While visions of red bean buns danced in their heads...

85°C Bakery Cafe
2700 Alton Parkway, Suite # 123
Irvine, CA, 92606
(949) -553 -8585

Whenever I think of Asian pastries, I instantly conjure up an image from my childhood: a bland strawberry sponge cake frosted with "vanilla" whipped cream (vanilla=glue-flavored) and almond slivers, with the words "Happy Birthday" scrawled on top with bloody red gel. Thanks to my mother's unrefined palate, I now avoid any bakeries with an Eastern influence.

The other day I decided to let go of my prejudices and try out the hot new bakery that opened down the street from my work. There's always a line whenever I pass by, so I figured it was worth a shot.

85°C accomplishes what bakeries like Goldilocks and Red Ribbon try to mimic but fail to achieve: delicacy. The pastries are very light and airy in texture, and the flavors come in subtle notes like a sweet perfume. Their baked goods are more of an experience rather than just dessert. I first tried what appeared to be the simplest of the selection, milk bread. I was pleasantly surprised. The bread had a very soft texture, but wasn't doughy or chewy like pan de leche can be. The gentle sprinkle of powdered sugar on top was enough to enhance the bread's sweet milk flavor.

I was also amazed by the variety they offered: Dutch brioche buns, savory French bread with spinach, Italian tiramisu, an Austrian-inspired chocolate truffle cake, traditional Chinese red bean buns with a non-traditional twist of sweet cream. I froze in front of the display cases, gawking for what seemed like a century until a hostess/baker/tour guide offered me her aid. (Side note: the service is very warm and friendly, but a little slow when it comes to serving drinks.)

The 85°C cafe in Irvine is the first one to open in the U.S. The company hails from Taiwan, started by a group of business men and award winning pastry chefs dedicated to serving world class desserts at a 3rd world price. Whether you're a sugar junkie looking for a quick fix to your addiction, or a foodie in search for something pleasing to the palate, give 85°C a try and experience this Taiwanese sensation.

For the Animals

Tomorrow is election day, and I want to get the word out to Californians about a certain proposition concerning the safety of our food and our animal friends. Prop 2 is intended to increase the standard of living for confined farm animals, who live in unimaginably horrid conditions. Their wretched way of life often leads to an increase in disease and a high mortality rate, which takes a toll on the food we eat. My sister works at a certain popular restaurant which I will not name (but is known for their hot wings and female servers), and they often find bursted blood vessels and even tumors in the chicken they serve. This is a result of the unregulated conditions of the farms the livestock are raised on.

As a humanitarian, I ask you to vote yes on Prop 2 to give these creatures a decent life, as they provide us with food and sustenance. As a food connoisseur, I ask you to vote yes on Prop 2 to improve the standards of the food we eat. We have rights for domesticated pets; there MUST be regulated standards and rights for livestock. These critters are my neighbors (literally...I live in Chino, I'm surrounded by cows), so I would love to see their conditions improved. Yes, there is a possibility of the cost of food being raised, but I'm willing to pay that cost for better quality of my well-being and theirs. Are you? Vote.