Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates & Patisserie - Vancouver, BC

This Piglet has tried to come to this dessert place on several occasions but their limited hours and location just hasn't worked out...  until now.  I am so excited that when I walk in, I feel like a kid in a candy store.  

Wait.  I am a kid in a candy store!  And Thomas Haas is in-store organizing orders and helping with service.  I'm so nervous I only gather enough courage to quickly snap a photo.  I'm such a loser.  Everything looks so good that I want one of everything to go but Monkey reminds me that we're here for a taste, not a self-destruction (although self destruction on these would be DECADENT).  Ok, ok!!!  I'll pick a few and move on...

Double-baked Almond Croissant - $4.45

Ok, I honestly didn't know this croissant was like almost $5 until I got home.  I got caught up in the excitement and didn't even notice the price but it slips my mind again when I take a bite.  Tons of almonds on top, crunchy crispy exterior and bottom with a soft light buttery interior.  There's also an almond paste in the centre that is a bit more dense but big on almond taste.  I'm usually a fan of the pain au chocolat but this almond croissant has got me in a tizzy.  Monkey was right, the almond croissant is worth it.  I had intended only to take a bite and save the rest for later but I couldn't stop so I ended eating, neigh, inhaling the entire thing in about 6-7 minutes.  I need help.

Pear Almond Tart - $5.50

If you love pears, this is the dessert for you.  Mr. Piglet doesn't like the shortcake crust as much - he thinks it's too dense for such a light and delicate dessert and it comes off in chunks - but I like the thick crust.  It's as if I'm getting a dessert atop a cookie.  The poached pear is soft but still has a bit of bite.  I don't think I detected a lot of almond but I ate this dessert for the pear and I liked what I got.

Lemon Lemon Tart - $5.50

First bite of this tart and I got this face right away:

This thing is TART.  No wonder there's two lemons in its name.  I mean, if you love lemons, this is the perfect dessert for you but this was too much for Mr. Piglet.  I love lemons and it was still on the tart side for me.  It needed something more than the shortbread crust to cut the sourness, like a meringue, whipped topping or foam on the side, because it was just so strong.  I suppose if you slowly eat this with a nice cup of tea, it would be alright but it's a dessert.  My natural inclination is to devour/inhale it so perhaps it would be better to slow down, take a small bite and big sip of tea and this lemon tart will do you right.  The raspberry actually gave this lemon tart a break but it's too bad it was starting to go bad on top...  Come on, how can you serve a dessert with a bad raspberry?

Milk Chocolate with Passionfruit and Almond - $5.50

Look at it.  Just look at it!  It looks amazing and it tastes even better.  It's got a nice thin layer of chocolate ganache followed by the lightest chocolate mousse.  Right after is a passionfruit cream that cuts the chocolate nicely, then a crispy hazelnut wafer for some texture and then soft almond cake to round it out nicely.  The PERFECT dessert.  Mr. and I agree that this is the best dessert hands down.  And to think, I added this to my order at the till and almost left without it!  I need to get the full cake version of this...

White Chocolate Kalamansi Cake - $5.50

Kalamansi is a tropical orange usually found in the Philippines - this is quite a light dessert on the outside, just slightly orange in taste, but inside is a coconut mix that's much denser atop a cookie crust.  I actually like the subtle flavors of this cake and I'd probably order it again.  I love the sparkly drops on top which were orange-y in flavor.  It was really good with a bit of raspberry in each bite but again, there was some funky stuff on the raspberry. 

The Piglets agree that we'd come here again but only for special occasions - with a dessert and drink, the prices really do add up.  You can tell there's a lot of attention to detail and care that goes into these little cakes (minus the bad raspberries) and it shows in the final products.  The desserts here are a fantastic balance of flavors and textures and to have one of those on your plate is definitely a treat.  I would recommend everyone come here for a try if you haven't already.  Bon appetite!

Pros:

• Delicious and quality desserts
• Efficient and friendly service
• Great outdoor patio sitting area
• Great take-away desserts and service
• Free parking available (also pay on the street as well)

Cons: 

• On the pricey side
• Very busy all the time - tables are a difficult commodity
• Limited operating hours - only open until 5:30 and not open on Mondays and Sundays! (Thanks anonymous!)