Jin Patisserie
Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Desserts [Edit]
Neighborhood: Venice1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Venice, CA 90291 (310) 399-8801
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 10:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Wi-Fi: None
3 reviews
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
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121 Reviews for Jin Patisserie
my mom would love this place.
it's the perfect spot for gfs to enjoy the outdoor patio, teas are all unique and delicious. we shared the high tea set b/t two girls which was the pefect afternoon pick-me-up. the best parts of that set was def the scones and pound cake. o-m-f'ing-g. the cakes were ok too, but paled in comparison to the pound cake and scones.
-1star b/c it's quite expensive for what you get and i'm still spoiled by tea gardens in nyc which are way more tranquil and nice, but i def liked the place enough to come again :)
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Some will say this place is expensive just for the amount of food you get, and I can see that. But for me, it's not just about the food; it's about the whole experience. The atmosphere of this place awesome, it's a haven from the bustle of the city.
I live walking distance from Jin so I go there quite often to meet with friends and I have yet to be disappointed. The teas and dessert are excellent but the chocolates are out of this world. I usually get their high noon tea because it give me a nice blend of everything they have to offer. I really like to sit here with a cup of jasmine tea and people watch. The range of people you get walking though these door is nothing short of amazing.
For you single guys, it's a wonderful place to bring a girl that you've had a crush on. Just tell her you know of a great tea place and the atmosphere of Jin will do the rest.
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The Spring Bouquet.
That's all you really need to know about this place. It is one of the best desserts I've ever had. No joke. It's vanilla custard, strawberries and mangoes wrapped in a meringue "roll". It's only served on the weekends and is $6. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Don't drive too fast... otherwise you'll pass this place since it doesn't look like any of the other stores or restaurants on Abbott Kinney. Look for a brown, wooden fence which kinda looks like a small house from the street... then make a mad dash to the counter and order the Spring Bouquet before they run out.
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Before going against the majority of the reviews of Jin Patisserie, I have to say I really enjoy the Abbott Kinney area, and Venice itself. I really don't go there enough. With that said, Jin Patisserie is a good place to take an out of town-er to for an nice afternoon tea, but after checking out a few places around LA, there are better places around.
I came with a friend to have their afternoon tea combo (a small pot of tea with a plate of sandwiches/scones/quiche/cakes/etc) since he lived around the area. I'd have to say, this is a great place to take a girl out on a date *Note to self*, but I just find the whole experience a bit overpriced. For starters, the combo was about $20 and most of the items on the combo were finger sized and really, just OK. I don't remember any of the items being that memorable other than the fact it was well presented. Personally, my favorite place to have afternoon tea/coffee is Bonjour in Gardena.
Go to Jin Patisserie for the ambiance, for people watching, and for afternoon tea if you're around the area. Call me uncultured if you like, but even for the scenery, this place is a bit overpriced and not worth too many repeat visits. If you want some quality cakes that's more bang for your buck, I'd suggest either Bonjour or Patisserie Chantilly in the South Bay.
I do have to say, the chocolate here were pretty DAMN good. I had a taste of the lavender chocolate, and it was tasty.
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Despite me getting caught with a parking ticket ($55), wasting time with a friend, and missing the earthquake, I was finally able to visit a place where I could say happily and proudly, "I've been there,".
The weather was gorgeous, no one seemed to have felt the earthquake, there were patrons on the sidewalks, spilling onto the street, and the atmosphere was, as LA Yelp puts it, hip, groovy, artistic. It was a beautiful feeling to be here.
We nearly missed Jin Patisserie - the sign indicating that it was here was way up in the sky, hidden by foliage. I just knew that it was in between here and there because of the street numbers. My friend, M, and I parked in a residential by it, unaware of my future parking ticket.
Anyhow, M and I walked in, excited. I had only a vague idea of how the setup would look. I remember coming across their website years ago, amazed first by their flash and html design, second by how intricate each dessert looked, third by the prices each box of chocolates went for. There have been constant reminders that I should come here and see for myself the extraordinariness that is Jin's Patisserie. They aired on Food Network, my ex found their website by mistake and spent time drooling over it, while excitedly pointing me towards their box of chocolates...
I should have never gotten him special chocolates from Paris. But I digress.
So, we walked in, and found ourselves surrounded by chairs, tables, and a few parties already enjoying each other's company, tea, and delicious creations. We opted to sit by a fountain and since we weren't quite hungry for something yet, we tried a fruity flower-ly green tea and a mango cake.
It was delicious. It filled my senses with a fresh spring garden, with flowers that just bloomed, their scents mingling beautifully with each other and rising to fill the air with scents that complemented well, and brought what I thought was delicious in the pastry world, crashing down. Now, everywhere I go, I crave that sweet, subtle mango creme` cake, with the swirls of milk chocolate nestled on top. It was a perfect start to my day.
It is somewhat expensive (mango cake the size of my palm= $6 approx., medium pot of tea = $5 approx., $11 total approx.) but you get what you pay for. Service, quality, texture, mind-blowing tastes...
I'd love to come here again. Love to.
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Most reviews here are spot-on, even if they are contradictory.
Jin is expensive, there's no arguing it. You don't go to Jin because you are hungry and need a sammich STAT. You go because everything on the plate is just so, and because sometimes a tiny, crustless sandwich will cure more than a rumbly tummy.
I was a little sad (enough to deduct a star) at how small the teapots were for what you pay - even more so than the tiny pastries. When I drink tea I like to sit and drink tea for a while, you know what I mean? Not like 10 cups or anything, but more than 1.5 cute little cups. I noticed that everyone's teas were served with milk but no sugar; for some reason I was too intimidated to ask for sugar for my tea, even though the server was nice. And even though I've had tea with my thoroughly British grandmother-in-law, I still began to second-guess myself -- is it gauche to take tea with sugar now? I'll never know, because I'm a chicken.
Also unfortunately (and also the reason for the lack of a 5-star review) we had to remind the server twice that we needed water - the second time a dining companion got up and went for the water herself.
So: yes it is expensive for what you get and yes it is worth it. Somehow at the same time. The patio is lovely and quiet and provided a really calming, nice Sunday afternoon. I'll be back.
This is a very lovely place to spend an afternoon with a love one eating lunch, snacking on desserts or having tea. The desserts are extremely well prepared and presented beautifully. The flavors are exotic and Asian skewed. The decor is nice and chic. Parking is a pain since it is Abbot Kinney and the prices are high but worth it.
Very darling deserts, very delicious coffee and tea, and very pretty atmosphere. I recommend making a reservation for a big party, but usually it is easy to just walk in. I think this would be a perfect place to rent out for a baby shower (I saw someone do this here once) or a afternoon birthday party. There are some nice things to take home in the small inside area - like little chocolates, which are perfect for Christmas stockings or goodie bags. I enjoy this little patisserie, but after going a few times I have not felt the need to go back. Not because I don't like it, just because i know what to expect. If you have not been before though.... I highly recommend it.
Well I think it's a little pricey. Fo sho. I'm not used to paying $19 for little pastries and egg salad sandwiches, and it's not even the Peninsula. BUT, the pastries are generally good, and the patio is very comfortable and relaxing. I do have to say though that none of the pastries really wow-ed me. They were good, but I'm not jumping up and down on Oprah's couch. The only pastries I had from here are the ones in the tea set though, so maybe others are better.
Great for tea connoisseurs, and nice ambience for an afternoon gossip (or eavesdrop of the latest LA drama). The server was very attentive and friendly. I will probably go back. Is this place really OK with dogs?? I thought I saw a sign that said no pets allowed. Definitely worth an extra star if it's pet friendly.
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So yummy but so pricey as well.
The only real complaint I have is them not having everything in stock. We went fairly early in the day (11am) and they didn't have 3/5 things we wanted. I know certain things aren't made on certain days, but these items on the menu were suppose to be available.
Our second choice desserts were still fabulous.
This little local patisserie popped up on my radar several years ago, when my family received a beautiful, full box of small chocolates of delicate favors. I remember sampling the lavender chocolate bite and being pleasantly shocked that something not usually associated with food and eating could be so delicious and a delight to the senses. Caramel with Sea Salt and Jasmine are two my other favorites.
Fast forward to today, I happened upon the bakery while exploring Venice with my friend, and the following weekend, I brought my mother to the patisserie. The bakery is located on the indie shop lane, Abbot Kinney (cross street Aragon Ct.), where it fits in with the art galleries, boutiques and sandwich shops.
We were seated promptly outdoors on the patio and the server took care of us quickly. So definite check for good service. Between my mom and me, we ordered the Abbot a caramel banana filling encased by dark chocolate mousse and a yummy sponge cake for a base. You guys, this cake is delicious. There are chunks of banana and bits of walnut, and a macaroon biscuit on top. The mousse is rich, and worth the calories (just walk it off at the beach).
I do come with a small complaint - my mother ordered a macchiato coffee, which we didn't expect it to be an espresso shot glass sized cuppa. It was a bit disappointing for that kind of price tag.
Aside from that, I saw on the menu, light meals were available as well as many different kinds of teas. I would highly recommend having afternoon cake and tea here. The vast array of cakes and chocolates should keep you coming back for more.
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Jin Patisserie is so CHIC! I mean, everything on Abbot Kinney is! The pastries are so pretty and yummy! The macaroons are delish too! This is the perfect place to unwind, enjoy the garden setting and eat dessert!
My only complaint is their hot choco. If you are a choco lover this would be perfect for you - a tad too rich for me - as if they just melted a chocolate bar and stirred it. Next time, I will opt for tea.
I had read so much about Jin Patisserie before coming and it was everything I expected. On a sunny spring afternoon, this is about the perfect place to be. The slight ocean breeze wafts through the air mixing with the fragrant tea and redolent scones ready to be sipped and supped on the beautiful patio of this Venice gem. The prices are extremely high, but this is a treat worth paying for. If I had my bearing right, it's a good place to impress a lady or have a whimsical chat about life while forgetting the stress of the world. I could repeat this once a month if someone were willing to join me.
I had the ceylon tea and the scones, which came out to around $15 for a full pot and a decent selection of quickbreads. The butter is superb and the china is fitting for a classy place like this. I like it, I like it a lot.
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Excellent pastries, wonderful food and the tea is always impeccably and perfectly prepared. I have never had a bad pot here. There is occasionally a wait for a table, but never too long.
The chocolates are also outrageous.
A great place to meet a friend for a cup of tea and something to nibble. Lovely outdoor seating area, not too rarified, really comfortable.
ok so i've never been to Venice in all my life as a southern californian..so my friend decides to show me the sites and I throw in one request to check out Jin Patisserie that I've been wanting to go to for over 2 years! i first read about them in a magazine somewhere and was so excited..I think i over hyped my expectations.. it wasn't all that... I never spent more on 2 drinks, (iced coffee and pink lemonade) and 2 desserts, and 2 macaroons...and we hadn't even had lunch yet.. the location was a bit hard to find too...also the area was cute but not too comfy... what galled me the most were these little bags of mini cookies they were selling, they were cute..so I got a back for $6! and they were basically hard/crunchy quartersized chocolate chips. My friend laughed at me because I could have bought 2 bags of chips ahoy cookies and enjoyed them better...So sad..I know..
My review is maybe skewed because I did not sit down and have tea too. The courtyard was packed and I had read that Jin is tiny but didn't realize just how tiny it really was.
I got the Lourve dessert which is chocolate cake and mousse with ginger custard. It was OK but didn't wow me. Maybe if it had additional textures like something slightly crunchy or crispy bits to balance the softness of the whole thing. My favorite part was the outer shell which was a thin chocolate coating.
I wish I had ordered the Mysterious cake which had passion fruit and diced spiced pineapple and hazelnut. It sounded a bit much in terms of flavor but may have been the one to try instead.
The macaroons looked good but as expensive as Boule's at half the size!
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This cute little teahouse is one of my fave teatime places to frequent on a sunny day. I usually get the chicken salad on olive bread sandwich set which comes with a cake of the day at the end. The passion ice tea is excellent and you won't go wrong with basically anything on their tea menu. I usually also get the vanilla green tea and add blocks of sugar cubes to it. The macaroons are delectable but for the size are too expensive at 1.20 a piece (but i much rather prefer it over paulette's). I'm sad to see that they don't have the passion fruit macaroon anymore, but they're always coming up with new flavors. One of my favorite cakes there is the hazelnut chocolate, but the price is way too over the top at close to $50 or more for a 9 inch cake. Minus one star for the price.
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After spending the day at Venice Beach, my sister and I decided to take a stroll down Abbott Kinney because I've been wanting to visit the patisserie ever since reading about it online.
I had a little trouble finding it because I wasn't sure of the exact location. We tried asking an employee at Pinkberry but they didn't know. It ended up being just a few blocks down.
We took a seat at a table in their zen garden. Our server was friendly. I noticed a lot of people in the courtyard were enjoying the afternoon tea. We only ordered a few of the cakes. I ordered the Passion (mascarpone, passion fruit, and fresh mango) and iced tea. My sister ordered the Inspiration (soft caramel with dark bitter sweet chocolate, sea salt, and cocoa bean from Madagascar). The cakes are little but the presentation and the taste more than make up for it. I tried both cakes and they were wonderful!
Next time I'm in the area, I'll definitely be back for afternoon tea.
Late to the party?! I guess I shouldn't be surprised since this place is a nice place to grab lunch.
Went for the first time today and food was good, but the highlight is the dessert! Cakes are artistically done and yummy! Macaroons look really cute, but we didn't try it this time. Also a great reason to come here is the dog friendly atmosphere. They have a couple tables that are OK for dogs and because of that this place gets an extra star because you can't find many nice eateries like this that will have this perk. They also make chocolate and macaroons as gifts which I'm planning on ordering for Mother's Day.
Excess is not a word you can use about the place. There are only 13 or so tables on the open air patio. There are no refills on any drinks. Not ice tea, not soda, not even coffee. They will refer your water which comes in a highball glass you might get with a tom collins, so you might have to ask quite often especially on a 90 degree day like today! Sandwiches are small, about the size if you took a french baguette and cut slices short side across. Comes with chip and a salad, but what makes it worthwhile is that they come with a cake of the day. If you want to substitute another cake, it's $2 extra. But all this aside, I would probably come back and just order the cakes.
Price: Sandwiches Less than $16 per sandwich
Food: Very Good (Tuna Sandwich was Good, Duck Prosciutto with Brie was Very Good, Spring Bouquet cake was Great, and Splendor cake was Good)
Service: Good (they kept refilling our water and were friendly)
Ambiance: Great (Most tables have ample shade, nicely sculpted garden patio)
Location: Great (there are stores, other eateries, and a dog shop down the street. Parking is limited to what you can find on the street, but we didn't have a problem)
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Jin Patisserie warms my heart! :)
Imagine a beautiful sunny day, you're in your sun dress, sunglasses, and comfy flats, carrying an eco-friendly tote with your favorite book...you walk into a little, but charming oasis of flowers and plants, you find a table under some shade so you sit down, relax and enjoy your view. A friendly server hands you a simple menu with assorted delectable treats, from afternoon tea trays (perfect for those who want to try a little bit of everything) and quiche to cakes and chocolates. You also find that there is a long list of teas, the descriptions of the beautiful blends eliciting visions of cherry blossoms and lily fields and other scenic pastoral images.
Drink. Eat. Relax. Enjoy.
Ahhhh. :)
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Japanese-style delicious dessert. When me and my husband were here once before, everything was sold out and we couldn't buy anything. The second time, we got here a little before 6 p.m., and already half of their desserts were sold out, so if you wanna try this place make sure you get here early enough. Also, parking around here is REALLY difficult.
Here's my blog with pics:
http://vegasandfood.bl...
Located on the Venice's Abbot Kinney Blvd., a prime street for shopping and dining, Jin Patisserie delivers great tasting Asian inspired baked goods and a garden-like patio to enjoy them. I first learned of this cozy place after watching it on Food TV's Sugar Rush when is it was featured for its unique fusion style pastries.
Their menu features individual sized cakes, chocolates, sandwiches, and an eclectic selection of tea. I highly recommend ordering their high tea special ($17-in the picture below). It gives you a great sampling of everything that Jin has to offer and is a great value considering their prices. It also includes a pot of tea. I also recommend the Jin, Green Tea, and Louvre cakes. They are so thoughtfully crafted and look so artistic; I almost felt bad taking a bite. Although tasty, I don't recommend ordering their sandwiches ($12), since the "pastry boutique's" strength is baked goods, I would stick to what they are famous for.
Their outdoor heated patio provides the ideal setting to sip some hot lychee infused black tea and a piece of chocolate Desire cake. It's definitely the ultimate LA experience. Avoid going there with more than 3 people, limited seating will make it difficult to find a table.
This place has its good and bad.
Pros:
-Pretty place where you get to eat outside in front of the store's gated courtyard kinda place.
-Relaxing environment
-Many varieties of tea, all served in a steaming small cute tea pot.
-Cute looking pastries inside the tiny store where you can either eat there or take home
Cons:
-The tea set is not worth the twenty dollars. Nothing on the plate wowed me...the sandwich sample (they were two mini slices) tasted like something you could easily make at home..scones were good...the tiny sampler pastries were...not good...oh, and no refills for tea...I paid TWENTY dollars for that small plate and pot of tea, and not even one refill..come ONNN.
-my friend's salad & sandwich did not wow me either...she didn't finish it.
-Parking can be annoying...had to go around and around to find street parking
- Pastries will not last if you buy to-go and plan on driving a couple hours in an air-conditioned car...my friend bought four pastries ..they were beautifully packaged...she got home, opened them, and they turned into a melted mess. So sad. :(
I'm glad I went there for the vibe..I felt incredibly light hearted and relaxed there. I would not go back for the food..
*picture posted*
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We go there about once every 2 months for late lunch or afternoon snack (well, afternoon tea sounds a little too feminine) but i really enjoy their sandwiches specifically their Chicken Salad sandwich. I have tried about 6 or 7 of their tea and they're all pretty good, and I specifically like their iced tea (in a pot) but it's quite expensive ($5 for a pot). I think their macaroons is the best in LA (way better than Paulette IMO)
The owners are from singapore and the head pastry chef was trained in one of the most famous hotels there. Great outdoor atmosphere and good food. But expect to pay a higher "Westside, by the beach" teahouse price
I came here with all females - my mom-in-law, sister-in-law, and my very good friend. Notice that it is all women. When I asked my husband if he wanted to come, describing the place of serving tea and desserts, he immediately said, "No thanks" with a look of "Are you kidding?"
This is where you come to enjoy a beautiful afternoon with friends and/or family. It would even be a nice venue for a baby shower or a very low key birthday. We ordered the sandwich set which comes with salad with light balsamic vinaigrette dressing, choice of ham, tuna, chicken, or egg salad sandwich, and the cake of the day. I had the chicken salad sandwich with olive bread. The bread was delicious but we were trying to figure out what was in the chicken salad mix. It turned out that they buttered the bread which gave the chicken salad a somewhat strange taste. The cake of the day was a chocolate rasberry cake. The winner of the meal was definitely the tea. I ordered a lychee tea which came in a very cute white porcelain teapot. The sandwich set was $12 with the tea costing roughly $5.
I think next time, I would order just the tea and the beautifully decorated desserts.
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a trusted friend and cool hunter showed me the color wooden doors one sunny monday afternoon. attention readers--don't go on a monday. jins is closed. luckily when my parents came into town for mothers day weekend, i had this fun little spot to check out with them.
jins arranged the mothers day sampler plater to perfection. i had only heard about the quality of their pastries and tea, but don't be fooled--their savory options are just as treaty!
the only down side is price and size. their patio is tiny.
Think of a modern teahouse sans dolies or creepy porcelain dolls. Another place that I had heard about from my hip foodie friend Alice. Went a few years ago with her, since most folks weren't out and about due to the rain but we had lucked out because the sun was out and there was no wait, which was rare at the time. This cute place had more a lounge feel and if my memory is still with me I remember a huge circular cushion/pillow/lounge area, which doesn't seem to be there now. So when I went earlier this month, it had rained heavily earlier that week as well but now the skies were clear and sunny, which means great day for a walk, so my friend and I were strolling Abbot Kinney and I was craving something sweet and I wanted to show my friend Jin's, so when I saw there was still available seats, I jumped at the opportunity
My friend and I thought we had just ordered ONE order of Afternoon Tea but they had misread and gotten us two. Both my friend and I were pretty full from just eating a big brunch but since we're such pushovers, we let it slide and indulged. (I may suggest standing your ground since afternoon tea costs $19 but I wasn't in the mood to argue.) It was quite tasty, the appearance of Jin's scones remind me of Chinese pastries. Our favorite item was the blueberry buttercake, sooo good, I slowly ate it to savor each bite.
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Holy moly now I know what everyone was talking about.
The place itself is a cute little tea house, with mostly outdoor seating. I suppose it was set up to create a relaxing Zen-ish vibe.
The inside of the house (because it is literally a house) is tiny, with a display case of goodies against the wall and a display case of goodies next to the register.
I didn't try the goodies on the wall (which included macaroons and pastries and such), but the goodies next to the register are delicious!
I took home a box of 6 chocolates, which put me down $15. Yes, it's expensive. Each chocolate is $2, plus another $3 for the box. It makes me wonder if I can take the box back in for refills.
As for what was inside the box, I believe I got:
-Mango Kalamansi Dark Chocolate
-Lemon Grass White Chocolate
-25th of December Dark Chocolate
-Lavender Dark Chocolate
-Caramel Clove Dark Chocolate
-Chrysanthemum White Chocolate, I think
I've only tried the mango kalamansi one so far (for $15 I gotta make it last) and the best adjective I could come up for it is sophisticated. It was sweet and sour, yet not overpowering in either one. The blend with the dark chocolate was perfect. The consistency was slightly grainy, which probably came from the fruit.
I've only eaten the one chocolate, but I know I'm hooked. The only reason Jin Patisserie got 4 stars instead of 5 was the price. $2 is a lot to pay for a tiny piece of chocolate, but it was so good that I know I'd pay for it again.
A few things to note:
-Service from the kitchen seemed really slow.
-It's street parking only.
-Credit cards are only accepted with a $10 minimum purchase.
-Because most of the seating is outdoors, you don't want to go on a rainy day.
-Call ahead if it's later in the day, because when I called for directions today they said they'd be closing two hours early.
And finally - DON'T ask them for directions. While we ended up getting there okay, they made us go in an unecessary loop through Venice. It took three times as long as it should have to get there from Santa Monica.
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I have mixed feelings about this place. On the one hand, I loved my tea (even though they were out of my first two choices.) I also enjoyed my banana mascarpone cake. The small portion of cake was just right.
The caramel macaroon was really good, but awfully small.
So, those are the good things.
On the downside, It's way smaller than I thought. There was plenty of space since it was a holiday weekend, but I wouldn't wait even 10 minutes for a table here.
The service was kind of weak. They only had one guy running around taking orders and he seemed to have no clue as to what was in stock and what wasn't. Since their offerings are so limited anyway, it seems like he could figure that out ahead of time.
Finally, I got taken advantage of when I tried to buy some macaroons to go. I wanted maybe 4-5 and I wanted mostly caramel. Well, when I went in to order, the clerk said that I could have either an 8 piece or a 12 piece box. hmmm. Okay. . . I'll get 8, I guess. He grabs a pre-filled box and throws it in a bag. I ask if I can choose my flavors and he said "No, this is the last 8 box we have." I was totally confused. Even more so when I saw the girl behind me leave with 4 macaroons hand picked for her in a small bag.
Lame.
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i went there on a week day and was hard to find parking, i cant imagine what it would be like on a weekend. i ordered the afternoon tea it came with a choice of tea (2 cups),whole egg salad sandwich, quiche, 2 scones, and some deserts all for 19.00, which was a great deal since some of the other places charge more. the macaroons are very good and some of the chocolates.
Why I love it: yummy little chocolates on the afternoon tea plate and the tea
Cons: The scones weren't that good. There is no refill on the tea
Pros: I ordered the afternoon tea plate. I loved the little chocolates. The tea I had was really good with a great flavor...I don't remember the name of it, it was some type of Assam black tea. The presentation was really good. I would have given it 3 stars but the potential of the desserts that I have yet to try made me decide to give it 4
Note: This place looks like it is just a restaurant from the enterance but if you go back into the building they have an assortment of chocolates and desserts that you can purchase or gift.
LA Review #2 (check out my Charcoal review after if you love to eat STEAK!) I have more reviews coming, prolly 4 more or so? but just wait, i'll write tomorrooo...
***
i heart pasteries, and i heart sweets...
WOW. Their "desire" is SOOOOO good ...
For $5.25, I HIGHLY suggest you making a quick trip over to Venice and thanking me from afar... Velvety Manjari chocolate mousse with vanilla creme brulee and crunchy feuilletine and griottine cherries on a chocolate sponge ...
Super moisty, and perfect! Doesn't that sound sooooo good ??? Well, it was ... =) +1
Their caramel clove chocolate was good too, but a leetle bit TOO sweet ... 3 stars.
Beautifully wrapped in this cute lil box, with a finishing touch of a orange ribbon... awwww... +1
So, I had the honor and pleasure in meeting the owner, Kristy on a lazy Saturday afternoon... Kristy Choo is this sweet Chinese lady who helped me out pick and choose my treat, excuse me, my delightful treats ... As the owner, I must say, she's got amazing skills in delicately decorating her divine treats! Very clean presentation! +1
With the few hours i had in managing and squeezing my TIGHT time for the 3 day wkend, and escaping to the west side, was def a killer ... but when you first walk in, everything about time is forgotten, and then, you're taken into this lil cute garden/cafe where you can escape from the whole chaos from the cute lil street of Abbot Kinney..
Very modern, and a place where you feel very much relaxed. +1
Visiting LA, and coming into Jin, made me really appreciate and realize that I am truly an LA girl at heart. How could you resist, like this cute lil place? this is a girl's comfort zone... a place filled with chocolates, fine pastries, custom cakes, tea, and lunch... oh, and they cater too, btw.
Sad that I'm not in LA as we speak... *sniff*
I can definitely say, this is just as cute, as yummy, and definitely as a delightful experience, just like Boule & Sweet Lady Jane...
Here i am, back in san francisco, tearfully, writing aways.. *sniff*
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Dear Los Angeles Yelpers (*),
I am often amused by the passion with which you yelp. After all, what can beat the joy of logging on late at night to receive a PM that rips me apart for a review in my own city, right? Given the overbearing affection with which some of the notes were sprinkled, I am sure you will forgive me for mistaking "retarded" as a term of endearment. Not to mention misunderstanding the love behind gems like: "Let me help you with the difference between cupcakes and muffins", "What do you mean Fuhgeddaboutit! Were you even at the right place?" or "I completely disagree with you on Pinkberry! You need to be more open minded to appreciate the concept". Yup, "It's Probably Me".
So, it was a pleasant surprise to receive a PM a month or so back from a yelper inquiring about my views on Jin Patisserie. Having followed my extensive NYC macaron list (http://www.yelp.com/li...) with interest, her curiosity had been piqued by my less than glowing review of Miette in SF. Re-affirming that signs of compassionate and thoughtful life still remain in the land of Paris Hilton, she promised to show up in NYC with a box of macarons from Jin.
Suffice it to say that despite my polite sensibilities, the consummate dessert snob in me wasn't bowled over by Jin. Certainly the blasphemous comparison to baking god Pierre Herme that I read on some pseudo food blog, deserves the heretic a sentence of Hershey's (milk) chocolate bars for life. However I delayed writing up my review, troubled by the guilt of being disrespectful to the kind yelper's generosity, and adding to my weekly or so PM from LA. But, a recent peace offering, that classifying Pinkberry under "dessert" may yet be inaccurate, has prompted me to renew my faith in dessert connoisseurs in your warm city.
So, what's the most lyrical I can wax about Jin's macarons? Very colorful and pretty. But from then on, I need to sing off-key. I was neither impressed by the filling that was thinner than a quarter, nor by the texture. They crumbled upon first bite as opposed to having body and the requisite "chew factor". The brittle texture and the air whipped into the macarons suggested the use of more egg white meringue as opposed to almond meal, also explaining their dissolve into dust nature.
I've also struggled over how to rank the individual flavors (Caramel, Coffee, Green Tea, Hazelnut, Lavender, Passion Fruit, Pistachio, Rose, Sesame and Vanilla). That dilemma was resolved this past week while enduring an episode of the Bachelor, the viewing of which was prompted by a visit from the sister (compensating for the inevitable lack of a conversational topic). Using the same yardstick, only the Lavender and Coffee flavors would earn a rose (for embodying a distinctive flavor), while the rest of the contenders would be sent home. Perhaps, the caramel would earn one too, if it weren't so cloyingly sweet, much like some of the show's participants.
As a cinephile who loves the movie Raging Bull (depicting the life of Jake La Motta), I often worry whether my love for dessert and the accompanying excess and snobbery would end up ruining my body as well as alienating well wishers. A friend recently suggested a way of eliminating at least the physical excess by quoting from Ratatouille, "I don't like food, I love it. If I don't love it, I don't swallow." That is certainly a concept which holds much promise :)
Humbly,
"Sanctos Atif, Patris del Tartufo desserti"
* I trust some of you will appreciate that the gentleman in me has resisted the temptation of using acronyms to address you'll as L.A.Y.s :)
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This is my favorite Santa Monica area bakery. The cakes are delicious, beautiful and unique. I swear, each one is a masterpiece! I also love the zen decor and the tea is tasty too. Very pricey, but well worth it. The only cake that I didn't really love was the Green Tea.
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if going for the first time, definitely do the afternoon tea in the courtyard. while you're there, check out the nice selection of macaroons (good, but i personally prefer boule), chocolates, and other contections to satisfy your sweet tooth.
I just don't get the hype of this place. Sure cakes are decent and the establishment is cute and hip. But that's a given on Abbot Kinney, isn't it?
I say cakes are definitely better than Sweet Lady Jane, but no more than R.J. Patisserie or Patisserie Chantilly. What Jin Patisserie offers more than those places are price. Each cakes here at Jin are absolutely over priced for what it is. I know the rent is high and higher price gives away a false sense of better, more elegant, and fanciness to the products. But seriously, a slice of cake and a cup of tea totaling to be $10 or more just isn't right for the taste of their cakes.
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The pride here is really to witness how a Singaporean, Kristy Choo, grew up in Singapore, traveled half way around the world to study the culinary arts, returned to work in one of Singapore's top hotels (Raffles Hotel) and returned back to US to fulfill her dream of owning/running a patisserie. Well, maybe I made the assumption that this was her dream. But for now, let's stick to that. Why am I being so proud? Because being a Singaporean myself and knowing Singaporeans, I know many of whom talk and dream a lot, few actually put their foot down to realize their dreams. I admire Kristy Choo for this. I really do.
We ordered the sandwich set, a piece of cake called Spring Bouquet, and a pot of earl's grey tea. Most of the yelpers already reviewed the settings, so I shall skip that.
For $12, the sandwich set comes with 4 triangulated pieces of your choice of bread, a side salad and a cake of the day. Simple dish. Nothing spectacular. I love the Spring Bouquet. Fluffy pastry outer texture stuffed with mango, strawberries and cream. I will call in sick for work just to eat this all day. The tea was as expected.
Before leaving the place. I have to get a few chocolate pieces to go. I saw them on the website and I said I have to have them.
4 flavors: Lychee, Lemon Grass, Mango Basil and Chrysanthemum. $2 each. Not cheap, considering they measure slightly more than 1/2" by 1/2" by 3/16" thick.
Here's the pinch...
I was a little disappointed with the chocolates. I was anticipating for the moment of an explosive flavor (much like what the kids experienced in Wonka's Factory) but that moment never came. I concentrate so hard, putting all my taste cells and brain cells to work just to taste the flavors but they were next to being mild. Is this the artisan chocolate people talked about? The subtle flavors supposedly mixed with top quality ingredients? Well, it's not working for me.
But the chocolate packaging is presentable as a small gift. Will I go out of my way to get them? Probably not.
We will return for the rest of the cakes. Just not the chocolates.
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