Dessert bar in Cambridge?

[Ladyfinger]

How frequently have you entertained the urge to skip straight to dessert? It seems many people have, in view of dessert bars spreading across the world, with several chains in Hong Kong, making their way into the mainland and a huge number in New York alone. Will the trend hit the UK? William Curley, Mayfair crowned itself London's first dessert bar.

Similarly, we are now thinking of opening something in Cambridge. Imagine eating desserts of a quality that is rare to come by in Cambridge (except at Midsummer House and perhaps Alimentum) at affordable prices. Imagine being able to see the desserts before you choose. Imagine a comfortable and elegant environment - perhaps a Rococo paradise with chaises longues - where you can relax with friends and meet colleagues over dessert and a cup of coffee, or where you can indulge in the evening with a glass of dessert wine.

What are your thoughts? Would you visit it? When would you go? What sort of desserts would you like to eat? What sort of decor would you like to see?

[Fibilou]

Sounds great. But can you open it in Eastbourne please, not Cambridge ? The only place I can get a decent hit is out of my own kitchen.

Ta !

[naebody]

I was impressed and appalled in equal measure by the Beirut branch of Tamaris, Ducasse's take on the theme. If you're looking for another place where the ladies lunch between lunches, twentysomething girls are rich and visitors can be forgiven for requiring an uncomplicated sugar rush, Cambridge would seem appropriate.

How do the economics work though? Surely you're not going to shift much alcohol if you're only sending out sweet stuff. Would the faster table turning compensate for the lower income per head?

Edit update: Sorry - forgot to answer to your questions:

1- If I'm an out-of-towner with time to spare, I'd definitely visit. But if I'm a local who works weekdays, I'm not so sure I'd use it regularly.

2- It'd be an afternoon-tea type diversion rather than an evening stopover. Only the Americans seem keen to change their venue between courses. Can't see it catching on over here.

3- I want whatever the chef is good at.

4- Something informal, suggesting I wasn't about to get stung with three courses, but also quite glam, suggesting something better than a cake shop. Always thought the bright and clean upstairs level at Yauatcha had that balance right. (Though, given the Cambridge demographic, you'd probably want to make your place a bit more pushchair friendly.)

Edited December 22, 2007 by naebody (log)

[jvp]

i agree about midsummer house (the tarte tatin with garlic foam is still one of the best dishes i have ever tasted!!) but would not rate alimentum. have you ever been to cotto? fantastic cakes, amazing chocolates and superb desserts. they also do the best hot chocolate, simply organic valrhona dark melted in some vanilla infused cream and milk. they are not in the same vein formality wise though. as for william curely, i went recently and it was very good.

[jvp]

ps. i think it would be great if you opened such a venture!!