A glimpse of The Rouge. Pictures by Amit Datta

Floral wallpaper, off-white walls, a mint green alcove and colourful stools... and the heady aroma of freshly-baked cupcakes filling the air. The Rouge seems to have popped right out of an Enid Blyton book!

The patisserie-cum-cafe opened doors at 222 AJC Bose Road with a big sweet tooth on Friday — a dream come true for its young proprietor Sumedha Singh, who has been baking with a passion since childhood.

“I love baking. After marriage, I had the whole kitchen to myself and started experimenting with cakes, especially cupcakes. Soon I was making batches for family and friends. So I thought why not open a patisserie!” said Sumedha.

The interiors by Roshni Chadda give the 11-seater Rouge — located opposite the backgate of La Martiniere for Girls — the feel of an English tea corner. “The likes of New York’s Magnolia Bakery and Sugar Daddy’s Bakery in Dubai inspired me to get a place of my own. More so because they all started as home bakers,” added Sumedha.

With 18 different flavours of cupcakes (Rs 35 for minis and Rs 75 for the regular size), the patisserie is a delight. Also bite into five different types of macaroons (Rs 39 each) and teacakes (Rs 275 per loaf). Other specialities are the super-soft yet crunchy madeleines, with chocolate or honey dips (starting at Rs 225 for 250g).

That’s not all. Sumedha’s Rouge partner and friend Anant Golyan became the drink guy for the venture. “I kind of forced myself into this. I worked in a cafe while studying at the University of Southern California and somehow always wanted a place like this,” said Anant as Go Gaga, a concoction of hazelnut mocha with a shot of raspberry, waited on a corner table.

You can chill with a cuppa of the regular cappucinos or choose from the originals under Rouge It Up, like All Nighter, Dirty White Boy and Cocoa Twixplosion (all starting at Rs 89) to go with the sweet eats.

Customised goodies for parties and even consultation are on the cards, but order has to be placed 48 hours in advance.

t2 must try: The Rouge, the patisserie’s signature cupcake that comes laden with two different kinds of frosting — cream cheese and chocolate ganache. Priced at Rs 50 for minis and Rs 100 for regulars, it happens to be the owner’s sweet pride.