Choux creme, don't bother me: Japanese cream puffs at Tutti Frutti

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Choux creme, don't bother me: Japanese cream puffs at Tutti Frutti

POSTED: Monday, July 26, 2010, 6:13 PM

Filed Under: Openings | Photos | Weird Regional Foods

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The most intriguing snack on offer at frozen yogurt bar Tutti Frutti (1315 Walnut St.), which opened earlier this month, doesn't come out of a soft-serve machine. Yes, owners Shane Sharief and Kevin Kaing offer a selection of 10 rotating live-active-culture froyo choices from a roster of 50-plus flavors, and there are gummy and crunchy and fruity toppings galore. But you should also direct your attention to the back of the store, home to a concept-within-a-concept Sharief calls Small Oven Bakery. Here, they're doling out Japanese cream puffs they are called "shu cream" by some, but TF's going with the traditional French choux crème piped to order with any number of sweet, smooth custard-y fillings, most commonly vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. Popularized by global brands like Beard Papa's, these cream puffs have long been "it" snacks in Asian countries, more recently making their light-'n'-airy way onto American soil. (To be clear, the only thing really separating a Japanese cream puff from a traditional one is the unorthodox fillings.) Tutti Frutti whips up huge batches on the premises with the help of a New York-based baker who comes to Philly every morning to tackle the tempestuous process (getting the right rise and the right texture is a job for a real pro). One choux crème filled with one of the base flavors will set you back $1.95, while it costs $2.50 to snag one of the more designer varieties, like raspberry/blueberry, green tea, mango or eclair (drenched in a coat of chocolate on the outside). Snag one and take a seat in one of the shop's escape-pod-esque alcoves with some La Colombe coffee, Godiva hot chocolate or Mighty Leaf tea.

NOW OPEN: Berry Sweet Frozen Yogurt :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-08-31 14:36:24

[...] the coming days, so check back here for more. So now there’s Berry Sweet, two Sweet Endings, Tutti Frutti, Sprinkles Kiwi, “Yogurt City” at 13th and Chestnut … and Yogorino which is not [...]

Ben Kessler

Posted 2010-07-26 13:21:30

Ever have Beard Papa's?

http://www.muginohointl.com/

Ben Kessler

Posted 2010-07-26 13:21:50

Oops... totally missed that line, haha.

Tweets that mention Choux creme, dont bother me: Japanese cream puffs at Tutti Frutti :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper -- Topsy.com

Posted 2010-07-26 13:41:21

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Philly City Paper, Jen Walker, Shao, mathu80, Meal Ticket and others. Meal Ticket said: What, exactly, is a Japanese cream puff? Just ask @tuttifruttiphl: http://bit.ly/c3Bkvv [...]

Felicia D'Ambrosio

Posted 2010-07-26 15:11:31

Cream puffs and fro-yo in one place!  Why doesn't Tutti-Frutti just hook me up to a IV of fat and I'll just give them my bank account number.

poncho

Posted 2010-07-26 17:18:29

Oh man, those little cream puffs look AMAZING!!!!

brian

Posted 2010-07-26 19:52:22

oooo i've had beard papa's before..now a place close by ahhh!

Sam

Posted 2010-07-30 16:29:13

The majority of the frozen yogurts offered at Tutti Frutti are fat free...

More 13th Street Philly froyo!? :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-08-06 15:36:59

[...] frozen yogurt parlor going in at 13th and Chestnut. What is it with 13th and froyo, y’all? Tutti Frutti just opened at Juniper and Walnut, and a second location of the 18th-and-Chestnut Sweet Ending is going in about 6 inches away at 13th [...]

Meal Ticket’s 2010 in pictures: July :: Meal Ticket :: Food Blog :: Philadelphia City Paper

Posted 2010-12-31 18:25:28

[...] - Choux creme, don’t bother me: Japanese cream puffs at Tutti Frutti [26jul10] [...]

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