Dessert Darling

Astro Burger's Rice-Pudding: A Tasty Tuesday Vlog!

Ok, probably shouldn't be filming and driving, but hey, I'm getting a feel for this who Vlog thing. Anyway, I never get fast food and was pretty jazzed to see Rice Pudding as an option at Astro Burger. Alright- off you go! Enjoy the video. :)

 

 

 

XOOX

 

Happy Labor Day

Happy Labor Day everyone!  I don't know about you, but the theme of my whole weekend has been FOOD, FOOD, and then some more FOOD. OH-my, I'm in serious need of following my own Thinny Tips! Ha.

On Saturday night I attended the glorious Taste of Beverly Hills at the Hilton. Serious kudos to Food and Wine and all the organizers for putting on such a successful event!!

Photo from DiannaTakesaBite! :)

Instead of reviewing everything, I'm just going to share snap-shots of the sweetest highlights! 

 

The Chocolate Pudding from Nate 'n Al's was thick, rich and delicious. The consistency was almost as dense as cream cheese and the strong cocoa flavor was totally decadent.

The fresh Rugelach from Nate 'n Al's melted in my mouth!

 

This "Blum's Coffee Crunch Cake" from Valerie Confections completely delighted me. Two layers of chiffon cake frosted in coffee whipped cream and topped with chunks of coffee honeycomb! So fun!

 

These 'smore cups were a great idea, but my marshmallow was a bit hard. I would have better enjoyed the treat if a warm and gooey marshmallow melted in my mouth.  The textured layers below with crunchy chocolate balls, though, salvaged the dessert.

 

The salted caramel ice-cream from Carmela Ice-cream was a bit salty and burnt in flavor for all of our tastes, but the strawberry-cream scoop beneath it was perfection.

 

These Zucchini Terrine bites from District with spiced mouse and walnut praline were original and surprisingly good.  More importantly, District had one of my favorite offerings at the whole event! Their Venison Relleno with Goat Cheese and smoked Corn Puree was truly an amazing experience!

 

I had these divine Dulce de Leche cheesecake bars with sprinkled sea-salt on top at a BBQ last night.

 

Perhaps one of my most FAVORITE treats of the weekend were these To-Die for Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies, made my by friend, "the Dainty Vegetarian," Leslie Sarna! It's unbelievable that these cookies are also Gluten-Free and have no animal fats!  Click here for this awesome recipe!

 

Wow- and that's just what I had pictures for!  Well, I hope you all had Labor Day weekends as Tasty as mine, and if not, may you have been working out every day for me!  

Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pudding at the Newsroom Cafe

This Dark Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Pudding at the Newsroom sounded and looked better than its exectuion.  I actually enjoyed the soft consistency as my biggest concern with bread-puddings is dry, chunky bread bits.  Where this slice went south, though, was the caramel drizzle on top.  Weird, I know. The seemingly most enhancing aspect of this treat was indeed what ruined it.

I could detect pineapple juice in the sauce, an alarming flavor when juxtiposed with bitter dark chocolate and mild bread pudding.  Not quite like drinking OJ after brushing your teeth, but you get it, the flavors didn't mix well.  The best bites were when I avoided the sauce and delved into the whipped cream. Mmmmm, much better! Over all an average attempt by the Newsroom. 

For more info on the Newsroom Cafe, click here.

Butterscotch Budino at MOZZA Pizzaria

OhmyGaaawd. Are you kidding me? I'm swooning, buzzing, flushing and all around basking in the glow of my first Budino experience at the famed Italian restaurant, MOZZA, off Highland and Melrose. 

What is Budino, you wonder? Great question. Budino is the Italian word for pudding. Alas, it's not just any pudding! It's Italian, velvety pudding with fresh cream, dynamic flavors and surely, a dash of aphrodisiac-dust.

Mozza's budino starts with a feathery smooth butterscotch pudding that's slightly burnt in flavor for a scarcely bitter touch that gets counteracted by a top layer of sweet, buttery caramel sauce, so fresh you can detect every simple and natural ingredient in it. A sprinkle of Maldon sea salt adds further dimension for a trio of bitter, sweet, and salty tastes.  Finally, a dallop of creme fresh helps calm the bold flavors below it, and together the layers perfectly harmonize like Pavarotti and Friends at the Vatican.

But we are not done! No my friends, the genius chef at Mozza accompanies this dessert with delicious rosemary pine nut cookies.  I thought these were little random and quixotic afterthoughts, until the waiter instructed me to eat them with a spoonful of pudding.  Holy Halelluja!  These shortbread cookies escalate the experiences from a 5-Cherry one to a Golden Cherry event.  

Wooowee, I'm a little excited here.  Add a bottle of wine and a hot date with this budino and you'd be in for one special night!

 

 For more info on Mozza Pizzeria, click here.

Stay tuned to see my upcoming thoughts on Mozza's Olive Oil gelato!

 

Banana Pudding at Magnolia Bakery

As promised here, I'm finally going share the dreaminess that is the Banana Pudding at Magnolia Bakery in Los Angeles. Now, I've had the Banana Pudding with Nilla Wafer cookies just down the street at TOAST on 3rd street (see review here), and I can assure you that these two desserts are worlds apart.  

Unlike the impenetrably thick pudding at Toast with dry Nilla wafers, The Banana Pudding from Magnolia is smoothly whipped and well blended with soft, soaked cookie crumbles and ripe banana bits. The creamy whipped dreaminess suggests hints of pure vanilla and condensed milk that oddly enough, yield flavors reminiscent of raw cookie dough, my absolute favorite concoction on earth. Mmmm, while Banana Pudding might not normally be my first pic on a dessert menu, this batch makes me think otherwise. A Golden Cherry Honoree all the way!

For more info on Magnolia Bakery, click here.

 

 

The Opening of Magnolia Bakery in Los Angeles

Wooo! I'm jumping for joy!  

 

Thanks to this post in Daily Candy about the famed NYC bakery Magnolia opening in Los Angeles today, hundreds of people dropped by the fresh corner shop in WeHo, only to learn that they don't open until tomorrow. Oops.  That said the good people of Magnolia Bakery did not turn their new neighbors and eager fans away empty handed.  In fact, the owner himself scooped free cups of the most swoon-worthy Banana Pudding I've ever tried.

 Mmmmmmm

 It was so good I got a second one. Hee

The Banana Pudding wins the sparkling Golden Cherry award for which I will write a separate review, but for now, let me revel in the joy that is leaping around a brand new, fresh bakery before anyone else gets to!

My friend and blogger Ben from B-sideBlog joined up with me and we chatted with the owner a bit.

Turns out there's a terrible neighborhood scandal involving an old-lady mafia that tries to close down and prevent new businesses from opening in the area!!!! How awful and appalling!  Check out Ben's fine reporting on the story here. 

Ugh, on that note, WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD MAGNOLIA! We are so happy to have you join 3rd Street and wish all small business owners the very best in their endeavors!

 

 

 and LA CUPCAKES YOU!

 

Banana Creme Pie and Chocolate Panna Cotta at Dominick's Restaurant

Desserts at Dominick's Continued~

Banana Cream Pie:  Hmm, this petit, four-squared dessert was good, but left us wondering a little bit... where's the Banana Cream Pie?!  A small handful of the actual pie rested in a large pastry cup that sat in a pool of chocolate sauce.  We would have appreciated more banana cream pie, less filo dough cup. Three Cherries for this dessert.

Chocolate Panna Cotta with Caramel Sauce: Mmm, now this was more like it!  This thick, pudding-like dish was cool, chocolatey and delicious, especially with the caramel sauce touch. I'm beginning to think Chocolate and Caramel is almost as sweet a marriage as Butter and Sugar's!  4 Cherries for a solid Panna Cotta dish.

Over all, 4.5 Cherries to Dominick's for a wonderful evening with great desserts (let's not forget the 5 cherry Fritters)!

For more info on Dominick's, click here. 

 

Caramel Chocolate Pot de Creme at Little Next Door

The second dessert that my brother and I shared at the Little Next Door was the Caramel Chocolate Pot de Creme. Compared to the light Creme Brulee, this was a rich and decadent dish that felt like thick mud to my spoon. Even so, Chris still thought it was a lighter version of a traditional Pot de Creme and suggested, yet again, that they'd used reduced fat ingredients.

The nearly bitter dark chocolate pudding boasted a delicious caramel topping with a small cluster of salted nut slivers that left me yearning for more sea salt flakes.  Finally, a delightful fig added the final touch to a special and unique Pot de Creme that ultimately earned itself a 4-cherry rating.. but just barely.  

For more info on the Little Next Door, click here. 

 

Creme Brulee at Little Next Door

My brother was in town for the night and we had a delightful dinner at my neighborhood haunt, the Little Next Door.  While Chris shares our family's infamous sweet-tooth, he takes it to the next level with his appreciation for heavy, creamy dishes. 

The first item we ordered was the creme brulee (clearly I've been in a custard mood lately). Upon first bite I practically did a happy dance. Finally, a dessert done well at the Little Next Door! First of all, it looked perfect with its evenly glazed, fire-burnt top, and long, exotic vanilla bean.  Secondly, it tasted delicious.  The creme was whipped seamlessly thin and had a strong vanilla presence.

While I enjoyed the smooth and lighter version, my brother shook his head, noting that it tasted like they'd use reduced fat milk or cream, a huge no no in his book. (Sigh).. fair enough.  We settled on 3.5 cherries for the creme brulee!

To see our thoughts on the Caramel Chocolate Pot de Creme, tune in tomorrow!

For more info on the Little Next Door, click here. 

 

Flan at Cobras and Matadors

Nothing beats a girls' night out where you enjoy great food and wine, even better conversation, and a debate over the rankings of each dessert for the DessertDarling blog ;)

An evening at the tapas restaurant, Cobras and Matadors, yielded such an excellent night.  The first dessert that we dug into was the flan. This traditional Spanish custard left my companions disappointed as it lacked a "burnt" caramel layer and was a bit firm, perhaps due to being over-cooked or having too many egg-yolks, both traits the table did not appreciate. 

I have to say, I think my friends were pretty picky, but that said, we all agreed to give the flan at Cobras and Matadors a solid three-cherries.  While good, it lacked~

Tune in tomorrow to see our thoughts on the Churros!

For more info on Cobras and Matadors, click here.  

 

Creme Brulee at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel

Today I enjoyed a delicious Lavender Creme Brulee at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.  It looked and tasted quite lovely, even though the first spoonful shocked my senses into thinking it was too sweet. I quickly got over that initial reaction and polished the plate clean. 

While some lavender treats can taste like soap, this one only had a subtle hint of flower for exotic flare. Finally, I could taste a richness enhanced, perhaps, by extra egg yolks, which personally, I enjoyed. Overall, a great lunch experience!

For more info on Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, click here. 

    

Kozy Shack Pudding

Pudding is definitely the wimpy younger sister to its greater sibling ice-cream. That said, pudding can be a soothing delight, especially when it's quality stuff. 

Kozy Shack does pudding best.  With all natural ingredients, they dominate in every arena, covering rice, tapioca, flan, chocolate, and even soy and sugar-free options.  I especially enjoy getting the single serving sizes to help with portion control. 

Mmmm, 5 Cherries to Kozy Shack for all around excellence! 

For more info on Kozy Shack, click here. 

Banana Pudding at Toast Bakery Cafe

 What's with me and all this pudding I've been eating lately?  

Today I had lunch with some girlfriends at Toast where I polished things off with Banana Pudding.  Both vanilla and banana flavors could be detected in this thick pudding that was layered with vanilla wafers and fresh banana slices.  Overall, it was a bit too heavy for me.  I think a drizzle of light caramel or butterscotch would have helped to break up the density and step it up a notch.  

That said, I couldn't put my spoon down when I swore I would ;-)

For more info on Toast, click here. 

 

Tapioca and Rice Pudding from Whole Foods Market

Oh Whole Foods, you cost so much and take my money, but you're so conveniently close and make me feel healthier with your organic goodness.  The Big question though, how do your desserts fair?

Well, I must say right off, the large bakery cupcakes are pretty horrendous.  But the puddings, mmm, those a are a different story.

Tapioca Pudding:  This had a lovely, mellow and soothing flavor, spiced nicely with cinnamon, nutmeg and clove dust.  Made with real cream, this pudding is rather heavy.  In fact, it was so thick, gelatinous, and almost dry, that you could practically roll it up into a ball and make it bounce.  Cherries docked for the consistency~

Butterscotch Tapioca Pudding: Yummers! At first bite, I wasn't so convinced. This cup of pudding was reminiscent of flan with the slightly burnt butterscotch flavoring.  Like flan, it also had extra syrup on the bottom, which gave the thick, gelatinous pudding some much needed moisture.   Mmm, I ended up demolishing the whole cup.

Rice Pudding: the guy behind the counter told me this pudding was rather popular, so I thought I'd throw it in the mix.  It had a strong rice flavor, which I couldn't begrudge it  since it was, after all, rice pudding.   The consistency bothered me though as it was rather starchy with chunky rice bits, some of which had glopped together. That said, I can see how the soothing vanilla creaminess would make this a popular treat.  

Ulitmately, I conclude that while Whole Foods has lovely, soothing flavors in all of these puddings, they're rather thick and rich and well, perhaps Kozy Shack does it better.~

For more info on Whole Foods, click here. 

Vegan Pudding and Cupcakes at M Cafe

M Cafe i s a trendy, macrobiotic restaurant in LA that makes vegan desserts.  This means they don't use eggs, dairy, or refined sugar cane sugar. Hmm, you've got to wonder how good these treats can be!

Chocolate Pudding: Surprisingly, this pudding is delicious. It has the perfect rich chocolate flavor with a smooth, creamy consistency.  I'm impressed~

Strawberry Cupcake: Err, ok, this dessert is definitely vegan.  The icing has a zingy, citrus taste, which is just wrong on so many levels.  The cake itself, however, is quite nice with hints of maple flavoring from the sweetener of choice.  Two cherries for a great vegan effort!

For more info on M Cafe, click here. 

 

 

Bountiful Desserts

We all know the Farmer's Market is great for fresh fruits and vegetables, but who knew I'd find the most amazing desserts amongst the rows of vegetation too?

Denise Assad of Bountiful Desserts has the most exciting stand with her array of freshly made treats that include her famous carrot cake (perfectly spiced), old-fashioned double chocolate layer cake (divine), Banana cream pie (so fresh you'd swear she has banana tree in her yard) and brownies so unbelievably out-of-this-world magnificent, that they earn the highest honor with the Golden Cherry (see below).  

When Denise lost her job as a designer, she used what money she had to sell her baked goods to the parents at her son's pre-school.  One year later, her desserts have become so popular that she now supports her child with the treats she makes from scratch, using her grandmother's tin recipe box.  What a sweet tale :) 

Chocolate-Caramel Brownie Puddle

 

OhmyGawd, this divine creation tangos with your tastebuds as it melts in your mouth. An outer shell of chocolate brownie envelopes a gooey, chewy, chunky center that's laced with a hint of salty-sweet caramel.  This caramel touch so enhances the experience, one learns cleary, it is the missing ingredient in other, more mundane cocoa bars. Not even my mom's brownies compare to this cosmic concoction (sorry Mom! Love you).

For more info on Bountiful Desserts click here. 

       

 

Pudding at Healdsburg Bar & Grill

Delicious!!!  

I'm not normally Bread Pudding gal.  Quite simply, it's too... "carby" for me.  All that bland, oftentimes dry, bread in a bowl hardly stands a chance against ice-cream or other sweet endings on a menu.  That said, the a Vanilla Bean Bread Pudding with fresh strawberries at the Healdsburg Bar and Grill blew me away.

I only meant to eat a few bites since it was my brother's wedding weekend and I knew I was in for a long one of pure decadence.. but WOW.  The pudding was so warm, buttery, sweet, moist, and well, mushy, that I simply demolished it.  

The Chocolate Pot de Creme did not disappoint either.  

And while I'm at it, the Truffle-Oil french fries were irresistible too. ;)

For more info on the Healdsburg Bar & Grill, click here.