This was around 9 p.m. I'm sure if it was located on Valley Boulevard, and closer to other Chinese businesses, it would have been hopping, but as it was in the more upscale and sleepy suburb of San Marino, there was only one other table of people.
Look! Cute but overpriced pastry-themed kitchenware.
The obligatory bakery display case shot. They always look so tempting don't they?
I recognized those striped teacups from IKEA!
This is Forget Me Not. $3.95. French taro paste, vanilla cake, creme brulee. The taro paste was surprisingly strong in flavor.
This was Romance $3, lychee and champagne mousse.
The chef's special. I forgot what it was supposed to taste like or what it did eventually taste like. :P
Sweden Chocolate $4.95, caramel and chocolate buttercream, chocolate mousse. This was my favorite of the night. Rich in chocolate flavor without being too overpowering.
I also noticed this sign while we were there. So you know what that means?
A second trip, of course!
This time, I gathered up the middle '87 (because I knew she had been disappointed with our dinner at Manna Korean BBQ a few nights before) and the two 88s (who I knew wanted to be mentioned on the blog too). In fact, they wanted to be on the blog so badly that when I gave a 45 minute deadline to wake up and be ready, they were only 5 minutes late. This is a big deal considering the girls never rise before 2 in the afternoon.
I decided to take them here as a pre-meal instead of afterward. Who says you can't eat dessert first?
This is Dream, $3.75 mango and passionfruit mousse, mascarpone cheese, green tea powder. Oooh, it was heavenly. On Wedgwood china too!
And the $4.99 afternoon tea special of six cakes with coffee or tea, hot or cold. We chose iced green tea.
Six pieces of cake (or rather half-pieces). The green tea and red bean cake was my favorite. The other flavors were chocolate, coffee, and strawberry. You can't pick out the cakes for the afternoon tea, but at this price, I'm not going to quibble. I think they're probably yesterday's cakes, but they all still tasted fresh and were nicely presented.
Six pieces of cake and a large glass of real brewed iced green tea for $4.99. Every day from noon to 4 p.m. Really! Can't beat a bargain like that! Dessert first indeed!
And with that to stimulate our palates, the girls and I were off to lunch.
P.S. They also make wedding cakes but that'll set you back at least four digits.
May 26, 2009 update: The current location is closed. The new location is a few doors west at 2968 Huntington Dr. Afternoon tea is now $6.99 and goes from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. And yes, it still includes six pieces of cake and coffee or tea.
Other Chinese bakeries:
Happy Bakery - San Gabriel
Kee Wah Bakery - Monterey Park
Kiki Bakery - Alhambra
Kiki Bakery - Monterey Park
MoMo Bakery - Alhambra
Vanille de Patisserie (two locations)
2998 Huntington Dr.
San Marino, CA 91108
626-286-3600
I would happily forgo a birthday present for a meal like that!
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteYeah, we've just gradually phased out presents in favor of food for birthdays. :)
The afternoon tea deal is no more - at least at the Rowland Heights location(and even before phasing out, they were reducing the portions from half-cakes to bite-sized) Sadness. :(
ReplyDeleteSweden Chocolate is my fave cake their too -- I also like their lighter-than-most cheesecakes, but everything else is a bit too light and subtle, in sweetness and flavor.
Those desserts are so elaborate! How funny that they pair them with dishes from Ikea :)
ReplyDeleteThe mango one is my favorite.
HC,
ReplyDeleteOh no! It's been a while since I've gone. :(
Olga,
They've got Wedgwood plates too. And plates from Marshall's. I kinda like the mix-n-match effect. :)
So amazing blog of foods.
ReplyDeleteBradpetehoops,
ReplyDeleteThanks!