"It was a sight for sore eyes when Japonaise, a respected French and Japanese bakery that has been a Boston staple for decades, reopened last fall after a two-year hiatus. Owner Takeo Sakan (the son of former owner Hiroko Sakan) gutted and renovated the bakery with some needed technical upgrades. Now, the bakery is back in business with a bounty of treats available, including croissants, fluffy doughnuts, adorable Totoro-shaped cream puffs, and onigiri, sticky rice balls with fillings like spicy tuna and ume (a Japanese pickled plum)." - Erika Adams
