Baking A Feast with The Croissant Tasting Menu by The Croissant Lady

The ovens were fired up all day long in one home kitchen in a familiar storyline that defined the long days of the quarantine experience. For Donatella Chua, it was the perfect time for rediscovering a passion for baking...

From the early days mastering the art of perfecting the croissant back in 2021 to creating inventive reinterpretations of the classic viennoiserie in both sweet and savory expressions, the Croissant Lady is back in the kitchen serving her latest culinary concept. A unique and innovative Croissant Tasting Menu is now part of a growing roster of croissant-based offerings reflecting Donatella Chua's own culinary journey. And you can experience it in an intimate yet casual private dining setting at ChefWorks Philippines along Arnaiz Avenue in Makati. Curious? Then, read on...

A showroom for chef's apparel and accessories isn't exactly where you'd expect fresh-baked croissants, soothing cups of brewed coffee, wine and beer. Then again, the Croissant Lady isn't your usual baker. One whiff of the fragrant and buttery aroma lets you know you're in the right place. From her classic viennoiserie to innovative and even unconventional concepts like the Croissaymada, the Croissant Lady weaves both tradition and contemporary flair with her baked creations. The new Croissant Tasting Menu by the Croissant Lady gives diners a tasty peek of her unrestrained creativity for a unique experience.

The sumptuous Croissant Tasting Menu is a culmination of the Croissant Lady's long hours of experimentation in the kitchen, and the results are showcased in a lavish set feast (for more on the Croissant Lady, see my posts The Lady Bakes Too. Fresh-Baked Croissants and Pain Au Chocolat Delivered to Your Doorstep by the Croissant Lady PH  on my first time to try the specialty baked treats back in early 2021, Have It All with the Croissant Lady PH Sampler from May 2021, ECQ Eats: Inventive Spins with the Croissaymada by the Croissant Lady and Empanaditas by the Empanada Lady from September 2021 and Croissant Meets Bao and Dumplings: When Its National Croissant Day and Chinese New Year, Bring Out the Croibao and Croimplings by the Croissant Lady from January 2022).

The kitchen and private dining area is tucked away deep inside the ChefWorks Philippines showroom at the third floor of Pamana Building (more on ChefWorks Philippines and the inauguration of their showroom on my post, Hot Off The Oven: ChefWorks Philippines and Croissant Lady Inaugurates New Home from last year). And this is where the magic behind the fresh-baked creations of the Croissant Lady happens, prepared and plated right in front of you. I had a preview late last year of the Croissant Tasting Menu, and the Croissant Lady has perfected the portions and pacing of each course in its final version (more on my previous post, What's New with the Croissant Lady? Take a Peek. And a Bite... from September 2021).

The Croissant Tasting Menu by the Croissant Lady begins with an Amuse Bouche of sweet and savory pastries with one filled with sweet jam and the other with mushrooms laid on a special sauce. The buttery, flaky and delicately crisp pastries are the perfect vessels for the flavorful and rich fillings for tasty bites. The light yet soft and crunchy texture of the pastries are immediately evident from the first bite, draping the palate with a buttery richness followed by the bold notes of the jam and mushroom fillings. And that's just a preview, with even more croissant-based creations in the next courses of the Croissant Tasting Menu.

With her croissants as the flavorful base, the Croissant Lady opens up infinite possibilities and tasty combos that delights and even surprises the palate. One last bite of the Amuse Bouche and the lingering buttery aroma from the next course teases your appetite... 

Fresh off the ovens, the Croissant Lady assembles the second course...

...while sharing stories and inspirations behind the creations. The private dining format allows a more casual yet personal connection for a deeper perspective behind the experience. No longer a mere trend, it's great to see private dining in the culinary mainstream.

The second course of the Croissant Tasting Menu featured three savory pies, starting with the Laing Lava Pie, the KimCheese Pie with its kimchi and cheese filling and The Black Pie filled with dinuguan or the local pork blood stew. 

The Laing Lava Pie with its rich, creamy and nutty notes pairs well with the buttery pastry for a surprising combination that works. The KimCheese Pie with kimchi and cheese brings contrasting flavors from the sharp and mildly spicy hints of the kimchi perfectly tempered by the creamy cheese and the buttery pastry for another flavorful combo. The Black Pie with its deep savory notes ends the second course with a solid finish. Each filling highlights the pastry and the crisp layered textures. 

For the main course, the Croissant Lady brings out the kitchen's big guns with a large pot of Carbonara made the old-fashioned way with egg and no cream, simply seasoned with salt, pepper and cheese.  

As the Croissant Lady begins plating the courses, a Garlic Parmesan French Regular Croissant is added giving the dish its name.

The Croibonara with Garlic Parmesan French Regular Croissant sliced across and piled high with creamy carbonara is an impressive dish. The presentation with pasta seemingly flowing out of the croissant teases the eyes before the palate but the Croissant Lady has one more surprising twist. Instead of the traditional guanciale or pancetta, the Croissant Lady uses smoky, garlicky and mildly sweet Taiwanese sausages. Bet you didn't see that coming, right? Leave it to the Croissant Lady for tasty surprises. 

The savory richness of the pasta with Taiwanese sausage brings subtle sweet hints pairing well with the flaky croissant and its garlicky notes with that burst of sharpness from the Parmesan. The layers of rich flavors from the pasta and croissant combine for a lavish course by the Croissant Lady.

Thirsty? No worries. The Croissant Lady also has a well-stocked fridge with wine and Crazy Carabao beer on tap. 

For dessert, the Croissant Lady served her now famous Croissaymada (see more on my post, ECQ Eats: Inventive Spins with The Croissaymada by the Croissant Lady and Empanaditas by the Empanada Lady) and Pain Au Chocolaymada drizzled with butter and sprinkled with sugar. Imagine the sweetness of ensaymada with the texture of croissants and you get the picture.

The Pain Au Chocolaymada with its flaky and buttery finish is a flavorful upgrade on the classic viennoiserie rounded out by smooth and decadent chocolate. I've always enjoyed a good Pain Au Chocolat, and the Croissant Lady just pushes it with even more butter and a sprinkling of sugar to make you love it even more. 

In a playfully inventive twist, the Croissant Lady reimagines the classic ensaymada with the layered and delicately crisp texture of laminated dough in croissant form. The result is a light and crisp baked creation with indulgent hints of butter followed by a sweet finish. The Croissaymada and Pain Au Chocolaymada are the perfect sweet ending to a hearty feast of croissants by the Croissant Lady.

If you're lucky, the founding chairman of Disciples Escoffier Philippines Chef Philip Golding will help out in the kitchen for your private Croissant Tasting Menu with the Croissant Lady.

And the Croissant Tasting Menu isn't over just yet. For the final course, the Croissant Lady whips up yet another creation...

The Croiffogato with silky smooth vanilla ice cream, espresso shot and flaky Danish Apricot caps your unique private dining experience with the Croissant Lady. Contrasting textures and layers of decadent sweet notes rounded out by the bold flavors of espresso come together in a seamless blend with each bite. 

Born out of the pandemic and inspired by a renewed passion for baking, the story of the Croissant Lady is retold with each course in the Croissant Tasting Menu. If you're looking for a unique private dining experience and love croissants, this is right up your alley. And nothing beats dining behind a showroom for one of the metro's secret culinary gems.

The Croissant Tasting Menu by the Croissant Lady is priced between P 1,000 to P 1,250 per person for a minimum of two and a maximum of twelve. Or you can stop by for a cup of coffee with the day's fresh batch of croissants at your new secret hidden gem along Arnaiz Street in Makati. Love croissants? Then let the Croissant Lady show you different ways to enjoy the fresh-baked treat in a private and casual setting over at ChefWorks Philippines.

ChefWorks Philippines and Croissant Lady PH are located at Unit 306, 3rd Floor, Pamana Building, 926 A. Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City, 1223 Metro Manila. You can call 0917 522 6009 for inquiries. For orders and menu list, visit https://my.forms.app/croissantladyph/menu2022. You can also visit their respective  FB Pages at https://www.facebook.com/ChefWorksPh/ and https://www.facebook.com/croissantladyph/ for more information and updates.

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