The new patisserie in town made us want to succumb to our most base needs. Given that the prices border on the obscene, we only wish that its interiors weren't as virginal
The new patisserie in town made us want to succumb to our most base needs. Given that the prices border on the obscene, we only wish that its interiors weren't as virginal
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There's something about chocolate that stirs such primal needs in our corrupt souls that we must admit we were disappointed when we first walked into this Belgian patisserie. Its gleaming glass counters, its white walls, its cold marble floor and its bright lights squealed, 'clean'. While what we were hoping for was more a place sullied by desire and reeking of unspoken needs; a Moulin Rouge of the palate, if you like.
Debailleul, named after its founder, chef Marc Debailleul, is upmarket, swanky, and by extension even a little intimidating. Having said that, the staff is warm, helpful, and thus smoothens out any imagined rough edges. If your French is rusty or non-existent, they'll even help out with the pronunciation of their name, which incidentally sounds close to 'de-bai-yull'. The double 'l' is pronounced as 'y', we were dutifully informed.
Getting down to the business of pleasure, we requested for a cup of Hot Chocolate (Rs 150), which was immensely satisfying: thick molten chocolate sweetened with sugar and soothed with a little milk. It's even served with a tiny piece of chocolate on the side. Excess is clearly celebrated here.
Sweet dreams are made of this
Next, we tried the Galloway pastry (Rs 500) that had luscious blackberries squished between smooth cream cheese, served over lemon biscuit. Rich. Decadent. Divine. The pastry succumbed easily to the intrusion by our greedy spoons.
Our single-minded focus had us soldier through the Voltaire (Rs 500). Truth be told, we didn't require much 'soldiering'. What can we say, we're easy that way! Dark chocolate mousse, cr me br ufffdl ufffde and crispy rice biscuit go into this pastry. The crispy rice biscuit is less obtrusive than one might imagine in a creamy mousse.
The mousse? Let's just say that our relentless quest for 'authentic' mousse ends here.
Succumbing to a final call of gluttony, we tried the Citron Tarte (Rs 350), served with a meringue topping that complements the tartness of the lemon curd. Delicious!
Debailleul also does a variety of hand-made chocolates with truffle centres that include raspberry and passion fruit, as well as sorbets and ice creams.
There's no denying that food is hailed and celebrated as an art form here. The question is, are we going to make a habit of paying Rs 500 per pastry? And that's where the ambience rears itsu00a0-- and we don't mean that literallyu00a0-- 'ugly' head again.
Perhaps our answer would have been different if the lights were dim and the corridors undulating, because to explore a lust this obscene, the soul requires reassurance. The kind that you find at the Moulin Rouge.
At Debailleul, Emca Sadan. Ground Floor, Appasaheb Marathe Road, Prabhadevi (take the first left after crossing Siddhivinayak temple, if the temple is on your left).
Call 9619487395
Debailleul didn't know we were there. The GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for its meals.
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