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Love is in the Air at La Palme

Columns Lite Bites

February 9, 2014

Story By: Yu Shing Ting | Photos by: Nathalie Walker

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Patisserie La Palme D’or in Ala Moana Center has created the perfect treats for that special person in your life.

Available are Cupid’s Tarts ($20, 2-piece set), a perfect pair of fancy tart pastries that are exquisite in presentation and delightful in taste. There’s Mixed Berry Tart with almond cream and custard topped with fresh berries, and Raspberry Indulgence is a tart featuring raspberry ganache topped with milk-chocolate cream and fresh raspberries.

For the chocolate lovers, there also is Chocolate Trilogy ($40 for the small size (6-inch-by-5-inch, 6 servings); $30 for extra-small (5-inch-by-4-inch, 4 servings) with layers of irresistible dark chocolate and hazelnut mousse, accented with pistachio cream atop chocolate sponge cake. Customers can pre-order any of these Valentine’s specials now, and then pick them up Feb. 13 or 14.

Specializing in Japanese-influenced French pastries, Patisserie La Palme D’or is known for its delicious desserts that have just the right amount of sweetness and flavor. Its cakes are soft, fluffy and very delicate; and the presentation is like a baked masterpiece of art that’s almost too beautiful to eat. Everything is made from scratch, using the finest ingredients and with very careful attention to every detail from beginning to end. Among the best-sellers are Gateau Au Fraise ($4.95), La Palme’s signature strawberry shortcake and Cheese D’or ($4), a low-gluten souffle cheesecake. Also popular are the homemade croissant sandwiches, Japanese-style roll cakes and wedding cakes.

“We are inspired by French pastries,” says executive chef Akiko Kimura, who worked as a pastry chef for 12 years in Japan before moving to Hawaii in 2009. “But we incorporate Japanese flour and green tea, and sometimes I use agar. I also try to use as many local ingredients, such as fresh fruits.”

And be sure to sip on the variety of jelly drinks that taste so good. My personal favorites are Plantation Tea Jelly ($4.25) and Coffee Jelly Au Lait ($4.55 with milk, $5.25 with soymilk).

Whether it’s your partner, friend, family, coworker or maybe someone you hope to have in your life, stop in at Patisserie La Palme D’or, and make their day a little sweeter.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Patisserie La Palme D’Or

Ala Moana Center
1450 Ala Moana Blvd. (second floor, mauka, near Shirokiya)
941-6161
Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
lapalmedor-usa.com

Ala Moana Center, Honolulu, HI 96814

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