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| Yauatcha (Upstairs Cake Gallery) 15-17 Broadwick Street Soho London W1F 0DL |
It was with great delight but equal anxiety that
we accepted the invitation to dine with no other than Executive Pastry Chef of HakkasanGroup, Hakkasan, Yauatcha, HKK and Sake no Hana - Graham Hornigold.
Our 'CakeDate' (a term coined by Graham himself) unexpectedly begun with a variety of spicy dim sum dishes. Unsure of, how the spicy aftertaste of the Cantonese food would marry with what we assumed would be rich creamy desserts, it was here that Graham revealed his theory.
We were up for the challenge!
Our 'CakeDate' (a term coined by Graham himself) unexpectedly begun with a variety of spicy dim sum dishes. Unsure of, how the spicy aftertaste of the Cantonese food would marry with what we assumed would be rich creamy desserts, it was here that Graham revealed his theory.
Horingold's Chilli Sauce Theory:
Mess your pallet up with spicy dishes; if and only if, the dessert serves its purpose, no traces of the main course will be left lingering in your mouth after a maximum two spoons.
(Hornigold, 2014)
We were up for the challenge!
To test (or shall we say prove) his theory, Graham ordered two dishes of spicy Asian sauces - yes, you read it, Chilli sauces to be exact.
The Experiment
We were encouraged to take two servings of the
sauce before diving into our desserts.
Cheesecake "lemon, blueberry, graham cracker"
Incredibly light and airy. The light lemon flavouring completely cleansed and refreshed our pallets. The clean start this dessert provided, allows you to fully enjoy its smooth texture without any aftertastes from your main course creeping in. Cheesecake is topped off with a cheeky surprise raspberry filling and completed by the crispy cracker base. Although varied, the combination of flavours gelled perfectly and provided a pleasant start to the date. We would recommend this cake for those who are fond of cheesecakes but want to avoid feeling guilty, weighed down and tired after their third course.
Cake Rate: 4/5
Caramel Walnut "salted caramel,
walnut, iced coffee."
Now this dessert is one we would not have
typically ordered but what a pleasant surprise!
Quite a serious dish, this dessert is great for those who typically prefer savoury over sweet. Caramel Walnut revealed to us, just how, when skillfully made, pastries can take you on a journey through the senses. Initially you indulge in a smooth caramel walnut taste, then three or four bites in, you have been introduced to the whole taste and the iced coffee releases itself. Finished with the granola bar like 'wafer' base, and sprinkled with walnuts, a great option for those who fancy a dessert without an overbearing sugar rush. Our only criticism would be that some of the walnuts used for this dessert were slightly too small, and did get stuck in Jamelias teeth a few times... (we know you know the feeling)
Cake Rate: 3/5
Now this dessert is one we would not have
typically ordered but what a pleasant surprise!Quite a serious dish, this dessert is great for those who typically prefer savoury over sweet. Caramel Walnut revealed to us, just how, when skillfully made, pastries can take you on a journey through the senses. Initially you indulge in a smooth caramel walnut taste, then three or four bites in, you have been introduced to the whole taste and the iced coffee releases itself. Finished with the granola bar like 'wafer' base, and sprinkled with walnuts, a great option for those who fancy a dessert without an overbearing sugar rush. Our only criticism would be that some of the walnuts used for this dessert were slightly too small, and did get stuck in Jamelias teeth a few times... (we know you know the feeling)
Cake Rate: 3/5Black Forest Choux "cherry, chocolate, kirsch"
Yauatcha's take on a black forest gateaux. Shaped like a donut, this dessert was the messiest of the 3 so far. The light yet crisp donut bun, exploding with typical black forest treats and topped with rich cherries was a game changer! Throughout the date, Graham was doing a great job at changing our perceptions of desserts. Candace is not a huge fan of black forest, but this may well have changed her mind. (Yauatcha is the only place she'll eat black forest though mind you)
Cake Rate: 3/5
Matcha Tart "matcha, yuzu, hazelnut, genoise"
Another unassuming blend
and initially, not the most appetising set of ingredients. This citrus and
green tea on a biscuit shortbread base, again was another shock. The tastes were very
sublime and refreshing, another tick off the 'try something new' list. We absolutely love how Graham combines crispy bases with light, flavoursome toppings.
Cake Rate: 3.5/5
Another unassuming blend
and initially, not the most appetising set of ingredients. This citrus and
green tea on a biscuit shortbread base, again was another shock. The tastes were very
sublime and refreshing, another tick off the 'try something new' list. We absolutely love how Graham combines crispy bases with light, flavoursome toppings.Cake Rate: 3.5/5
Coconut Mousse "passion fruit, pineapple, lime" 
(Candace's
favourite) - need we say more?If you like fruity desserts, Coconut Mousse provided a Caribbean like aroma and taste, as Jamelia said - she felt like she was getting one of her five a day it genuinely tasted like a fruit! Coconut Mousse left Candace feeling subtly accomplished as without trying them all, she had found a winner. One of the aspects of these desserts that truly impressed us and is worth mentioning, was how intact the desserts remained even after cutting (the gelatin really does its job!)
Cake Rate: 5/5 (according to Candace)
Strawberry Grand Macaron "strawberry, pandan, vanilla"
(Grahams
win) Jamelia and Candace are not particularly fond of Macaroons. To add insult to injury, Jamelia is not a fan of fruity desserts either and prefers brownies, pies, and the
like; so was not looking forward to trying this, but the Grand Macaron took us on a journey. Starting off with a fruity taste, the dessert gradually transforms into an actual biscuit! Filled with fresh sliced strawberries, panda and vanilla. Sweet enough to get the juices flowing, flavoursome enough to dispel of Jamelia's preconceptions and 'fruity' enough to feel as though we were getting our second fruit of the day. This macaroon, unlike others previously tried, did have a taste, was sweet and had a definite flavour. We are not sure about you but we often find Macaroons difficult to understand...Cake Rate: 5/5 (according to Jamelia)
Banana Peanut "banana, mousse, peanut, jaconde" Exactly what is says on the tin. Naturally banana is a strong taste and too much can become overpowering and almost sickly. For food fans who love banana, this treat is ideal. The two flavours complimented eachother, although Jamelia and Candace are not massive fans of banana; and 7 cakes in, they only had a small bite of this one.
Cake Rate: 2.5/5
Raspberry Delice "raspberry, manjari chocolate, lychee"
Presentation wise, Jamelia and Candace were immediately drawn to this dessert on entry, such a sensual and romantic looking treat, one Jamelia and Candace both agreed they’d be happy serving to guests at their weddings (we’ll keep you posted on the date). Now this dessert bought our us back to the 'science of dessert'. This dessert included raspberry, lychee and chocolate. Yes, we too second guessed this combination but Graham soon shut us up. First you taste the acidic raspberry, followed by the mousse like chocolate taste, with a glimpse of the lychee. As Graham explained each ingredient served a different purpose. The lychee cleanses, whilst the acidic raspberry encourages salivation and the chocolate coats the mouth and builds flavour. Now hows that for food science?Cake Rate: 4/5
Overall Experience
After eating 8 cakes and a generous main course, you would expect to feel bloated, and tired. This cake date left us feeling quite the opposite. All 8 cakes were incredibly creative both in appearance and flavour, providing everything in the description leaving no ingredient unannounced. As greedy as it may sound, it really didn't feel like we had eaten 8 cakes; instead we had eaten 8 delicate, precise and dare we say 'nourishing' treats which left our pallets totally satisfied.
Cake dates are ideal for girly catch ups, mother and daughter bonding time or simply for fellow sweet toothies!
Price: £8/£9 each
Tastecard: Denied
WOM Spits and Chews
Spits
- Price - at between £8-9 each, these desserts are not cheap! But having dined at the restaurant you wouldn't expect them to be
- Caramel Walnut - walnuts too small
Chews
- Personal favourites - Coconut mousse and Strawberry Grand Macaron
- Although he won the bet, you 'gotta' love Graham Hornigold
- The opportunity to revisit one of our favourites and have a completely different experience
- Customer service again
WOM "Cake Rate": 5 kisses out of 5
Overall Verdict? CHEWS :)
Sidenote: Yauatcha retail these desserts in cutesy gift boxes great for gifts or a cheeky guilt-free treat, when you are on the move...
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