VVG Bon Bon - Afternoon tea - Taipei

When in Taipei, I decided to visit VVG Bon Bon to escape from the afternoon heat. I had the rose tea and the cupcake with raspberry-marshmallow frosting. The tea was nothing special (4*) and the cupcake was bad, I just couldn't finish it (2*). The cupcake was filled with a rather distasteful red syrup that could only have been originated in a chemical lab. I know cupcakes aren't organic food precisely, but some natural ingredients are highly appreciated. Forget about that with the raspberry-marchmallow cupcake. The cupcake dough had no special taste and you could tell it was but a eggs-flour-milk mixture.

It was such a shame that on my visit they didn't have a lot of cupcake choices, as compared to pics of a counter filled with rows of cupcakes that I've spotted online. I wouldn't mind going back to try others just to see if it was a matter of bad luck on my pick, or they are all more of the same.

The highlight of VVG Bon Bon is without any doubt, the venue per se. Just by looking at it from the outside, you already realise this store doesn't quite belong to the 21st century. It's more of a reminiscence of the grandeur in Versailles during the Marie Antoinette era.

Visited on: 23 July, 2012
Overall quality: 3.5*
Price/Quality relationship: 4*
Service: 3.5*
Price (1 pot of tea + 1 cupcake): TW$286
Highlight: The venue
Would I recommend it? Yes. VVG Bon Bon is a must see for pink-candy-cuteness lovers.

N.B. VVG Bon Bon has a minimum charge of TW$140 per person. Free wifi.

Woobar - W Hotel Taipei - Afternoon Tea

Two weeks ago I was visiting Taiwan and decided to go to Woobar in the W hotel Taipei for afternoon tea. I decided on this one upon others after reading the review in A hungry girl's guide to Taipei, since the pictures she took where eye-candy. She did mention in her last sentece: "I was hoping to be wooed by more than presentation", but I decided to ignore the warning. Well, I shouldn't have. This afternoon tea set, at TW$ 1,400 + 10 % charge, was a total disappointment. Nothing at all tasted good, except for maybe the caramel macaron which was ok, and the green tea cake.

The rest didn't even make it to a 3*. First of all, as soon as the black and white stand came to our table, I was disappointed by the fact that the food was not the same as in the pictures from the review I mentioned. I'm guessing it's a season thing. Our food was very summery, (cold and fruity), which I'm not particularly fond of.

The savories, distributed among the three layers on one side of the stand, were as follows: Mixed Fruit Saba, King Crab Stemmed Egg, Smoked Salmon with Salmon Roe, Shrimp and Bamboo Asparagus and Smoked Turkey Cheddar Cheese Sandwich.

As for the sweets, also three-tiered on the other side of the stand: Mochi, Chocolate and Caramel Macarons, Green Tea Almond cake, Chocolate Lips, Milk Chocolate-Raspberry Mousse, and Chestnut-Cranberry Scone.

The one thing that needs to be praised about this afternoon tea set, and makes you feel like you didn't totally waste your money after all, is the fact that you can order as many tea/coffee drinks as you want. You could try every single coffee or tea on the menu for that matter! I had two cafe latte and one Japanese Sencha tea. The tea was so-so, but the coffee was delicious so I highly recommend you go for it if you ever try this set! J had a cappuccino, a cafe latte and a Japanese Sencha tea, and he mentioned the cappuccino was the best among all. I can't comment on that one, but since you can try as many drinks as you want... Let me know which one is better next time!

As far as the venue goes, it was ok, in line with W hotel's modern style, with a red theme and overviewing the pool.

Visited on: July 22, 2012
Overall quality: 3* (saved by the unlimited drinks!)
Value for Money: 2.5*
Service: 5*
Price: TW$1400 + 10% service charge
Highlight: Unlimited drinks
Would I recommend it? If you read my review you know my answer: Do NOT go for this set. If you feel like visiting Woobar, come with your stomach full and simply enjoy a cup of yummy coffee.