Tokyo

Tokyo hums with sophistication. Neon ads rivaling New York’s Times Square abound. But Tokyo is also a city where temples and tranquility live content next door to skyscrapers. A move to LA from Tokyo as an 18-year-old in the late ‘70s took a toll on my nervous system. Culture shock greeted me at every turn...

The love and comfort of times with dear ones was rekindled as I watched Fantasia. Classical pieces conducted by Leopold Stokowski soared; cheerful Disney-drawn characters pranced in idyllic Elysium fields soothed. It was the perfect antidote to the overwhelm of being on my own in a new country. I related to the befuddled Mickey Mouse in the Magician’s home...

A cosmopolitan crisscross of tradition and modern twists on foreign imports; Tokyo is the ultimate destination for the creative and curious. Next to a traditional ramen noodle shop, a Starbucks coffee is served. But don’t ask for decaf. The driven and diligent population drinks only the caffeinated java. (Herbal teas, however, have become en vogue.) In Starbucks Tokyo, you will find Sakura White Chocolate Coffee. (The Japanese do know how to take a good thing and improve it.) But you can also order the same Caramel Macchiato you order at home.

To celebrate the caramel coffee drink, which is popular on both sides of the Pacific, I created the Tokyo Pretzel Caramel Macchiato Cupcake. Coincidentally (wink, wink) the creation coincides with the lovely Lady Behind the Curtain, Sheryl’s Dessert Challenge to food bloggers to invent a sweet with caramel and pretzels.