Return to Paris for a life in pink.

(Cue Edith Piaf soundtrack)

It was only a matter of time. It was a long absence but doesn’t that make one’s heart grow fonder? About a month ago at the food bloggers convention, I declared love at first sight with Adriano Zumbo’s impossibly pretty-in-pink dessert Paris La Vie En Rose. However she belonged to someone else so a taste was all I got that day. But that was enough to render me forever enamoured of her beauty. She was never far from my mind but finally I returned to Adriano Zumbo’s Cafe Chocolat and I had her all to myself.

An exquisite rose crème brulee topped with raspberry sorbet balls, fresh lychees and a petit rose macaron served alongside a coconut and tapioca shake. Garnished with a simple strawberry and one delicate rose petal, her entrance took my breath away. On a warm day like today, the raspberry sorbet was refreshing and lychee and rose is now my favourite flavour combination.

I’m not a fan of macarons generally but the petit rose macaron was the best I’ve ever tasted. Never mind that I’m biased towards anything rose flavoured but I like to make a special request to Adriano Zumbo to please sell the rose macarons separately so I may go crazy and buy all of them. Pretty please?

Crazy with jealousy, Mr S. found love of his own. A lady named Miss Marple to be precise – a deconstructed version of his patisserie fave Miss Marple Cheesecake. Marscapone filled crepes served with strawberries, orange jelly balls and what seemed to be an orange infused maple syrup this time round. Divine!

A plus of this visit as well was that I finally tried The Younger Years. It’s strange…I’m familiar with the infamous kidney pan and the injection of the raspberry filled syringe (that novelty will never be lost on me) but I’ve never touched base with it personally. The chocolate fondant was like a warm, melty pudding and the raspberry injection was an affirmation on why chocolate works so well with anything berry. The scoop of icecream was rich with peanut buttery goodness and I could’ve had a bowl of that icecream all on its own.

Not finished with the sugar hit we sampled some chocolates. The ganache filling was so smooth, it was a pleasure letting it melt in my mouth. Mr S. swooned over his saffron chocolate and loved the spicy kick in the chilli chocolate. I loved the mild tang in my lime chocolate although as a lime addict I was wanting more of a citrus kick.

I wish I didn’t live so far from Balmain. Then again it’s probably a good thing. I miss Paris already but I already promised her I won’t keep her waiting for long again.