mesm Tokyo, Autograph Collection announces "Fifer," a new addition to its signature "Afternoon Exhibition" series, inspired by a famous painting. The sweets and pairing mocktails, which express the world of "The Boy with the Flute," a representative work by French master painter Édouard Manet, will be available from Monday, November 1, 2021, to Monday, February 28, 2022, in limited quantities of 15 per weekday at the 16th-floor bar & lounge "Whisk."

The bar & lounge "Whisk" operates under the concept of an "artist's atelier," offering cocktails and afternoon teas inspired by paintings from across time and cultures.

The fourth installment of "Afternoon Exhibition," which has previously featured Dalí, Vermeer, and Leonardo da Vinci, is "Fifer," named after the flute player and inspired by Manet's "The Boy with the Flute."

The menu incorporates not only French influences from Manet's homeland but also Spanish and Japanese Ukiyo-e elements, which significantly impacted his style. This elegantly woven course, blending French, Spanish, and Japanese tastes, is perfect for an autumn of art.

The fried pastry "churros," said to originate in Spain, were chosen because Manet adopted techniques from Spanish painter Velázquez, who used subtle shadows to emphasize figures. Enjoy them dipped in mesm's special cream cheese, orange, and chocolate sauces, served Spanish-style.

The cream cheese sauce, in particular, offers a rich and smooth flavor, harmoniously blending Spanish olive oil with Piment d'Espelette, a spice from the Basque region known for its subtle heat.

Next, we present our homemade "imoyokan" (sweet potato jelly). In the mid-19th century, when Manet was active, Japanese art such as Ukiyo-e prints flowed into Europe, sparking a Japonisme craze and influencing European art during a period of transition. "Imoyokan," popular in Japan around the Meiji Restoration before Manet's active period, is included in the menu.

The "imoyokan" offers the simple sweetness of "Beni Azuma" sweet potatoes and the refined sweetness of Japanese "wasanbon" sugar, evoking a sense of Japanese tradition. Paired with this is a refreshing cold mocktail, blending the rich sweetness of "amazake" (sweet fermented rice drink), the subtle bitterness of matcha and hojicha, and the fresh sweetness of yuzu. The surface is decorated with patterns from the kimono in Manet's "Portrait of Émile Zola," influenced by Ukiyo-e, showcasing Manet's world down to the finest details.

The main dessert is a cake inspired by "The Boy with the Flute," playfully deformed into a charming shape. The exquisite balance of moderate sweetness from vanilla crème brûlée and the tartness of fresh berry mousse, complemented by the bitterness of cocoa and chocolate, creates a voluminous and photogenic masterpiece.

For pairing, a warm mocktail is offered, combining the tartness of pomegranate with the festive effervescence of cider and the clean finish of rooibos tea.

"Fifer" invites contemplation of Manet's masterpieces, an afternoon tea that fuses Western and Japanese cultures, much like his paintings.