"Shime Parfait" is a way to finish off a night in Sapporo after enjoying delicious food and alcohol. Even before the name became well-known, there were restaurants that offered parfaits and other sweet treats to go with alcohol.

A name was given to the dessert, and in 2015 the Sapporo Parfait Promotion Committee was established with the desire to "bring it to as many people as possible", which also provided a boost, and specialty shops began to appear one after another.

Nowadays, you can enjoy parfaits with a variety of different presentations and ideas, including shops that use seasonal ingredients collected from all over Hokkaido, a treasure trove of food, and homemade soft serve ice cream and gelato made from high-quality raw milk, and that pay attention to even the smallest details.

The gorgeous and elegant appearance is so appealing that you can't help but take a camera or smartphone with you, making it a work of art. Many people line up in front of the store every day to try the "Shime Parfait," and it is spreading widely as a "new food culture" in the town.

A modern space enveloped in soft lighting

"INITIAL Sapporo," located in a building on the 5th block of the "Tanukikoji Shopping Street," is one of the stores that supports this "Shime Parfait" culture. We explored the appeal of this store, which is popular with both men and women for its "original parfait ideas."

When you open the elevator doors leading to the shop, the first thing you'll see is a flower arrangement that changes with the seasons. Behind it, the modern concrete space and warm orange lighting create a calming atmosphere.

Enjoy the "marriage of alcohol and dessert"

Manager Sasayama Junji graduated from a confectionery school and said he "wanted to work in the sweets industry," and while sampling a variety of sweets he was "impressed by the beauty of the appearance and the balance of flavors."

"I'm in the habit of researching things on a regular basis. For example, I'll go to a department store to get ideas, read books, or check social media. I sometimes get inspiration not only from sweets, but also from other dishes. When I visit a restaurant to eat, I discover new combinations, so I try to actively incorporate those kinds of ideas."

The concept is "the marriage of alcohol and dessert." He says he has made it a habit to study how to craft the composition of the parfait so that he can enjoy the story that unfolds inside the glass to the very end.

A carefully crafted parfait centered around seasonal fruits

The ever-popular "Strawberry All You Can Eat" has different strawberry varieties depending on the day.
It comes with three types of soft serve and balsamic marinade, offering a variety of flavors and textures.

The appeal of the parfaits offered at "INITIAL Sapporo" is, above all, their commitment to using "seasonal fruits." For the menu items that can only be enjoyed during a certain season, the main fruit is decided first, and then the surrounding parts and toppings are added.

Fruits such as strawberries, peaches, cherries, Shine Muscat grapes, and mangoes are delivered directly from contracted farmers not only in Hokkaido but all over the country, and are piled tightly to the bottom of the glass, making them very satisfying to eat.

The soft serve ice cream, which brings out the best in the ingredients, is made using raw milk from the Konsen region of Hokkaido, known for being ideal for dairy farming. The shop also offers gelato sprinkled with whole fruit, and a soft serve made with a blend of five types of chocolate, showing the attention paid to even the finest ingredients.

Herbs and spices create a sophisticated taste

The "Blood Orange Cocktail" uses fully ripe blood oranges.
A carbonated drink with crushed fruit pulp. Recommended for those who don't like strong alcohol.

"INITIAL Sapporo" is unique in that it is not only "sweet" but also "an adult parfait with an accent". By incorporating a good balance of sourness and bitterness and adding herbs and spices, you can enjoy the change in taste.

"Our company runs other restaurants, but INITIAL was started as a challenge to enter a new field. Before this place it was a curry restaurant, and we were particular about spices, so the knowledge we gained there is also put to good use in our parfaits and drinks," says Sasayama.

Herbs and spices are used in the fruit cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks that go perfectly with the parfaits, and the herbal tea is carefully selected from a North German tea brand to go perfectly with the parfaits. Both the parfaits and drinks have a refreshing taste that leaves no aftertaste, making them the perfect way to finish off a meal.

Accommodating a variety of situations

INITIAL Sapporo has not only table seating but also sofa seating, allowing you to spend your time relaxing and unwinding.

People come alone, with family, friends, or loved ones, and sometimes in groups. As a "Shime Parfait" shop, it opens early, so you can casually drop in like you would at a cafe, which is another way to enjoy it.

Enjoy the taste of each ingredient

"Because we are a shop that specializes in fruit, it makes me very happy when I hear customers complimenting each other on how delicious our products are, saying things like, 'The strawberries are so tasty,' or 'The mangoes are so sweet,'"

Sasayama-san talked about the shop's commitment, saying, "Initial's parfaits are made so that you can clearly taste each and every part as you eat them. The aftertaste changes depending on the order in which the parts are placed, so we try to make it so that it ends on a refreshing note."

Treat yourself to a good day or chat with someone you like until the early hours of the night. This "art decorated with seasonal fruits" will add a touch of elegance to the end of your day.

INITIAL Sapporo（イニシャル サッポロ）
電話番号：011-211-0490
住所：北海道札幌市中央区南3条西5丁目36−1 Ｆ.DRESSビル 2F
アクセス：地下鉄「すすきの駅」より徒歩4分程度
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/initial_sapporo/
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