Belgian man falls in love with Taiwan, opens a dessert shop in Taiwan — bringing his hometown flavors along

Text and photos byXiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

Ever since ARROW TREE went downhill, my go-to trio of favorite dessert spots in Taipei had been missing one piece. That was until I discovered this touching “lion” in a hard-to-find alley... Now, let me share with you this wonderful place that has become my new favorite and one I’d gladly feature in a book.

It was hard to find because there were so many winding alleys around — none of them straight. But luckily, Google Maps didn’t mess up this time. After getting out at Zhongshan Elementary School Station, I followed the “blue dot” through several alleys I’d never walked down before and finally found it (teary-eyed).

The entrance, just like at many dessert shops, had a blackboard with the day’s “cakes” written in white. The wooden stairs bore clear paw prints of a “lion.”

As soon as you walk in, you’re greeted by a big lion staring at you — it almost felt like he was saying, “Welcome to Africa” (laughs). The dining space isn’t large but has the warmth of home. I’m not sure how long the shop has been open, but over the afternoon I noticed quite a few regulars returning. When I introduced the place to friends later, they said weekends can get so busy that it’s sometimes hard to get a seat.

The furniture in the shop is said to have been bought by the Belgian owner from flea markets in Europe. I have to say, shipping it probably cost more than the actual tables and chairs.

There are wooden-framed glass panels resembling grandma’s house decor, with a “lion” glaring right at you.

At the back of the restaurant is a semi-open kitchen where a handsome Belgian chef is focused on making cakes.

The walls are covered with lots of vintage-style black-and-white photos. Out of curiosity, I asked about them, and it turned out they were photos of the Belgian owner’s family — including a picture of his parents on their first blind date and photos of him growing up. It was really interesting.

By the way,the owner’s wife is a native Taiwanese. They met online, and the Belgian hunk fell for her. He left his homeland to come to Taiwan and work hard for her.But apparently, he also loves the warmth and human touch of Taiwanese culture.

The shop offers a selection of different handmade cakes every day, most with a Belgian-European flair — a taste of homesickness and a way to share it.

In addition to the cakes in the fridge, there’s also one or two types kept at room temperature, like this “German Apple Pie.”

For drinks, there’s mainly coffee, black tea, floral tea, sparkling water, mineral water, and classic Belgian chocolate milk.

The first one is the classic Belgian chocolate milk I ordered, and the second is the rose sparkling water ordered by the person on the right. The former was pretty good, though just like what you’d expect. The latter, however, I liked even more.

Meringue lemon cheesecake. I think most people have had some version of this kind of cake, but this one is a little different. The meringue on top melts the moment you bite into it, almost like light whipped cream. The middle layer of fresh cheese has a delicate hint of lemon zest and a rich cheesy flavor — even eating just the lemon cheese part on its own is delicious. The lemon sauce at the bottom has a sourness that makes you pucker slightly, but it pairs perfectly with the cheese and meringue. The outer crust isn’t very thick and has a slightly chewy, wafer-like texture. This first dessert completely wowed us.

Strawberry vanilla cake. At first glance, I thought the texture might be a bit dry, but when I took a bite, it felt moist, almost like a “warm cake,” with the added softness of sponge cake. The whipped cream on top adds a smooth start, and the vanilla sauce mixed with strawberry bits in the middle is the soul of this cake. It’s not mind-blowing, but it’s definitely delicious.

The Belgian berry chocolate cake recommended by the owner’s wife. It also looks dry at first, but it’s actually okay once you take a bite. Though it’s still a bit dry overall, when eaten together with the berry cheesecake filling in the middle, it’s just right. The chocolate is just a little too sweet for my taste, but I can’t deny that the chocolate flavor really complements the tartness of the berries — especially in terms of taste.

Rose cheesecake. I used to hate cakes with “rose” flavor because the scent always seemed fake and cloying. But ever since I tried Pierre Hermé’s rose lychee macaron in Japan, my view changed. And Lion Dessert is one of only three rose-flavored desserts I actually dare to love (another being one I had last week by Tsujiguchi Seiji). The rose flavor here isn’t sweet or cloying at all, and the richness of the cheese isn’t diminished either. The rose sauce in the middle adds a wonderful touch. The crispy wafer base at the bottom adds another layer of texture beyond just “melting.”

Next is the one I loved most and highly recommend from the three desserts we had that day — the “Blueberry Earl Grey” cheesecake. First, I have to say I absolutely love the cheese in Lion Dessert’s cheesecakes... Possibly my favorite since the [Zhongshan Junior High Station] Fromage cheesecake. I love its richness and the slightly sticky, tongue-coating texture, and of course, the incredibly fragrant and sweet taste of the cheese. What’s most amazing about this particular cheesecake is the charming “Earl Grey” aftertaste. When you cut into it, the blueberry sauce about to drip down joins in as you take a bite. The sweet-sourness of the blueberry sauce hits first, followed quickly by the rich, sweet aroma of the cheese. Just as you’re savoring that, the “Earl Grey” fragrance gently emerges, also easing the potential heaviness of the cheese. Truly, this is an insanely delicious cheesecake.

Because we all loved the first three desserts so much, the person on the right insisted on adding her favorite apple pie. When it arrived, the owner’s wife said they use slightly tart and crisp “green apples,” topped with essential cinnamon powder, a generous amount of roasted almond slices, and a small dollop of freshly whipped, slightly warm cream.

The person on the right, who couldn’t stop eating, declared it the best “apple pie” she’d ever had after finishing it. Its brilliance lies in the contrast between the super-crispy edge crust and the almond slices, which offer different yet harmonious textures of “crisp.” The apple slices bring a third, uniquely moist and crisp layer. In terms of flavor, the apples have a lovely sweet-tart taste, paired with a tender, flavorful filling — it’s seriously delicious. Adding a bit of freshly whipped cream enhances the smoothness and milky sweetness, which is just perfect. And lastly, I must mention the highlight of this “apple pie”: it’s “sweet without being cloying.” Eaten warm, it’s insanely good.

By this point, we were already full, but seeing other dishes on the menu besides desserts, we got curious and ordered a “savory pie” to cleanse our palates — you know, even non-sweet things can get tiring after a while XD.

After waiting at least 20 minutes, the “savory pie” arrived. At first glance, you could tell it was special. And indeed, the taste was unique — the proportion and texture of the “egg” were much higher than in any savory pie I’d had before. It was a bit like a slightly sweet “fried egg,” but its thickness and moist texture were unmatched by fried eggs. The salty diced ham and the slightly burnt aroma of the cheese on top added different flavor layers beyond just “eggy.” It’s a relatively refreshing and not-greasy savory pie.

And then... just as we were about to leave, the person on the right insisted on ordering this rather unusual-looking meat sauce sandwich... Alright, I admit there was a story worth writing about here XD. And it was only because we ordered this extra dish that I ended up becoming friends with the owner’s wife... because no one else eats like we do XD.

Everyone’s had spaghetti bolognese, right? But pouring the meat sauce onto toast and topping it with a half-boiled egg? Yeah, it looks pretty indulgent, doesn’t it?

It's a bit of a pity that the yolk of this egg isn't very big, and it's slightly overcooked, making the yolk a little difficult to flow out XD. As for the meat sauce, it looks thick but is actually quite refreshing—the sourness of the tomato is fully brought out, which is very charming. The aroma of the meat sauce is present without being too "salty." Just as a meat sauce, it's really delicious. Finally, I found the bottom layer a bit hard, though it was described as crispy bread on the right side...

While waiting boredom for the final dish, we discovered the "Banana Strawberry Fantaisie." Not knowing what kind of dessert it was, we asked and were told it’s a special dessert course that’s only made after you order it... Before we could even ask, the owner’s wife told us to come back next time for it (laughs).

Lion Desserts:
No. 23, Lane 3, Alley 115, Section 2, Zhongshan N. Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02 2531 8931
Business Hours: 10:00 - 21:00 (Closed on Mondays)

"Xiao Hu's Dream-Catching Web"
If "eating" is just about filling your stomach, then "food" would be far too boring~~~