Tomate Farcie and More: 7 Gorgeous Lunch Plates at Bistro Quatre Avril in Tokyo

A cozy lunch at my favorite neighborhood gem, Bistro Quatre Avril in Fudomae. Loving their hearty, authentic French home cooking. Let the main dishes speak for themselves through these photos!

❶ June 5, 2025

🍅Tomate farcie à la provençale avec riz pilaf 

トマトファルシ（ひき肉詰め）プロヴァンス風 ピラフ添え

Provencal meat-stuffed tomato (tomate farcie) served with a side of pilaf rice. Simple, rustic, and absolutely delicious.

❷ June 28, 2025

Surpreme de volaille sauté sauce creme d'estragon moutarde avec riz pilaf

鶏ムネ肉のソテー クリームエストラゴンソース ピラフ添え

Sautéed chicken breast with a creamy estragon (tarragon) sauce, served with a side of pilaf rice. So tender, flavorful, and comforting. 

❸ July 5, 2025

Poulet des Caraibes façon des mamans Antillaises avec riz pilaf

鶏肉のカリブ仕立て 現地のママスタイル ピラフ添え

Caribbean-style chicken "local mom style," served with a side of pilaf rice. Wonderfully bright, zesty, and delicious!

❹ August 21, 2025

Steak haché aux deux fromages sauce provençale avec riz pilaf

ハンバーグステーキ 2種のチーズ乗せ プロヴァンスソース ピラフ添え

Hamburg steak topped with two types of melted cheese and Provencal sauce, served with a side of pilaf rice. Thick, incredibly tender, savory, and so satisfying.

❺ September 2, 2025

Bouchée à la reine au blanc de poulet et sa purée de pomme

👑ブッシェ ア ラ レンヌ（女王様の一口）マッシュポテト添え

Bouchée à la reine (puff pastry case filled with cream sauce) over a bed of smooth mashed potatoes. Flaky, creamy, and beautifully elegant. 

❻ September 6, 2025

Boulette de viande à la mediterrantéenne avec riz pilaf

肉団子の地中海風（トマトソース）ピラフ添え

Mediterranean-style meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, served with a side of pilaf rice. Juicy, big, and comforting.

❼ September 28, 2025

Cuisse de volaille sautée, pomme boulangere et legumes

鳥モモ肉のソテー ジャガイモと野菜のソテー添え

Sautéed chicken thigh with pillowy potatoes and veggies. Generous, tender, and beautifully sweet.

✧ ･ ﾟ : *    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    ✧ ･ ﾟ : * : ･ ﾟ ✧    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    * : ﾟ ･ ✧

What do you think? Each of these hearty, delicious, and healthy dishes is thoughtfully crafted by the friendly chef from Southern France. I hope the photos of main dishes and desserts that I've shared on this blog as a lunch diary series bring a little joy to your daily life—or perhaps inspire your next dining adventure in Tokyo!

And if you’re in the mood for something sweet, feel free to check out my previous post on the beautifully sweet yellow peach tart, too: 

Tokyo’s Hidden Gem: A Delightful Lunch & Yellow Peach Tart at Bistro Quatre Avril

Wishing you many happy moments✨ filled with the joy of good food...

With love, Rose

Tokyo’s Hidden Gem: A Delightful Lunch & Yellow Peach Tart at Bistro Quatre Avril

Hi everyone. You can already feel the touch of summer in the air. Today, I’m back with my usual lunch review of Bistro Quatre Avril 🍽️✨

Tarte aux peches jaunes

黄桃のタルト🍑

It’s rare for me, but I’m starting today’s post with a dessert before showing you the main lunch dish.

The dessert had a gentle sweetness, filled with wonderfully juicy yellow peaches. And whipped cream on the side is always a delightful touch, no matter which daily dessert is served. The yellow peach tart paired beautifully with my coffee as always.

Seriole roti sauce balzamique aux legumes de saison

ブリのロティ バルサミコソース 季節の野菜添え

For my main course, I went with the roasted yellowtail with balsamic reduction, served with seasonal vegetables. The fish dish was just as hearty and juicy as a meat course. Out of consideration for our health, the chef thoughtfully includes an abundance of vegetables.

Quatre Avril offers a few different lunch options that change every day. Please note that they are open for lunch on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM (L.O.).

If your travels ever bring you to Japan, I recommend stopping by this quiet Fudomae neighborhood.

Have a beautiful day❤︎❤︎

You can find my previous post on Bistro Quatre Avril here ↓
Bistro Quatre Avril Photo Diary: 5 Amazing Lunch Mains & Desserts (with a special twist🥺)

【Michigan Travelogue Special Reels Vol.1】Downtown Cafe, Rochester

"Starting today, I’ll be sharing a special 12-day consecutive series

of my favorite Michigan reels.  Stay tuned for daily updates!"

This is a special spin-off featuring video reels from my earlier days in Michigan, prior to my ongoing travel blog. I hope it brings back the beautiful atmosphere of that time.

この投稿をInstagramで見る

Rose | Charmed by Michigan(@jophielrose1)がシェアした投稿

I had such a lovely, refreshing time at this cafe, soaking in the vibes of downtown Rochester. The food🍓 looks so fresh and delicious, doesn't it? In the video, you can also catch a glimpse of the heart of North Main Street😊

Relaxing at Somerset Collection’s North Court Lounge — My Michigan Memoir

I checked out of the Holiday Inn Express Detroit-Birmingham. Like I shared before, I loved the heartwarming messages on the TV screen that said "Good Morning" and "Good Evening" along with my name. However, on the morning of my departure, I was caught off guard by a disappointing contrast. The screen bluntly read something like, "Pressing check-out will immediately deactivate your room key." If they had kept using my name and added, "How was your stay? We look forward to welcoming you back," it would have warmed guests' hearts and given the hotel a much better reputation.

Collie came to pick me up at the hotel and dropped me off at the Somerset Collection in Troy, Michigan. Leaving my suitcase in his car, I planned to spend my day there while he was off at work.

North Court Lounge in Somerset Collection North

This is my absolute favorite spot❤︎ It’s the North Court Lounge, located right near the first-floor entrance of Nordstrom in Somerset Collection North. The modern, calm atmosphere of this public lounge is so open and beautiful. As the pleasant morning light streams in, I open up my laptop... Time just seems to glide by peacefully here. 

Naturally, I had to take all my things with me every time I went to the restroom, but it was a wonderful, cozy time. Afterward, I explored the spacious Somerset Collection, browsing through so many stores. And eventually, I got incredibly hungry! After days of having biscuits and cinnamon rolls at the hotel, I was seriously craving rice with some savory side dishes. To satisfy this hunger, there was one casual spot I could easily head to—

Panda Express!

I was SO happy😂 This was exactly the kind of meal I had been dying for. When traveling in the US, Panda Express is truly a lifesaver! It completely satisfied my cravings and filled my appetite♡　

(And yes, I brought along a bottle of water I had picked up at Kroger during my hotel stay as my little companion.)

In fact, after trying it on over and over and pacing back and forth to make up my mind, I was completely exhausted—but by the time I sat down for lunch, I had finally scored a brown autumn coat at ZARA!

After a whole day of exploring the Somerset Collection, I stopped by Beyond Juicery & Eatery for the perfect wrap-up to a full, pleasant day. A refreshing smoothie was just what I needed to quench my thirst! I think I ordered the "Total Energy" smoothie with 🍓strawberry and 🍌banana.

By the way, there was a necklace at Nordstrom that I just couldn’t get it out of my head. Later during my stay in Michigan, Collie brought me back there, and I got to buy it (using the pocket money he gave me 😄) while it was still on sale.

At ZARA, I had also fallen in love with a black oversized coat. But I didn't have the courage to lug two heavy coats back to Japan, so I walked away from it. Still, since it’s a classic piece whose design changes a little bit every year, I knew I wanted the specific one I had tried on in Michigan. In the end, I managed to track it down and get it through BUYMA (a Japanese online fashion marketplace) a few months after returning to Japan!

Evening came, and Collie arrived to pick me up. "I bought an autumn coat♪ ^^" I told him. But in reality, that necklace and the black coat were still lingering in the back of my mind.

The moment I reunited with Pepper—Collie’s mom’s dog—on this trip was when I spotted him inside Collie’s car. Apparently, Collie sometimes brings Pepper back to his place to look after him or take him to the vet. "I'm so happy to see you again," I said softly, gently touching Pepper. He had grown older and frail, but was sitting upright, nestled safely inside a soft, cushioned box in the backseat.

Now, as I sit in Japan writing this Michigan memoir, I still haven't told Collie that I actually got the exact same black ZARA coat from back home.

◇ Quick Update ◇

You can now find my Pinterest and Instagram links under "FIND ME ON," just beneath the ABOUT ME section. Since I regularly update those spaces with my curated photos, they’re a wonderful place to enjoy more visual moments and stay connected between my blog posts🌷
 

Bistro Quatre Avril Photo Diary: 5 Amazing Lunch Mains & Desserts (with a special twist🥺)

Hi everyone😊 Today, I’m sharing a photo diary of lunch mains and desserts from 5 different visits to my go-to spot, Bistro Quatre Avril. (Note: Desserts are an extra charge.)

While I made sure to match the menu names exactly with Bistro Quatre Avril's Instagram, the very first main dish actually got an upgrade. The chef was kind enough to add some rare shellfish and shrimp for me! ※

May 1, 2025

Poisson roti à la dieppoise avec riz pilaf

お魚のロティ ディエポワーズ（ノルマンディの地名）風ピラフ添え

↓

※ Roasted fish dieppoise served with pilaf rice, specially

upgraded with rare shellfish and shrimp added by the chef.

珍しい貝と、海老 追加！

May 1, 2025

Gateau aux pommes

🍎りんごのガトー

✧ ･ ﾟ : *    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    ✧ ･ ﾟ : * : ･ ﾟ ✧    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    * : ﾟ ･ ✧

May 27, 2025

Ratatoulle traditionnelle, l'oeuf poché avec baguette maison

野菜たっぷりラタトゥイユとポーチドエッグ 自家製バゲット添え

↓

They were kind enough to let me switch

 the homemade baguette to pilaf rice. 🥺

自家製バゲット添えを、ピラフに変えてもらっちゃいました。

May 27, 2025

Brownie zeste d'orange, cacao de Cote d'Ivoire

コートジボワールのカカオとオレンジピールのブラウニー

✧･ﾟ: *   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆   ✧･ﾟ: * :･ﾟ✧   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆   * :･ﾟ✧

June 14, 2025

La Kedjenou Ivoire façon grande-mere avec riz

キジヌー（鶏肉の美味しい煮込み）ピラフ添え

June 14, 2025

Clafouti aux abricots

アンズのクラフティ

✧ ･ ﾟ : *    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    ✧ ･ ﾟ : * : ･ ﾟ ✧    ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆  ☾  ⋆ ⁺ ₊ ⋆    * : ﾟ ･ ✧

July 24, 2025

Gaspacho et capellini avec effiloché de poitrine de volaille

（冷製）カッペリーニ（極細パスタ）鶏肉入りガスパチョソース

July 24, 2025

Gelée d'orange d'ete aux abricots

アンズ入り夏みかんのジュレ

✧･ﾟ: *   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆   ✧･ﾟ: * :･ﾟ✧   ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆   * :･ﾟ✧

August 28, 2025

Aiguillette de poulet sauce tomate au pistou avec pate fraiche

チキンのソテー ピストゥ（バジル）とトマトソース パスタ添え

↓

They were kind enough to let me switch

 the pasta to pilaf rice again. 🥺

パスタを、またピラフに変えてもらっちゃいました。

August 28, 2025

Tarte rustique aux nectarines

ネクタリンのタルトリュスティック

I always have the best time (and the best meals) at Bistro Quatre Avril.  Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Have a wonderful day 💕

Missed the last post?

👇Read my previous Quatre Avril diary here.

A Perfect Bistro Lunch and a Hilarious Google Surprise!

A Perfect Bistro Lunch and a Hilarious Google Surprise!

One day, I went for lunch at Bistro Quatre Avril, my favorite French bistro in Tokyo. As I glanced through the glass display where they offer a rotating selection of baked goods, I noticed pain aux raisins among the offerings that day. 🥰

pain aux raisins at Bistro Quatre Avril

“I’ll save this for later.”

Thinking just that, I picked one up and settled into a counter seat inside.

　　　　　　　　　　　      

Steak haché sauce Bordelaise

ビストロのハンバーグステーキ ボルドレーズソース

I had the hamburger steak today. The one here at Bistro Quatre Avril is impressively tender, thick, and quite generous in size. It was a truly satisfying meal—and now, I have my pain aux raisins next♪

What's great about this place is that you can enjoy the pastries displayed by the window right here in the cafe, or grab some to go. I enjoyed a pain aux raisins for here along with my lunch coffee that day.

Aside from the pastries in the window, they also have rotating plated desserts on the menu:

🍰 Quare Avril Dessert Photo Diary & Matcha Happiness 

I love the laid-back vibe here. It’s well worth a visit if you’re in the area! 

◇ Quick Update ◇ 

I noticed that when you search for 'Rose' 'Charmed by Michigan' on Google, the People also search for section pops up further down the page. Some of the results are pretty hilarious. 😂

I live in a town in Tokyo near the Meguro River, where I spend my days blogging. My current Michigan Journal series is actually about my trip back in October. In addition, I share snippets of my Tokyo Daily Life, like the story I shared today.

My blog feels a bit like a memoir, but by looking back and writing about these moments, it feels like I’m reliving those experiences together with all of you. Thanks for joining me on this journey!  Rose

Sy Thai Cafe: Finding Comfort in a Thai Lunch in Birmingham, Michigan.

A hidden Thai spot for travelers craving rice and rice noodles

Monday afternoon… While most people were getting back into work mode and heading into their offices, I, as a traveler spending my days in Michigan, was wandering around downtown on my last day in Birmingham, craving something a little closer to Japanese comfort food for lunch.

And guess what—again—Sushi Japan, the place I was expecting to finally be open today, was closed😲! After a few days of happily indulging in sausage patties, biscuits, and cinnamon rolls at the Holiday Inn Express, my body was seriously starting to miss rice. I had my heart set on sushi, but at this point, I decided to switch gears and look for any kind of Asian food instead.

I was already starving by then. Then it hit me—I had noticed an Asian-style restaurant when I was exploring earlier—so I started walking in that direction.

SY THAI CAFÉ

315 Hamilton Row Birmingham, MI 48009

Phew, I made it in time for lunch! Lunch is served daily here from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Since this is Thai food, there should be rice noodles on the menu, right? 😊

Rice noodles, they were here🎉  I was so happy. I think the dish I ordered was a curry noodle with plenty of mixed vegetables. You can choose one from “chicken, pork, tofu, vegetables, beef, shrimp, squid, scallop, or imitation crab” and add it to your bowl. I went with scallops!

When the staff member asked me what spice level I’d like, I hesitated between mild and medium.

I asked, “How spicy is medium?” and he replied, “Can you handle spicy food?”  When I said I don’t usually like it too spicy, he recommended mild instead.

In the end, I realized mild was actually perfectly spicy for me. I told the staff member that his recommendation of “mild” was just right. I also liked how calm and easy to talk to he was.

Through the glass windows, I could see the downtown street clearly, and it made for such a relaxing and enjoyable lunchtime.

Sy Thai Cafe has a casual, simple interior that felt very comfortable, and the food was delicious.

If you’re in Birmingham and want to enjoy an Asian-style meal while soaking in the town’s atmosphere, this little spot is definitely worth trying—it’s a hidden gem, offering thoughtful flavor and value without feeling expensive 🥢 ✨

Quare Avril Dessert Photo Diary & Matcha Happiness

Hello😀 This is the Photo Diary of Bistro Quare Avril. I’ve got lots of lovely dessert photos saved up, so I’ll be sharing them little by little☆

April 29, 2025

Bavarois aux fraises

🍓苺のババロア

May 24, 2025

Quatre-quart au Matcha

抹茶のカトルカール

 May 29, 2025

Brownie zeste d'orange, cacao de Cote d'ivoire

コートジボアールのカカオとオレンジピールのブラウニー

June 24, 2025

Flan Parisien

フランパリジャン

August 12, 2025

Bavarois aux fraises

🍓苺のババロア

September 25, 2025

Clafoutis aux peche jaune et poire

黄桃と洋梨のクラフティ

Sitting at the counter enjoying my clafoutis, the chef just called out "Plate!" from the kitchen right in front of me. When I handed it over...

The plate returns—with an extra matcha quatre-quarts slice!😮

I love matcha sweets so much❤︎ I gratefully enjoyed it. A sweet surprise from the chef that made my day... It was a heartwarming moment from my favorite bistro.

See my last Quare Avril Photo Diary here:

Springtime Surprise at Bistro Quatre Avril: Mackerel Quiche & Chef's Generous Gift

THE ORDY BAKERY at Hotel Vintage Meguro Fudomae: A Quiet Morning Escape

A hidden gem with a cinnamon roll that always reminds me of Finland

Nestled between Meguro and Gotanda lies Fudomae — a neighborhood where city convenience meets nostalgic tranquility. Hotel Vintage Meguro Fudomae stands a pleasant walk from Fudomae Station, blending quietly into a residential neighborhood on a street lined with cherry trees, especially charming in spring when the blossoms are in full bloom.

On the ground floor of Hotel Vintage sits THE ORDY BAKERY, a bakery café devoted to authentic ingredients. Opened on April 7, 2025, it uses only domestically grown Japanese wheat and 100% natural yeast — with no shortening or margarine added.

Labeled Hotel Vintage on the café’s glass window

From inside the café, you can see the quiet views of Fudomae through Kamurozaka (the cherry‑tree‑lined street).

The café opens from 8 a.m., so why not enjoy a morning stroll and then spend a peaceful, refreshing moment in this little‑known gem of a space?

A freshly baked Original Croissant 

Did you enjoy the cherry blossoms🌸 this season?

Here’s a freshly baked original croissant and house‑roasted organic coffee at THE ORDY BAKERY. 

The receipt also serves as a Refills Ticket. It says: “Enjoy your 2nd coffee or latte at half price on the same day. Please show your receipt.”

On my way to the café, I picked up a pretty cherry blossom that had fallen on the sidewalk, so I shared a story with music on Instagram. Then I sent a video message to Collie in Michigan.

Of course, I took it easy and enjoyed a slow, relaxing moment afterwards!

A freshly baked Cinnamon Roll

My top pick is the cinnamon roll. Here, it has a Nordic feel that takes me back to the ones I tried in Finland. Having a cinnamon roll in Tokyo that reminds me of Finland feels truly special...!

If you’re curious, here are my articles about Helsinki’s cinnamon rolls❤︎

Lovely Korvapuuti (Finnish cinnamon roll) at Hakaniemi Market Hall

A Fabulous Finnish cinnamon roll & an excellent Americano I tasted at St.GEORGE BAKERY, Helsinki

Big Korvapuusti of KANNISTON LEIPOMO, and my favorite Korvapuusti during my stay in Helsinki is...

THE ORDY BAKERY　      8:00-17:00 (Weekday L.O. 16:00)

Hotel Vintage Meguro-Fudomae 1F, 4-9-16 Nishigotanda, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 141-0031

The quality shows in the price, so I can’t come here every day…^^; Even so, I’d recommend stopping by when you want to treat yourself to a little special escape in your daily life.

When I start craving the cinnamon roll again, I’d like to visit in the fresh, clear air of the morning, as I always do.

Rose

A Gentle Morning Walk and Café Time in Birmingham, Michigan

A charming house with navy blue accents and a navy blue coffee cup at PARIS BAGUETTE

After breakfast, I took a walk down some of the streets behind Holiday Inn Express Detroit–Birmingham. It was around 9 a.m. During my stay at the hotel, I wandered through different residential areas of Birmingham. Each time, I found myself captivated by charming homes and stopped to take photos. And here’s the very last house photo from that walk.

A large brick house in soft pink and red tones, featuring navy blue accents on the roof

and around the windows, surrounded by deep green trees in Birmingham, Michigan.

I wonder if this is a single-family home. The identical windows line up so neatly that it almost looks like an apartment building. But this is America — and here, in Birmingham, a town of elegant, affluent neighborhoods. So perhaps it is indeed a house. Then again… I can’t really be sure.

And so, I made my way toward Downtown, where the cafés await.

Seems like the coffee cup coordinated with the navy blue from that house☕💙

I arrived at PARIS BAGUETTE, eager to experience the morning café scene. There were so many tempting treats that I wanted to try, but I decided to settle for just a cup of coffee — I’m visiting friends this afternoon and didn’t want to be too full. (Besides, I don’t feel like eating more after having a hearty breakfast at the hotel...😅)

**A small, heartwarming moment from a quiet morning at the café.

A baby boy, accompanied by his parents, stared up at me with his big round eyes as they came into the café. He stayed like that for a while, unmoving. A little later, on their way to the exit after what must have been a meal, he looked at me again with the same sincere gaze, turning his whole body toward me. His parents noticed and laughed — and so did I — before gently leading him outside. 

　。〜 ゜　。〜 ゜　。〜 ゜

Speaking of the hotel tips, it ended up being three dollars by the end of my stay.

For someone like me, who’s used to being thrifty and making smart purchases back in Japan, starting at three dollars felt like a high hurdle (~_~). I began with one dollar, then two... and finally made it to three. But three dollars felt just right for me—or maybe that was my limit. lol

This was my breakfast today at the hotel buffet. Of course, I had a cinnamon roll afterward as well.

I fully enjoyed all the food and drinks (as always =3).

All in all, I had a lovely morning before visiting my friends with Collie in the afternoon. Both the walk and the quiet moments at the café felt like gentle, heartwarming parts of my Michigan days.