Michele Cake Shop

Bakery: Michele Cake Shop 
Address: 6033 West Blvd, Vancouver BC
Website: https://michelecakeshop.com/
Style: Chinese, Cake
Price: $$-$$$

This small bakery in Kerrisdale doubles as a cake shop selling large cakes and slices along with a few pastries and a typical Chinese bakery with a small selection of sweet and savoury buns. The specialty appears to be egg tarts and various creamy cakes.

Having arrived late, I came to Michele maybe 10-15 minutes before closing and found it nearly empty except for the large cakes and some bagged items. The Chinese "corner" of the space was completely cleaned out and the individual pastries left behind consisted of two final slices of cream cake and three pieces of almond napoleon. I even asked if there was anything else and nope, that was it. 

So I grabbed the almond napoleon ($3.50). This napoleon was all dough and no cream: the layers were thick and brittle and the tiny dollops of cream in between were strangely grainy, almost chalky in texture and were so stiff and unyielding, I don't know what kind of cream this was supposed to be.

That alone would have been a 2-star - an alright bakery - had it not been for the checkout experience. I judge bakeries on taste, not on service, but coming in and buying one of the few items left at the last minute (at regular price) only to have it packed and handed to me, followed by a very obvious jingling of the tip jar as it was pushed closer to me was disrespectful and insulting. That was instead of a thank you for shopping at this bakery? No thanks!

Rating: *1/2