Doux Doux by Chateau Dionne
Words: Amanda Chin
Photos: Richard Callahan
The word “doux” can be understood to have that pleasant taste of sweetness on the palate, and that’s exactly what Andy Choy and David Lim had in mind when branching out as a French-inspired bakery under their fine dining gem – Chateau Dionne. Specialising in canelés and their ever-popular soufflés, this newly-opened eatery is becoming quite the go-to café in Petaling Jaya. Doux Doux offers perfectly indulgent French pastries and desserts at an affordable rate for those looking to have a sliver of what fine dining food is all about.
Doux Doux by Chateau Dionne
First, a canelé can be described as a small French pastry usually made with rum. The inside is soft custard, while the outside is a thick caramelised crust. Not many places in Kuala Lumpur offer this type of dessert, as it’s quite a process to make. Choy let us know they can only make 30 at a time, so when they start again, people are more than happy to wait that extra hour and a half.
Just a short walk across from Seventeen Mall in Petaling Jaya, you can walk up a short flight of stairs to find the cosy haven that is Doux Doux. With simple and quirky decorations, this place is the perfect spot for those invested in the café culture. Below, you have a view of the food market next to the mall that comes even more to life at night, so it’s a nice spot to birdwatch.
As soon as I hit the top stair, a strong whiff of butter hit my nose – the true smell of a classic bakery. I saw a large glass display of all the delicious pastries they had to offer, which made me all the more eager to get in my fill of sweet treats and bread on a sunny weekend morning. I met Monica and Richard here to begin indulging, but not without coffee first!
Drinks Menu
Monica and I are pretty big coffee aficionados, so she chose to get a Flat White (RM13) to start her Saturday morning while I opted for the sweeter Toffee Nut Latte (RM16). Richard got the Espresso Tonic (RM15) and Espresso Shakerato (RM15), two good-looking and refreshing beverages from their coffee mocktail selection. With all this caffeine, we all were ready to begin eating.
Doux Doux Food Menu
We began our carb charade with a tray of mini croissants, a Tuna & Egg Mayo Croissant (RM6), a Croque Monsieur Croissant (RM8) and the day’s special with salmon. Just as croissants should be, taking a bite into these light, crispy and airy pastries really made me feel like I was beginning my morning on the right foot.
Bite-sized treats, otherwise known as Mignardise in French, were then brought to us on a cute little plate – the Citrus Madeleine (RM4) and the Raspberry Friands (RM4). The Madeline was bursting with citrusy goodness, being light and airy while having a crisp exterior. The other pastry was a more moist and dense one that oozed the tartness of the raspberries.
Drum roll for the canelés, please! We got to try all of them on the day’s display, the Signature Rum & Vanilla (RM10), the Varlhona 70% Dark Chocolate (RM12), the Cereal Milk (RM12) and the Niko Neko Yuri Matcha (RM12). Choy understood the assignment because I now know why people have the patience to wait for Doux Doux’s canelés.
The Signature Rum & Vanilla was a great combo of the rich rum and sweet vanilla flavours, while the chocolate one was a more decadent and intense version. The Cereal Milk one became a staple on the menu after being a top seller as a version of the classic Chinese New Year cereal dessert. Last on our menu of canelés was the matcha one, which had an earthy flavour balanced with the sweetness of the pastry.
More bread? Yes, please! The Doux Doux Bread Platter (RM20) consists of perfect brioche slices, a mini and wonderfully flaky croissant and a mini almond croissant, along with two homemade kinds of butter – seaweed and truffle. Bread and butter is a classic combination that will never go out of style, even more so at Doux Doux since the butter is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients resulting in a more creamy richness with that salty finish. Also, note the cute presentation formed by the canelé moulds.
Doux Doux by Chateau Dionne Soufflé
Don’t leave without trying the soufflés! They are the definition of perfection, and understandably so, given the fact that the team has already made over 10 000 of them! Doux Doux by Chateau Dionne serves the classic Grand Marnier Souffle (RM38) and a playful pink twist with the Raspberry Rose Souffle (RM38).
The Grand Marnier was a light and fluffy soufflé paired with the decadent flavours of the orange liqueur. The sweet and tangy citrus perfectly balanced the richness of the eggs and sugar, so having this and a side of vanilla ice cream and orange marmalade came together in a harmonious symphony in my mouth.
The Raspberry Rose one was a more delicate soufflé with more tanginess that melted in my mouth. Overall, very impressive and must-try desserts with complementary flavours delighting the taste buds.
Rise and Shine, It’s Soufflé Time!
Are the soufflés worth it? Double yes, and not to mention the canelés along with all the other French-inspired pastries available. Doux Doux by Chateau Dionne is the perfect spot to enjoy your coffee and treat yourself to everything on the menu.
Reasons to visit Doux Doux by Chateau Dionne: exceptional soufflé and canelé (we dare say the best in Malaysia), a fine cup of coffee, friendly service, charming setting.
Doux Doux by Chateau Dionne
40 tkt, 1 Jalan 17/38, Seksyen 17, (across from Seventeen Mall)
46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Instagram @doux_doux_by_chateau_dionne
Doux Doux by Chateau Dionne Opening Hours
Tuesday to Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday to Sunday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Find more cafes in Kuala Lumpur here and stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in KL’s food and beverage scene here and here.
my..the pastries look so good!