Along with the special exhibition "Picture Books: Japan's Festivals, Festivals of the World" (through May 12) at Chiyoda Ward Library, a five-minute walk from Palaceside Building (Kudanminami 1-2-1, 9th floor of the ward office), "Meet Stories at the Bakery 2013" runs at Sakura Bakery on the 1st floor of the ward office building.
An annual collaboration with the library's events around April 23, Children's Reading Day. This year, themed on Japanese and world festivals, six original breads — "World Hot Dogs" and "Japan's Three Great Festivals Breads" — include gochujang dog (Korea)＝photo upper, shot with a fisheye lens＝ and others＝photo lower＝.
Sakura Bakery is a public-interest project run by the social welfare corporation "Midori no Kaze" under Chiyoda Ward designation — "a bakery where people with disabilities work" (see the Midori no Kaze website:http://www.chiyoda-midori.jp/sakura-gaiyou.html).
The Korean hot dog is thick frankfurter heavily coated with gochujang, a fermented food mainly of rice malt and chili powder. Gochujang is a traditional Korean seasoning also called chili miso in Japan; recipes vary, some using syrup instead of malt. Tasting it, the dog is mildly spicy but not very hot — perhaps syrup is used. Quite tasty.
The other two hot dogs are "Chili Con Carne Dog" (Mexico) and "Chicken & Potato Dog" (America). The three festival breads are "Bamboo Shoot & Asparagus Pizza with Gion Shichimi" (Kyoto Gion Matsuri), "Takoyaki-style Okonomi Pizza" (Osaka Tenjin Matsuri), and "Salt-Koji Chicken Sandwich" (Tokyo Kanda Matsuri). All 320 yen each.
Both the ward office and shop are bright glass-walled spaces. With eat-in space, fresh-baked bread tastes even better.
Closed Sundays and holidays. Original breads available through May 11.
