[Paris] Pâtisserie Ciel

Categories paris
[Paris] Pâtisserie Ciel

Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!

Pâtisserie Ciel

Add: 3 rue Monge, 75005 Paris
Tel: 01 43 29 40 78
Hours: [Tue-Thu] 11am~8pm [Fri-Sat] 11am~10pm
Website: www.patisserie-ciel.com
Price: [to go] €5~6/small cake, €18~21/medium cake, €28~32 large cake [dine in] €12/tea time set
Tasted on: Nov 2013

I wasn’t so sure if I’d like Pâtisserie Ciel. This Franco-Japanese angel cake shop, opened by the owner of Sola, has received wonderful reviews since its opening a few months back, but some Asian friends made comments along the lines of – “Seriously? This taste like ordinary sponge cakes we can find at any corner shop back home…except it’s 10 times more expensive here!” Well, I guess there’s no better way to judge than to actually try it, and I was lucky to have some sweet lovers with me for the tasting, including the ladies from Lost in Cheese Land and Jean Hwang Carrant Cookies.

The space is composed of not much more than a cake display and a L-shaped bar – small, simple, and lovely. It’s sleek and cozy at the same time, with crisp lines, a whole wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, light wooden tones, and warm lighting. Bar seats, by the way, means that this place is not ideal for groups of over 3 people – just something to keep in mind. Reservations accepted.

In the cake display, angel cakes are lined up neat columns: raspberry, vanilla caramel, black sesame, yuzu, matcha, cheesecake, rose praline, chocolate, and mont blanc – all are available in three sizes (€5~6/small, €18~21/medium, €28~32 large) and can be enjoyed sur place ou à emporter. During lunch and dinner hours, savory angel cakes are also served (think mustard and bacon), but these are for dine-in only.

The pastry chef in the kitchen is Aya Tamura, previously of Jules Verne, Mandarin Oriental Paris, and Saturne. It’s no wonder that the shop feels very Japanese and feminine.

Continue Reading "[Paris] Pâtisserie Ciel" →

[Paris] Sola

Categories paris
[Paris] Sola

Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!

Sola

Add: 12 Rue de l’Hôtel Colbert 75005 Paris
Tel: 01 43 29 59 04
Hours: 12~2:30pm, 7~10pm
Website: www.restaurant-sola.com
Price: [lunch] €48 [dinner] €88
Visited on: Nov 2012

There’s a small army of Japanese chefs cooking away in Paris. Their particular way of handling food, oftentimes a creative fusion between French and Japanese traditions, has garnered some notable acclaims here in the capital of haute cuisine. A few that have been Michelin-approved include Passage 53 (2 stars), Kei (1 star), Hiramatsu (1 star), and Sola (1 star). Having had a lovely lunch at Kei, I decided to give the rest a try as well.

When making the reservation, I was asked if I prefer the “French room” or the “Japanese room”. Having no idea what each entailed, I chose the Japanese room, which I later found out to be located in the basement in a cave-like setting, where guests are requested to remove their shoes before entry. The French room, on the other hand, is just typical restaurant seating.

Like at Kei, guests are offered hand towels upon arrival.

Continue Reading "[Paris] Sola" →