Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie, Paragon

April 30, 2014

I hardly ever do afternoon tea. I've just never been the type to while my time away clinking on dainty teacups and nibbling on scones and cakes. Besides, I've always preferred the savoury over the sweet. BUT, I've always loved the pastries at Canele, and the timing was just right for tea break.

Canele's very value-for-money Afternoon Tea ($12) comprises 8 small bites, and a tea or coffee. Sufficient for a light snack, but not too much that it'll spoil your appetite for dinner.And so easy on the wallet.

1 of 2 savouries, the Crab Canape was my favourite, with its refreshingly sweet mayo-ed crabmeat topping and flaky shortcrust pastry base.

The Smoked Salmon Canape was twirled around a crunchy asparagus stalk and set atop a dill mayo spread. Well balanced.

I loved the subtly creamy Creme Fraiche, and it complemented the could-be-sweeter Strawberry.

The tear-inducing sour notes of the Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry were countered by the rich sweetness of the chocolate.

A mainstay here, the Rose Macaron, boasts a velvety butter cream accented by a delicate rose extract.

In keeping with the floral theme, the Violette Macaron is lightly perfumed with violet flavoured cream. I liked that the floral flavouring didn't drown out the buttery sugar-ed confection, I'd have felt like I was downing a bottle of perfume.

The Scone, dusted with icing sugar, was buttery, dense and understated.

The Afternoon Tea cake-of-the-day, a Mango Shortcake, with chantilly cream, ripened mangoes, and a light-as-air sponge, is, on its own, enough to make the afternoon tea so worthwhile. This little perfect confectionery was exquisite.

We also had a couple of ala carte items to share, like their popular Le Royale ($8) with praline feuilletine, 64% chocolate cream, and a moist fudge brownie. This is the ultimate chocolate indulgence meant for chocoholics.