DUBAI: Yamanote Atelier, the Japanese bakery and cafe, has recently opened two stores in the UAE, bringing the total number of its cafes and restaurants to eleven stores in the country.

Having launched only in 2013, the homegrown brand was curated to deliver the tastes, culture and culinary craft of Japan and France through baked goods and an elegant café culture.

The new store in Dubai serves as the flagship restaurant for the brand, which was the first Japanese Bakery to launch in the UAE seven years ago. It seats up to 80 people and is also home to the brand’s central kitchen which services all home delivery and catering.

It hosts more than four bakes a day (all baked with Japanese ingredients), 24/7, and has a team of 20 chefs working in the kitchen, all managed by its Japanese Executive Chefs, Chef Shige.

The other store in Ras Al Khaimah offers the bakery and restaurant experience to local residents, due to much popular demand as the brand continues to increase its presence in the UAE.

Dedicated to Japanese authenticity, all items baked at Yamanote Atelier are baked with Japanese flours, imported exclusively by a local Japanese partner. The kitchen itself also has eight Japanese machines, ranging from automated ovens, dough mixers and proofing machines – all supplemented by the skilled hands of the experienced bakers. Between the four main restaurants there are more than 3500 bakes completed per week.

Signature items baked at Yamanote Atelier include fluffy Japanese Bureddos (loaves) baked with different types of Japanese flour to result in the soft and fluffy consistency Japanese breads are famed for. Character breads such as the Kitty filled with Nutella, the Character Tororo or Panda Lotus Bun and famed delicacies such as the Red Bean Bun or Cheese tart – or the ever-popular Pesutoris (pastries): Souffle Cheesecake, Roll Cake and Chiffon Cake.

The team also create Parisian inspired croissants with Japanese favours such as the Rose, Matcha or Red Bean croissants, as well as Japanese confectionary consisting of a biscuit base filled with Chocolate, Matcha, Salted Caramel & Salted Caramel.

As well as its bakery, the Dubai store Al Ferdous also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with dishes such as Sadoitchi (sandwiches) such as Teriyaki Steak, Japanese Tuna and Egg sandwiches or Salmon Sashimi, Crab and Avocado and Japanese Mushroom and Rocket salads (Sarada).