Bakery Lamp [Mimi's World Tour]

Bakery: Bakery Lamp 
Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture
Website: facebook 
Style: Japanese
Price: $$ 

I think that whenever there's mention of a "hideaway" place, a sort of secret spot in some back alley or up/down a pair of nondescript stairs, it's usually a cafe or a restaurant. Maybe a quirky boutique. It's almost impossible for that to be a bakery and yet this time around, Bakery Lamp is indeed a "hideaway" bakery, located just behind the main boulevard leading up to Himeji castle in a lovely narrow alleyway that gives you the impression that you've just stepped into a bakery's back kitchen. Inside, the bakery is just as narrow as the passageway leading to it with workers running back and forth with cookie sheets and people (many with burgers) manoeuvring around hodgepodge tables filled with round plates of rustic baked goods and the old building's supportive pillars. A bit like being invited to a big impromptu buffet at a quirky friend's house. It is indeed a special place.

Somewhat in keeping with the eclectic, perhaps even eccentric atmosphere, the baked goods are more rustic, artisan-style.Upon further examination, however, I found that most items were of the savoury variety, including lots of cheese buns, breads and bagels. Though there were also croissants, red bean buns, and breads with fruit and nuts, the selection was more bready, and not necessarily sweet.

Still, I did end up picking out one item: ever since my inaugural one in Kyoto, I'd been on a bit of a melon bun roll and I just couldn't resist the earl grey melon bun here (151 yen). Not quite as perfectly round and perfectly covered as other bakeries, though there was definitely something charming about that in and of itself, Bakery Lamp's version was dotted with tea leaves throughout. The dough was airy, a bit stiff with a nice crunchy topping. Good texture, very good taste. Out of all the three bakeries I visited, Bakery Lamp has to be my bakery pick for Himeji.

Rating: ***