B

e it as a delightful appetizer or dessert, a crepe is also satisfying for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

A new place, Momi & Toy’s Crêperie, is perfect for indulging one’s taste buds with the tantalizing “torokeru
crepe”.

Defined as “creamy with a superb melting texture” in Japanese, the torokeru crepe has vastly contributed to how a crepe should taste today.

Created by pastry chef Toichi Kawakami, the founder of Momi & Toy’s Crêperie, the torokeru crepe has become a major sensation in Japan since it was first introduced in 2005.

Today, there are 80 Momi & Toy’s outlets all over Japan, three branches in Shanghai, China, and six more in Taipei, Taiwan. The Momi & Toy’s Crêperie in Jakarta’s Plaza Senayan shopping Center in South Jakarta is its first outlet in Southeast Asia.

The paper-thin torokeru crepe is velvety and chewy.

“Usually crepes are made of flour and eggs, but Kawakami adds almond powder to the batter, which makes the torokeru crepe very soft and easily melts in your mouth,” explains Yasumasa Yokohama, the co-founder of Momi & Toy’s Crêperie Indonesia.

Another unique thing about the crepe is that it is freshly baked on a flat iron pan for only 20 seconds, and when served, it is evenly cooked and doesn’t feel hot at all.

And the whipped cream – the essential filling for the sweet torokeru crepes –is very tasty and light with a hint of sweetness.

“The whipped cream is freshly made everyday using imported cream from France and collagen, which adds a smoother texture,” says Yokohama. These two ingredients, in fact, lend the torokeru crepe its defining characteristics.

There are 15 sweet crepes and three savory crepes on the menu for you to choose from at Momi &Toy’s Crêperie, from Banana Chocolate Cream and Honey Butter to Coconut Cream and Matcha Cream with Ice Cream.

The savory list includes Beef Yakiniku Rice and Teriyaki Chicken Rice, which is chock-full of teriyaki chicken, hot chili sauce and butter rice – a scrumptious combination that will soon become a local favorite.

As a first-time customer, I selected the Strawberry Banana Chocolate Cream – the ultimate bestseller, and the Golden Kiwi Cream for a start. For the savory crepe, I went for the Tuna Cheese Salad, another popular choice.

A scrumptious combination of sweet and sour, the Strawberry Banana Chocolate Cream is clearly fulfilling. The generous fresh fruit topping and chocolate sauce nicely balanced out the whipped cream and the crepe itself – a pleasing afternoon snack, especially for the ladies.

The Tuna Cheese Salad offers a different mouth-watering experience. The mayonnaise, which is too sour for my liking, presents a tangy flavor to the fresh tuna, sliced cheese and crisp green mixed lettuce.
A slight hint of black pepper delivers a spicy edge to the dish, portioned perfectly for lunch or dinner.

As Yokohama explains, “Many business executives, who are mostly men, order the Tuna Cheese Salad as a takeaway lunch.” It is certainly a convenient option for those who have limited time to enjoy a delicious healthy food.

But my personal favorite is the Golden Kiwi Cream. It tastes amazingly fresh and the juicy golden kiwi slices lend a natural sweetness that nicely binds all the ingredients together. I almost didn’t notice that I was totally addicted until the last bite.

At Momi & Toy’s Crêperie, the crepes are rolled into a bouquet shape, with some savory crepes simply rolled like a sushi roll and cut in half. The crepe bouquet is covered with a paper wrapper so you can hold it with both hands while eating.

Actually, this is a tricky part – crunching the delicate crepe bouquet is pretty hard without getting one’s face smeared with whipped cream while trying to firmly hold the bouquet so the toppings would not fall off. However, this part can also be a fun moment to share with friends and loved ones.

“We understand Indonesians are not used to eating crepes with both hands. That’s why we offer several special menus where we serve crepes with ice cream on a plate so customers can enjoy it using a knife and a fork,” says Yokohama.

As for the takeaway option, each crepe is securely placed inside a clear, airtight plastic bag to keep the crepe’s bouquet shape and freshness intact.

“Since the ingredients are freshly made, we highly recommend customers to consume the crepe within the same day,” advises Nurhany Amalia, private assistant to the co-founder of Momi & Toy’s Crêperie Indonesia.

The beverage menu at Momi & Toy’s Crêperie largely comprises of ice frutte, or fruit-flavored tea with real fruit slices. Apart from Ice Peach Frutte with peach slices, which I ordered and very much relished, there are also Lychee, Apple, and Lemon Frutte. The mild and clean taste of the Frutte nicely complements the rich flavor of the crepes in each refreshing gulp.

Though Momi & Toy’s Crêperie originates from the Land of the Rising Sun, it is unlike usual Japanese food and beverage outlets – there are hardly any Japanese characters or words on the menu board or brochures, only warm Japanese-style greetings blended with Indonesian from the staff.

And most of all, the Crêperie’s interior is an inviting modern space with light brown furniture beautifully set against the pale blue walls. It is a homey dining spot that reminds us of a typical cozy living room.

“In Japan, Momi & Toy’s Crêperie mostly operates as takeaway counter with a tiny service window and without any sitting areas, since the Japanese usually buy crepes as a to-go meal, so they can eat and walk at the same time,” says Yokohama.

“But many of our outlets in Japan also offer a relaxed café concept, and that is what we chose to establish here.”

Momi & Toy’s Crêperie
Plaza Senayan shopping mall
3rd Floor, Unit 302 C (4)
South Jakarta