I see I joined in on your 2013 thread, Peter, mentioning the issues (as above). A couple of other contributors felt similar after meals there. All three of us prior to 2013, of course.
I agree the portion size is too small.
I think in the long long past, the size of pastry there were larger in size, first it was more US influenced, a lot of cream cakes, sizes were big, then came the Japanese influences, size shrank a bit to be more elegant. With the introduction of French style, size are even smaller. I believed due to 2 factors. First I saw in specialist pastry tools shop in HK, French butter is 2.5 - 3 times the price in France, not talking about fancy stuff, just normal stuff I saw in supermarket here. Second, I think people want to think they are health conscious, they try to stay slimโฆ by thinking a small cake wonโt hurt.
The dim sum pastry size is mini, and it has been like that since long time.
Cedric Grolet, the hottest French pastry chef right now, has just opened a bakery in Paris Opรฉra 2 weeks ago, guess how much is he selling le croissant and le pain au chocolat like these?
Take away (no cafรฉ or hotel) and 45 minutes of queue, 4โฌ for the croissant and 5โฌ for le pain au chocolat! Usually the very good pain au chocolat from bakery is between 1,5 - 2โฌ here.
Those are lovely looking pastries, naf. Andso they should be at those prices.
I think it can be ok for him to sell at that price, he is a phenomenon. I think generally people here think it is an indecent price, as viennoiseries are considered as everybodyโs breakfast. What I worry: bakeries start to think that they are now permitted to sell more expensive.
But not the 45 minutes queue! Hopefully a few weeks later, people will calm down.
Oh my, very expensive indeed. But they looked like works of art.
Not the French, too! I once endured a 1 hour queue in NYC for Magnolia Bakeryโs cupcakes because my companion insisted she had to have them. I blame Carrie Bradshaw.
Place looks legit!
Reason why there arenโt as many obese people roaming the streetsโฆ portion control
@naf I feel Groletโs prices are insane and not commensurate with the product IMO, at least this was my experience with his fruits. Charged US$18/each at his pop-up in NYC earlier this year. Although your pics of his baked goods do look good, but at triple the cost of croissants in Paris?
I guess you can do that when you have 1.4 million followers on your Instagram. Friends have tasted that on their own, and agreed with me that his fruits creation are very beautiful, but a bit let down by the degustation.
If you like lemon tarts, one of the most famous tart is created by Jacques Genin, many of the excellent French lemon tarts these days are very much influenced by his creation. He is retired now, his daughter, a pastry chef, continues his chocolate business with a tearoom in Paris might still serve his pastries. Iโve tried to make his lemon tart recipe, it has a good balance of tangy and sweetness and the zests add intense lemony flavour, as good as some of the best tarts bought.
This is it - the flakiest, most buttery croissant in Penang. Took me quite a while, but I finally found it here at La Vie en Rose, and itโs a beauty.
Love the shining aspect.
Chopsticks for croissant?!
I see! Class!
Day 65 of the Malaysian Movement Control Order (MCO) 3.0 Lockdown. 484 days since MCO began on 18 Mar 2020. Tea-time treats today are from La Vie En Rose Pรขtisserie. Husband-and-wife team, Gauvain & Evon Neyl, still produce the best French pastries on the island.
Beignets filled with raspberry crรจme (left) and matcha/green tea crรจme (right)
Croissant aux amandes (left) and pain aux raisins (right)
I particularly loved the frangipane filling, which added a sugary-almondy sweetness to the croissant.
Looks so good, the viennoiseries!!
How are vaccinations going on your side of the world? I see the trend in Asia not so good with the Delta variation, even the impenetrable Taiwan got some cases.
Malaysians have started to wake up to the need to get vaccinated - from being one of the slowest countries in the world in terms of vaccination rate, to become one of the fastest - double the rate of Australiaโs, for example: 400,000 doses given out per day. Iโd received my vaccination, and so did almost everyone I know around me. Malaysia targets for 40% of its population to be vaccinated by end-Aug, and 60% by end-Sep.
The Delta variant is making life very hard for everyone - people are suffering from COVID-fatigue after 1.5 years. We just want to get our (normal) lives back, though itโs anybodyโs guess when thatโll happen.
Exactly. Good to know Malaysia is vaccinating.
Iโve heard in places like Indonesia the lack of medical equipment and vaccines. Here, to avoid another lockdown with the arrival of Delta variant, there will be an obligation from mid August onwards to show a vaccine certificate when one will be entering bars and restaurants (and other placesโฆ).
Are restaurants open right now for take out?
Yes, restaurants are allowed to do take-outs. But many restaurateurs are still hurting, as their businesses have gone down by 85% or more, in most cases.
Malaysia hopes to vaccinate 70% to 80% of the populace by the end of the year. We have a populace of 32 million here: about 29 million citizens/permanent residents, and 3 million foreigners - not a big number to vaccinate compared to other countries in the region.
Do keep safe! You have received both your jabs already?
Thanks!! Keep safe for you and family as well!
Yes 2 doses since mid June. Although I still see quarantine required for many countries for entries. Traveling is not the same anymore.