Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie

Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie – 1 Scotts Road #01-01A Shaw Centre

Boyfriends beware! Stalking a corner of Shaw Centre is this rather pricey dessert place. With its chic interior as well as irresistible line-up of seductive cakes and row upon row of multicoloured macarons, even I was powerless to fight the attraction as it reeled me in. Despite exercising masculine restraint, a $32.80 burn for a light snack was in store for my buddy and me. Meanwhile, the male half of the couple next to us could only look on with despair as his paramour ordered with wild abandon.

The first of the two signature cakes we sampled was the Strawberry Shortcake ($6.50). Soft, delicate sponge sandwiched generous layers of cream studded here and there with strawberry sections. More of the tart berries – this time with a sweet gel glaze – crowned this apotheosis of feminine cakes, cutting through the richness in a sharp but pleasant fashion.

Next in line was the Le Royale ($7), an elegant creation of very sweet chocolate that was a good combination of feather-soft mousse and crispy biscuit base. I would have much preferred a darker, more robust chocolate but something tells me that sort of rawness would be lost on the dainty female clientele this place targets.

The Macarons ($14.80 for 6) were the real wallet-decimator here but were the real draw in the first place. Don’t get me wrong, the confections were good! Not too sweet and of a pleasantly chewy texture, the gaily-coloured biscuits with perfect “feet” sandwiched rich and vibrantly flavoured buttercreams.

Forest Noire (cue French phrasebooks) was a special edition with the trademark trio of bitter chocolate, tart cherries and rich cream; what’s not to love? Subtle Hazelnut was not very sweet with the almond base more evident than hazelnuts. Exotique was another special edition with an intriguingly authentic unripe banana flavour, complete with tartness and distinct sappy aftertaste.

The intoxicating, heady perfume of Violet was enhanced by a rich but neutral buttercream filling. I had to go for the 70% Dark Chocolate but was disappointed with a chocolate flavour far more subtle than the earlier black forest. Pomme a la Pomme (Enough French already, s’il vous plait!) rounded out our selection with a lovely distinct chestnut flavour but the apples it so proclaimed were nowhere to be found.