without the toppings. After a few tweaks, the addicting cheese tart was born, and a cult following soon developed.

While the belly-churning aroma was wafting through the air like crazy, I was mentally calculating how many boxes I will buy as pasalubong. When I got to the counter, my heart cracked a little. Apparently, they only sell one dozen per person max. Better than nothing, I say.

The creamy mousse strikes a particularly good balance between sweet and sharp. They combine three different types of cheese for the mousse: Hakodate cheese, Betsukai cheese, and the third is a French one. 

I want it all!!!

The tart pastry is twice baked, and has a chewy bite to it. Also, they can hold the mousse better due to thickness. I like these cheese tarts a lot because they're not too sweet and the consistency is not runny. 

So, it was reported that a Manila store is in the works! I hope that they will push it through! I also hope that it's just as good!

Bake Cheese Tart

Fukuoka Tenjin Chikagai, 2 Chome Tenjin, Chuo Ward, 

Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0001, Japan

Tel. No.: +81 92-791-1383

Operating Hours: 9AM–9PM

Website: www.bakecheesetart.com

Facebook: Bake Cheese Tart

Onward and Upward!