As most romantic comedies would have us believe, when we are feeling down, there are only two ways out of the blue and into the bliss. One is to dry your tears on a friend’s sweater, and the other is to sweeten your sorrows with a piece of cake.
However, when it comes to paying a visit to Lu Pâtisserie, Shekou’s new cafe and pastry shop, you won’t want to wait until your winter blues set in. With a generous selection of French desserts and a magically enticing atmosphere, Lu Pâtisserie is the place en vogue right now.
Stepping into the private garden off Taizi Lu may well feel like falling into a French-themed rabbit hole. By the time you make your way through the green patio you will probably be expecting to see the Eiffel Tower and receive a greeting in authentically lyrical French.
It’s no great surprise, considering the owner’s ambition: “I wanted to create a place for people to enjoy traditional French desserts in a traditionally French atmosphere.” You may already know Lu Pâtisserie from its location in OCT-Loft. Luckily, the cafe’s owners have decided that there can’t be too much of a good thing, and since September, Shekou has also been blessed with its own sweet French corner.
One look at the menu may have your head spinning: traditional European desserts are few and far between in this part of the globe and seeing so many at once may have your mind and stomach rumbling in anticipation.
When in doubt, go for the chocolate. Lu Pâtisserie offers some of the best truffles in town (RMB15) – just take a bite and let the smooth dessert melt in your mouth to the soothing accompaniment of Sri Lankan Earl Grey. For a fresh and zesty note in a soft creamy pastry, try the lemon tart (RMB25), while creme brulee (RMB25) is the perfect choice when looking for a traditional French delicacy.
The best way to experience a soupcon of everything if you’re dining solo is to order an afternoon tea for one (RMB58). That said, special moments like these are meant to be shared. The Garden Afternoon tea set (RMB198) not only comes with a beautiful porcelain tea pot for three (with a choice of three separate drinks) and 12 pastries, but is also a great way to while away the hours under the mild autumn sun in the pleasant company of fellow Francophiles.
Price: Approx. RMB58
Who’s going: French pastry lovers, tea aficionados, first-daters
Good for: Afternoon tea, truffles, forgetting troubles
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