Limited-time only, never to be tasted again – CJSJ pop-up at Regent unveils 8 exclusive pastries

▲"Temperature" plated dessert.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

CJSJ is a renowned dessert shop from Taichung that has recently sparked heated discussions on social media. From December 9 to December 31, it will have a pop-up at the Secret Garden and Regnet Gift Shop of Regent Hotel, with advance reservations available. CJSJ is offering 8 exclusive Christmas handmade pastries for Regent. Executive Chef Soriano Joaquin revealed that these 8 items are only available at Regent and will no longer be available once the pop-up ends.


▲These sugar crystals take over 36 hours to form.

The 8 Christmas handmade pastries in CJSJ’s pop-up are inspired by multi-layered desserts, including the snowman-shaped “Snowman,” the race car-shaped chocolate — “RJ Style,” the “Fungus” and “Temperature” plated desserts, all of which are sold at the Secret Garden. The other four are part of the “Regent x CJSJ Christmas Pastry Gift Box” available at Regnet Gift Shop, featuring combinations of orange, strawberry, fir, and cocoa beans.

Among them, the “cold” component of the “Temperature” plated dessert boasts a stunning crystalline appearance, but it is actually the most labor-intensive item among all the desserts. Executive Chef Soriano Joaquin explained that they first create a solid spherical shape using cocoa butter, then coat the sphere with sugar, followed by soaking it in syrup. After more than 36 hours, beautiful crystals form. The temperature is then raised to over 30 degrees Celsius to melt the cocoa butter, resulting in a hollow and exquisite sugar crystal structure. This is just the outer shell, after which a lychee mousse filling is injected.


▲Race car-shaped chocolate — “RJ Style.”

Soriano Joaquin mentioned that since this isn’t his usual environment, the failure rate for the sugar crystals is as high as 80%. With an extra week to get accustomed to the space, he believes the failure rate could be reduced to around 20%. Although the “Temperature” plated dessert won’t be available in the future, Soriano Joaquin said he plans to use this technique to develop new flavor desserts, which friends in Taichung may have the chance to try.

Pricing details
Snowman: NT$480 + 10% per serving (includes one designated beverage).
RJ Style: NT$480 + 10% per serving (includes one designated beverage).
Fungus: NT$480 + 10% per serving (includes one designated beverage).
Temperature plated dessert: NT$680 + 10% per serving (includes one designated beverage).
Regent x CJSJ Christmas Pastry Gift Box: NT$1,280, with 30 sets available daily.


▲"Fir" from the “Regent x CJSJ Christmas Pastry Gift Box.”


▲"Fungus."


▲"Snowman."