Le Doux Ciel

Vancouver, Canada (The Joy of Food) — Everything at Le Doux Ciel is an explosion of pink: it’s in the seat cushions, in the lamps, and in the giant spherical things that hang from the ceiling. If you’ve ever wondered what the inside of Barbie’s Dollhouse looks like, this is a good imitation, I think.

Le Doux Ciel is a Ladurée wanna-be with the look of an upscale, sophisticated tea room on the outside, but selling pastries about as dry and tasteless as what you’d get out of the grocery store bakery aisle. The Naked Chestnut cake is a whole lot of the cake part and not enough of anything else, particularly moisture, to keep your mouth from wiring shut. Some decorative chocolate mousse on top is weirdly brittle and tastes past its expiration date. Avoid. There are so many better and more delicious ways to tempt diabetes.

There are also classic French and Belgian pastries and baked goods that include several varieties of croissants and petit fours, all baked fresh daily. You will fare better sticking with something traditional and possibly more within their comfort zone. The macarons do redeem the experience and can hold their own. The pistachio and raspberry macarons are wonderfully chewy and just the perfect amount of sweet, mild in natural fruit and nut flavors in small, light, bite-size pieces.

I’m ambivalent about the place since it seems to use the glam aesthetic to compensate for food that doesn’t hit the mark, all style and very little substance. Places like Thierry and Ladurée (of course) do a better job across the board. However, if it’s just a macaron you’re after, Le Doux Ciel makes a fine choice in this part of town.

Written by Joy

Thanks for reading. The Joy of Food blog celebrates eating well, traveling often, and living la dolce vita. San Diego, California is home base, but thoughts are from all over. Reviews and photos help to highlight wonderful (or not) food experiences from around the world.

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