The shop is located in an alley in the Gyodong district of Gangneung's new downtown area. From the street, it looks small, but from the inside, it's a long rectangle. At the far end are the counter table and kitchen.
The shop's menu consists of three sheets: coffee, beverages, and desserts. The owner seems to be an active and skillful woman. When I asked her about the meaning of the shop's name, she said it's French for 'C'est la vie,' meaning 'That's life.' I like it.
For coffee, I ordered a blended bean drip, and for dessert, I ordered a pavlova. Pavlova is a dessert with chewy meringue topped with fruit and whipped cream. It looks vibrant just by itself, but next to the dark coffee, it looks even more delicious.
The coffee taste is unremarkable. It doesn't lean too much in any direction, firmly holding its ground. The coffee flavor isn't overwhelmed by the dessert; it maintains its own identity. It feels like I've caught both rabbits: coffee and dessert. I'm told the coffee beans come from Mr. Park Yi-choo's Bohemian.
While it's not a shop with lavish interior decoration or charming little trinkets, sitting and looking out the window, I found myself thinking the shop was beautiful. A shop resembles its owner. It's a comfortable and beautiful shop.
This is C'est la vie Dessert in Gangneung Gyodong, where both dessert and coffee are delicious.