Welcome!

We are currently a small, but committed, group of people who meet on Tuesday evenings to celebrate the wonder that is cheesecake!

If there is one thing that Vietnam does very well it is cheesecake and, with Saigon's ever increasing number of coffee shops, the choice for the cheesecake lover has never been better.

Join us in the mission to find Saigon's finest cheesecake :-)

The comments found upon this blog are opinions only and we urge you to make your own judgement about any cheesecake or establishment featured here.

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Superb Sandals

Date: 16/03/10
Venue: Sandals.
Hai Ba Trung. D1

After last week's limited cheesecake supply, CT members were hoping for a more plentiful spread this week and so we eagerly headed to Sandals, sister chain to the Sailing Club in Mui Ne, in search of what we hoped would be a classy cheesecake.

Sandals is located on Hai Ba Trung, close to other fashionable haunts such as Pacharan, The Refinery and the Park Hyatt hotel. Spreading out across 3 floors, incuding a spacious rooftop terrace, the restaurant offers an ambient atmosphere in which to relax with a cocktail or two.  Incidentally, Tuesdays is $2 cocktail night at Sandals, an offer which also extends to some beers and wine- an offer that CT members were quite keen to take advantage of whilst waiting for the cheesecake..

Despite an extensive food menu and some sumptuous sounding desserts, we were disappointed to find that cheesecake was not on the menu, something that came as a surprise as the Sailing Club offer a fantastic cheesecake.  Help soon came in the form of a weekly set menu which offered Blueberry cheesecake, which we were able to select individually.  This satisfied some members of the CT team, although one member was unhappy that there would be no chocolate in the selection this week.

CT would be getting some cheesecake after all but as the Blueberry cheesecake is not part of the standard Sandals dessert menu, it is not guaranteed that it is always available.  At 85,000vnd for a standard wedge of cake, it is one of the most expensive options so far but is it worth it?

Consistency:  a firm and well-formed cheesecake that holds its shape well throughout.  The actual consistency had the team stumped as to how best to describe it, lacking the thick creaminess of some but avoiding the dry sponginess of others - 'neither cheesy nor cakey: in some ways, a perfect balance.  The baked crust on top adds a great homemade touch to the cake.

Base: an adequate layer of biscuit.

Presentation: Simple and elegant.  The cheesecake is a plain New York cheescake topped with a generous layer of blueberry compote, garnished with a solitary strawberry and sprig of fresh mint.

Taste:  The cheesecake itself is very plain without the usual hint of vanilla or lemon but this works well with the sharp tang of the blueberry.  This cake would work with any other fruit topping or a chocolate sauce.

This cheesecake is one that initially seemed plain to tasters but actually improved throughout the tasting, not a crumb was left on any of the plates.  The team did feel that the price of the cake set a higher expectation than was delivered.

Verdict: a very honourable effort from Sandals
8/10

Sunday 14 March 2010

Cafe Evita

Venue: Cafe Evita, Nguyen Van Huong, D2 
Date: 09/13/10

Most expats in Saigon are familiar with late-night-venue Vascos, - located in the Refinery on Hai Ba Trung, many have also eaten in La Camargue, and those who live in An Phu will almost cetainly have lunched at Cafe Evita at some point.  These three establishments, all under the same ownership, are long-time favourites on the Saigon scene - Vasco's pizzas even being voted Saigon's best by AsiaLife magazine.

Monday to Friday; Cafe Evita is frequented daily by teachers at the British International School all seeking refuge from a busy schedule and enjoying lunch from the school-themed sandwich menu (the 'Director' being highly recommended) on the cosy sofas.

However, neither pizza nor sandwiches were at the forefront of CT member's minds as we gathered at Cafe Evita after a long and tiring day at work - we were after a good cheesecake.  The chilled dessert cabinet at the front of the restaurant is laden with creamy cakes and chocolatey mousses by day but, maybe unsurprisingly, looked rather empty by early evening and CT were disappointed to discover that only one solitary slice of cheesecake remained, to be split by 6 tasters.

Consistency: This cake is thick and crumbly with a spongelike texture, particularly on the baked crust.  The cake did not seem to keep well in the cabinet as it was quite dry by the time we tasted it.

Base:  Another sponge base which, like the cake itself had begun to dry out, leaving the cake with no contrast in texture.

Presentation: Plain and simple with a single fresh strawberry to accompany.

Taste:  This cake actually tastes better than it suggests by looking at it.  Not too heavy or sickening, it is a plain New York cheesecake - simple but tasty.  This cake would be best eaten fresh.

Verdict: No crying over this cheesecake (very tenuous link: Don't Cry for me, Argentina = Evita...) but not our best yet.  6/10

Tuesday 9 March 2010

Blind Bakery Testing.

Date: 2/03/10   
  
Venue:  Regular CT member Mieke's An Phu home.

There are many restaurants in the city in which one can enjoy a fine cheesecake but let's not forget that there are also other options available.  Saigon has more than its fair share of bakeries and patisseries that offer an eclectic range of our favourite dessert and as CT members enjoy a bit of variation every now and then, we decided that this week we would do something a little different.

Meike kindly invited us to her lovely home in order to sample a selection of cheesecakes from 4 well-known bakeries around town:  Voelker (Thao Dien, An Phu), Pat-a-Chou (Thao Dien, An Phu), Schneiders (Pasteur D.1) and Tours Les Jours (Hai Ba Trung D.1).  In order to add a little mystery to our otherwise dull lives, testers did not know which cakes were purchased from which bakery.  The selection of cakes looked very impressive, excitement was in the air and spoons were poised ready for action.  The tension mounted.

The results are hereby listed in order of appreciation.

In fourth place is Korean chain, Tours le Jours:  CT members were disappointed to find two creamy sponge cakes being labelled as Cheesecake by the bakery.  Whilst the cakes were very nice, they did not fulfil the criteria of a Cheesecake (the main issue being that they were not made from cheese...) Needless to say, we ate them anyway but will not be giving them a score.

In third place is German Bakery, Schneiders:
These cakes are very heavily decorated and look exquisite, the thick chocolate fudge swirl is particularly tempting.  However, the hardened edges of the cake put CT testers off and whilst the cake is generally tasty, it is nothing special.. 6/10

Taking Second is French pattisserie, Pat-a-Chou:
This cake has a particularly spongelike consistency, to the extent that CT found it difficult to ascertain whether the cake is actually made of cheese.  The general consensus stated that it did actually classify as cheesecake leaves the cheesecake addict feeling somewhat underwhelmed. 7/10

Storming into first place is French pattisserie, Voelker:
  CT testers agreed that this cake really does have it all.  A thick and creamy consistency with a buttery, flaky pastry base.  The cake is an elegant cylindrical shape - larger than most of this shape - and has sophisticated chocolate and shortcake decorations.  The taste is out of this world!  Voelker's cheesecake is one of the most expensive of Saigon's cheesecakes but you get what you pay for. The only thing that lets this cake down is the thickness of the outer crust which had hardened after a day in the chilled cabinets; maybe fresh this would not be the case. 9.5/10

Verdict:  Voelker is Victorious!
An absolutely AMAZING 9.5/10

Friday 5 March 2010

French Fancy

 

Date: 23/02/10
Venue: Givral, Nguyen Hue, D.1

As the majority of CTs tasting sessions of late have taken place in Saigon's more recent coffee shops, we decided that this week we should address the balance and visit a long-standing favourite.

Standing proudly in what is arguably the best possible location in the whole of Saigon, Givral cccupies the corner space on the crossroads of Nguyen Hue and Dong Khoi - where, incredibly, it has been serving fine food and delicacies for over five decades and stands as a testament to Saigon's French Colonial past.  Whilst casually conversing over coffee and cake, diners can enjoy landmark views of the Opera house, the gardens and the Caravelle hotel.  Located conveniently closely to the Rex, Continental and Caravelle hotels, Givral served as a regular meeting place for journalists throughout the war, and still remains a favourite place to catch up on all the latest news today.  Phillip Noyce's 2002 adaptation of Graham Greene novel, 'The Quiet American', even used the restaurant as a location for a scene in the movie.

CT however, was not going to allow the history,or the scenery, to distract us from our important mission - to find Saigon's greatest cheesecake.

Givral offers a wide selection of cakes, tempting customers with a range of 5 or more different cheesecakes.  Somewhat spoilt for choice, CT members eventually settled on a plain New York cheesecake and a chocolate cheesecake.

Consistency:  The Chocolate variety has a firm melt-in-the-mouth texture that avoids being too heavy.  The NY cheesecake is softer and more airy than the chocolate, creating a light and fluffy texture.  The topping could be a little thicker.

Base:  Both cakes have a sponge base, which testers found a little too 'chewy' and felt that it distracts from, rather than compliments, the cheese topping.


Presentation: Both cakes use straightforward and simple chocolate swirl patterns, which in themselves are attractive to the eye but Givral loses marks for the overly flexible plastic spoons given to eat the cakes.

Taste: The chocolate cake offers a pleasant chocolate hit, enough to satisfy most chocoholics and whilst the NY cake has a pleasant vanilla flavouring, neither cake offers that special cheesecake magic that the CT members so ardently seek.

It must be mentioned that, at 28,000vnd a slice, this is the cheapest cheesecake that CT has so far tasted and Givral certainly offers value for your money. 

Verdict:  It may be Saigon's greatest location, but, alas, it's not Saigon's greatest cheesecake.
                                                     Not a bad effort - 7/10

Monday 22 February 2010

Shopper's Delight - CT goes International!

Venue: Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai

As part of the Cheesecake Tuesday Tet Special Event, this taster went international, sampling cheesecake in the hustle and bustle of that shopper's heaven, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. Spoiled for choice on places to sit, relax and 'sugar up' it was decided to find out if there is consistency across the board and went for the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's Oreo Cookie Cheesecake. The Leaf enjoyed great success here in Saigon, but would its Arabian counter part be able to match it?

The cheesecake looked the part. A satisfying layer of Oreo biscuit covered it and its base was thick enough to be substantial but not so thick it distracted from the cake itself. The creamy yet firm looking base promised a 'cheesy yet cakey' experience and this taster was keen to get onto the serious business of the taste test itself.

Alas, disappointment. Whilst many a cheesecake fan would be delighted with its creamy texture and subtle flavours, it was just a tad too creamy for this CTers palette. The base and outer provided a satisfying counter point to the cake itself, with the bitterness of the chocolate biscuit complementing the sweetness of the cheesecake. Whilst the taste was divine, the constistency failed to make a hit with me and in rare event led to a portion of the cheesecake being discarded.

Consistency:  Far too creamy to find a fan in this taster but might appeal to those who prefer softer cake.

Base: A pleasing bitter counterpoint to the cake itself. A perfect chocolate hit.

Presentation: As always with the Bean, it was less is more. Presented on a CBTL plate with no adornments, it looked like it meant business.

Taste: A delight. Consistency aside its flavour was subtle and pleasing.

Verdict:  Be seen at the Bean. 7/10

Tuesday 16 February 2010

Tet Temptations

                                 
Date: 15/02/10 
Venue: Sailing Club
Tran Phu, Nha Trang

Due to the Tet festivities CT members found themselves disbanded and somewhat international this week.  Members should be updating on cheesecake from around the world shortly but first we'll begin with something closer to home.

Despite spending a week lounging luxuriously on a beach, one member took time out to see if the cheesecake of Nha Trang could live up to Saigon's high standards.  With this in mind there was really only one place to go - The Sailing Club.

As the founding location of the Sailing Club chain, Nha Trang offers everything that the Sailing Club has become renowned for: exquisite dining overlooking pure white shores and sapphire seas - but is the cheesecake up to par?

With only one cheesecake on the menu the decision was taken from my hands - White Chocolate Cheesecake it is.

Consistency:  Thick and smooth, the spoon slid through the cheese like a hot knife through butter.  Absolutely divine.

Base:  A traditional buttery digestive base.

Presentation:  Carefully prepared with an attractive passion fruit sauce and topped with succulent strawberries.

Taste: The Sailing Club has certainly hit the mark with this cake.  Real white Belgian chocolate, and lots of it, is used to ensure that this cake really does taste of white chocolate, leaving the taste of the cheese barely discernible.  The sharp tang of the passion fruit compliments the rich, sweet taste of the chocolate.  All was going well but one slice really is too much, leaving a CT member feeling rather sick for some time afterwards. 

Verdict:  This is definitely one to share!
A sickly sweet 7/10

Tuesday 9 February 2010

The Hidden Gem.

Date: 09/02/10

Venue: Centro Cafe
           11-13 Lam Son Square, D.1

After last week's Java debacle, it was with some trepidation that CT headed off this week but, nonetheless, head off we did to the lesser known Centro Cafe. 

Nestled in a small courtyard next to Saigon's Caravelle hotel,  this secluded coffee shop is very easily missed - even by the most discerning cheesecake connoisseur as evidenced by the fact that none of the visiting CT testers had previously visited the establishment.

Battling through busy streets all buzzing with throngs of Honda Waves bustling for an early view of the brightly-coloured, illuminated Tet decorations on Nguyen Hue, Le Loi and Dong Khoi provided an extra challenge in the pursuit of cheesecake but finally the CT team all gathered in the tranquil atmosphere that Centro cafe promotes.  The cafe itself was empty, with shop assisants vastly outnumbering customers as is usual in Vietnam; another fact that instilled a niggling sense of foreboding in CT members - after so many recent successes were we about to encounter a devastating loss?

The chilled dessert counter boasted a number of delicious looking delicacies with 3 cheesecakes on the menu, however the depleted numbers of testers (work meetings and family sickness taking precedence over cheesecake for some members this week) means that only one variety of cheesecake was tested, the invitingly named 'Creamy Cookie Cheesecake'.  So how did it fare?

Consistency: Divinely light and creamy with a soft crumbly texture.  This cheesecake truly melts in the mouth. The filling is interspersed with large and crunchy cookie chunks, providing a delightful contrast of textures.

Base: Wow! For once the base is as good as the filling, consisting of a thick chocolate cookie base. This base has retained a fabulous crunchy texture, making a change from the sometimes soggy biscuit layer of other cheesecakes.

Presentation:  This cake has a gorgeous golden brown baked crust on top giving it a homebaked, rather than mass produced look.  Homely and comforting.

Taste: Zesty but not overpowering.  Definitely lives up to the name 'Creamy Cookies' and left all testers wanting more, rather than being too sickly or heavy.  Good work, Centro!

Verdict: Please, Sir, can I have some more?

An unexpected 9/10.

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Will Gloria be Victorious?

Date: 02/02/10

Venue: Gloria Jean's Coffee
             Dong Khoi, Q.1

CT members were faced with their first cheesecake crisis this week.  Upon entering the chosen desination of the week, 'Java' - home of the divine chocolate kahlua cheesecake - we were shocked to discover that the chilled counter which used to home such a vast collection of chocolatey goodness has disappeared, to be replaced by a meagre dessert specials list.  Oh, how quickly good things come to pass in our fragile world - shame on you, Java!  After what can only be described as a hissy-fit: "No, I do not want a brownie, it is not 'Brownie Tuesday'..." and after a few panic-stricken phone calls to spread the word, we quickly relocated to nearby Gloria Jean's in the hope that the popular US franchise could save the day.

Although Gloria Jean's originally hails from the USA, it established its popularity in Australia before opening branches across Asia.  As with other coffee shops, Gloria Jean's is a common sight around both Hanoi and Saigon with branches in prominent positions such as Dong Khoi and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai to name but a few.  So, after the recent successes of rival chains, Highlands and Coffee Bean - will Gloria be victorious?

In a recent tradition of expanding our tasting selection (as well as our waistlines, no doubt) CT tried three cheesecakes:

Chocolate (C)        
White Chocolate (WC)
Swiss Cheesecake (S)

So, without further ado...

Consistency: Both the white chocolate and the chocolate had a nice firm consistency, holding together nicely throughout.  The cake remained moist despite having been sat in a cabinet all day.  The Swiss cake appeared to fit the description of mousse rather than cheesecake and members found it rather too light and airy, leading to our first ungraded cake as it was felt that it did not fulfil the criteria of a cheesecake and would be more appropriately marketed as a 'Lemon Cake'.

Base: Interestingly GJ has opted for a sponge base for their cheesecakes with both the Swiss and White Chocolate varieties sporting a plain sponge and the chocolate a chocolate base.  The base of the White Choc cake is as thick as the cheesecake layer, CT would have liked more cheese and less cake.  CT members generally felt that a crunchy base is integral to a cheesecake and felt that the sponge was a let down.

Presentation: The cakes look good, it has to be said.  The Swiss variety comes in a small cylindrical shape and is covered in white chocolate shavings - but do not be fooled by a good package!  Both chocolate varieties have a contrasting chocolate decoration, a small but effective measure.

Taste: The White Chocolate has a sweet and pleasant taste but does not necessarily taste of white chocolate, whereas the chocolate cheesecake delivers a pure hit of cocoa strong enough to satisfy any chocoholic and fares very well for being our first completely chocolatey, chocolate cheesecake.  (That last sentence has got to be given credit for mentioning the word 'chocolate' so many times!). Unfortunately for the Swiss cheesecake it was decided that the lemon filling is too overpowering and the cheesecake not up to CT's exceptionally high cheesecake standards.

Verdict: No longer fitting in our jeans.   

White Chocolate: a spongy 6/10
Chocolate: a calorific 8/10
Swiss: doesn't make the grade.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Highland Hype

Date: 26/01/10

Venue: Highlands Coffee
The Manor, Nguyen Huu Canh. Q.Binh Thanh

With branches in almost every large apartment block, business and office in the city - Metro, Saigon Centre and Diamond Plaza to name but a few - Highlands Coffee really is the Vietnamese answer to Starbucks and until relatively recently the Highlands dynasty monopolised Saigon's coffee culture.

The first branch appeared in 2002 at the Metropolitan building in HCMC and was the brainchild of Viet Kieu, David Thai; no doubt inspired by his Seattle upbringing.  Determined to bring an appreciation of the increasingly-popular coffee shop idea to his home country of Vietnam - a country that still remains free of Starbucks itself - Thai worked hard, initially selling packaged coffee to hotels and restaurants before opening a chain of coffee shops in both HCMC and Hanoi.

Walk around the bustling streets of Saigon, Hanoi and even the smaller towns and before long you will stumble across one of Highland's 70 branches packed with giggling college students, families and bemused travellers soaking up the ambience.

Team Members of CT decided that it is high-time to see how Highlands Coffee is faring given the sudden influx of rival chains: Gloria Jeans, 'The Bean' and NYDC.  So with that goal in mind we headed off to The Manor to see if Highlands can keep the competitors at bay.

Highlands certainly offer a good choice for the cheesecake lover and so three varieties were tested:

Vietnamese Coffee (VC) 
Passionfruit (P)
Caramel (C).


Consistency:
VC - a two layer cake.  The upper coffee flavoured layer has a light mousselike texture and the bottom layer of cheesecake is smooth and creamy.
P - a rich, thick and crumbly texture.  A little dry after being in the glass cabinet all day.
C - incredibly light and mousselike.

Base:
VC - a plain biscuit base
P - a thick chocolate biscuit base
C - same as the passionfruit.
CT members agreed that the chocolate biscuit base added extra flavour and interest.

Presentation:
VC - The most attractive of the 3 with its two layers, one rich brown coffee and the other a white cheesecake layer.  White and dark chocolate swirls adorn the top of the cake.
P - Very plain and simple, a slight sheen on the top indicated that maybe it had been out of a fridge for too long.
C - An attractive cylindrical shaped cake makes a nice change from the usual cheesecake wedge slice.  The rich dark brown colour of the caramel topping and the chocolate base contrast nicely with the light brown middle section.

Taste:
VC - The non-coffee drinker of the group found the taste of the top layer strongly overbearing but the hardened coffee fans found the taste mild and complimentary to the bottom layer.
P - This cake had a tangy fruity taste, making a refreshing change from chocolate and plain cheesecakes.
C - The thin caramel topping has a strong taste that beautifully compliments the airy cheesecake beneath.  CT tester said "I'm disappointed because I have finished it."


Verdict:  Highlands is still fighting fit.
VC - A healthy 7/10
P - A hearty 8/10
C - A phenomenal 9/10

Thursday 21 January 2010

NYDC - Once is not enough

This intrepid CT -er made a return trip to NYDC following the team's successful outing there. This time the cheesecake of choice was 'Max's Oreo Cheesecake'. Like its fellows, the Big O and the Goldmine, this confection was everything a cheesecake fan could wish for and more. Its texture is an excellent coupling of velvety cake and creamy cheese (it is indeed cheesy and cakey!) and like NYDC's other offerings, full of flavour, rich enough to satisfy the most hard core of cheesecake purists, yet light enough that it doesn't become sickly. The base, as the name suggest is made of Oreo cookie as is the outside and the topping. Despite the topping being only a thin layer it is more than satisfying even for the chocoholics.

The Verdict - NYDC raises the bar yet again.

Sweet Streets?


Date: 19/01/10

Venue: Original CT member, Rachael's delightful An Phu home.

Cheesecake supplied by 'Sweet Streets' at Annam Gourmet Store, Hai Ba Trung Q.1


Following hot on the chocolatey heels of our current favourite, NYDC was always going to offer somewhat of a challenge so CT headed into District 2 for something slightly different this week - cheesecake and WiiFit.  What better way to enjoy a huge slab of cheesecake than by burning off the calories on the hula hoops afterwards?  The cheesecake was a takeaway effort provided by 'Sweet Streets' and sold in the District 1 Annam Gourmet Store, whose selection of cakes also include 'Harvest Baking'.  Unfortunately; efforts to find out information about 'Sweet Streets' have so far drawn a blank so we shall proceed with the testing.  So, can 'Sweet Streets' compete?

Consistency:  Whereas some cheesecakes have a nice cake-like consistency, this cheesecake is very heavy on the cheese which seems to be of the Philadelphia variety.  (CT is only a group of people who like cheesecake, we do not claim to be food experts and so we apologise if we make any errors in identifying food groups).

Base:  The base is the strong point of this cheesecake, reminding tasters of the good old oaty flapjack.

Presentation:  The cake has a glossy sheen that makes it look rather, dare I say, plastic?!  Other than that it is difficult to comment on the presentation of a takeaway cheesecake, other than it looked very nice on Rachael's plates.

Taste: A pleasant taste but the cheesecake becomes sickly after a while.

Verdict:  Seconds are not likely.
An average 4/10

Wednesday 13 January 2010

New York, New York.


Date: 12/01/10

Venue: NYDC
Nguyen Du. Q.1

Another newbie in Saigon, this is more than just a coffee shop. The acronym NYDC stands for New York Dessert Cafe and desserts are certainly their speciality. Contrary to what the name suggests, the company was originally founded in 1995 in Singapore by an American husband and wife team. Aside from desserts, NYDC also offers a varied menu offering soups, pastas, sandwiches, burgers and salads - at reasonable prices.                                                   

However, far more exciting to the CT team than the extensive food menu is the mindblowing dessert menu, which really does have to be seen to be believed! Page after page of chocolate mud pies, brownies, cheesecakes, sundaes, pies and tarts; it will certainly please even the sweetest tooth. Stocks do tend to run a little low later in the evenings and you should maybe expect that despite their 6 page dessert menu, they may well only have what is on display in the cabinet. This is Vietnam after all...

The location could not be more convenient; right on the corner of Nguyen Du and Dong Khoi it is perfect for putting down those heavy bags during a Saturday shopping spree and enjoying an afternoon dessert.

So, how did NYDC stand up to the scrutiny of the CT team? Two cheesecakes were tested (this in itself was a very difficult decision as there were so many to choose from);

The Big O - New York cheesecake topped with a thick layer of chocolate fudge mousse and an Oreo base. (See top picture)


Goldmine, New York Cheesecake on an Oreo base with a chocolate topping. (bottom picture)

Consistency: Thick, creamy texture. Calories taste good!!

Base: Oreo base was not too thick and was a big hit with all the tasters.

Presentation: The cake speaks for itself. Deliciously simple.

Taste: Heaven on a plate, or as one tester put it 'Cheesy and Cakey'!!  What more could you ask for in a cake?

The CT team is a big fan of NYDC. It should also be mentioned that they offer a large range of yummy shakes and smoothies.


Verdict: Leave the diet at the door.
An amazing 9/10

The Coffee Bean Reigns Supreme!


Date: 05/01/10


Venue: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Le Thanh Ton, Dist.1

The first Cheesecake Tuesday of the new decade certainly turned out to be a great start to the year.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is a newcomer to Vietnam and is certainly offering stiff competition for the likes of longstanding Vietnamese favourite 'Highlands Coffee'. The company was founded in California in 1963 and, according to their website, it is affectionately nicknamed 'The Bean' by its regulars.

Prominently standing on the corner of Le Thanh Ton and Thai Van Lung (Q1) - a space so long occupied by Korean burger chain 'Lotteria', The Bean is easily accessible for residents of Q.1, Q.2 and Q.Binh Thanh (where the current CT members are from!) but with new branches springing up all over town (Dong Khoi, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai) there is sure to be a number of outlets in every district before long.

Comfy chairs create a cosy ambience and unlike other coffee establishments around noisy Saigon, the music level is set at a comfortable level and the A/C not set to arctic conditions (let's face it, we all left our home countries to enjoy the warmth!). The perfect setting for cheesecake...

Service was a little slow and there was some confusion between hot coffee and iced coffee but we'll put that down to it being early days.

Members of CT tasted two types: Chocolate Swirl (top picture) and Cappucino (bottom picture) - although the decision was a difficult one to make as all the cakes looked mouthwateringly delicious (must go back to check out the chocolate fudge cake).

Consistency: Light & creamy.

Base: The thin pastry base was a hit with the testers, made a nice change from the usual biscuit base.

Presentation: Chocolate swirls through the cheesecake looked very inviting. Cappucino Swirl's dusted cocoa powder diamonds gave it a professional look.

Taste: Cappucino Cheesecake was well appreciated. Chocolate Swirl was a nice cheesecake but didn't quite deliver the chocolate promise. It would work well if marketed as a plain cheesecake.

Verdict: Watch out Highlands
an impressive 7/10