Designer Bakeries
New York, Paris, Tokyo, and... Honolulu, Hawaii! Strawberry shortcakes galore at Patisserie La Palme 'Dor, bottom left, and Satura Cakes, right.
Patisserie La Palme D’or. A Closer Look. Ala Moana S.C. 941-6161. 9:30am-9pm Monday-Saturday, 10am-7pm Sunday. Parking in center lot. Map. This new bakery shop involves European (mostly French) inspired, Japanese-refined desserts presented in a modern, upscale environment, using only the finest of ingredients. The whole store is a showcase in department-store style, with a center table featuring packaged snacks like cookies, palm leafs, and sweet mochi, while the double sided, refrigerated case is a main stage worthy of any Tokyo Bakery. The Gateau Roule is typical of the many works of art you will find here, and is a light cake swirled into a log with two different types of creams. The Gateau au chocolat is a rich, decadent chocolate cake that the chef is especially proud of, but just about everything looks so wonderful you’ll have a hard time deciding. Every cake or cold-stored purchase is packed in cute but sophisticated little boxes, along with a mini ice-pack, both extra’s that will surprise your friends and make for the perfect gift items.
Satura Cakes. A Closer Look. 3 locations: 1200 Ala Moana Blvd. at the Ward Center in Kakaako (map shown), 537-1208; 55 Merchant St. at the Harbor Court Business Tower in Downtown Honolulu, 537-1206; and 2233 Kalakaua Ave. at the Royal Hawaiian S.C in Waikiki, 537-1208. Map. Satura Cakes is another excellent, upscale bakery founded by a Japanese businessman who couldn’t find quite the same quality of cakes in the US as he had grown accustomed to in his native mega-city of Tokyo. At Satura Cakes, quality is clearly evident, as they use real butter and milk instead of the artificially-hydrogenated fats commonly found in most larger bakeries, which lasts longer but are prone to blander tastes (and thus a sugary overcompensation!) and the obvious health implications. Yes, we know that butter and milk have their own share of health complications, but I would choose them any day over fake, lab-created fats and shortenings! Anyhow, the cakes at Satura are on the pricey side and come in small portions, as you might have guessed, but the quality and artisanship is well worth the tab for those looking for something a little more special.
| The chocolate pyramid is one of the signature desserts at JJ French Bistro & Bakery in Kaimuki. |
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JJ French Bistro and Bakery. A Closer Look. 3447 Waialae Ave. in Kaimuki. 739-0993. Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday-Saturday 9am-9pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm. Parking on street. Map. Besides being a great bakery full of fancy sweet-treats, this neighborhood bistro also features a whole line-up of great southeast Asian, Italian, and local fare, such as a beef satay pizza, scallop linquini, and baked salmon, all served up in a newly expanded, comfortable, and quite charming, I might add, dining room. On the dessert side, they are famous for their chocolate pyramid, which is a combination of chocolate cake and mousse dusted with chocolate powder and is a bit more on the bitter than sweet side. I actually prefer the slightly sweeter white chocolate mousse, covered in a thin layer of chocolate and covered with a chocolate fan. There are also fine cheesecakes, cream puffs, tiramisu, tarts, and many other specialty desserts.
Grand Café and Bakery. 31 N. Pauahi St. in Downtown Honolulu. 531-0001. Tuesday-Friday 7am-1:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-1pm, Wednesday-Saturday dinner from 5:15pm-8pm. Parking in municipal lots around area. Map. The Grand Café is another half-bakery and half-restaurant. The atmosphere is swank and clean, with a downtown business-like ambience, but the dishes gain inspiration from old-time meals like chicken pot pie, fish ‘n chips, and a really delicious meatloaf, made form beef, pork, and veal. Though the dessert case is small, it carries a big stick. The sweet treats behind the glass are also of traditional, vintage designs; items like carrot cake, double fudge chocolate cake, cheesecake, and huge, cream-topped tarts.
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Panya Bistro's store at the Ala Moana Shopping Center includes a full-blown restaurant as well as this attractive bakery section. |
Panya Bistro. A Closer Look. Ala Moana Shopping Center. 946-6388. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Parking in center lot. Prices: $$. Map. Panya was first known for their Euro-Japanese bakery, which boasts a wide range of items from sweet favorites like donuts, cream puffs, mousse, bread pudding, and crème brulee to savory treats like curry cheese croissants, corned beef donuts, creamy chicken/mushroom buns, and Portuguese sausage rolls. The bakery can still be found at their Ala Moana location as well as an express location in downtown at 711 Queen St., but they are also gaining a lot of momentum from their restaurant, bar, and gift shop, as well. The menu of this modern little shop comes from a mix of Japanese, local, American, and South-East Asian influences, although it does pull predominantly to the Asian side. There are such things as steamed clams in white whine or sake, salmon sashimi salad, New England clam chowder, sandwiches, burgers, Malaysian-style laksa noodles, steamed island fish, Thai-style green curry, and much, much more.
Hokulani Bake Shop. 500 Ala Moana Blvd. at the Restaurant Row in Kakaako. 587-7098. Parking in center lot. Map. Like other high-end bakeshops, Hokulani does not use margarine, hydrogenated oils, and trans-fats. Cupcakes are the specialty here and they come in all shapes and sizes, with odd and eclectic names and flavors like Guittard chocolate, Madagascar bourbon vanilla, southern red velvet, and Paradise coconut. Far from being one-dimensional, this little shop also carries hundreds of different cookie cutters, all of which can be personalized with names, pictures, logo’s, or whatever else you need, and can be presented in a tin box or full-sized, wrapped gift baskets.
Café Laufer. 3565 Waialae Ave. at the Atrium S.C. in Kaimuki. 735-7717. Sunday-Thursday (except closed on Tuesday) 10am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-10pm. Parking in lot behind store or on street. Map. Café Laufer is a quaint little bake shop/café featuring high-end desserts like black forest cake, cherry sour cream torte, and fruit roulade, as well as some decent light meals. The Chinese chicken salad, spinach with gorgonzola and cranberries, and Portuguese bean soup in a bread bowl can all be enjoyed as starters or even as complete meals. Then there are sandwiches like pastrami, turkey, and imitation crab and other deli-like meals such as bratwurst on French bread and smoked salmon with pumpernickel bread, cream cheese, capers, and sliced onions.
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