After our meal at Seven Seeds, I wasn’t yet satisfied as I didn’t have any dessert. Seven Seeds didn’t offer any particularly drool worthy cakes or desserts so Racheese and I ditched the boys and ventured out to South Melbourne where Chez Dre resides. It was a little hidden gem amongst the small alleyways.
I liked the decorations at Chez Dre. Even though it’s similar to many cafes in terms of industrial high ceilings and walls, it somehow also had a chic and comfortable feel to it, especially the couches inside. From the entrance you can see the couches through the metal bars.
There’s a long counter inside. One end is the coffee machines…
And the other is the desserts. Racheese and I took ages deciding what to order as there were too many choices available. All the mini desserts looked terrific. In the end we ordered 3 desserts between the two of us…talk about gluttony!
I love going out with Racheese as like me, she also loves to take photos of food and she’s one who’d never complain if I take a few too many. 😀
In the middle of the room is an open space where you can see into the kitchen. From there I saw talented chefs in the process of making delicious looking pastries.
We decided to sit outside as the inside was dark and hard to take photos, plus it was a beautifully sunny afternoon. The yard was surrounded by a cute herb garden which reminded me of the herbs I just bought for Yuye. Fresh herbs are the best!
I ordered a cappuccino ($3.50) instead of my usual latte as I already had one at Seven Seeds. I always find cappuccinos a bit prettier than lattes because of the darker surface and it’s also easier to take photos of. Chez Dre’s cappuccino was delicious, although I liked Seven Seed’s latte a bit more.
I realised why I’m always so full at the end of a meal, especially when I have desserts. It’s because I get full on the coffees! I will try dessert with a cup of tea next time.
The best dessert we ordered that day was the Milk Chocolate Blackcurrant Mousse ($8.50) with blackcurrant cream and praline crunch. It had the prettiest colours!
The inside was even prettier. We both liked this dessert best because it had a hint of sourness and wasn’t at all too sweet. I could eat it all day. The mousse was soft and creamy and the praline crunch gave it that extra dimension and hazelnuty flavours. According to Racheese who is a fantastic patisserie chef, the praline crunch is made up of this thing called feuillatine flakes. I liked it so much I’m going to find some and eat it with a spoon. 😀
The macaron on top had a hint of blackcurrant but wasn’t that strong. I don’t like very sweet macarons but this one was a good sweetness and very delicious.
The next dessert we ordered was the Earl Grey Tea Cremeux with chocolate mousse ($8.50). Although not as pretty as the blackcurrant, it was more elegant with the addition of the gold leaf on top.
It was a rich and creamy dessert but not too sweet. Again it was very easy to eat and if it wasn’t because we ordered 3 desserts between us and we just had lunch, I would have happily chowed it all down. The tea flavour wasn’t that strong although I could taste a small hint of it.
The third dessert was the Hazelnut Praline Crunch with hazelnut mousse and hazelnut meringue ($8.50). I love hazelnut flavoured anything. I used to eat nutella out of the jar and roast hazelnuts to eat as snacks. So when I saw this dessert, it became a must get. I was right that it was delicious as well. Similar to the little bits of praline we found in the blackcurrant dessert, they were crunchy and hazelnutty. It’s a little tower of deliciousness that makes me crave for more!
This is where Racheese dumped all the cut out pieces. Looking at the table, I’m sure anyone would have thought we had an invisible friend. 3 desserts, 3 dirty forks.
It was sad that we couldn’t finish it all in the end (duh) so we got a little takeaway box and left a few mouthfuls of each cake inside. We then proceeded to Chefs Hat just across the road for some kitchenware gawking. We were lucky enough to witness a TV show being filmed.
By the time we finished with Chefs Hat and walking around Spotlight, over 3 hours had gone by. Guess what happened to the left over cakes? They melted! Rather it was just the Earl Grey cake that melted and surrounded the rest of them with this gooey brown stuff. It wasn’t at all appetising so I had to throw it out. It was such a shame.
Chez Dre serves up beautiful looking and scrumptious desserts coupled with beautiful coffees and teas. I love desserts but I usually can’t eat too much of it. Chez Dre’s desserts are light and not over the top sweet so were perfect for me. I can’t wait to go back and try their other selections.
Question time: Do you have a habit of taking too many photos of your food? Do you have the perfect partner in crime who likes to do the same?
Chez Dre
Phone: (03) 9690 2688
287 Coventry St (rear), South Melbourne VIC 3205
http://chezdre.com.au
Hotly Spiced January 19, 2012, 11:36 am
I would love a herb garden. I'm in between residences at the moment so there's no point in planting anything. Those desserts look incredible. So neat, tidy and perfect. I wouldn't have had three – I would have had four!
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 4:46 pm
My bf’s place is actually not big either but we just bought pots to put the herbs in. They’re quite useful and smell really nice.
We couldn’t have even finished 3 between us, having 4 would have been suicide 😛
Daisy@Nevertoosweet January 19, 2012, 3:01 pm
Oh yum!! I'm so jealous! Last time I went to Chez Dre the desserts weren't as nice
I would've really liked to try the Hazelnut Praline Crunch 
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 11:51 pm
It was a very nice dessert, you would’ve liked it I think. Not to worry, you can always go again! 😀
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella January 19, 2012, 7:31 pm
Great photos! You can see every air brushed particle on those cakes! And hehe I like going to places with friends that don't mind if I take photos too 😛
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 11:52 pm
Thank you 😀 I don’t have too many blogger friends yet so most people I go dine with try to eat the food before I’m done and I always feel so bad
Nami | Just One Cookbook January 19, 2012, 7:32 pm
Yes I take like 100 per recipe (including step by step)…I got better, but still take at least 100 I think. Would you take pictures of my food? Your photos are stunning…just beautiful!!! I also wish to go to this place with a big group of friends so I get to try many kinds. =)
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 11:54 pm
No way! I love your food photos, it’s an inspiration! I feel like I need to learn food styling and taking photos from you 😛
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com January 19, 2012, 7:48 pm
I want to face-plant into those decadent desserts! And I love it's decor. So chic
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 11:55 pm
I agree, I wanted to do that too when I first saw them sitting in the window…:D
Hannah January 19, 2012, 8:46 pm
One of the reasons I love going to Melbourne is that almost all my friends there are food bloggers, so they of course take photos with me. I so regret not going to Chez Dre on my last trip now! We walked right past, gah!
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 11:56 pm
You totally should have gone in! Oh well, something to look forward to next time you’re here 😀 I wish I had more blogger friends
sweetreat January 19, 2012, 8:49 pm
Every time I try to go here it's always closed
But now I'm more determined that ever to go! Thanks for the gorgeous photos *_*
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 11:57 pm
Places like these do tend to close early as they cater for the breakfast/lunch crowd….try going a bit earlier next time 😀 It’s definitely worth it!
Choux-Fleur January 19, 2012, 9:39 pm
oh man i love desserts! This place looks awesome. I love taking photos but thankfully so do all my friends so it's an issue when we go out
I can't remember the last time I went out for cakes.
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 11:58 pm
Going out for just desserts and coffee is a totally different experience, you should go with a few girlfriends and enjoy a beautiful afternoon…I loved it 😀
Deanna January 20, 2012, 4:21 am
Those look so good, especially the hazelnut dessert. My first thought when I saw the name was that Dr. Dre had moved down under to make pastry.
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake January 20, 2012, 11:59 pm
lol! You think of the funniest things 😀 The hazelnut dessert was just divine…it was too bad I couldn’t fit it all in…must bring more people with me next time. 😛
Miss Kimbers @ Fruit Salad and Mixed Veg February 3, 2012, 9:33 pm
Wow! The setting – lovely! The food – beautiful!
When I have my own house, I would like that high backed green chair. So pretty!
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake February 4, 2012, 4:48 pm
I really like that chair too! But I wouldn’t know where to get it from, it’s so chic. 😀 I don’t yet have my own house either so won’t be getting something like that for quite some time…
tastyfoodsnaps May 22, 2012, 8:23 pm
ive got to stop going back and stalking your old posts! it makes me want to fly down to melbourne and try everything
Jenny @ Ichigo Shortcake May 23, 2012, 1:42 am
Haha thanks for stalking…no one ever stalks my old posts, but I feel loved now 😀 You should come here and try our great coffees and breakfasts!!