Let’s start this page with my favorite dish I’ve tried in 2025 so far. The one I still think about, still remember clearly, and still crave. It’s rare for a dessert to stay with me like this, especially because I’ve never been someone who naturally reaches for sweets, but this one did. It looked beautiful at first glance, but the more I ate, the more it became something much deeper than just a pretty dessert.

Growing up, I’ve always loved the scent of jasmine. In Vietnam, jasmine is one of those things that quietly exists in so many parts of life: the jasmine flower garlands offered at temples, the tea we drink, and the jasmine plants that can make a whole corner of a home or neighborhood smell soft and fragrant. I’ve always loved jasmine tea and honestly, anything jasmine: lotions, candles, anything that reminds me of that scent. There is something so calming and nostalgic about it.

This dessert felt exactly like that for me. The jasmine came through so beautifully: delicate, fragrant and elegant without being overpowering or perfumey. And with every spoon, it felt like the scent bloomed in my mouth. It gave me that same nostalgic feeling I get from jasmine tea, from temples, from home and from those little memories you don’t realize are still living somewhere inside you.

Everything else on the plate made it even more memorable. The yogurt crèmeux added a soft tanginess that kept the dessert from feeling too heavy. The brown sugar sponge brought warmth and depth, while the shortbread crumble gave each bite a buttery texture and a little crunch. The honey added a gentle floral sweetness, and the almond ice cream was smooth, clean and comforting in the most delicate way. The compressed apples added a fresh, juicy brightness that cut through the creaminess beautifully, almost like a little pause between richer bites.

It was beautiful for my eyes, but even more beautiful for my soul. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this happy eating a dessert. This wasn’t just sweet. It was nostalgic, fragrant, comforting and so carefully imagined. A dessert I still remember clearly, and one I know I’ll keep craving for a long time.

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📍Toque!

900 Pl.Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montreal QC

March 25, 2025