Sbakery by Mama Soo (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★★☆

Little nugget is a big fan of authentic, rich, and decadent New York–style cheesecake. He much prefers its dense, firm, velvety texture over the lighter, airier, soufflé-like style you often find in Basque or Japanese cheesecake. So after I was out running errands in Sheung Wan—and knowing it's been months since he last indulged in one, I decided to tackle the hilly streets to pick up one of the city’s best for him.

Sbakery by Mama Soo is one of Hong Kong’s most beloved spots for New York–style cheesecake. It started as a wildly popular online bakery, and it’s still praised for its traditional, no-frills recipes, carefully balanced to deliver thick, creamy cheese alongside a tangy sour-cream layer and a crisp, crunchy biscuit base. You really can’t go wrong with their Original New York Cheesecake or Blueberry Cheesecake, but there are also fun alternatives worth trying, like Tiramisu Cheesecake and Lemon Meringue Cheesecake, for a different flavor or texture profile.

Blueberry New York cheesecake — What stood out the most was the cream cheese body — dense, thick, and remarkably velvety. It's the kind of quality you’d expect from a picture-perfect New York cheesecake. The Graham cracker base was another highlight — a buttery, tightly packed cookie-crumb crust that adds satisfying crunch and helps balance the richness of the layers above. Absolutely beautiful.

All in all, it was one of the more satisfying New York cheesecakes we’ve had in a while. Adding it to my top 10 list of cheesecakes in Hong Kong is an easy decision.

Food Rating: 7.1/10

Price: $$$$

Address: G/F, 22-24A Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Sheung Wan

Tel: +852 5666-5796

Website: http://www.sbakerybymamasoo.com/

Opening Hours: 11:30am - 6:30pm (Wed - Sun)

Regent Hotel Cake Shop (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★★☆☆

Jelloman’s birthday is coming up soon, so I’ve been on the lookout for a birthday cake for her as part of the celebration. This is always going to be a tough call, since we’ve already exhausted most of the cake options over the years.

The Regent Hotel Cake Shop came to mind after I stumbled upon its small but refined selection of pastries on social media. I thought it was worth trying for this occasion.

They are only offering a handful of birthday cake options including honeycomb cake, strawberry Charlotte cake, Peruvian chocolate cake, and different flavors of mille-feuille.

Honeycomb cake ($368) — One of the more popular creations here.

This wasn’t a sophisticatedly designed cake. The delicate layer of pecan sponge was hugged by some deeply aromatic longan honey mousse, supposedly to create a palate-soothing experience.

I thought the heart and soul of the cake — the organic longan honey harvested from a local farm in Hong Kong’s New Territories, would provide the highly distinct, floral sweetness to elevate the pillowy sponge. But those floral flavors never stood out as planned. Yes, there was sweetness (honey) and a lemony note (citrus coulis) to pair with the sponge, but it still wasn’t quite enough to satisfy the more discerning palates.

Texture-wise, there was also something sorely missing — something crisp or crunchy to add contrast to the soft, fluffy textures.

Food Rating: 6.1/10

Price: $$$$

Address: 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: East Tsim Sha Tsui / Tsim Sha Tsui

Tel: +852 2721-1211

Website: https://regenthkshop.com/collections/cake

L'Atelier de Yann (Colmar, FRANCE) ★★★★☆

I have tagged two dessert spots in Colmar on the map as “must-do” for this afternoon. After a pretty long lunch at Bord’eau Restaurant, I managed to quickly cross the first one off my list (Patisserie Gilg) before heading over to the second. Luckily, Colmar isn’t a very big town, so I was able to arrive within a few minutes.

I was supposed to meet up with my team there, but they were nowhere to be found. I guess I would just go in on my own.

L’Atelier de Yann is an upscale artisanal pastry shop, chocolatier, and tea salon located in the historic centre of Colmar. Founded by pastry chef Yann Navarro, the famed dessert spot features an indoor tea salon and an outdoor garden. Some online reviewers also raved about its gorgeous view of the nearby Saint-Martin Collegiate Church.

After seeing all the beautifully presented pastries inside the display counter, I was even more impressed. So I quickly got in line to be served. 

Like little kids in front of a candy shop, my eyes stared wide-eyed at the colorful treats inside, almost jumping up and down with joy.

Nirvana (€8) — I decided to sit down and indulge on a quick afternoon tea.

One of the signature pastries created by Chef Navarro, designed especially for chocolate and hazelnut lovers. 

This decadent, texture-rich dessert features a base of soft, moist hazelnut biscuit, paired with a crunchy praline crust. In the middle is a rich, velvety milk chocolate mousse, finished with a smooth chocolate coating mixed with toasted, grilled hazelnuts for a satisfying crunch.

The real surprise here was the hidden crunchy chocolate pearls embedded inside, adding an extra dimension to every bite.

I’m glad I got to cross both Patisserie Gilg and L’Atelier de Yann off my bucket list today. We’ll take it easy with the remaining minutes we have in Colmar, and next on our agenda — dinner at Petite France in Strasbourg.

Food Rating: 7.3/10

Price: €€€

Address: 11 Place de la Cathédrale, 68000 Colmar, France

Tel: +33 (0)3 8920-0100

Website: http://www.atelier-de-yann.com/

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm (Tue - Sat)

Patisserie Gilg (Colmar, FRANCE) ★★★☆☆

Founded in 1981, Relais Desserts International is an exclusive, elite professional association that brings together some of the world’s top pastry chefs and chocolatiers to promote and elevate the art of French haute pâtisserie. Their members, mostly scattered across European countries (with a few in Asia and other continents as well), include some of the market’s heavyweights such as Pierre Hermé, Sébastien Bouillet, and Arnaud Larher. Whenever I step onto European soil, this is one thing that I always look for — Relais Desserts members. I always make sure to check out some of these pastry masters within the area. Today, I knew that chance would come up for me.

As a small town in the Alsace region, Colmar is not only rich in French heritage, but also home to some of the most amazing French pastries in the region. A member of Relais Desserts since 1996, Pâtisserie Gilg joined the prestigious association under second-generation master pastry chef Jean-Paul Gilg. 

Today, the family-run Alsatian pâtisserie is led by his son, Thierry Gilg, who took over in 2000 and continues to run the day-to-day operations.

Pâtisserie Gilg offers a fine selection of chocolate, viennoiseries and ice-cream, alongside their variety of Alsatian regional specialties and classic fruit-based French pastries.

Black Forest Cake 2.0 (€5.1) — For a French patisserie near the German border specializing in Alsatian delicacies, it wasn’t surprising at all to see a German Black Forest cake.

It came with Kirsch mousse, chocolate ganache, chocolate biscuit, and, of course, kirsch-kissed cherries 🍒. This was a very light “cake” because there was no cake hidden inside (such as a chocolate sponge) — only mousse, ganache, and compote. Not surprisingly, the kirsch flavor was front and centre. Not bad.

I got my five minutes of me time. Now, time to meet up with the team again as we finish our journey in Colmar.

Food Rating: 6.3/10

Price: €€€

Address: 60 Grand Rue, 68000 Colmar, France

Tel: +33 (0)3 8923-9684

Website: http://www.gilg.fr/?utm_source=gmb

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 6:45pm (Tue - Fri), 9:00am - 6:00pm (Sat), 9:00am - 12:30pm (Sun)

Donatien Maître Eclair (Strasbourg, FRANCE) ★★★★☆

It was good to be back in Strasbourg. I missed the stunning medieval architecture, the unique mix of French and German cultures, and the historic centre which it was very walkable. Our drive from Baden-Baden was easy, but once we reached the heart of Strasbourg (and by “heart”, I mean the historic centre), things got a lot tougher. With all the traffic, pedestrians, and one-way streets, it proved to be a nightmare for any driver, especially one with zero patience.

And because we missed our destination a couple of times, we ended up driving in huge circles just to get back on track. But hey—we made it. We’re finally here, safe and sound.

For the first order of business, our little nugget peeled off to check out his toy stores, while yours truly headed straight to the first pastry shop in France on this trip — Donatien Maître Éclair.

Donatien Maître Éclair is technically a specialty éclair shop on bustling Grand’Rue. Founded by pastry chef Donatien Fehr, it offers classic French éclairs with an innovative, modern twist spanning both sweet and savory flavors.

While the savory options including the Scandinave (salmon) and the Aperitif Éclair (goat cheese mousse, olive cake, sun-dried tomatoes, and hazelnuts) all looked promising, I knew I couldn’t let my sweet tooth down this afternoon.

Éclair Caramel Beurre Salé (Salted Butter Caramel) — How could I resist the chef’s signature creation?

I was first attracted by its shining golden color, but it ended up tasting even better than it looked.

This beautiful dessert strikes a delicate, rich balance between deep caramel sweetness and velvety textures, with an explosive crunch from the roasted peanuts on top. The salted caramel cream adds richness with savory notes, perfectly matched with a mascarpone filling right alongside the crisp choux pastry, a 40% milk chocolate glaze, and roasted peanuts on top.

The heavy rain cost me the chance to visit a couple more pastry shops on my list, including Avellina, also on Grand’Rue. Let’s hope I still get the chance tomorrow.

Food Rating: 7.2/10

Price: €€€

Address: 111 Grand'Rue, 67000 Strasbourg, France

Tel: +33 (0)9 5167-9955

Website: http://donatien-maitre-eclair.fr/

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 8:00pm (Sun - Thu), 10:00am - 9:00pm (Fri - Sat) 

Maison Karl (Stuttgart GERMANY) ★★★★☆

I had time to visit just one dessert shop this evening, so I decided to make it count.

Maison Karl is very much on top of my list when it comes to sweet spots in Stuttgart. It’s a dessert café that also functions as a coffee shop, seamlessly combining contemporary café culture with high-quality, French-inspired patisserie.

The highlights of their desserts include their viral cheesecakes, tiramisu, and a few others — all freshly handmade daily without preservatives in their own artisan kitchen.

There were a number of pastries that caught my eye, and not surprisingly, I had a problem picking out a couple for our late-night snacks tonight. In the end, I decided to consult with the staff here, and she kindly shared two of their signature desserts — their best sellers.

All set!!! 

Karl’s Original (€7.2) — Their modern take on a gourmet cheesecake.

The exceptionally smooth and rich cheesecake in the middle is infused with Madagascar vanilla. It’s nicely decorated with a dense layer of cream cheese, a vibrant strawberry jelly topping, and finished with a crunchy hazelnut biscuit crust.

A pretty filling cheesecake, with both richness from the cheese and fruity notes from the fresh strawberry jelly. 👍👍

Karl’s signature tiramisu (€6.9) — A unique and contemporary twist on the Italian classic. Instead of a traditional loose, scooped tiramisu, it was reimagined as a stand-alone piece with distinctive layers.

The dessert utilizes Maison Karl’s own specialty coffee, creating a deeply aromatic espresso soak. Hidden in the middle is a silky mascarpone cream and a crunchy praline core offering a luxurious, creamy, and crunchy experience. The shell is a Belgian chocolate coating, giving the dessert a crisp outer layer that contrasts beautifully with the relatively soft interior.

It truly felt like having tiramisu. All the flavors and textures were there like a traditional tiramisu, but it also felt more like having an ice-cream bar than a piece of cake. No wonder it’s considered a signature item. During the summer, I bet it’s even more popular thanks to the heat.

Maison Karl’s creations are just as much a visual feast as they are a treat for the palate. We’re so grateful to have the opportunity to experience two of their signature offerings tonight before leaving for France early tomorrow morning.

Food Rating: 7.3/10

Price: €€€

Address: Calwer Straße 50, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany

Tel: +49 711 9357-3591

Website: https://www.maisonkarl.com/

Opening Hours: 9:30am - 9:00pm (Mon - Thu), 9:30am - 10:00pm (Fri - Sat), 10:00am - 8:00pm (Sun)

Konditorei Café Mohrenköpfle (Ulm, GERMANY) ★★★☆☆

Following a quick tour of the famous Ulm Minster and the adjacent Münsterplatz, we decided to sit down for a quick snack at century-old Konditorei Café Mohrenköpfle since our previous lunch was disrupted when I was bitten by a wasp. 

Konditorei Café Mohrenköpfle is a traditional café and confectionery located in the heart of Ulm, just a short walk from the Ulm Minster.

Established in 1910, this family-run business is currently managed by the third generation of the Eckhardt family and is celebrated for its artisanal, handmade cakes, tarts, and regional chocolate specialties.

They have over 20 different varieties of cakes on display. While we were choosing the ones we wanted, guess what — there were a few wasps and bees circling around us (and not the cakes!) again.

Little nugget seemed especially scared after seeing me get bitten not too long ago, so he was running around trying to avoid them. A lady — possibly a member of the owner’s family, looked noticeably unhappy with this Asian boy running around recklessly in her tea salon. She went up to him and told him politely that he shouldn’t be running around like that, because it would only upset the wasps and bees more.

That of course didn’t stop him. So while I agreed with what she said, I explained to her why he was so afraid — because daddy had just been bitten. That was when she decided to walk away, still clearly disturbed by the Asian boy running around.

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cake) — This was an excellent example of the German classic, with an authentic flavor profile. 

It featured light, airy chocolate sponge layers, fresh whipped cream, and tart sour cherries, properly laced with Kirschwasser (cherry brandy). I personally like a little more of those sponge cake and less whipped cream but that's just my personal preference.

Classic Käsekuchen —  A traditional baked German quark cheesecake, with a bit of raisins in the middle. 

It was much lighter than American cheesecake and much closer to the Japanese version, with its light, fluffy texture.

Despite being bitten by a wasp earlier, I managed to squeeze in a brief look at the Ulm Minster.

Its construction began in 1377 and wasn’t completed until 1890. It held the record for the highest church steeple in the world for over 135 years until it was surpassed in late 2025 by, of course, the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

That was all the time we had for Ulm. Time to head up to Stuttgart and let’s hope my swollen forearm holds up for the two-hour drive.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: €€

Address: Kramgasse 1, 89073 Ulm, Germany

Tel: +49 731 3749912

Website: http://www.mohrenkoepfle-ulm.de/

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm (Tue - Sat), 12:00pm - 5:00pm (Sun)

Café - Patisserie Artisanal (Augsburg, GERMANY) ★★★☆☆

It didn’t take long for us to finish exploring Augsburg’s fairytale Old Town, despite arriving a little later than expected this afternoon. One bonus agenda item which wasn’t on our original itinerary, was a visit to Café – Patisserie Artisanal.

We stumbled upon this café and cake shop while browsing local stores around Fuggerplatz at the heart of Augsburg’s historic centre.

Café – Patisserie Artisanal is a specialty artisan café located inside a historic ballroom at Fuggerplatz 9 in Augsburg. The moment I pushed the door open, I was immediately drawn in by its beautiful décor.

It was a little too late for dine-in at this hour, but we still had the option of grabbing a sweet treat to go.

Pistachio Royale (€7) — This tasted a lot like a pistachio mille-crêpes cake. I thought the pistachio flavor would be front and centre, but that wasn’t entirely the case. (The cake took a bit of a tumble on our way back to the hotel while we were walking in the rain.)

The different layers of crêpes were sandwiched together with pastry cream in between (but there wasn’t much pistachio flavor there). There were also crushed pistachios to add to the overall texture.

All in all, it wasn’t bad, but the pistachio flavor could have been much richer and deeper to truly qualify as a pistachio lover’s dream.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: €€€

Address: Fuggerplatz 9, 86150 Augsburg, Germany

Tel: +49 821 4701-9919

Website: https://cafe-artisanal.com/

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm (Tue - Thu), 10:00am - 9:00pm (Fri - Sat), 9:00am - 5:00pm (Sun)