Scrumptious treats at Tarte by Cheryl Koh

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Tarte by Cheryl Koh is a shop that sells tarts and carolines. It is located in Shaw Centre and occupies a tiny sliver of real estate which seems to have been carved out of the Caveau Wine Bar. Cheryl is the pastry chef of the high-end French restaurant Les Amis located a short distance down the same row of restaurants along Claymore Hill.

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Tarte by Cheryl Koh looks like a very focused concept. The range of tarts and desserts is not wide but each item on display looks exquisite (and expensive). The shop itself is minimalist, the whiteness of the marble counter and walls was punctuated only by a couple of paintings and a flower arrangement.

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The tartes come in two sizes. The regular size is about six inches in diameter. The more common ones are the small sizes which you see in the pictures above. We tried a couple of tarts and carolinas (which we think is the technical term and more classy word for “tiny eclairs”). Tarte is a retail shop but you can choose to eat the tarts at the Caveau Wine Bar which can be directly accessed from the shop. Which was what we did.

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We selected the Earl Grey ($9) and Pistachio ($8) tarts. The Earl Grey Tarte was very simply presented. Not as flamboyant as some of the other specimens on display, its contents were like creme brulee with a deep rich taste of tea. We could eat this everyday.

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The Pistachio Tart was slightly more elaborate with a topping of light pistachio cream. Very smooth texture and more delicate in taste.

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We tried one each of the chocolate and vanilla carolines ($2.50 each). The chocolate one looks and tastes exceptionally good. I don’t have to describe the taste. I think you can imagine it. Just don’t be fooled by the size in the photo. They are really, really small. If you are reading this on an iPhone (horizontal screen), the picture of the single chocolate caroline is probably the actual size. Two bites and it is gone!

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The tarts and carolines at Tarte by Cheryl Koh are really beautiful and delicious. But we would have liked them more if only they were not so small and expensive. But viewing this positively, it could be the secret plan of the thoughtful Ms Koh to help us eat less of the sweet stuff.

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Eating these little treats with coffee at the Caveau Bar was very convenient. The Caveau Bar itself has undergone a makeover. It has grown up from the old cheerful wine bar to something more like a regular cafe which has more seating capacity. It is also darker and more broody. Like comparing the Batman of old and the modern Batman. We will tell you more about it another time. Meanwhile here is a sneak peek.

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