Van Gough and the moon cake, Van Gough Museum, Tai Kwun, HK

I'm not into moon cakes but these beautiful drawings by Van Gough made me stop for a while, and decided to get some for my family.

Cafe Reichard, Cologne, Germany

This look of this cafe is so nostalgic and classy that I was much interested in checking it out, though I'm not that keen to try their cakes.  Anyway, got a black forest cake and it's a bit different from what we have.  The choco. flakes on top with a foamy custard cream layer and a bed of cherries. 

A carbo. tea set, by Marmalade Pantry, ION Orchard, Singapore

When I browsed the menu and noticed they serve high tea set at S$38 for 2.  It looks like a good choice.  When the 2 cup cakes were served first, we got a bit full with this cup cake (the choco cup cake is a mud cake but in cup shape).  Later on, when the high tea set was put on the table, I got puzzled how I could finish it all when there are 10 scones and 6 sandwiches.  I'd rather call it a carbo. tea set.

Cocoa Colony, Orchard Central Singapore

The place did attract people to try it when it claims to have cocoa from those Middle and South American places.  So then I tried their house signature cocoa drink and dark choco. cake.  The cocoa drink is quite disappointing.  It claimed some 78% dark choco., but as noted, it's very milky.  I can't complain as they may say "yes, we use 78% dark choco. in a tiny quantity.  The choco. cake is very dark, but not the taste being in a dark choco.  The better one is the dark choco. sorbet, but as compared to the drink and cake. 

A coffee break, at Cova Admiralty, HK

Cova's iced mocha has been my all time favourite but this one failed.  It was quite bland without no coffee or dark chocolate aroma.  As you can see, even the color can tell. The tiramisu was still kept at its standard.  

Harrod's, Emquarter, Bangkok

This branch looks quite similar to their headquarters shop.  Tried their dried fruit cake - not bad, but the other 2 Black Forest and the ice cream weren't too impressive.  After all, it's nice to have a drink and some sweet at this place.

La Baquette, Emquartier (Emporium) BKK

This shop isn't the best place for a cake and coffee, but the ambience and the deco would be a good choice.  After all the cakes and coffee aren't too expensive.  

Mandarin Oriental cake shop and cafe, Emporium BKK

Happy to see the restaurants are moving around and taking their new locations on the top floor of Emporium.  MO takes the place of the Piri chicken restaurant, with a better view to the hall of Emporium.  Though some said MO's cherry pie isn't much like a pie, I like it as it is in a very classic recipe that it's not about the butter crust aroma and the super sweet cherry.  Their iced mocha is still the best and so far only the one at Paul Central Embassy can be compared in BKK.

Fauchon cake shop and cafe, Siam Paraon, BKK

This restaurant's branch didn't run too well in Hong Kong, and even closed their branch in Beijing.  Then I found out it landed at Bangkok last year.  The cakes weren't too impressive to me, but not bad either.  It's at average.

Paul, Shin Kong dept. store, Shin Yi District, Taipei, Taiwan

Paul is a simple bakery chain store in France, but in Taipei, it is a restaurant serving a full menu from salad, soup, mains and dessert.  Ordered an iced latte and a fresh orange juice, a waffle and a choco. cake.  The waffle is somewhat disappointing.  The choco cake is pretty nice though it can't be compared to its mother shop in France.  

Maxim's cafe, Groove, Central World BKK

It's interesting to get to see different foreign brands coming to SE Asia with different strategy and approach.  Some are opened in BKK, some not but then in HK, or SG, or vice versa.

Happy to see this outlet finally touch down at Bangkok.  As their chocolate isn't bad, there I tried an iced mocha (B140 - not expensive at all).  This place is still quite new and not so crowded, or I should say only 2-3 customers.  Their cake and tart isn't bad either.  Need to give them more support.