Faubourg

Bakery: Faubourg 
Address: 2156 W 41st Ave, Vancouver BC
Website: http://faubourg.com/
Style: French 
Price: $$$

If you're craving an extra dose of  glitz and glamour with your pastry and coffee, there's always Faubourg. Faubourg is a French patisserie and cafe that may not really be from Paris (don't let them fool you!), but they do have four locations throughout Vancouver. With their bags à la Louis Vuitton, Ladurée-inspired decor and perhaps a hint of phonetically similar Fauchon thrown in for fun, Faubourg aims to take you to the pinnacle of cake and pastry... and despite outwardly trying a bit too hard, they do succeed, and to great effect. Just be prepared to be pay for it.

Amid their fancy French standards such as choux pastries, lemon tarts and croissants in addition to savoury sandwiches, I picked out the coffee operette ($6.50). Well constructed and paired, the caramel crisp bottom went well with the smooth and decadent creamy fruit layers, all with an extra bit a chocolate on top of the cake. The jelly top was refreshingly sweet and a little sour with a strong punch of blueberry flavour. It's been awhile since I'd had something so exquisitely put together with delicate, complex flavours. Simply very refined. This was highly recommended, though a bit expensive. 

Rating: ***1/2