Of Macau Egg Tarts, Hong Kong Tofu Flower and Black Sesame Puree!

Hi @TheCookie,

Thanks! :slight_smile: Yah, we knew to try the Egg Tarts, but for the other few items, we figured it was safer just to ask the manager what the specialties / best pastries might be and see if that worked (it did). :wink:

Definitely try the Natas ones heated up if you get a chance, they really make a difference. :slight_smile: And thanks for your earlier review, that got me to finally make the drive to try it.

1 Like

No, thank you. You did them justice.

Actually Mrs. Chandavkl and I both are scratching our heads as to why the lines at Golden Gate Bakery remain so long years after the original chef died several years ago and took the recipe with him. The current version seems more like a Western custard pie than an egg tart. If there is a secret to getting the tarts at Golden Gate Bakery, itā€™s to get there when they open. I have a routine in SF where I go to work downtown but stay in Chinatown and do a mile walking commute every morning, passing Golden Gate Bakery. For the longest time, I would pass the bakery, and not seeing any line, assume that the egg tarts werenā€™t ready yet. However, as it turns out, as long as they are open, they have egg tarts.

We were in Lisbon a couple of months ago and had the Belem natas. Indescribably delicious.

3 Likes

Iā€™ve only managed to catch GGB open for business on my 4th visit to them (and thatā€™s because they had posted a note on the door as to when they would reopen when I was there on my 3rd visit). Many times there would be signs stating that theyā€™re on vacation or what not. I think the word of mouth and the Yelp reviews about how hard it was for some to get them possibly made them more desirous. Iā€™ve had friends who have posted on FB their failed attempts at getting some of their egg custard tarts.

Once Iā€™ve had them, and although I enjoyed them, I donā€™t feel the need to rush back the next time Iā€™m in SF.

1 Like

Iā€™ve been going there now for something like 15 years now. And just personally I prefer the newer version of the tart to the original ones. Maybe Iā€™m hopeless but each time I go I think the tarts are better than before. Must be the meth in them. Not that I would turn down a version from 20 years ago, of course.

3 Likes

Hi @foodshutterbug,

Thanks! :slight_smile: Glad to know you also like Jimā€™s and Natas.

Thanks for the recommendation for the pasteis de bacalhau, that sounds awesome. :slight_smile:

1 Like

Jimā€™s :heart_eyes:

2 Likes

11 posts were split to a new topic: Egg Tarts in Northern California

Iā€™m not sure if itā€™s mentioned in this thread but the Black Sesame Puree is Saturday and Sunday only!!

At least I got some Portuguese egg tarts from Jimā€™s.

2 Likes

Hi @JeetKuneBao,

Oh sorry! Weā€™ve only been able to make it out there during weekends, so even though weā€™ve been to VP Tofu like 5 times, they were always on the weekend. :sweat_smile: Iā€™ll update my OP to mention that. Thanks.

Did you get any Tofu Flower at VP Tofu? Or just the Egg Tarts at Jimā€™s? How were they? :slight_smile:

1 Like

Finally I made it!!

Way better than at Phoenix, which is very sandy.

Just perfect. Funny how Black Sesame flavor is kinda of a thing nowā€¦

4 Likes

My favorite, just hit them a month ago after a long hiatus.

2 Likes

So glad you liked it @JeetKuneBao! :slight_smile:

Now itā€™s time for @paranoidgarliclover to finally try the Black Sesame Puree as well! :smile:

1 Like

I know, seriously, every time Iā€™m in the SGV (which isnā€™t often), I think to myself, ā€œDo I have time to get to V P Tofu today???ā€ One day, I swear!!!

1 Like

Just tried VPā€™s black sesame soup. The viscosity is offā€¦way too thick like a pasteā€¦I suspect that they didnā€™t wanna spend a lot of time making them so they put a lot of rice flour to thicken it up

Hi @moonboy403,

Wow, what time did you get this at? I wonder if itā€™s toward the end of the day? The last 4 times weā€™ve gotten it (usually brunch time) itā€™s never been ā€œpasteā€-like at all. Maybe end of the batch (bottom of the pot)? Bummer though.

Possiblyā€¦since it was around 4 but looking at @JeetKuneBao and your pics, they look really gloopy too. A good black sesame dessert soup should be very smooth and luscious.

Thanks. Interesting. Yah ours certainly wasnā€™t paste-like. Where are your favorite places for black sesame puree / soup?

I havenā€™t really been seeking out Chinese dessert places so Iā€™m not of much help here! Sorry!

Maybe we can seek out places together next time? :wink:

2 Likes

@ipsedixit or @robert : is it possible to move/crosslink the section referring to a Bay-area eatery to the SF/Bay-area forum? Might be helpful to have this info for those doing a search on that specific forumā€¦

1 Like