When they say to treat yourself on your birthday, THIS is what they mean. I am a huge fan of Dominque Ansel – to say he is a pastry genius is putting it lightly. His 3rd and latest concept, blends his children’s dual French/Asian cultures in the most delicious ways. It opened just before my birthday and when I hit the big 4-0, I decided to go nuts. I ordered almost everything on the menu – both sweet and savory – and brought all back to the office to devour and share.
I truly did order a ton, but it was research, right? I got the taro mochi lace batter donut (taro, guava strawberry jam, vanilla mochi), the kurobuta hot dog spiral (soy-glazed Kurobuta pork hot dogs, sticky rice, sesame urikake), the scallion basil blossom (scallion & Thai basil pinenut pesto, toasted sesame), the banana bread Malay cake, the pretzel salt egg tart (egg custard, sablé, crunchy pretzel salt, brown butter), and the avocado cucumber sando (avocado, baby cucumbers, garlic kewpie, sesame oil, yuzu ponzu vinaigrette).
So how was everything? In a word: great. My least favorite was the sando. The bread was a lovely cloud but I could tell of the sandos, the shrimp one was the real winner. The crust on the egg tart set it apart. Great custard and stretches the familiar just enough to make it special. I also really liked both the hit fig and the pesto blossom. I don’t think I could pick a true favorite.
The only thing I didn’t try was the jam jars. They look delicious and not heavy in the icing (I’m not an icing fan), but they recommend eating them in the shop because they’re rather delicate. It was a super hot day and they cautioned that it likely wouldn’t make it the few blocks back to my office. Just means I’ll have to go back!
Also, when I said it was my bday (to explain why I was ordering an absurd amount of food), they gave me an extra pretzel salt egg tart on the house. That alone will get me to return. Congrats, Monsieur Ansel, you’ve done it yet again.
Peaches to Apples 