New green leaves have started to dazzle. May 16th is “Travel Day,” named after the haiku poet Matsuo Basho, who left Edo (Tokyo) on the same day in 1689 to embark on the journey of “Okunohosomichi” (The Narrow Road to the Deep North). It was for 156 days, or about 2,400 km, on foot from the Sumida River in Tokyo to head to the north by the Nikko Kaido Road, visiting places such as Shimono, Mutsu, Dewa, Echigo, Kaga, and Echizen. The poems he composed in each place are inscribed on stone monuments, and even today, many people travel to the stone monuments along the route Basho took. It is the season when the fresh breeze makes you want to hit the road. It is a good idea to take a trip to a place a little farther than usual to hear the sound of wind, water, insects, and the chirps of birds. Our pair of seasonal canelés for this month, ”Lemon” and “Yomogi” are available from the 1st of May. Lemon canelés are decorated with fondant made from lemon juice and lemon peel. The refreshing, clean smell and sourness of lemons make them suitable for early summer. Yomogi canelés are made with yomogi-mixed dough, decorated with red bean paste mixed with yomogi, and dolled up with sweet red beans and freeze-dried mochi rice cakes. The tender sweetness may bring you a little happiness.

新緑がきらきら眩しい季節になりました。5月16日は「旅の日」です。1689年同日、俳人・松尾芭蕉が江戸を立ち、「おくのほそ道」の旅へと旅立ったことから名づけられました。東京の隅田川から日光街道を北へ進み、下野・陸奥・出羽・越後・加賀・越前などを巡る156日間・約2400kmにも及ぶ徒歩の旅でした。そうして各地で詠まれた歌は、石碑などに刻まれ、今でも芭蕉の辿った道を歩き石碑を巡る旅をする方も多いそうです。爽やかな風に誘われて出かけたくなる季節。風や水の音、虫の声や小鳥の囀りなどを感じながらいつもより少し遠くへ足を伸ばしてみるのもいいかもしれません。5月の季節のカヌレは「檸檬」と「よもぎ」が、5月2日(木)よりお目見えです。「檸檬」はレモンの果汁を入れたフォンダンにレモンピールをのせました。爽やかなレモンの香りがどこまでも広がる、初夏にぴったりのカヌレです。「よもぎ」はよもぎ生地の上によもぎ入りの餡を絞りかのこ豆と氷餅を散らしました。よもぎのやさしい甘さに「小さな幸せ」が込み上げてくる一品です。