The owner chef of Car Van Son is Chef Keiko Ishii Van Son. Chef Keiko Ishii Van Son honed her skills at prestigious establishments like Georges Blanc and Le Royal Montsouris, and trained under the renowned French chocolatier Jean-Paul Hévin for 5 years, eventually being entrusted with all pastry making at Jean-Paul Hévin. Despite being such a renowned establishment, it is extremely popular due to limited purchasing days. Even on the restaurant's closure days on Tabelog, it says "usually closed"! Chef Keiko Ishii Van Son originally worked as a regular company employee but couldn't give up her dream of becoming a chef, so she went to culinary school. Facing opposition due to the physically demanding nature of the culinary world, she decided to focus on pastry making instead. She trained in France, returned home after immense efforts, and now offers cakes and chocolates that are beyond imagination. The restaurant often has closures and operates on an on-demand basis through GMO's reservation site, which sends out reservation notifications unexpectedly. The cakes cost over 10,000 yen and chocolates over 4,000 yen, requiring quick decisions to pick them up at specified times. It's important to have both time flexibility and economic courage. Just like the sudden encounter with the artwork of the Japanese painter Ayana Ōtake, where quick decisions were required, the same level of judgment is needed in moments like these. On the day of visit, we arrived at 3 p.m. and waited in line for about 30 minutes before entering the shop. We received the chocolate set and then decided to add lemon pound cake, florentine, and French apple pie chausson aux pommes to our order. The additional purchase took some time and caused a line to form. Especially, the chausson aux pommes was exquisite. We had a great time and returned home excited. Pairing them with coffee or wine, we had a grand chocolate festival for about two weeks. We were extremely satisfied. Everyone, please give it a try! ❤️❤️❤️ The recommended assortment of chocolates from the restaurant includes Truffle (9 pieces, more bitter than usual), Fondant au Chocolat (2 slices, individually wrapped), and Caramel Chocolat (2 large pieces).

After a week, I reunited with the Sweets King and Review Maker. On this occasion, I received some pastries from Caravan Son, which are extremely difficult to visit if you do not live in Tokyo. They were incredibly delicious, and I was truly moved to the point of calling it the ultimate taste experience.

Closed on regular holidays... mostly closed as stated. This seems challenging. But the higher the difficulty, the more humans are interested. Reservations can be made through the OMAKASE website. Since the pickup date is fixed, the difficulty level is up again. It seems that guerrilla sales are currently suspended. Two types of items are available this time: the recommended set and Fondant au Chocolat. I ordered the Fondant au Chocolat. There is a handling fee of 390 yen per piece when making a reservation. The Fondant au Chocolat comes in a pack of 10, each individually wrapped. And it comes with salt and pepper! I knew it would taste good with salt because I've tried it before, but pepper was new to me. I tried sprinkling salt and pepper on each rich Fondant au Chocolat. Wow, delicious ♡ Fondant au Chocolat with pepper apparently goes well with wine. It's a dessert for adults.

The review mentions checking the OMAKASE reservation site daily to secure a reservation for Fondant au Chocolat. The reviewer successfully reserved a set of 10 pieces for ¥5,930, with a total cost of ¥6,320 including fees. The chocolates were described as high-end, made by Valrhona with 80% cocoa, accompanied by Gerant salt and pepper. Despite the shuttered store, the reviewer found a brief window to enter and pick up the order promptly in a large paper bag. The experience was deemed worthwhile, especially for those interested in high-quality chocolate and unique flavor combinations.

I recommend the ¥12000 OMAKASE set. I made a reservation and had to wait a little at the reserved time. The cakes were delicious, including a tart with muscat and grape, peach pie, and various chocolate desserts. The passion fruit rare cheesecake was especially tasty.

One big challenge with the Fondant au Chocolat. It may seem crazy to eat this alone, but this rich Fondant au Chocolat comes out like a banana. Even if you're not a Japanese person or a Beatles fan, you'll find yourself humming "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" naturally.

A nice cake shop with a good atmosphere. You can also bring the cakes you bought to the cafe next door to eat. *Ratings are given on a five-point scale for each category. ★1 point, ☆0.5 points. Taste: ★★★☆, Atmosphere: ★★★☆, Value for Money: ★★★☆, Overall: 3.5 points.

✳️Patisserie K.ViNCENT I happened to make it in time for the reservation start time and was able to secure a reservation! Lucky!! Only pick-up was available at the storefront. I reserved the Ensemble "Pomme Granny Smith" set for 12,700 yen (including tax). The lineup is as follows. It was fewer than I expected. There were 5 types of wagashi. ①Tarte Tatin (with Chantilly) Using "Granny Smith" apples from a shop in Obuse, Nagano. I didn't realize the chantilly at first and ended up eating it as is like pudding, haha. When heated and poured over, the apple flavor became even more pronounced. The surface of the tarte tatin was crispy with a fragrant caramel, and the apples were packed with plenty of substance, providing a satisfying bite. ②Praline (homemade!) Chocolat ★ No additives such as gelatin are used. It was a very rich praline. Goes well with coffee. Amer 80% ★ Layers of rich chocolate. A slightly acidic chocolate that fills your mouth with chocolate. Mille-feuille Vanille ★ The custard is thick and delicious! The layers are thick and crispy. Mont Blanc (large) (serves 1.5-2 people) ★ Quite a big size. Mont Blanc, whipped cream, chestnut paste, meringue, and simple. It would have been nice if there was a bit more astringency from the chestnut skin. Fresh truffles (6 large pieces) ★ Crispy chocolate coating with soft chocolate inside, generously coated with chocolate on top. The assortment of baked goods includes 6 types. Ginger financiers ★ Plain financiers ★ Earl Grey madeleines ★ Strong tea aroma! Chocolate madeleines ★ Rich chocolate aroma. Matcha financiers ★ Marble financiers ★ Nothing particularly surprising. Overall, it's quite pricey. But since it's held irregularly, it has a sense of rarity.

In the 2022 Top 100 Restaurants list, I missed the chance to make a reservation when they first started offering omakase, and now I can't get a reservation at all. However, I received an email about "patisserie K.ViNCENT." At first glance, I thought it was a US aircraft carrier, but it turned out to be the name of the patissier, Keiko Ishii Vincent. I made a reservation without knowing what to choose, and later found out that the pickup time for the Fondant au Chocolat was at 4:30 pm. I took the express train from Yotsuya and ended up in Shinjuku, so I had to turn back and arrived about 10 minutes late. When I got to the restaurant, there were a few people lined up outside. I wondered if I still had to wait despite having a reservation. However, a woman in black clothes informed me, "If you have a reservation, please go ahead." When I tried to open the door, it was locked, so I had to knock and ask to be let in. I wondered if the people waiting in line were perhaps waiting for the restaurant to open to the public later. The business model of the restaurant remains a mystery. The Fondant au Chocolat costs 5000 yen, and the payment is deducted from your card when you make the reservation. You just need to pick it up on the day at the scheduled time. It's relatively close to the side of Iidabashi Station where there is a university, on the opposite side of the ticket gate, towards Suidobashi. I have never gotten off on this side before. The Fondant au Chocolat is made with Valrhona's 80% cocoa and Japanese raw sugar, with a garnish of fleur de sel and freshly ground white pepper. It is recommended as a companion to alcohol. Since they didn't have fleur de sel, I tried sprinkling Maldon salt instead. After letting it rest in the refrigerator for a few days, I finally opened it. I cut it into three equal pieces, about 15mm thick, and placed fleur de sel and white pepper on a plate. The first bite was rich in chocolate and cheese flavors, surprisingly sweet. The second bite, with salt and pepper, brought out a nutty aroma and depth of flavor. This pairs well with fortified wine or cognac. It's too overpowering for wine; this is amazing. The 80% Amer chocolate costs 800 yen. Some say it's too sweet, but with such intense chocolate, a bit of sweetness might actually be good. Just like the aftertaste of a small fin of marinated fish, the cocoa flavor lingers after the richness and sweetness of the chocolate. It's expensive but delicious. The Chausson aux Pommes costs 560 yen. It has a strong apple flavor with a balanced acidity, and the pastry has a slight sweetness, leaving a slightly acidic aftertaste. Apple pies are usually very sweet, so this is a nice change. Keiko Ishii Vincent is a patissier who can be called the right-hand man of Jean-Paul Hévin, specializing in relatively classic French traditional pastries, but it seems like they haven't quite adapted to Japan. However, the location, system, and service of the restaurant are full of mysteries.

I finally visited Patisserie Caravanson that I had been curious about. According to a note on Tabelog, they are mostly closed, what does that mean?? I had been curious about this place for a while. When I saw a sudden opening on the reservation site OMAKASE, I immediately made a reservation. Upon arriving at the restaurant, the staff greeted each person very politely, so it took longer than I expected. I bought a Gateau Chocolat and a pudding, both had a very elegant and delicious taste. I would like to purchase them again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

It was my first visit to this restaurant after struggling to make a reservation. I tried the Amer 80%, Barquette au Marron, and Praline Chocolat. The Amer 80% had a rich chocolate topping that packed a punch, but the sponge underneath was surprisingly light and balanced it out nicely. The Barquette au Marron had a strong chocolate cream with a distinct chestnut flavor, yet it felt light. It was a stylish treat similar to a mille-feuille. The Praline Chocolat had a modest chocolate cream with a rich chocolate coating, and a hint of raspberry at the bottom. It had a simple yet lingering deliciousness.

[2022 Sweets Top 100 Stores Completion] This patisserie near Kagurazaka requires reservations and is a bit of a hassle. For 5300 yen, the reservation includes three petit gateaux and four truffles. Honestly, I felt like one truffle in the chocolate tart was enough. The limited-time white chocolate baked goods from Vert available for in-store purchase were delicious, especially the praline. The (large) Mont Blanc didn't taste much different from a regular store-bought one.

I received a surprise gift on Mother's Day (even though I'm not a mother). I didn't know this restaurant at all, but I was deeply impressed to learn that it's a very valuable place for sweets. I had ◯Amer 80% for around 4600 yen? I had it with a decaf black, holding the whole bar (of course, for myself). It's very rich and has a nice aroma. I don't know much about chocolate, but even I can tell that it's high quality. It's seriously delicious. When I eat something sweet with sugar prominently, it affects my health, causing my blood vessels to constrict and my blood pressure to rise. But with this Amer, no change in my condition no matter how much I eat. I had a full dinner that night, yet I devoured 60% of it in one go (feeling very guilty). But it's a taste that makes you want to eat it despite that guilt. Oh... chocolate, or rather cocoa, is so profound. It was decorated with carnations for Mother's Day, but after biting into one, it seems they're not edible flowers, so I just admired them. I took many photos before indulging (laughs). ☆Thank you for the meal☆

Tabelog's top-ranked chocolate shop, known as the god of Japanese chocolates. You can only buy by reservation with omakase. I bought it for my dear friend's birthday! My friend loves chocolates, so I really wanted to treat them to the chocolates from this shop! After making a reservation for omakase at a specific time slot, I was surprised to see a line even for pick-up. Truly amazing. The item I reserved was the Fondant au Chocolat. It's a flourless chocolate, so it melts in your mouth with just one bite! The sweet and bitter flavors hit your tongue like waves. I've never had chocolate like this before! And it definitely makes you crave for some alcohol! Inside the package, there were unexpected flavor-changing items, salt and pepper! The salt is quite coarse, and the pepper is white pepper. The sweet and salty taste is surprisingly delicious, and with the coarse salt, the texture becomes more complex, making it even more suitable as a snack with alcohol. My friend said they want to eat it again next year, so I would be grateful if I could make a reservation again next year!

Takeout * Cake damage [Tabelog Sweets TOKYO Top 100 Stores 2022] ■ Set of 3 types of petit gateaux and 1 box of truffles (4 large pieces) ¥5,300 (tax included) One of the most difficult-to-purchase cakes in Tokyo is likely from "Patisserie Caravanson." It is led by owner patissier Keiko Ishii, who trained under chocolatier Jean-Paul Hevin and worked at JEAN-PAUL HEVIN. Due to long lines, purchases are now only available by reservation through the Omakase website, limited to a few days each month. As noted on Tabelog, they are "mostly closed." Despite the challenges, I made my first purchase. Cake types and visit times were specified in 30-minute intervals, so I bought within that timeframe. On the day of my visit, there was a line outside the store. I lined up for my designated time slot. After stating my name, I received a prepared paper bag and finished the transaction. Additionally, you can purchase baked goods displayed in the showcase on the spot. The cakes were a bit messy due to circumstances, causing the box to be crushed. It was unfortunate but unavoidable. The truffles were truly delicious. The 3 types of petit gateaux had a same-day expiration date. Being fresh sweets, this was expected, but it was a bit challenging to purchase moderately sized cakes and have to eat them all at once. Personally, I wish cakes were more accessible. While this may not be their branding strategy, it makes you ponder due to their immense popularity and the systems in place.

I visited the elusive patisserie "Patisserie Caravanson" where you can only purchase sweets with a reservation. I found out on the OMAKASE website that you could purchase sweets from "Patisserie Caravanson" for only two days, so I got ready with my smartphone at the reservation time of 8:00 p.m. When I accessed the site exactly at 8:00 p.m., the earliest time slot at 3:00 p.m. was already full! I managed to make a reservation for the 3:10 p.m. slot. The sought-after "Bramley Apple Tart Tatin Set (12,800 yen + reservation fee of 390 yen)" sold out in about 3 minutes. Truly a popular store. On the day of the visit around 3:00 p.m., there was already a line formed. I waited for about 5 minutes near the store before joining the line. Occasionally, staff members would come out from the store and say something, but I couldn't hear them. With a sense of unease, the line moved forward, and after about 10 minutes of waiting, I heard a voice saying, "For the 3:10 reservation," and the person in front of me raised their hand and entered the store. It seemed the person in front of them had a reservation for 3:20. After a few more minutes of waiting, I was called as the "3:10 reservation" and entered the store safely. Inside the store, there was a showcase with baked goods displayed on top. Since only baked goods could be additionally purchased on the day, I bought meringue sweets. Please note that the purchases made through OMAKASE are pre-paid by credit card (non-refundable even if canceled), while purchases made on the day are cash only. I returned home with a paper bag full of sweets. The excitement rose as one sweet after another came out of the bag. The same-day expiration date sweets included 5 types: - Tart au Pomme - Tart Tatin - Chocolat Framboises - Chocolat Orange - Crème Brûlée Vanilla Truffle The truffle chocolates and baked goods had a slightly longer expiration date, so I saved them for another day (since it's just my husband and me...). - Truffle Chocolate 1 box (9 pieces) - Baked goods (Assorted 6 types of Financier) I started a sweet party with sparkling wine. - Tart au Pomme: Crispy pie crust with plenty of compote and sliced apples. It feels like the ultimate apple pie, especially when paired with plenty of fresh fruits. - Tart Tatin: More than 2 apples are used per slice, with a caramelized surface. The balance of sweetness and acidity, coldness and warmth is just right and delicious when served with whipped cream and sauce. - Chocolat Orange: This chocolate mousse with intense chocolate orange peel and juicy French orange confit, balanced with the sweetness, aroma, and acidity of Kawanishi Bankan juice, was exceptionally delicious. - Chocolat Framboises: It took 9 years to complete. A cake with a smooth melt-in-your-mouth texture, with chocolate mousse and a tangy concentrated raspberry sauce. I really liked this one. - Vanilla Crème Brûlée: The surface is caramelized, and as it melts in your mouth, the elegant aroma of vanilla wafts through your nose. This one is delicious too. It was a very satisfying sweet party. There may only be a chance once a month, but I would definitely like to try different sweets again. Thank you for the feast.

"Purchased the 'Bramley Apple Tart Tatin Set' for 12,650 yen (tax included). ■ Set Contents: 5 types of fresh sweets ○ Tart Tatin (made with Bramley apples) ○ Re-O-Le Anperial 'Rice Bavarois' (made with Granny Smith apples) ○ Seasonal Lemon Tart 'Tart au Citron' (made with domestically grown pesticide-free lemons) ○ Millefeuille Chocolat ○ 1/2 Mont Blanc ○ Truffles 1 box (4 large pieces) ○ Fondant au Chocolat 1 box. ■ Impressions: These are the thoughts of an amateur. The cream is mildly sweet and gives a light impression. The fruit is very juicy. The apple Tart Tatin has an elegant tartness with minimal sweetness, and a fragrant accent. When eaten with the cream on top, the flavors come together nicely. The Mont Blanc has a unique use of spices. The chocolates have a strong bitter flavor. The Fondant au Chocolat has a bitter and rich taste that becomes addictive. Overall, these sweets may not appeal to everyone, but they were purchased as souvenirs and the recipients were very pleased. They especially praised the fruit sweets. It seems there are differences in preferences. Thank you for the meal."

This is a shop where you need to make a reservation to purchase items, as it is closed for most of the year. It's a small shop located just past JCHO Tokyo Shinjuku Medical Center, and doesn't look like a cake shop. Luckily, I was able to make a reservation for White Day, so I purchased a 6,000 yen set and two cakes at the store on the day. The cakes purchased at the store cost around 1,800 yen each, so it seems to be quite a high-end store. I ate them right away, but if asked if they tasted as good as their price, I would have my doubts. It might be more of a rarity factor that pushes up the evaluation. I noticed that the young women who purchased them were taking multiple photos at the store, so I think many people upload them to Instagram in this way. Once is enough. *Added note: I ate the baked goods at home later. The brownie is really delicious, at a top-tier level. The lemon cake, on the other hand, is dry and mediocre. I don't think it's worth 6,000 yen for this.

A patisserie in Iidabashi. It used to be famous for having few opening days and being hard to get, but now you need to make a reservation through "OMAKASE," and even that is hard to come by, making it like a legendary patisserie. Therefore, as the last of the TOKYO Top 100 stores, I couldn't go for a long time. On this day, I saw chocolates being sold for White Day and reserved a truffle chocolate. I went to the store at the reserved time. Inside the store, there were some baked goods for sale, and I added caramel to my purchase. I enjoyed the sweets at home. The truffle is very fine and has a fluffy texture rather than being gooey. The sweetness is exquisite. The caramel has bitterness and occasional saltiness within its sweetness, creating a perfect balance. It's no wonder it's so popular. I'd like to try their cakes someday.

Visited for White Day gifts for my wife and daughter. ◎ Visit timing - Saturday 13:00, 5 people waiting - Entered at 13:10, left at 13:20 ◎ Order - Truffle box with 8 pieces (¥3,450) - Crispy on the outside, moist and melting inside, with a smooth texture. Balanced nuttiness and fruitiness, a memorable deliciousness! Costs over 400 yen per piece, but the quality justifies the price. - Chausson aux pommes (¥500) - Apple might be Red Delicious, distinct tartness, subtle sweetness. The pie crust is crispy and delicious! ◎ Bill - ¥3,950 Despite Caravanson's infamous reputation for limited operating days and set prices, I personally found the food satisfying. I would like to try their Tarte Tatin someday, but it's a bit too pricey to go over 10,000 yen with the set. Thank you for the meal.

- Petit Gateaux Set of 3 and Truffle (¥5,400) - Johnson Opomu ¥540 Although they are not open much, Carvanson's reputation for taste is quite good. They operate during events, so I got the White Day set ✨ The Petit Gateaux included: - Gâteau Tamina - Chocolat Orange - Balquette Marron With a set of 1 box of truffles. On the day of the visit, they asked if I wanted anything else, so I added Johnson Opomu that was on display. Since it was White Day, and knowing that the pastry chef was trained under Jean-Paul Hevin, who I really admire for his chocolates, my expectations were high. - Gâteau Tamina: A Swiss classic cake with layers of chocolate sponge and light milk chocolate mousse, alternating 10 layers. The mousse is made with ganache, custard, and whipped cream, creating a rich chocolate cake. I'm not a big fan of sponge and cream, so I wouldn't choose a shortcake style if I had to pick, but the amount of cream on top in the set was quite intense, with a rich chocolate cream and dense layers. - Chocolat Orange: Made without any flour, using homemade almond paste dough with pesticide-free orange peel from Kumamoto and juicy oranges from France. The chocolate mousse had a richness similar to Bonbon Chocolat, with a substantial and delicious combination of refreshing orange, fruity flavor, and rich chocolate. - Balquette Marron: A moist tart base with cassis, French chestnut mousse, and coated with homemade chocolate. The combination of chocolate and cassis was excellent, with the refreshing acidity complementing the chocolate. The chestnut mousse with a hint of rum fragrance was delicious. - Johnson Opomu: Bought on the spot and it was a great choice. The apple pie crust and the green apple confiture inside were excellent. - Truffle: A blend of several chocolates and cream without alcohol or sugar, with a fluffy texture and a distinctive cocoa aroma that lingers in the nose. It's amazing how they make sweets without using sugar.