I got to know this chocolatier-patisserie recently and it now ranks as my favourite in Taipei. To me, their creations are a cut above the rest. I love their “Black Forest” (served in a glass): Crème Chantilly and chocolate mousse over liquored cherries in chocolate cake. Flavourful yet light. Also love the chocolate raspberry choux pastry and chocolate tart (4 types, all with poetic names). Their passion fruit chocolate cake and lemon tart are the least sweet I’ve tasted here, so those who like more tartness in their dessert would enjoy them. The Chinese teas and hot chocolate (dark chocolate melted in milk, not made from cocoa powder) are also excellent. You can taste the freshness and pure flavours in the ingredients, with just the right amount of sugar and butter used. Even their Madeleine is the best I’ve had so far, using Lescure french butter, with a piece of milk chocolate embedded. Although the dessert selection is quite limited, with just 5-6 items ($140-$180) and 11 handmade chocolate ($85 each), they are of very high quality.
The chef-owner is fluent in English and is happy to explain more about his creations.
Elegant space with only 8 seats, so a reservation is recommended. Minimum spend of $200 per head during weekend and public holidays; no service charge.
Address: 大安區仁愛路4段112巷3弄10號 No. 10, Alley 3, Lane 112, Sec. 4, Renai Road, Taipei
Open: 12-8pm, close on Tuesdays
Facebook: facebook.com/yuchocolatier/
TVBS interview with owner-chef of Yu Chocolatier (Chinese): youtube.com/watch?v=PQWaV1bRR1k
I finally had a chance to swing by the Renai Circle neighbourhood to check out this place. With its unassuming store front, it’s a little tricky to find but worth the effort. As Ichun mentioned, the space is compact but impressive. Spatially it felt like a small cafe in Tokyo, with elegant clean lines. With my dietary restrictions, I was limited to the lemon tart (NT$140). It was very good–though still a bit sweet for my taste. Perhaps my expectations were too high (or, more accurately, too low) after hearing Ichun praise Yu’s restraint with sugar. Still Yu is an obviously serious addition to the patisserie scene in Taipei. With Leslie Patisserie, the Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop, Robuchon’s Salon de The, and the improbably located Sweet Tea (on the top floor of the mall in Taipei 101), those of us in Taipei are not short of choices. Thank you again to Ichun for pointing us toward some of Taipei’s best places!
[quote=“afterspivak”]With my dietary restrictions, I was limited to the lemon tart (NT$140). It was very good–though still a bit sweet for my taste. Perhaps my expectations were too high (or, more accurately, too low) after hearing Ichun praise Yu’s restraint with sugar.
Guy[/quote]
Glad you made it to Yu Chocolatier. Yu has 2 versions of lemon tart: lemon with Tahitian vanilla beans and lemon with basil. I like the basil one which is very synergistic with lemon. Maybe the lemons yesterday were not as sour as the one I had. I’m very sensitive to sweetness (chief complaint being Taiwanese fruits!), and having tried Yu’s entire range of dessert, I do think that his dessert is less sweet than many others. I don’t normally order chocolate tarts as they are often too rich, but Yu’s are excellent, especially “Java 爪哇之息” (smoked longan taste) and “Xu 煦” (using 4 single origin chocolates).
Thank you Ichun for the extra details. Yu is obviously a serious shop. I’ll swing by to give his lemon tart (perhaps another variety?) another try when I can. The one I had yesterday certainly was not the basil version. As for the impressive range of chocolate tarts you described: I’ll have to leave those to my imagination!
[quote=“afterspivak”]I’ll swing by to give his lemon tart (perhaps another variety?) another try when I can. The one I had yesterday certainly was not the basil version.
Guy[/quote]
Hi Guy, you may want to call before you go to check if the lemon-basil tart is available. They don’t have it often. Hope you’ll like this better.
I was told that the elusive lemon-basil tart is available today. Do call to reserve before going as quantity is limited. Tel:
(02) 2701 0792. Open: 12-8pm.
This afternoon, I made it back to Yu’s to sample a couple more of his creations. This time I had the lemon tart dotted with vanilla beans (it was excellent) and what I presume is a seasonal dessert that consisted of various layers in a small cup: white chocolate (you only live once), a surprisingly dense pistachio paste, topped with a strawberry compote and fresh strawberries sourced from a single farm. This concoction was sublime, packing incredible flavours. Highly recommended!
So glad to hear that you enjoyed both the lemon tart and strawberry-pistachio-white chocolate dessert! I love the more flavourful taste of the organic strawberries. More information about Yu Chocolatier in my review: taiwanxifu.com/2016/01/24/yu-chocolatier/
