In the FoodEEs series, El Estoque staff members take on different food establishments, reviewing the menu items based on taste, price and authenticity.
As a small business, Horizon Bakery features a humble but visually appealing selection of desserts. The bakery self-proclaims that it specializes in “light and airy desserts,” with much of the menu including various kinds of cakes and other sweets, most of which have a cream component, and all decorated in unique ways. With a white color scheme, the interior of the bakery is minimalistically chic, and from the Jellycat plushies and plant decor to the natural lighting that streams in from the expansive windows, the storefront is picture perfect. Similarly, the simplistic packaging of the sweets embodies the clean aesthetic that the store has curated.
Matcha and Sesame Mochi Balls ($14.68)
Photo | Alexandra Qiu
Subtly showcasing the bakery’s East Asian heritage, the Matcha and Sesame Mochi Balls are definitely a unique find. Coming in a five-piece set with two distinct flavors, the variety prevents the taste from becoming too monotonous. The matcha cream is faintly sweetened and extremely fragrant, pairing well with the earthy taste of sesame. In contrast, the chocolate cream was a bit sweeter, but the taste of chocolate was diluted, if not masked by this sweetness. Additionally, for what faint chocolate flavor there is, the taste leans artificial rather than authentic. However, its saving grace was the chocolate crunch within the filling, which added a variety of texture — the only enrichment to the one dimensional flavor. Although both types of cream filling added flavor to the mochi balls and were undeniably rich, the same richness quickly becomes sickening with each bite.
Despite how they look, the mochi balls are structurally weak due to the soft cream filling. The thickness of the mochi is also inconsistent, only exacerbating the structural instability with weak points at some spots and lumps of mochi dough in others. Even though the mochi skin was chewy, it was ultimately too thin to cut through the intense flavors of the interior. When it feels as if you’re straight up eating cream filling, it’s no wonder why the richness becomes overwhelming so fast.
RATING: 2/5
Pistachio Raspberry Basque ($11.98)
Photo | Maahi Dev
The Pistachio Raspberry Basque gives a strong first impression with visually appealing, vibrant pink and green layers of raspberry and pistachio. Along with this bold color palette, both the flavors present carry an authentic taste and the cake is topped with pistachio bits that add a satisfying crunch, complementing the overall soft, fluffy texture and smooth frosting. While the pistachio bits do add that nice textural dynamic, more of them would have made the experience even better. The sweetness is well-balanced because the pistachio neutralizes the parts that are too sweet, and the raspberry adds a fresh balance of tartness. As for the flavors together, they surprisingly work well with the pistachio, coming through rich and earthy, while the raspberry avoids tasting overly artificial. However, the pistachio flavor does tend to dominate at times, overpowering the raspberry in certain bites. The cake itself is quite dense and heavy due to the excessive nut butter, growing with each bite. Overall, despite these drawbacks, the smooth texture and complementary flavors make the Pistachio Raspberry Basque worth trying.
RATING: 3.5/5
Taro Salted Egg Yolk ($12.98)
Photo | Maahi Dev
The Taro Salted Egg Yolk is one of Horizon Bakery’s signature dishes, showcasing distinct layers of sponge cake, salted egg yolk, taro and meat floss. Immediately, the taro flavor comes through prominently with a natural, well-balanced sweetness that doesn’t overwhelm. The soft sponge and creamy egg yolk layers complement each other well, with the airy texture of the sponge contrasting with the denser, custard-like egg yolk, combining flavors that hit both sweet and savory. However, the chicken floss on the top raises concerns for vegetarians or those with dietary restrictions, as the meat was initially indistinguishable, and the in-store menu made no mention of it. Even beyond that, the floss left a weird, lingering aftertaste, with the chicken dominating the taro and cake flavors. Overall, while the taro and egg yolk layers show promise, the unpleasant aftertaste and lack of ingredient transparency make this a dessert not worth buying.
RATING: 2/5
Altogether, while Horizon Bakery’s visuals alone make it worth a visit, the tastes still need work, especially in the quality of their flavor combinations. For a bakery that markets itself on lightness and airiness, there’s an irony in how heavily the menu actually lands. Overall, with some refinement in the cafe, Horizon Bakery can truly become a spot worth going out of your way for.
OVERALL: 2.5/5
OVERALL PRICE: $$$
Cute packaging and visuals are one of the bakery’s fortes. Photo | Alexandra Qiu