The other week, I finally had the opportunity to visit a bakery I’ve had my eye on for years, Jin Patisserie. With a beautiful sense of style, adventurous use of flavors and strong focus on tea, Jin Patisserie is a large source of inspiration for the work I do for my own bakery. Owner Kristy Choo grew up in Singapore and is heavily influenced by the Japanese style of cuisine. This asian influence comes across in the store, but is nicely merged with the laid back style that the Venice, California location is famous for.
Jin Patisserie is located on one of the main streets of Venice, filled with boutique stores and restaurants housed in buildings that look like private homes. When you enter through Jin Patisserie’s gate you will see an open garden area, filled with tables, trees and a flowing waterfall. You don’t see any products for sale, and unless you knew ahead of time what Jin Patisserie was about you would never guess gourmet chocolates and cookies are hiding in the house on the back of the lot.
I stopped by the store around lunchtime, and sat down in the garden next to trendy Angelinos discussing important topics like branding and essential oils. The lunch menu had several exotic cake options like Desire, a manjari chocolate mousse, and over 30 teas with interesting names like Fleur de Geisha, Aux fruits du Nepal, Des Concubines and Bai Mu Darie. The number of savory lunch options was limited, but since this is a “pastry boutique” I didn’t mind. I settled on the chicken salad sandwich, primarily because it came with a cake-of-the-day. I didn’t know what it would be, but I was happy to have the decision made for me since the cake selections on the rest of the menu looked to good to decide myself. I also ordered a Du Hammam tea (green tea with rose petals and orange water) since it was noted as a customer favorite.
The chicken sandwich was excellent, but I primarily saw it as a way to add substance to my lunch. I was really there for the dessert, and the cake-of-the-day turned out to be a tangerine-lemon jelly served in a bean shaped dish.
This was not exactly the cake I had in mind (it wasn’t actually a cake afterall), but I still had high hopes for it. After taking two bites I sat back and thought to myself it wasn’t worth the calories to finish. The citrus flavor was too strong for me, and it was topped with blueberries that were so stale I spent longer chewing them than I did the sandwich. The entire dessert experience wasn’t lost though, since the Du Hammam tea more than made up for the “cake”.
This tea is one of the best teas I have ever had in my life. The description on the menu called it “thirst quenching” and I don’t know of a better way to describe it myself. It has such a satisfying and calming effect I never wanted the pot of tea to end.
After finishing my lunch, I made my way into the shop in the house at the back. The store is so small you can barely fit four people at once, and it is hard to get a sense of all that is for sale. Customers waiting to pay for their orders blocked my view of chocolates for sale at the counter. They also have teas lining the back wall, but you have to enter the employee area to get a close look so I passed on examining those further (even though I was hoping to get a bag of loose leaf Du Hammam to go). I settled on two bags of miniature cookies sitting on the counter: one Green Tea, one Peanut Butter Sesame. The Green Tea cookies were more bitter than I prefer, but the Peanut Butter Sesame cookies were addicting. Perfectly crumbly and rich in flavor, I could eat the entire bag in one sitting.
With beautiful designs and a creative menu, Jin Patisserie still remains a source of inspiration for me. I now see it as a restaurant rather than a boutique, and realize it is better for sitting down in than browsing for gifts. Next time I’m in LA, chances are good you will find me relaxing in the garden, enjoying afternoon tea and cake (of my own choosing next time).
Jin Patisserie
1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 399-8801
www.jinpatisserie.com
I tried a box of their carefully crafted truffles. The du hammam was one of their better flavors, but overall, the truffles didn’t have enough of a chocolate kick. The flavors were much too subtle for my liking. But I do admire them for their looks.
i have to visit this place!
I am so glad you got chance to visit. I’ll make sure you get plenty of cake when travel plans bring you to Savannah
I was just there a couple weeks ago! I actually ordered a cake and tea, because I didnt want to waste calories on eating a real lunch, heh. I agree, the tea was excellent (I had the black tea with rosehips) and the actual cakes (we sampled the caramel-y desire and the poire) were delicious, too.
Hi, Kelli!
I was in the garden a month ago, today. I did expend quite a few calories with the “afternoon tea” selection. It was a sample platter of a melange of sweet and savories. I enjoyed a pot of the “Thé Des Concubines” (Being served by Kristy, herself, she pronounced it “konk-u-beens”. I was disappointed that they did not offer free refills of the pot. It is Venice, after all. I found the garden tranquil as I was seated at the little table next to the stone fountain surrounded by the horsetail reeds. I emptied my pocketbook and purchased several box sets of Kristy’s “artisanal truffles”. I will return on my next trip to LA. It is worth strolling the neighborhood.
Congrats on your endeavor! I too admire the art of Japanese packaging. Did you happen to stop by the Japanese ceramics shop and textiles next door to the patisserie?
Your courage and talent inspires me!
Tootles,
Anni
Jin Patisserie is one of my favorite places to chill in LA. I love their teas…so yummy!
I really do like it there. I like treating myself to things so pretty and intricate as these desserts
My Life As A Reluctant Housewife
Oh no, I missed the ceramics shop next door! I’ll have to go back, eat a different kind of cake, and shop along Abbot Kinney