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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the quality of Patisserie Valerie is pretty dire these days

94 replies

DyslexicScientist · 04/12/2015 12:36

It used to be such a fabulous cake shop, they expanded a bit and were still good. They've expanded hugely and well done on that, but the quality is nothing like it used to be. I've had better stuff from mc café s in the content.

I was tempted to buy their yule log, but even though it looks good and costs 30, I don't think it will be all that.

Anyone else noticed it go downhill massively?

OP posts:
josephwrightofderby · 04/12/2015 14:35

Is the breakfast eggs that are really cunningly disguised cakes and sausages that are really cunningly disguised cakes and beans that are actually chocolate covered cocoa beans??

If not I AM NOT INTERESTED.

I would still buy cakes to take away AS WELL.

Mmmmmmmm, caaaaaaaaaake. Grin

mrsjanedoe · 04/12/2015 14:35

it's such a disappointing place.

Too stodgy, cheap taste. I wonder how long before they start closing down. If they are still successful, some people must like their products, but I really don't.

howabout · 04/12/2015 14:35

YANBU
Sagnes in Marylebone was never the same after PV took over - used to be my very favourite place for brunch Sad

nowirehangers · 04/12/2015 14:37

there was a thread on exactly this topic a week or so ago ... everyone was down on PV but then I read at the weekend they're expanding even further. Most odd.

wasonthelist · 04/12/2015 14:37

It's been my experience that there's an inverse relationship between how good a dessert looks and how good it tastes

Mine too, and for this reason and many others, I haven't found a cafe to top Austin's Department Store in Derry/Londonderry. Best kept secret in the universe.

knickernicker · 04/12/2015 14:38

Isn't it owned by Druckers now? Which is bizarre. You'll know what I mean if you're a Brummie

BarbaraofSeville · 04/12/2015 14:39

Envy Envy Envy at the school trip to Slatterys. I hope she brings you a gift.

But thanks for the reminder I must pop in next time I'm passing.

BarbaraofSeville · 04/12/2015 14:42

I think the problem is that most people have very low expectations food wise and are happy to eat crap. Just look at the shite quality produced by some of the country's most popular food outlets.

schrodcat · 04/12/2015 14:42

YANBU. Pat Val in Covent Garden used to do a really good fried breakfast (for some reason, probably to do with my slightly builder-ish tastes, I never went for the cakes). I went back about 18 months ago and the breakfast was awful. Also, the loos were smelly. Ah well, you move on.

Betty's, on the other hand, is ... everything. BrianCox, give them another chance if you feel able! Again, it is the breakfast I like, but I have bought their fondant fancies and they were good too. Pray God they never expand down South.

MovemberSucks · 04/12/2015 14:43

It's a 'thing' with small but good quality brands I find. Someone with passion and skill makes a thing and it's beautiful/delicious/smells gorgeous because they use the best ingredients and care about details. Local people enjoy it and they prosper even though not making huge profits because the cost of high quality ingredients.

Then they either expand a bit or get a niche spot in a supermarket and their name is more widely known, and people who appreciate quality buy their stuff.

Eventually, sometimes soon, sometimes after decades or even generations, they sell the company to a larger company. The large company initially keeps things as they are so that the public is reassured that the quality will remain. Then, within a couple of years, they expand the product and cut the quality of the ingredients to maximise profits while trading on the good name. Eventually people will realise that the product has become no better than the cheaper stuff, and they find themselves a new, niche producer instead. Even if the product goes out of production because it's lost its good name, the large company will have made huge profits from it in the meantime.

This has happened with Cadburys, Green & Blacks, Covent Garden Soups, and loads of others.

ohtheholidays · 04/12/2015 14:47

Our local one is really good,we've had lunch there,breakfast,afternoon tea,bought cakes to bring home and we've ordered 4 birthday cakes from there so far and they were all lovely to look at and tasted great.

I really hope the one near us doesn't go down hill.

BarbaraofSeville · 04/12/2015 14:49

For someone who has never actually been to Patisserie Valerie, I have an awful lot to say on the matter.

It sounds to me like they are the Thorntons of the cake shop world. Used to be naice luxury products but are now cheap shite trading on past glory.

BreconBeBuggered · 04/12/2015 14:50

I agree that it's become dire. I kind of like that. It means I can drool over delicious-looking cakes and walk away without being tempted to buy into the disappointment. It's a bit shitty if you really want a decent bit of cake, granted, but I eat far too much already.

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 04/12/2015 14:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Groovee · 04/12/2015 14:57

The only time I went my cake was frozen Confused.

hypercalifragilistic · 04/12/2015 15:00

I am glad it's not just me.

It's such a shame, it's a totally different shop from a few years ago. It's awful. Even looking at the website, the cakes are less appealing, drowning in creme.

Compare the photos with the ones from Paul or Laduree, I know where I order my cakes from!

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 04/12/2015 15:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ohtheholidays · 04/12/2015 15:09

Mermaid GrinI was going to write not all in one day.

I'm one of the slowest eaters ever.It would have taken me a good few days to get through all of that.

MrsMillions · 04/12/2015 15:10

I went off PV when they replaced the proper French style chocolate eclairs, filled with chocolate creme pat, with British style ones filled with whipped cream. Every supermarket sells those.

AgnesDiPesto · 04/12/2015 15:11

I don't live in London anymore but top cake shops were Louis in Hampstead (as kids we always used to ask for the domino cakes with the highest number to get the most chocolate), Konditor & Cook (glad to hear its still nice) and Bachmanns near Hampton Court - well worth trip over river. Now I live near several bettys and am indeed overweight as their mince pies (warm with brandy butter) are just too yum.

Loftslag · 04/12/2015 15:19

Louis is still great, though the cakes have shrunk. PV is dire. I haven't eaten there since I was served a frozen eclair, which became a melted eclair once they'd whisked it off to be microwaved.

vindscreenviper · 04/12/2015 15:31

Reading this thread is making me want a Betty's Fat Rascal NOW!!!!!

PurpleDaisies · 04/12/2015 15:32

Oh god I love their fat rascals.

vindscreenviper · 04/12/2015 15:35

I just checked that I have whole almonds in the cupboard - result, I'm going to make some for tea tonight Grin

Arcadia · 04/12/2015 15:38

Yanbu have not been there for ages though as friend's sister who worked at our local one said the stuff, even pastries, were not freshly baked. Paul's on the other hand ... Mmm ...

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