味処たけだ (Ajidokoro Takeda) (Hokkaido)

You simply can't go to Hokkaido without visiting the morning markets and having a very fresh seafood meal! 

The Sankaku Fish Market  (三角市場) in Otaru is within a very short walking distance from the JR Otaru Station. You just need to turn left when walking out of the station. 

On one side, they sell fresh seafood. On the other, they have little shops dishing fresh seafood to their hungry customers.

We decided on this shop because there were the most people in this shop. After the orders are taken, the seafood is taken directly from the stall opposite this shop.

Pictures of celebrities and their signatures were plastered all over the wall.

I had a 三色井 (1500 JPY) which consisted of crab meat, prawns and scallops. Generous and large pieces of succulent scallops, sweet crab and prawn meat- everything was just shouting "fresh"!

I also tried the Grilled Salmon. This was so beautifully grilled- I haven't tasted salmon so good. None of the fishy taste, just good smoky flavour infused in the fish meat, without being dry and salty.

Service was great as well at this humble little shop which sells extraordinary seafood.

市場食堂 味処たけだ 
北海道小樽市稲穂3-10-6

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Le Tao (Hokkaido)

A Japanese friend once asked me, "Do you know if they have a sweets shop here?" Initially, I thought she was referring to a candy shop. I later realised that she was referring to Japanese desserts.

Le Tao is a very famous dessert shop in Otaru- there are 5 branches with different concepts, all located along the same stretch. 

We decided to try the Le Tao Pathos Cafe. 

The popular double fromage cheesecake is sold on the first floor. On the first floor, there is also a creperie where the crepes are paired with brownies.

The interior design of all the Le Tao branches is very tasteful. That of Pathos Cafe is whimsical.

As we were spoilt for choice (and also because we didn't understand the menu), we decided to get the  Double Plate (1365 JPY). This consists of mini pieces of cheesecakes. Let's just put it upfront that I'm not a fan of cheesecakes- but since this is so popular both with locals and foreigners, I just had to try it. 

Such a pretty plate of dessert. This consists of the famous Fromage Double, Chocolat Double and Venezia Rendezvous. The one that tasted the most familiar was the Chocolat Double which tasted pretty much like tiramisu. The Venezia Rendezvous had a tart-looking base- however it's texture was nothing like a tart. It was more flaky and crumbled easily. While the cheese was light, Le Tao hasn't converted me into a cheesecake fan. 

I was looking forward to visiting Le Chocolat of LeTao because I thought it would have chocolate-related desserts.

It turned out that it sold chocolates only and not chocolate desserts.

While the lightness and mildness of the cheese may appeal to cheesecake lovers, Le Tao is a pretty place but not the right dessert place for me.

Le Tao 
5-22 Sakaimachi, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0027, Japan

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