Update Review, Late 2023/Early 2024 Tastings
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| Chocolate & Mocha Cupcake. $4. |
"Double Chocolate Cake with a swirl of coffee buttercream."
It had been years since I last had a Miette cupcake, which is surprising given the proximity to my office.
This is a pretty good bakery quality cupcake. The cake is moist and fairly light. Not remarkable, not a super deep rich chocolate, nor any tang to it, but, better than a grocery store cupcake. Average decent bakery quality. ***.
I did love the fluffy sweet buttercream, sweet but not cloying, and no overly strong butter element. Only mild coffee flavor however. **** for consistency, *** for flavor.
Overall, a satisfying cupcake, but not one to go out of my way for. ***.
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| French Vanilla Birthday Cake. |
Hot Milk Cake sounds more interesting than this was for me. For me, it was just, well, fairly plain cake. Reasonable crumb structure, reasonable density, reasonable moistness, but, nothing really remarkable nor interesting about it. The frosting was similarly a bit boring, although it was a nicely made buttercream, well balanced in sweetness and butteriness.
Overall, just boring, but not bad. ***.
"Of course this cake can be served at any occasion, but we wanted to offer a quintessential birthday cake, perfect with candles and an inscription. This cake is three layers of our tender Hot Milk Cake and frosted on all sides with milk chocolate buttercream, made with organic egg yolks. We know it will pair extraordinarily well with a chorus of Happy Birthday to You...!"
The milk chocolate birthday cake is the same cake, just, different buttercream. The cake was again fine, but not noteworthy. Fairly plain cake. The buttercream was very mild chocolate flavor, not particularly interesting. Overall, just, boring. Better than a grocery store cake, but, not special in any way. ***.
"This cake gets its name from Scharffen Berger Chocolate, the small-batch chocolate makers who were our original neighbors in the Ferry Building. We developed this cake using their raw cocoa powder because it delivers a huge chocolatey flavor. The cake itself is dense and moist, and we glaze it with two coats of smooth-as-silk bittersweet chocolate ganache. It's a lot of chocolate, yes, but it's never overwhelming because of the surprising variation in textures and flavors."
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| Milk Chocolate Birthday Cake. |
The milk chocolate birthday cake is the same cake, just, different buttercream. The cake was again fine, but not noteworthy. Fairly plain cake. The buttercream was very mild chocolate flavor, not particularly interesting. Overall, just, boring. Better than a grocery store cake, but, not special in any way. ***.
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| Scharffen Berger Cake. |
This cake was indeed very chocolate heavy. The cake was dense and rich. The ganache was thick and richer. Definitely paired best with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. But I still didn't find it particularly compelling. ***.
Original Review
Miete is one of the first bakeries I ever discovered in San Francisco. Er, patisserie & confiserie that is. Even better. Baked goods AND great candy. My kind of place.
"San Francisco's Most Charming Pastry Shop including macarons, made-to-order cakes, licorice, candy, and artisanal chocolate."
Miette has a shop right in the Ferry Building that I used to frequent, and, given the proximity to my office, their macarons regularly showed up when co-workers brought in treats. The macrons are their most famous item, but I was always drawn towards the cupcakes, and candy, which features a very pricey but well curated range from many other countries (not housemade). They have the best salty licorice collection I've found around town. The main location in Hayes Valley carries even more candy, and is really quite adorably decorated.
The baked goods all use high quality local ingredients when possible, like Straus cream and butter and Scharffen Berger chocolate
As more and more cupcake shops have opened I visit Miette less frequently, but it still holds a special place in my heart for all those early visits when I moved to the area.
Cakes & Cupcakes.
Cupcakes are the main draw to Miete for me. The lineup always has their famous gingerbread cupcake, along with basic chocolate and yellow cakes, and a carrot cake. No other wacky flavors, besides sometimes seasonal icing. $4 each. Some are available as full size cakes as well.
The full size cake lineup also has a lovely Princess Cake and crowd pleasing chocolate forward Scharffen Berger cake, along with layered versions of basic cakes.
The chocolate cake base is "double chocolate", made from both unsweetened Scharffen Berger Cocoa Powder and 70% Guittard Chocolate, an interesting choice to mix and match, but, clearly, they found what they like!
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| Old Fashioned Cupcake. |
Not that I don't like the Old Fashioned, don't get me wrong. It uses the same chocolate base as the rest of the lineup. The marshmallow-like topping is quite delicious, and I love the candied peanut, I just like the buttercream more. I have to admit the boiled icing does look really, really tempting, so in the looks department, this one does win. The icing is pretty sweet, so not a good choice if you are going for something less sweet.
This flavor is also available as a full size cake, which I of course got for his birthday one year. That one has a cherry rather than a tiny candy coated peanut though, which is a better size, but, I missed the crunchy candied nut!
A great cupcake if you aren't craving buttercream. ***+.
"Our double-chocolate cupcake with a swirl of vibrant raspberry buttercream made from fresh, organic berries."
I have had a lot of Miette cupcakes in my day, but I've never really been that excited by their chocolate ones. Sometimes I get a chocolate base as part of the Old Fashioned, since they only put the boiled icing on the chocolate cake, but given the choice, I always pick Miette's yellow cake over the chocolate.
I'm not sure quite what it is about the chocolate cake that doesn't do it for me. The cake is chocolately, very consistent, not quite moist nor dry, just somewhere in between. Unremarkable to me, as I prefer moister, or a crispy top. The vanilla cake is the same in that way, but has a rich vanilla flavor.
For buttercream frostings, Miette makes classic vanilla, chocolate, and a seasonal flavor, often raspberry or strawberry. This one had a sweet fluffy raspberry buttercream. Again, not that remarkable. It wasn't too sweet, had good raspberry flavor, but overall, it was just there. That said, the frosting to cupcake ratio on these is perfect for my liking.
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| Chocolate Raspberry Cupcake. $3.25. |
I have had a lot of Miette cupcakes in my day, but I've never really been that excited by their chocolate ones. Sometimes I get a chocolate base as part of the Old Fashioned, since they only put the boiled icing on the chocolate cake, but given the choice, I always pick Miette's yellow cake over the chocolate.
I'm not sure quite what it is about the chocolate cake that doesn't do it for me. The cake is chocolately, very consistent, not quite moist nor dry, just somewhere in between. Unremarkable to me, as I prefer moister, or a crispy top. The vanilla cake is the same in that way, but has a rich vanilla flavor.
For buttercream frostings, Miette makes classic vanilla, chocolate, and a seasonal flavor, often raspberry or strawberry. This one had a sweet fluffy raspberry buttercream. Again, not that remarkable. It wasn't too sweet, had good raspberry flavor, but overall, it was just there. That said, the frosting to cupcake ratio on these is perfect for my liking.
I probably would not get this again, as I prefer the yellow cake. ***.
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| Chocolate Chocolate Cupcake. |
I picked this up for my partner one day when they were out of Old Fashioned, but of course I snuck a bite.
The same base chocolate cupcake as the Chocolate Raspberry and the Old Fashioned, but this time with chocolate buttercream.
The buttercream was pretty tasty, slightly sweet, nice milk chocolate flavor. Again, great amount of frosting for the amount of cake. But I still just rarely go for their chocolate cupcakes.
***.
"Golden yellow cake with vanilla buttercream."
Now, I know people who go nuts for this cupcake. Food Network dubbed it the "Best Cupcake in America". I could care less about it.
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Yellow Vanilla Cupcake
As boring as it sounds, the vanilla is, hands down, my favorite. The cake is still a bit dry for my taste, just like the chocolate cake, but the flavor is buttery and rich. A really great flavor in that base.
I love their vanilla buttercream. Sweet, simple, creamy.
Yes, my absolute favorite cupcake there is the yellow cake with vanilla buttercream, by far the most basic one they make, and I always enjoy it.
****.
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| Gingerbread Cupcakes (back row). Carrot Cupcakes (front row) |
Gingerbread:
"Our all-time best selling cupcake. Made with a dark stout beer, molasses, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom then topped with a sweet cream cheese frosting."
Now, I know people who go nuts for this cupcake. Food Network dubbed it the "Best Cupcake in America". I could care less about it.
The cake flavor is rather mediocre, the frosting a bit sour. I've tried it several times, and still haven't ever liked it. To each his own right? I still love the Yellow Vanilla! This one is also available as a cake.
**+.
Carrot:
Carrot:
"A little cupcake chock-full of carrots, walnuts, & currants, topped with a creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting."
So, I have strong opinion on carrot cake (I LOVE my great aunt's recipe), so I didn't expect to love Miette's version. I avoided it for years, until I was at an event with only gingerbread or carrot to choose from. Since I hadn't cared for the gingerbread before, I figured it was worth trying the carrot.
It was a very boring carrot cake. Yes, it had shredded carrot, some little bits of walnut, and little currants in it, but, the flavors didn't pop. It wasn't dry, it wasn't moist, it just was what it was. Homogenous, a bit oily, and boring.
So, I have strong opinion on carrot cake (I LOVE my great aunt's recipe), so I didn't expect to love Miette's version. I avoided it for years, until I was at an event with only gingerbread or carrot to choose from. Since I hadn't cared for the gingerbread before, I figured it was worth trying the carrot.
It was a very boring carrot cake. Yes, it had shredded carrot, some little bits of walnut, and little currants in it, but, the flavors didn't pop. It wasn't dry, it wasn't moist, it just was what it was. Homogenous, a bit oily, and boring.
I did like the cream cheese frosting though, very, very rich, thick, and tasty. This one is also available in cake form.
***.
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Princess Cake:
“White chocolate fondant drapes over a sponge cake soaked in eau de vie syrup, layered with homemade raspberry jam, pastry cream and a mound of lightly sweetened Straus whipped cream.”
I was excited when someone brought a Princess Cake in for a birthday at my office. I had wanted to try it for a long time, but since only available as a full size cake, I wasn't ever able.
It was a nice buttery moist cake (super moist from the syrup), with layer of flavorful raspberry jam, subtle layer of pastry cream, and tons of whipped cream. These things all combine together beautifully. The outer fondant shell was just sweet and gross though. I understand that it is part of a traditional princess cake, but meh.
***+ overall, only the outer layer brought it down.
$60 for a 6 inch cake.
Cookies
By now you probably know how I feel about cookies. They are "ok", but generally more of a snack than a "real dessert", in my world. I don't seek them out often, but I've still managed to try many of Miette's offerings, as they show up at my office frequently. Miette's cookies are all a crisp style, not soft fresh baked cookies. They make several flavors of shortbread, sablés, and snap.
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| Chocolate Wafers. $8.50. |
You may have noticed that I often review chocolate. That is partially because I run a very informal chocolate tasting at work, where I bring in different chocolate, and make everyone try it with me. I enjoy hearing other's reviews of the chocolate, and it also enables me to get through many more bars than I normally would on my own. Anyway, one friend knew I was into chocolate tasting, so she brought me a container of Miette's Chocolate Wafers to feature at my next chocolate tasting.
These had a very rich dark chocolate flavor. They were crispy, buttery, and sprinkled with sugar. Really quite good, and everyone enjoyed them. They were actually a bit bitter, but so buttery that it cut the bitter nicely. And then hold up for quite a few days if you keep them sealed.
These had a very rich dark chocolate flavor. They were crispy, buttery, and sprinkled with sugar. Really quite good, and everyone enjoyed them. They were actually a bit bitter, but so buttery that it cut the bitter nicely. And then hold up for quite a few days if you keep them sealed.
****, and a nice surprise as I tend to go for softer style cookies.
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Chocolate Sablés:
"Pierre Hermé of Paris is the inspiration behind this cookie. The Miette version replicates the same experience of biting into a crisp, sandy cookie with bits of pure, soft chocolate. This recipe calls for both cocoa and chocolate. When you bring these two ingredients together, you get a resounding chocolate taste, much more complex than if you were to use just one or the other. Each bite-sized cookie is carefully packaged by hand into our signature polka-dot bag."
The sablés are thicker and less crispy than the wafers, but also have a deep chocolate flavor. Basically a chocolate shortbread. Not really my thing, but my mom loves them, and brought a package home after her last visit to San Francisco.
***.
Chocolate Chip:
"There are so many great versions of this all-American favorite, and here's ours: petite chocolate chips, crushed toasted walnuts and coarsely-ground oatmeal incorporated into a crisp, buttery cookie. Each bite-sized cookie is carefully packaged by hand into our signature polka-dot bag."
Eh. This was just a dry boring cookie, hard style. I think fairly shelf stable, which just isn't a selling point for cookies for me. Also, beware, it is oatmeal based, no traditional chocolate chip here. **+.
Lemon Shortbread:
"This cookie takes the tart, fresh flavor of lemons and contrasts it beautifully with the richness of butter. The zest for these cookies comes from the year-round supply of organic lemons we have in California. Each bite-sized cookie is carefully packaged by hand into our signature polka-dot bag."
Decently buttery, but I didn't really taste the lemon. An ok shortbread, but not likely something I'd go back for. **+.
Lavender Shortbread:
"Bite-sized and delicate, this buttery shortbread cookie has a restrained floral taste that will remind you of summer. The lavender is picked from the fields at Eatwell Farms in Dixon, California. Each bite-sized cookie is carefully packaged by hand into our signature polka-dot bag."
Like the lemon, decently buttery, crispy. The lavender was subtle and nice. But still, just a shortbread, not really my thing. Would probably be very nice with a cup of tea! **+.
One of my co-workers decided to randomly bring in macarons from Miette. I tried a few:
Macarons
A category of their own, the macarons. Displayed in glass jars atop the pastry counter at Miette. A centerpiece of the store, no question.
"This unusual little cookie put Miette on the map. Although it's been popular in France for decades, they were virtually unknown in the states. After a trip to Paris, we decided to start making them at Miette and they've been our most popular item ever since. Our macarons are dense, chewy, and meltingly light. They are made with coarsely ground almonds with the skins intact. We do not add any food coloring or processed flavorings, so they are distinctly rustic and natural."
The macarons are all assorted colors, available in a slew of flavors: chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut, pistachio, dulce de leche, rose geranium, raspberry, chocolate orange, lemon, and more. I've had these many times over the years, but seem to have lost most of my other tasting notes.
The macarons are fairly classic: the cookie part has a nice give to it, shiny on the outside, a little texture from the almonds inside. The fillings are creamy and infused with flavor. Yet somehow they never wow me. Maybe that is because macarons in general are just not all that interesting to me (well, unless they it is a black sesame and foie gras mouse macaron!) The only sweet macarons I've really enjoyed are from Sugarie, although La Boulange makes a few decent ones, and everyone's are leagues above the ones from Tout Sweet. Even the famous ones from Confiserie Sprüngli in Zürich did not impress me.
That said, if someone brings a box of Miette macarons, and there is a rose geranium one, I'll still go for it, my favorite.
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| Macarons! |
- Raspberry: Classic almond cookie with raspberry buttercream filling. The filling had a really nice raspberry flavor if you had just the buttercream, but it was too easily lost when eating a whole macaron, the flavor masked by the cookie. ***.
- Rose Geranium: Same basic cookie, rosewater and geranium infused buttercream. This is always my favorite! Everyone else seemed to hate this flavor, saying they tasted like soap. I continue to love the subtle flavor and the sweetness from the rosewater. ***+.
Other
The rest of the baked goods lineup at Miette is varied, with some tea cakes, puddings, tarts and tartlettes. This lineup seems to have really dwindled in the Covid days, now I rarely see these available.
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"A buttery pâte sucrée crust filled with chocolate ganache and ripe banana slices and topped with pastry cream."
Wow! This was a pâte sucrée tart shell, covered with a layer of chocolate ganache, then a layer of fresh banana, a layer of pastry cream, whipped cream, and topped off with chocolate shavings. It far exceeded expectations.
The tart shell had a nice flavor, perfectly buttery. To be honest, I expected to throw out some of the crust, since tart shells are always fairly boring, but this was just too good. Perhaps the best tart shell I've ever had.
The fresh banana had great taste, the pudding was super banana-y, the chocolate layer was subtle but added a nice chocolate component, and whipped cream was good. This came together far better than I imagined! $6.50 for a tartlette, $27 for a full tart.
****+.
Lemon Tea Cake:
“Our buttery, lemon pound cake is glazed with zesty lemon icing.”
This had decent lemon flavor, was fairly moist, and was good for what it was, not something I'd normally pick, but someone brought it in, and I had a slice with a cup of tea. There was lots of very sweet icing on top. I wouldn't get it myself, but I'd eat another slice if if showed up in front of me. $7.50 per mini loaf.
***.
Pumpkin Walnut Bunt Cake:
Pretty standard and generic. It was moist, good chunks of walnut, but nothing standout. Then again, how exciting is bunt cake?
***.
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