The Queen’s Bakery @ Costa Mesa – Media Tasting

A friend had talked about The Queen’s Bakery a few months back.  I vaguely remember seeing a couple of pictures and was captivated by how charming and chic it looked.  We all agreed that it’d be a great place for us girls to have afternoon tea there.  I couldn’t believe my luck when Nadine of Jolson Creative PR Group invited me (and my plus one) for a private tasting!  I was beyond ecstatic!  What can I say?  I am an ‘old’ girly girl.  I love all things pretty.

I was a little taken back at its location – a Hidden Kingdom in an Industrial Forrest is how I would best describe it.  Looking at the picture below, you’d have never guessed it was actually the front of a warehouse that Queen Kathy has transformed into her lovely palace.  I love the intricate design of the rod iron fence and beautiful flower stands surrounding the outdoor seating area.

But the real jaw-dropping surprise is when you step inside.  I felt the same excitement as when I visited Disneyland  for the first time when I first came to this country as a teenager.  I LOVE everything about the decor; the colors, the chandeliers, the tuft upholstered furniture, etc!  I even love the bathroom (check it out when you are there)!  Honestly, I want to live there!

But OK, it is a bakery and I was there to do a tasting, so I had to calm myself down and get back to business.  The store is not big but it is filled with beautiful pastries, cupcakes, cookies, macarons, puffs, eclairs, and so on.  Varieties of teas and coffee drinks are also available.  The bakery is also a cafe so sandwich, salad, and panini are also served.

The Queen’s cupcakes were voted The Best Cupcakes – Critic’s Choice Winner by OC Register’s 19th Annual Best of Orange County 2012!  Instead of sampling the regular cupcakes, I requested the mini cupcakes.  In my experience, it’s way harder to make the mini cupcakes moist than the regular ones.  I am happy to report they were.

The Petite Four (Teacakes – upper left), Cake Pop (upper left), Mouse Cups were so beautifully made!

Queen Kathy suggested that I try her favorite tea, Cherry Blossom.  It was a very nice with a mild fragrant flavor.  I also sampled some of the macarons.  I was surprised that they were crispy but didn’t break apart when I bit into them like the ones I’ve had before.  Chef Rami told me a little secret.  The sugar had to be boiled at a very specific temperature.  He also made an interesting point that there was no room for errors for a pastry chef.  If you make a mistake, there is no salvage.  How true!

I also sampled the Tiramisu (upper right).  It was lighter than others and the chocolate powder was very rich.  You could definitely tell that they use quality ingredients.  The Strawberry Delight (lower middle) was really light and creamy but not overly sweet.  Allen really enjoyed the cappuccino, he had 2 cups!

The Queen’s Bakery has one of the best croissant pastries I’ve ever had!  They were flaky but not airy.  The ‘bread’ was soft with a little bit of texture.  I adore the Strawberry Pocket (lower left).  The strawberry’s slight tartness paired very well with the sweet custard inside.

I absolutely loved the trio pastries here (from left to right), Chocolate Croissant, Cheese Croissant, Cinnamon Roll.  The Cheese Croissant is to die for!

We also got to try a couple of savory pastries; one was filled with spinach, the other mushroom and onion.  They were fresh out of the oven and smelled wonderfully and tasted just as delicious.

I can not tell you how much I adore all the decorative fixtures Queen Kathy selected to use.  Every little detail shows how passionate she is about her bakery and what a perfectionist she is.

She and Chef Rami insist on using only the highest quality ingredients for everything they make and sell.  They don’t use preservatives, no trans fat or hydrogenated oils, no artificial flavors, and use only pure sugar.  The pastries are made from scratch and in small quantities throughout the day to ensure freshness.

Thank you, Nadine, for introducing me to The Queen’s Bakery!  Thank you Queen Kathy and Chef Rami for your hospitality and delicious treats!

The Queen’s Bakery is available for catering onsite and offsite.  They also make beautiful custom cakes and special cookies and pastries upon request.  Hours are Monday – Thursday 10:30am – 5:00pm, Friday – Saturday 10:00am – 6:00pm.  Closed on Sunday.  However, they will gladly work with if you would like to book a private event during off hours.  Just call and ask.

The Queen’s Bakery Cafe
2950 Grace Ln
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 540-9500