La Palme D'or Review

I'm the type of person that only indulges in the finer things in life for special occasions. So when I decided to treat my friend Carly, out to a special dessert for the second part of her birthday present (the first part can be seen on my other blog http://niraipatisserie.blogspot.com) I chose to take her to La Palme D'or. I found it a couple weeks ago as I was strolling around Ala Moana Shopping Center with two of my high school friends and it immediately went on my "To Visit" list. With just a quick glance into the store you know the desserts are of the finest quality and it's no surprise that they are since Chef Goto (a former challenger on the original Iron Chef) is the owner.

Once Carly saw the desserts in the showcases, she immediately got excited. She had a hard time choosing which one she wanted, but she finally chose the La Maccha, which is duet of Matcha Green Tea mousse and Dark Chocolate mousse with a moist chocolate cake for the base. The whipped cream, dark chocolate and white chocolate decorations, and the light powdering of Matcha powder makes the cake a sight to behold (obviously).



Even though the dessert was for her, she insisted that I have a bite of it, which I, of course, didn't turn down. The Dark Chocolate Mousse hits you first, masking the Matcha Mousse, while the cake adds complexity to the smooth texture of the mousse. At first, I was a little disappointed by the lack of Matcha flavoring since it was named, "La Maccha" but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was the star of the lingering taste left in my mouth. I definitely approve of this cake. None of the elements overwhelmed my palate, allowing me to experience a delightful balance of flavors.

I would definitely recommend the desserts from La Palme D'or. Even though I've only sampled one of their desserts, I'd bet money that the other desserts are just as good. The only downfall of this patisserie would have to be the service. We were the only ones there and both of the employees paid us no attention. It took a good five minutes of me standing with my wallet out before one of them asked if they could be of assistance. The only time they showed any true enthusiasm was when I placed my money on the counter to pay for the dessert. I guess they believe the quality of their product is enough to make up for the lousy service.