Buttered Up at Échiré Maison du Beurre

50 SHADES OF TOKYO DESSERTS | SHADE 15

As Julia Child once said there is no such thing as too much butter, and I couldn’t agree more. There are only few things more satisfying and comforting than a slither of creamy butter on a freshly backed warm bread. Don’t you think? 

If your mouth already started watering then you are at the right place, because this week’s 50 Shades of Tokyo Desserts takes you to a butter paradise, a.k.a. Échiré Maison du Beurre. 

For seasoned foodies Échiré needs no introduction. This producer of premium quality cultured butter was established over a century ago in France and has achieved international acclaim for its alleged smooth, light texture and subtle creamy taste. All the milk for this exceptional butter comes from farms 19 miles or less from the village of Échiré. It is largely favored by many Michelin-starred and high-end restaurants around the world. 

In Tokyo this butter boutique is located at Marunochi Brick Square where food lover Tokyoites line up every morning with the same enthusiasm that you would associate with high-end chocolatiers. As soon as you step inside you are engulfed by the intoxicating whiff of fresh-from-the-oven buttery pastries. 

While butter is the highlight of the store, the boutique causes the biggest buzz for their delicious baked goods. From my preliminary research I knew they offer cakes, ice-cream as well as classic French baked pastries like croissants, financiers, and madeleines. The latter two are exactly what I decided to devour. Well, to be quite honest, both times I visited in the afternoon and everything else was sold out! Ugh! 

Anyway, I surely was not disappointed. Croissants where amazing: a beautiful golden brown, with perfectly flaky and a delicate, light-as-air texture.  Containing 50-percent Échiré butter (either salted or unsalted), they are so rich you could almost spread them on toast. 

When we compared the taste of madeleines and financier, both Mr. B and I liked financiers more. They were more moist, flavorful and oh so delightfully buttery. While madeleines were tasty as well, they seemed a bit dry to me. 

There is no space to sit down and enjoy your treats inside the store, however you can have a snack at the lovely back yard of Marunochi Brick Square. I love that place, especially on a sunny day. It has a European feel to it and the atmosphere is very relaxing. 

Address: Marunouchi Brick Square 1F, 2-6-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

Hours: 10:00 A.M. – 08:00 P.M.