I have no idea who Karen Krasne might be but she's not lying when she promises Extraordinary Desserts. We hit the Union St outpost at a little after 4.00pm today and found it all but empty, save for probably 10 waiflike waitresses who didn't look like they'd ever eaten cake in their lives. The place is a patisserie crossed with a warehouse and most be quite something when it's full. Do people skip dessert at their restaurant bookings to come here? It seemed to be deathly quiet in what should have been prime afternoon tea territory so I assume it must be late evening when all those tables are required.)The cakes are apparently all made in a huge, but walled off, kitchen on premises but strain as we might we could detect no scent of baking. We had plenty of time to try since our first waitress simply popped over to introduce herself and was then never seen again. Our order was eventually taken after about 15 minutes by another waitress who turned out to be really nice and just attentive enough to make use feel she was on hand. Kristof and I both had kiwi lemonade, which was a tricky thing to manage as it kept blocking our straws but it was jolly tasty and very novel. Kristof's first choice of an 'ultimate brownie' was sold out from under him ("awww!") but the huge slice of chocolate cake with rasberries ('truffe framboise') that came as a replacement was rich and challenging. He didn't make it but the remainder was nicely boxed and presented to take away.
I had no such trouble with a mix of rasberry and white chocolate mouse ('White Chocolate Berry Coupe') which was, and I use this phrase for the first time, "to die for." Brilliant.
Sadly, Extraordinary Desserts is less than three blocks from our hotel: if we don't make it back home, you'll know it was death by chocolate that got us.
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