Exploding fruit tarts and milk candy cake rolls—a “magnetic” dessert full of surprises

▲ The huge amount of fruit surprises many netizens, with the fig tart featured in the center of the photo. (Photo/Screen capture fromilluminé by GAOFan page, same below.)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Fruit is a common basic ingredient in cakes, and many pastry chefs take fresh fruits as their theme, creating unique flavors through creative twists. Located near Zhongshan MRT Station in Taipei, illuminé by GAO offers not only a variety of exquisite fruit tarts but also an astonishing amount of fruit on its desserts. Additionally, the ultra-popular milk candy cake roll, with its refreshing and sweet taste, has driven netizens wild.

▲ The shop creates delicious fruit tarts based on seasonal fruits.

The shop uses seasonal fruits, which are cut into pieces and generously scattered on the sweet tarts, resulting in colorful, fruit-loaded creations. Examples include the green grape and blueberry fruit tart, double-layer strawberry whipped cream cake, and grapefruit fruit tart. Among them, thefig tart enjoys extremely high popularity. Netizens say that biting into the sweet-and-sour fig reveals an overflowing custard cream inside, and the base of the tart also hides fruit jam, offering a multi-layered and richly flavored experience.

▲ The ultra-popular milk candy cake roll (left), and fruit tart platter (right).

In addition, the shop’s signature milk candy cake roll uses Japanese Nisshin flour to create a golden-yellow cake that is fluffy yet maintains a delicate texture. It is filled with plenty of French Isigny whipped cream, sweet milk candy sauce, and nuts, with diners also getting a taste of tiny bits of crushed milk candy.

The name “illuminé” in illuminé by GAO carries meanings such as attraction and radiance, expressing the idea that“delicious desserts can brighten everyone’s day.”The owner originally worked in industrial design but later became a pastry chef. The shop does not have a fixed menu—the offerings depend entirely on the owner’s mood of the day. There are currently no seats available, so visitors need to make reservations by phone. Moreover, if the owner receives a large number of orders, the shop may close for the day to focus on baking. To avoid a wasted trip, it’s recommended that customers check the fan page before visiting.

illuminé by GAO
Phone: 02-2550-3515
Address: No. 43-1, Chifeng Street, Datong District, Taipei City