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Super sweet treats at new French cafes
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France makes the A-list in the world of desserts. The good news is you don’t need to fly some 10 hours to indulge in an exquisite French dessert. Right here in Shanghai, people with a sweet tooth can easily spoil themselves at various French cafes. Shanghai Daily recommends three newcomers that might surprise you.
Mon Moment Cafe
Decked out in blue, Mom Moment Cafe has been open since May and has two separate sitting areas. The French-style decor is refreshing yet elegant. The back rest of each features prints of a “well-dressed” animal. Sugar, salt and pepper holders are made of white porcelain and in adorable animal shapes such as birds and rabbits.
The cafe is led by a pastry chef from Singapore who studied baking in France. All desserts are freshly prepared and made on site, only sold for the day as a measure for quality control. Its signature afternoon tea set for two is served in a white painted metal bird cage.
The presentation of each dessert here is quite different. For example, St Domingue (48 yuan, or US$7.50) is a mousse made with 70 percent dark chocolate. The mousse cake is coated with runny chocolate syrup topped with a blob of banana cream and a chocolate slice. Peanut crunch is scattered around at the bottom, which adds a playful taste to the layered texture and strong chocolate flavor. The combination may just make you savor every mouthful.
The seasonal tart menu is now serving up a strawberry creation (52 yuan). Six fresh strawberries on top are covered with icing sugar while the lightly baked tart has a filling of medium sweet vanilla custard.
There’s not a wide selection of desserts, which is the only disappointment. But it’s worth mentioning that the latte tastes surprisingly good for a cafe specialized in desserts.
Address: 3/F, Citic Square, 1168 Nanjing Rd W.
Tel: 5228-1185
Opening hours: 10am-10pm (delivery service available)
Pâtisserie Chantilly
Pâtisserie Chantilly’s Wuding Road location offers a nice walk from the crowded business circle while its outdoor seats can make for a lovely afternoon tea break on a sunny day. The cafe has gradually gained fame for its desserts over the past few months.
Pâtisserie Chantilly offers desserts in unusual shapes such as pyramids and balls. Some desserts here also have a French name like Framboisier. As the owner’s favorite, it has been on the menu since the cafe opened.
During strawberry season, Franisers is on the menu. The pastry chef replaces sponge cake slices with two layers of almond pastries, filled with a mixture of butter cream and custard with fresh raspberries and topped with frosting made by egg whites and sugar. A raspberry on top adds the final touch.
The chef sticks to the original recipe, meaning it’s pretty close to what you would find in France. With a detectable layered texture, the almond pastry has a chewier texture than sponge cake. The acidity of the raspberries balances the sweetness from the topping.
Saveurd ’abricot is an apricot mousse with jasmine-flavored tea mousse in the center, wrapped by a spongy jelly made from apricot pulp and juice, finished with slices of chocolate on top. The cake has a strong but pleasant apricot flavor. The tea mousse is much lighter and makes for a nice balance. Small apricot chunks can be found in it as well.
The cheesecake isn’t as sweet as most versions. If you want a dessert with less sugar, this is a solid option. The cafe has quite a few mousse desserts — a choice of various fruits and chocolate are available. Some popular items sell out quickly as all desserts are made fresh each day.
Address: 266 Wuding Rd
Tel: 5757-7266
Opening hours: 8am-8:30pm (delivery service available)
Le Gâteau
Still in trial operation, Le Gâteau has already attracted many customers with its exquisite desserts and attentive service. The space has been decorated in baby blue and white by the owner, who studied arts and crafts at university. Most tableware is sourced directly from Hong Kong, including floral teacups and saucers, as well as dessert forks with a bear handle.
The cafe offers a comparatively wide range of desserts from cake to Madeleines and macarons, but in limited servings until the official launch. Top selling items are usually sold out by early afternoon. The cafe has an off-site bakery with an on-site kitchen for cake decoration.
Its blueberry cheesecake has an unusual chocolate cake base. The cream cheese tastes thick but not too heavy, which combines well with the base and the blueberry jam. The chocolate tart is surprisingly tasty. The lightly salted crusty base contrasts with the soft sweet dark chocolate filling. The pastry chef uses Valrhona chocolate, one of the top 10 chocolate brands in the world.
Personalized orders for afternoon tea parties and cakes for special occasions are available at Le Gâteau. The café also has special offers in store such as the weekend only deal for afternoon tea, which includes a coffee/tea and a dessert of your choice for 58 yuan.
The cafe will officially open next month.
Address: N1-42, 528 Nanquan Rd N., Pudong
Tel: 139-0175-7099
Opening hours: 10am-9pm (closed on Mondays; delivery service available)
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