Observing the setup that occurs in preparation for events like TIFF is enticing, to say in the least. Certain sections of road are closed off for vehicle access, making the area extremely pedestrian-friendly. While it's defnitely not the most convenient situation for drivers and streetcar-reliant residents, it certainly significantly reduces that amount of time required for the average commuter to cross the street.
Before 5 pm though, there really wasn't much action to witness. Several media crews were in the midst of setting up, but the limos hadn't pulled up, nor had the subdued orange "TIFF" been installed on "Festival Street". No matter though, as this simply meant that there would be more freedom to explore the bustling neighbourhood's existing and new pop-up shops
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Located only a few minutes from the TIFF activities, just a few steps past the road closure limits, a short string of small shops could be found on a quiet, shaded side street. Among these was the ever-so-popular sister shop of Millie Creperie - Millie Patisserie & Cremery.
As with many food fanatic faves, the name of this glass window-encased shop materialized onto my radar shortly following its "soft" opening. Despite my highly unsatisfactory experience at their original store (which had been complete with terribly unjustified prices), I was still very much intrigued to disclose whether improvements had been made at, and whether those "rare" cheesetarts and ostensibly rich cake slices were worthy additions to their Patisserie menu.
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Side note: I'm extremely thankful for the somewhat recent Google Maps update (it notes changes made up to May 2015!) YES. It has since resulted in dramatic drops to the time required to locate particular coordinates and has made my overall commutes much more pleasurable.
I stepped foot into the patisserie approximately half an hour after they opened. With no other customers in the cozy, marble tabled vicinity, I was able to take in every element of the interior decor in its simply sophisticated entirety.
A gelato refrigerator containing seven unique selections, many of which were unavailable at their original location, was situated to the far left. Adjacent to this was a petite mountain of uniformly-browned cream puff shells (also referred to as "choux pastry" for the gastronomic terminology-loving folks), allowing customers to enjoy two contrasting textures within the same dessert. Of course, the option of having gelato as standard (ie. in a small, clear plastic cup) is also available. (But why would you?!)
A gelato refrigerator containing seven unique selections, many of which were unavailable at their original location, was situated to the far left. Adjacent to this was a petite mountain of uniformly-browned cream puff shells (also referred to as "choux pastry" for the gastronomic terminology-loving folks), allowing customers to enjoy two contrasting textures within the same dessert. Of course, the option of having gelato as standard (ie. in a small, clear plastic cup) is also available. (But why would you?!)
At the other end was a clear display box (no, I don't mean what you think I mean), which showcased the entire Patisserie lineup: thick slices of Matcha Azuki and Strawberry Shortie cheesecakes, various flavours of pudding cups and round, stout cheesetarts, and, last but not least, their ever-so-(uneccessarily)-hyped mille crepe cakes.
After snapping as many shots as I felt necessary, the next step was to walk up to the girl at the cashier to obtain details about the shop's products. It was my first visit, and she provided an incredibly thorough explanation. The cheesecake slices, both popular among customers, were comprised of cheesecake layers in addition to sponge cake. The Matcha Azuki, in particular, was an interesting sight to see: the azuki frosting and shockingly green matcha layers were very visually complementing. And while it did appear numerous times on my feed, I opted to try it out on another occasion, preferably as a late afternoon snack.
After snapping as many shots as I felt necessary, the next step was to walk up to the girl at the cashier to obtain details about the shop's products. It was my first visit, and she provided an incredibly thorough explanation. The cheesecake slices, both popular among customers, were comprised of cheesecake layers in addition to sponge cake. The Matcha Azuki, in particular, was an interesting sight to see: the azuki frosting and shockingly green matcha layers were very visually complementing. And while it did appear numerous times on my feed, I opted to try it out on another occasion, preferably as a late afternoon snack.
The Cheesetarts were up next. Available in Matcha, Vanilla Bean, Black Sesame, and a "Special" variation of Coffee, I was told that the Rare Cheesetarts were tarts with a cheesy, flowing centre. This concept definitely piqued my interest - it was almost like a chilled lava tart!
Inverted creme caramel puddings were found next the tarts, all included in the same range of flavours, with the exception of a double-layer yuzu-flavoured concoction. The puddings were on the small side, especially given their price, but I was informed that the Black Sesame flavour was a constant sell-out.
Inverted creme caramel puddings were found next the tarts, all included in the same range of flavours, with the exception of a double-layer yuzu-flavoured concoction. The puddings were on the small side, especially given their price, but I was informed that the Black Sesame flavour was a constant sell-out.
When I was at last introduced to the four styles of Crepe Cakes, my mind automatically blocked out the possibility of trying them (the Matcha one in particular). Previously having tried it, I was less than thrilled to find that the item was nothing worth elaborating on; each bite had oozed mediocrity, and an excess of high-fat-content, green tea-less cream filling. I wasn't about to purchase any crepe cakes again, but would still be willing to try a forkful of new Tiramisu and Berry Champagne flavours in the case where someone else purchases the full $8 slice.
The girl who had explained everything was exceptionally patient with me. Not only had she purposely disappeared to the back to ensure that my initial shots of the shop would be people- and clutter-free, she also made helpful suggestions and recommendations to assist me in the labourious decision-making process. (On an unrelated note, her 50's polka-dot dress, wide headband, and bold red lip were also very tasteful. Hehe.)
The girl who had explained everything was exceptionally patient with me. Not only had she purposely disappeared to the back to ensure that my initial shots of the shop would be people- and clutter-free, she also made helpful suggestions and recommendations to assist me in the labourious decision-making process. (On an unrelated note, her 50's polka-dot dress, wide headband, and bold red lip were also very tasteful. Hehe.)
Eventually, I settled on the Black Sesame and Coffee Rare Cheesetarts, Yuzu Delight, and Matcha Pudding. These items were removed from their respective locations within the display box, placed into smaller, Millie-stamped paper boxes, and left within the box until I had completed my order. This box was likely set to a specific temperature as to chill the desserts while preventing them from become too rigid.
I then turned back to the array of colourful gelato options in contemplation of trying a Gelato in a Cream Puff, seeing as I was here anyway. The girl was ultra-friendly and didn't mind providing me with samples before asking another girl to serve the two new customers that had just wandered in. Among the sampled (Pandan, Thai Tea, Matcha Milk, and Black Sesame), I once again arrived at a difficult decision.
Luckily, I was permitted to mix flavours as long as I was sure that I'd enjoy them combined - Thai Tea/Matcha Milk it was then!
(Side note: Did you know that their Thai Tea flavour is obtained from Khao San Road?!? It was stunningly perfect in my opinion.)
I then turned back to the array of colourful gelato options in contemplation of trying a Gelato in a Cream Puff, seeing as I was here anyway. The girl was ultra-friendly and didn't mind providing me with samples before asking another girl to serve the two new customers that had just wandered in. Among the sampled (Pandan, Thai Tea, Matcha Milk, and Black Sesame), I once again arrived at a difficult decision.
Luckily, I was permitted to mix flavours as long as I was sure that I'd enjoy them combined - Thai Tea/Matcha Milk it was then!
(Side note: Did you know that their Thai Tea flavour is obtained from Khao San Road?!? It was stunningly perfect in my opinion.)
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In no way do I feel as if I've captured this dessert in a manner that evokes the justice that it deserves; my only hope is to engage your olfactory and gustatory senses using a visual interpretation to such an extent that you'll take my word as justification of its greatness.
From top to bottom, there wasn't a single flaw in this encased gelato treat - the choux pastry was as crispy and delectable as could be, while the flavours of the gelato were distinctively flavourful, yet wonderfully complementary. The addition of cookie topping to the "lid" of the cream puff exterior enabled the entire piece to be crunchy, crispy, and creamy all at once. (Talk about an alliteration!)
Just the very thought of re-experiencing the cream puff's various flavours and textures has made me giddy. It was, indeed, one of those Shokugeki no Soma moments. Needless to say, it's a given that I'll be returning for more munching!
View the full album HERE !
Upon arriving home, I took to trying out the rest of the well-packaged desserts.
From top to bottom, there wasn't a single flaw in this encased gelato treat - the choux pastry was as crispy and delectable as could be, while the flavours of the gelato were distinctively flavourful, yet wonderfully complementary. The addition of cookie topping to the "lid" of the cream puff exterior enabled the entire piece to be crunchy, crispy, and creamy all at once. (Talk about an alliteration!)
Just the very thought of re-experiencing the cream puff's various flavours and textures has made me giddy. It was, indeed, one of those Shokugeki no Soma moments. Needless to say, it's a given that I'll be returning for more munching!
View the full album HERE !
Upon arriving home, I took to trying out the rest of the well-packaged desserts.
While the tops of the tarts did appear to be solid, they, in fact, weren't. The fillings weren't runny, but undertook a "half-congealed" consistency instead.
It's a good thing that the walls of the tart shells were wide (and sturdy) enough, as our first attempt at slicing open the Black Sesame Cheesetart went something like this:
It's a good thing that the walls of the tart shells were wide (and sturdy) enough, as our first attempt at slicing open the Black Sesame Cheesetart went something like this:
The oozing cheesy formula coul be seen clearly once the halves were separated.
Black sesame retains a unique flavour of its own, but evolves into a completely new entity once incorporated with a creamy, dense "rare" cheesecake mix. Adding in a "molten" element was even more innovative. The formula paired notably well with the firm, buttery tart shell. On the downside, though, consuming the pastry wasn't exactly a hassle-free task: crumbs prevailed and the two major components would often detach along the path of being lifted from the plate into the customer's consumption cavity.
Unfortunately, the Coffee Rare Cheesetart didn't boast the same degree of flavour as the Black Sesame. Majority of the filling was cheese-like, with only a slight espresso aftertaste. Texture-wise, the two tarts were identical as expected.
Unfortunately, the Coffee Rare Cheesetart didn't boast the same degree of flavour as the Black Sesame. Majority of the filling was cheese-like, with only a slight espresso aftertaste. Texture-wise, the two tarts were identical as expected.
After a while, only the Matcha and Yuzu puddings remained.
Due to the inevitable exposure to heat on the commute back, the supposedly hardened caramel at the bottom of the Matcha pudding had melted, with a small amount even surfacing to the top of the pudding cup. It contained the right blend of sweetness/bitterness; it was just a shame that it couldn't have been enjoyed while still solid. In contrast, the matcha pudding on top was really quite average: it tasted pretty standard, as how things normally result from utilizing a lower-end grade of green tea powder and a large amount of gelatin to set the pudding. Though it did match well with the caramel, it definitely did not justify its hefty price tag.
Yuzu Delight was a much better pudding variation; both layers were tangy, with a tart, citrus-y jelly layer on top and an airy, refreshing mix on the bottom. As the other items had been on the richer side, Yuzu Delight was an undoubtedly fitting end to the dessert tasting journey.
I still reside on the hesistant side to try Millie's crepe cakes again, but it is definitely one of my goals to test varying Gelato in a Cream Puff combinations! The Black Sesame Rare Cheesetart and Yuzu Delight were another two items that made my list.
Given the prices on the desserts, Millie Patisserie & Creamery is a great place to catch up with friends over ornate, one-of-a-kind desserts in a peaceful environment, but not your best option for purchasing pastries in substantial quantities.
Due to the inevitable exposure to heat on the commute back, the supposedly hardened caramel at the bottom of the Matcha pudding had melted, with a small amount even surfacing to the top of the pudding cup. It contained the right blend of sweetness/bitterness; it was just a shame that it couldn't have been enjoyed while still solid. In contrast, the matcha pudding on top was really quite average: it tasted pretty standard, as how things normally result from utilizing a lower-end grade of green tea powder and a large amount of gelatin to set the pudding. Though it did match well with the caramel, it definitely did not justify its hefty price tag.
Yuzu Delight was a much better pudding variation; both layers were tangy, with a tart, citrus-y jelly layer on top and an airy, refreshing mix on the bottom. As the other items had been on the richer side, Yuzu Delight was an undoubtedly fitting end to the dessert tasting journey.
I still reside on the hesistant side to try Millie's crepe cakes again, but it is definitely one of my goals to test varying Gelato in a Cream Puff combinations! The Black Sesame Rare Cheesetart and Yuzu Delight were another two items that made my list.
Given the prices on the desserts, Millie Patisserie & Creamery is a great place to catch up with friends over ornate, one-of-a-kind desserts in a peaceful environment, but not your best option for purchasing pastries in substantial quantities.
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