Cloud and Crumb, a small home bakery in San Mateo, is run by Kat Liu out of her apartment. Cloud and Crumb serves freshly baked sweet treats that blend traditional Asian flavors with classic French pastries. The menu changes monthly, and there are Cloud and Crumb pop-ups at local events near San Mateo.
Hojicha Mochi Cookie ($20) 6/10
Topped with a TCHO Choco Blanco and cashew drizzle, the Hojicha Mochi Cookie looks the most promising out of all the desserts. Biting into the cookie, the mochi almost immediately slides right off the top, leaving a slimy texture in the center of the cookie. The cookie itself has a crispy edge and soft center, and the perfect amount of sweetness. Despite this, the mochi doesn’t add much to the dessert, instead leaving the dish feeling like two desserts squished together.
Triple Black Sesame Cookie ($20) 7/10
Coming fresh from the oven, the triple black sesame cookie has a black sesame toffee center and is topped with black sesame seeds. The toasty outside and warm black sesame filling do not disappoint. The center of the cookie is warm and gooey, while the black sesame seeds add a nice crunch to the outside of the cookie, making it the perfect balance of richness and texture.
Matcha Madeleine ($10) 2/10
The Matcha Madeleine is a total miss. A fairly simple treat, yet it does not live up to the expectations. At first glance, it appears extremely pale, while the madeleine itself is dry and chalky. The inside of the cake is flavorless, and the aftertaste that followed was nothing short of bitter tea.
Black Sesame Madeleine ($10) 3/10
The Black Sesame Madeleine puts a unique spin on the classic madeleine. However, the treat tastes similar to a plain vanilla madeleine except for its slight black sesame flavor and its darker color. The cake lacks moisture while simultaneously overpowering taste buds with its amount of sweetness. Overall, the madeleine fails to balance flavor and texture, failing to deliver the rich nuttiness expected from black sesame.
