Is Honolulu Coffee Worth the Price? A Cafe Guide
I stopped by Honolulu Coffee today, the one located at 888 Nelson Street, tucked right...
Bakery
Gotcha (高茶), Soft European Bread
Soft European buns is derived from European buns such as sourdough or French baguette. It uses levain as natural yeast for the rise, but altered to be softer to fit Asian palate. Although its name has the word "European" in it, this type of bread is actually not European. It was invented by Japanese, adopted by Taiwanese, and recently glorified by Chinese. Gotcha has picked niche market and a good target audience base. I think the bread has good texture, but not as moist as the bread I am used to. Their continual sold-out merchandise seem to suggest that there's definitely a market for soft European bread.
Mon Paris Patisserie
We were excited to try Mon Paris Patisserie after 3 years they have been open. The store is beautifully setup with display that just works. We really enjoyed the croissant, but think the cake can use some work. Next time we will come for the bonbons, macaron and Chocolate double baked with hazelnuts croissant. Mon Paris Patisserie is fairly priced. Even though I think the cake needs improvement, I'm sure there are customers who find the cake just perfect.
Minus Cake Boutique
Minus Cake Boutique makes really good cakes and drinks. Having a cake on top of the drink is a new concept we have not seen before. The combo makes cakes and drink cheaper by $0.50, but it is still very expensive. We would really recommend Minus Cake Boutique, but it is more of a place for special occasion rather than our default go-to cake shop.
eF & Be Bakehouse, authentic Japanese online bakery
Japanese call their buns "pans". All of the items we got are not overly sweet and have a balanced flavour. I think the price is a little more expensive than most bakeries, but the quality of the baked goods really speaks for itself. We would advise anyone who hasn't tried it to give it a try. The soft and chewy texture of the buns is what good buns should taste like.
Mr Mustache Tea and Dessert in Burnaby
It was a little disappointing to see Mr. Mastache is making mistakes on the pearls, which is the most rudimentary part of a bubble tea shop. However, the quality of the cakes still cannot be ignored. The interior space feels very cozy, and the staffs are friendly. Mr. Mastache is not a low-cost spectrum among the bubble tea stores we have in Vancouver. I particularly like the fact that they are not part of any franchise, and they can really be a life-saver when someone needs to get a small-portioned cute little cake.
Nemesis coffee downtown brunch
Nemesis Coffee was worth the trip. The two-page menu looks simple, but the flavour of toppings really compliment each other. I heard their brekky sando and french toast are really well made, and that is what I am going to order next time. The cost of $14 per person including drinks is not that expensive either. Nemesis Coffee is one of the best brunch places in town, and I encourage everyone to go and enjoy a lazy weekend morning.
Michele Cake Shop is the Best Bakery at Kerresdale
We purchased a small chestnut cake because they did not have the sliced versions. Our cake was beautifully layered with fruits and whipped cream. The extravagant chocolate decorations look like abstract art. We cut it open to reveal the layered sponge cake and chestnut filling. The sponge cake has good springy texture, and they are not dry at all. I enjoyed the chestnut filling because they are not too sweet. Most of the sweetness comes from whipped cream. The flavour profile is very balanced.
Gastown’s bakery has the most variety of baked goods
Purebread has a very solid presentation. Everything looked very good and was tightly placed together. I have not walked into a bakery that I was unable to make my decisions like in Purebread. The baked goods were made early in the morning, so some of the items may be a bit stale. I would recommend re-heating with a small convection oven at home before enjoying them.