Kagoshima’s bakery offers gently sweet baked goods made with island raw sugar
Tart and quiche from Le chat noir
A bakery, Le chat noir, opened in a residential area of Ikenoue, Kagoshima City, on May 4.
The owner, Yokoyama Chiho, has been involved in bread-making for over 15 years and decided to open her first bakery. She offers bread made with stone-milled wheat flour and Shima Zarame, or raw coarse sugar produced on the island, with the hope of providing bread made with ingredients that she can be satisfied with. “I don’t use white sugar in my bread. I even use Shima Zarame for my Melon Pan bun, which is popular for its gentle sweetness and aroma,” she said.
Yokoyama makes more than 40 kinds of bread, but 20 to 30 kinds are on the shop shelves depending on the day. Popular items include croissants (180 yen) and plain bread (400 yen). Her quiche, which changes daily, is also well-received, and the lineup includes Tomato and Cheese, Olive and Chicken, Bacon and Cheese, and Legumes with plenty of vegetables. They are all priced at 330 yen.
In addition to bread, six types of baked goods are available at the bakery, with Cashew Nut and Cranberry Pound Cake, Banana Bread, and Financier being the top sellers. The prices range from 200 to 250 yen. “Banana bread is a kind of pound cake, but it is a little heavier because it contains bananas. The sweetness is just right because of Shima Zarame,” she explained.
“I want to provide products that are not only delicious, but that people can give to their children without worrying about what is inside. As the shop is located in a residential area, I want to make it a place that locals would love,” Yokoyama added.
Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (or until sold out). Closed on Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays, and national holidays.