With entrance exams for university, junior high, and high school just around the corner, exam season is finally in full swing. At “chez inoue” in Nishinomiya-kitaguchi, they sell a good-luck sweet called the “Gokaku Madeleine” (Pass-the-Exam Madeleine).
It is not a limited-time item and is sold year-round, but it seems to sell especially well around this season.
So this time, we visited “chez inoue,” took a look around the shop, and bought the much-talked-about “Gokaku Madeleine.”
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Nishikita Pastry Workshop “chez inoue” Exterior
It is located on the northwest side of Hankyu Nishinomiya-kitaguchi Station.
Here is the exterior of the shop.
There is also a sign for the “Gokaku Madeleine” outside the shop.
Inside Nishikita Pastry Workshop “chez inoue”
When you enter the shop, the first thing you notice is the large display case.
It is filled with delicious-looking fresh cakes.
The “Gokaku Madeleine” we came for was displayed in several spots.
We will buy some later to take home.
The “Gokaku Madeleine” has also received the “Nishinomiya Good Products Certification.”
They apparently started selling the “Gokaku Madeleine” about 10 years ago, and in 2011, following a customer’s suggestion, they offered it to Hirota Shrine and prayed for wishes to be fulfilled.
There was a sign like this.
It seems they have other lucky items besides the “Gokaku Madeleine.”
Looking around the shop, we found all kinds of other items too.
This is a cider called “Sakura Saita.”
It is an original cider from “Sakura FM,” with a subtle cherry blossom flavor.
Next to it was a card they received from an illustrator who is a Haruhi fan.
It looks like Mikuru-chan also visited the shop and bought a “Gokaku Madeleine.”
There were also various lucky icing cookies.
This one is an “omamori” charm.
This is an icing cookie featuring a rabbit character called “Negai Kanausa!”
They also had cookie sets in pointe shoe-shaped packages for ballet gifts, and music note-shaped icing cookies for piano gifts.
Products specifically for ballet and piano… I guess that says something about the area.
Products from Nishikita Pastry Workshop “chez inoue”
We bought some “Gokaku Madeleines” and a few icing cookies to take home, so let us introduce them.
First is the “omamori” cookie.
This is the “Negai Kanausa!” cookie.
Both are hand-drawn one by one, so a lot of work goes into them.
The icing is probably made with egg whites, powdered sugar, chocolate, and other ingredients, so the cookies are on the sweeter side.
The designs are cute, so they would also make nice everyday gifts.
And here is the “Gokaku Madeleine.”
Let’s open the package.
The madeleine has “Gokaku” branded onto it.
When you break it open, it looks like this ↓
There are chestnuts inside.
These are called “kachiguri,” chestnuts that have been dried and had their shells and inner skins removed.
Originally, it was written as “搗栗,” but because the sound is associated with good luck and victory, it came to be written as “勝栗,” and it is still often used as a lucky item today.
This is the first time I have had a madeleine with kachiguri inside…
You can really see the chef’s attention to detail.
To all the students taking exams, be sure to eat a “Gokaku Madeleine” and do your best!
Nishikita Pastry Workshop “chez inoue” Shop Information
★Hours 9:30～19:30
★Closed Mondays
★Phone 0798-69-3128
★Address 2-15 Hyogo PrefectureNishinomiya CityMinami Showa-cho
★Related links
Website/Tabelog
(*Prices, menu items, business hours, and other details are as of the time of our visit. Please check directly with the shop for the latest information.)
