Seocho cake shop, cake slices with a hidden cherry: Chef Cho

Where is Chef Cho Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam?

Chef Cho (쉐프조) is inside Sweet Park, the dessert section in the basement of Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam at the Express Bus Terminal. I knew the basement of Shinsegae Gangnam was lined with famous restaurants, but

I had no idea they sold so many desserts and pastries that they'd even set up a corner called Sweet Park...

Dizzying desserts stood side by side with no borders between them, and the one that caught my eye most was Chef Cho, introduced as one of the "four heavenly kings of cakes."

What whole cakes does Chef Cho sell, and for how much?

The Chef Cho Gangnam showcase had whole cakes like Strawberry Mango Flower ₩53,000, Real Mango Rose ₩56,000, Chocolate Whole Strawberry ₩53,000, Pistachio Forest ₩56,000 and Pure Milk Strawberry Dome ₩39,000. First up, Strawberry Mango Flower (₩53,000).

Real Mango Rose (₩56,000). This is not the neighborhood-bakery birthday cake you picture first. A classy cake with fruit looks like it could bring huge happiness all by itself.

Chocolate Whole Strawberry (₩53,000). Besides the usual strawberry or mango fruit cakes,

Pistachio Forest (₩56,000). There's even a pistachio cake, and I thought, wow, so there's a cake like this too... it felt like my whole cake world widened.

Pure Milk Strawberry Dome (₩39,000). There were big cakes, but also a cute, adorable strawberry dome cake,

Can you buy Chef Cho cake slices and roll cakes?

Besides whole cakes, Chef Cho Gangnam also sells rolls and slices, like the fruit-filled melon crepe roll (₩14,800) and the Real Strawberry Fresh Cream slice (₩9,800). Here's the fruit-filled melon crepe roll (₩14,800).

Real Strawberry Fresh Cream slice (₩9,800). Since they sell rolls and slices too, it was a welcome option for customers like me who wanted to try a variety of flavors.

I picked out slices of the cakes I was curious about and had them packed to go. They can be put in small individual boxes, so it seemed great that you can give them as a gift without any special anniversary or pressure.

Chef Cho slices, packed to fit their size.

How does the fruit-filled melon crepe roll taste?

Chef Cho's fruit-filled melon crepe roll (₩14,800) is packed with fresh cream inside a thin crepe, with chunks of melon and mango that burst with juice as you bite. I wondered how delicious the melon and mango pieces peeking out between the cream would be.

From the luxurious look, I was also expecting it to match the fresh cream roll I had in Fukuoka.

So much cream that the thin crepe barely holds it together. Sprinkling tiny flecks of gold leaf on top was a nice touch too.

I cut off half the roll, tough-guy style, and popped it in my mouth in one go. Through the fluffy cream, the melon and mango pieces got cut up just right and squirted their juice.

This is why I can't give up this pleasure even though I know full well a blood sugar spike is coming.

What is the texture of the Real Strawberry Fresh Cream slice?

Chef Cho's Real Strawberry Fresh Cream slice (₩9,800) is a cake with cloud-like cream softly layered between pudding-soft sponge. Isn't strawberry fresh cream the first signature slice that comes to mind? I've always been very into it, ever since my Daegu days, when I went to places known for good strawberry cake, like 'Coffee *ga,'

and I'd diligently hunt down any place said to be delicious.

Cloud-like fresh cream is softly stacked between the fluffy, pudding-like sponge.

I don't think anyone could be unsatisfied with a cake like this.

I polished off a slice right on the spot.

Is there really a cherry inside the Dark Chocolate Forest slice?

Chef Cho's Dark Chocolate Forest slice (₩9,800) hides a cherry in the chocolate cream of the lower layer. I felt like I could more or less predict this chocolate cake, and sure enough, the sweet chocolate seeping through the fluffy texture kept me digging in.

The special kick, I think, was the cherry inside the chocolate cream in the bottom layer. Who would have guessed there'd be a cherry in there? The cherry's rich aroma and tartness blended into an unexpected freshness.

How is the Pistachio Forest slice?

Chef Cho's Pistachio Forest slice (₩11,000) also has a cherry in the lower layer, so you get rich, dense pistachio together with fresh cherry. This cherry was inside the pistachio slice too, so I ate it feeling quite delighted.

On top of the pistachio's richness, the bottom layer holds a tangy cherry, so I think it brings out the charm of pistachio really well.

Are Chef Cho slices good as a gift?

Chef Cho Gangnam's slices come in individual boxes, so they work for an anniversary cake or a light gift. I guess to survive in Shinsegae Gangnam's Sweet Park, you have to be at least this good. For an anniversary cake, or when you simply want to give a small gift, handing over a quality cake would surely make the recipient really happy.