Seoul's pastry scene offers classic styles and new twists
You can rely on a bite of something sweet when stressed, especially during the pandemic, when visits to restaurants and cafes are limited. Small pastry shops all across Seoul may give you the lift you need, or at least a sugar high.With more culinary talent entering the restaurant industry, the scene is more diverse than ever. The pastry chefs who have honed their skills at big-name restaurants plating sweets for the end of a meal are now venturing out to establish the new dessert scene in Korea. Pastry shops have tended to have many seats for customers to come in and lounge, but newer shops are focusing more on bites than drinks, and many encourage takeout orders instead of providing seating.
Breaking with the common notion that dessert shops carry whole-size cakes, they also mostly only do small gateaux, unless customers place an order a few days in advance.
Many pastry chefs have returned from studying or working overseas over the past couple years. Given that there are still many desserts that are internationally popular yet less prevalent in Korea, many of these pastry chefs who own their own shops also teach classes either at their shop or at larger facilities.
Get your spoonful of sugar and forget your worries, at least temporarily.
Cedrat
Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Instagram: cedrat_patisserie
JL Dessert Bar
Yongsan District, central Seoul
Instagram: jldessertbar
Patisserie Jaein
Seodamun District, western Seoul
Instagram: patisserie.jaein
Le Soleil
While other pastry shops do a little bit of many different types of desserts for diversity, this shop delves deep into simple baked goods like madeleines, financiers and some canelés. While many pastry shops only serve fruit-driven, or chocolate-covered desserts to accentuate the sweet side, this shop also branches out into more savory ingredients. One of its popular items is named Sun-dried, with sun-dried tomatoes, Gruyère cheese, cilantro and extra-virgin olive oil. It also uses many different grains including perilla seeds and sorghum.
Seodaemun District, western Seoul
Instagram: lesoleil_official
Quelquechose
Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Instagram: Quelquechose_seoul
Moments D’emotions
Seocho District, southern Seoul
Instagram: momentsdemotions
L’aubenuit
Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Instagram: laubenuit_official
Jungsik Café
A casual outlet of Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant Jungsik offers not only all-day dining but also a variety of sweet and savory foods. One of its signature cakes is made with corn, with seasonal decorations and different flowers, and it has been chosen by many who want to give a cake to their parents, as the version here isn’t too heavy with cream, and is light enough to be enjoyed after a full meal. Fans of carrot cake should try the carrot oatmeal cookies. The cookies with filling are easily packable to be enjoyed without a fork and a plate, yet its taste would remind you of a piece of carrot cake. Other classics, including crème brûlée and egg tarts, are also available along with madeleines. Although the season has already passed for this year, the cafe unveils its own version of bingsu, or shaved ice, each year. This year’s took the motif from the scene in Jeju with Dol Hareubang, large statues made from volcanic rock, as well as a black sesame and green tea brownie.
Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Instagram: Jungsikcafe_
I Pho U
Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Instagram: I_pho_U
Sona
One of the few places that offers plated desserts in Seoul besides restaurants, as well as one of the longstanding ones in Seoul's culinary scene, where cafes and restaurants open and disappear often. In the heart of Garosu-gil in southern Seoul, Sona has been a magnet that attracts trendy foreign visitors coming to town. While many of the trendy pastry shops follow recipes from French or European classics, the chef here, who used to study and work in the United States, offers more eclectic flavors.
Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Instagram: sona_seoul
Happy Happy Cake
It often runs a special week for a certain ingredient, most recently cherries, to show how different versions of desserts can be created with just a single item that’s in season. At the moment, it is serving many different fruits as a main ingredient to top a crispy bottom crust. To make one feel like they are at the Spanish Steps in Rome while staying inside the shop, there are steps that are used as seats.
Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Instagram: happyhappy.cake
Olemus
A small bar-type dessert and tea spot. It is suitable for visiting alone, as the entire space is very quiet. The overall ambiance seems to invite those who want to take a break from the pace of city life. Of course you can go with a friend to try more types of desserts, but you are constantly aware of the fact that you need to keep your voice down so as to not hinder other guests’ time to enjoy their drink and dessert. The flavors used in the food and drinks, as well as the store’s decoration, are very Asian, compared to many other cafes and pastry shops that aspire to the tastes of Europe or the United States.
Seodaemun District, western Seoul
Instagram: olemus.kr
Little & Much
The highly popular Little & Much reopened last week at its original location close to Gangnam-gu Office station of line No. 7 and Bundang line. It had shut its doors last June after running the shop for five years, while leaving the window open for those who want to get pastries at locations that sell its desserts, including Hell Café. It reopened last week, only for takeout, and plans to announce more details soon.
Gangnam District, southern Seoul
Instagram: little_and_much
Maison M’O
Seocho District, southern Seoul
Instagram: maison_m.o
BY LEE SUN-MIN [summerlee@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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