Duchess Bake Shop

I'm a food enthusiast. Actually, to be more specific, I'm a dessert enthusiast because I'm painstakingly picky about what I eat. But when it comes down to the sweet stuff, serve it up on a gold dish because that's just how I like it. A few years ago I was introduced to what I now call my favourite 'sweet escapade', Duchess Bake Shop, a whimsical, drool-worthy, money-pinching bakery done right. You see that chandelier hanging over there? Yes, it's as hipster as it sounds. If you think that chandelier is something, wait until you see what's inside.

Look how quaint this little bookshelf is! From the looks of it, it used to be a magazine stand until somebody decided to make a project out of it and turn it into a 'take & leave' bookshelf. The concept itself is just so cute I cannot handle. However, whether people take and leave books, that's for another day. 

This is basically the whole bakery with the right side completely cut off because I giddily lost it and didn't think of taking a picture of the whole bakery. It's not big by any means, but every time I go there, whether it's 10AM when they open or 2PM when everyone is at work (assuming everyone is doing their jobs and not skipping a day to enjoy a cup of their flavourful chai tea latte), the place is always busting with customers and seating doesn't easily come by. 

Here are some sneak peeks at the desserts they serve. My stomach is yelling at me for looking at these pictures because now I want macarons more than I want to have a child, and that's saying a lot. Duchess has monthly features where flavours are different every month for different desserts, and for December their special macaron flavours are Gingerbread, Egg Nog, and Candy Cane.  

This time I went I decided to try their Mont Blanc Macaron Gateau (on the top left); almond cream, chestnut cream, and dark chocolate. For those that don't know what a macaron gateau is, it's basically a macaron cookie top and bottom with seasonal fillings. My all time favourite has to be the pistachio strawberry flavoured one back in September. I fell in love with it after the first try that I couldn't stop thinking about it every single day. The dessert was so clutch that I even dreamt about eating it. I am legitimately and tearfully sad that this flavour is no longer in season because it is my biggest regret to not have bought an abundance of the sweet kickers to fill a fridge that could last me a whole year. Minimum. On the top right is a key lime tart, and the bottom is some kind of a chocolate filled puff pastry.    

The following series of pictures are actually of Provisions, a store next door also under Duchess Bake Shop. They specialize in the finest flours, chocolates, preserves, equipments and kitchen utensils, and cookbooks for the wannabe home pastry chefs and professionals alike. 

And that's about it! The owners actually debuted a Duchess Bake Shop Cookbook which consists of over 80 different recipes for everyone to try at home. Very much like the bakery itself, the book is a feast for the eyes. It has beautiful step-by-step photography and detailed instructions for everything from their tea-time treats to their delicious macarons. I haven't purchased my own copy of the cookbook yet, but take my words that I will one day perfect that life threatening macaron gateau because, like I said, one of my life's biggest regret. Until then... Bon Appetit!