Dessert Darling

Fantastic Molten Lava Chocolate Cake at Katsuya!

Woowee, I love me some fine Japanese cuisine! Especially from celebrity sprinkled restaurants that make trendy dishes like Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice and Yellow Tail with thin, Fried Onion rings! Mmmm. :-9 The problem with most fine restaurants though, Japanese joints in particular, is that the better the food, the worse the desserts. To my utter delight, Katsuya in Hollywood pulled through with an outstanding Molten Lava Chocolate Cake. Indeed it was one of the most delicious and desirable Chocolate Lava cakes that I've ever had, and I've had my share of these bad boys. That said, the other desserts at Katsuya were predictably average. Alas, we shall not dwell on mediocracy when we have greatness in our presence. Molten Lava Chocolate Cake= yet another reason to dine at Katsuya!

 

 For more information on Katsuya, click here. 

 

xoox

See's Candies, a Household Holiday Staple!

If See's advertised itself as a chocolatier, I'd have to give them 3.5 cherries. But they don't, they call their treats candy, and that distinction escalates their rating to a solid 5-cherries for their chocolaty, crunchy, tasty goodness! If not for yummy-factor, than at least for nostalgia's sake. I literally can't conceive of a holiday in my home without a box of See's accompanying the festivities.  

Since childhood, these mini, gourmet candy bars have made their way into every Christmas, Easter, and birthday celebration, with each family member having a favorite.  

Dad's the marzipan, mom's the dark chocolate with almonds, my brother Chris likes the cherry cordials, Greg's the healthy one who'd rather eat beef jerky, and I was a "Scotch Mallow" girl (butterscotch and marshmallow covered in chocolate.. mmmm). 

While I don't think these are the most delicate and say, sexy treats, for a romantic affair, I do think they're fun and hearty chocolates for a family to enjoy on special occasions.

 

For more info on See's Candies, click here.

 

XOOX

A Forbidden Affair- An Open Letter to Jack (...in the Box)

Dear Jack, 

Twice, Twice in the last month I have visited you late night. You've lived down the street from me for four years now and I've never even looked your way. What is this new affair?? I'm not this kind of girl!!! Ok, I admit it, I gave your Pumpkin milkshake 5-cherries last Halloween... but that's a seasonal treat.. an anomaly.  However, you did it again with your Mint Oreo Cookie milkshake last night! Ugh! A perfect balance of flavors, an admirable consistency, thick but not impenetrable, and most tantalizing yet--those Oreo cookie chunks! My fiance even declared it GOLDEN CHERRY worthy!!! From a fast food joint?? Out of a machine?? It's OBSCENE.  And let's not even Talk about your Sourdough Grilled Chicken Club with bacon, for that was clearly laced with all sorts of crack-like addicting tastiness.  Ugh! 

JACK- this relationship cannot be. It was great while it lasted and I know I'll never forget it, but quite simply, I'm not a fast food girl.  Really- I'm not! My mama raised me better than that.  Maybe for the holidays, I'll stop by.. you know, for an Eggnog special... but this late night shenanigans? You'll have to find someone else who'll fall for your charms. Sorry Jack, but we're Over.

Truly,

 

The incriminating evidence! 

 

Tootie Pies from Texas! Yeeehaw!

Tootie Fruity Yummy Looty!

WOW. I came home to two HEAVY packages from Tootie Pie Co., each containing a perfect pie. The first was this award-winning Apple Pie, which you can see is jammed packed with Apply-deliciousness. It was sweet and slightly zingy with brown sugar, cinnamon, and an amazing crust.

 

The second was this Buttermilk Pie that tasted just like flan with a consistency that reminded me of smooth ricotta cheese. I loved every bite of it. In fact, I was addicted to the sweet, soothing, dreaminess of this pie, and enjoyed mixing it with some bites of the Apple Pie to zing it up.

 

In short- I love me my Tootie Pies! Check out this list of all their different pies and flavors and try not to drool on the keyboard.  These pies are No. Joke.  Might have to revisit these bad boys for the Golden Cherry at the end of the year....

Thanks Tootie Pies for the delicious delivery!  I'll be trying your pumpkin pie in the fall!

 

XOXO

The Real Chocolate of Beverly Hills - Madame Chocolat

They say Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in heels.

Today I entered the ritzy, Beverly Hills chocolate shoppe, Madame Chocolat, which I instantly recognized from scenes in The Real Housewives of BH.

 

I was delighted to not only enter a luxurious chocolate shop, but also to see the bright and cheerful kitchen where the chocolatiers make magic happen!

 

I then noted, that alongside the Madame Chocolat truffles, a whole side of the case was dedicated to Jaque Torres chocolates. Furthermore, the chocolate chip cookies looked just like the Jacques Torres cookies that I reviewed in New York.

 

Hmm...I asked the Madame herself if she preferred her chocolates to Jacques', and she waxed poetic about how he is the master, and that both chocolates are great- just different. Well, we'll see about that- I thought.

 

 

A few bites into Madame's exquisite chocolates and I was an instant devotee. The delicate offerings were feminine and bite sized, with a steady shell that allows for some lively crunch. Oh Madame! I prefer these sultry morsels any day to those of Monsieur Torres'! 

As I was leaving the store, I overheard her share to the next costumer, that Jacques Torres, the "master", is indeed her Husband!! Aw-Hah!

Well Madame, if he is Fred Astaire, then You are Ginger Rogers.

 

For more info on Madame Chocolate, click here. 

 XOXO

 

Cocktail Inspired Cupcakes by Swizzle Cakes! A Valentine's Special~

Valentine's Day is around the corner and I'm so excited to share with you these absurdly delicious Swizzle Cakes! Swizzle Cakes are alcoholic cupcakes that come in large "highballs" or mini "shot-cakes" and were inspired by your favorite cocktails. Seriously guys, you can't tell from this footage, but I ate 7 of them on our shoot. The frosting was phenomenal, which always get me, but pair great frosting with original flavors and a dynamic kick of alcohol, and I'll be your Valentine any day.  

 

 

 

For Shizzle my Swizzle, these cupcakes are da bomb!

For more information on Swizzle Cakes, click here. 

 

xoox

Platine Cookies: Roll Your Eyes Back and Die in Deliciousness

HOLY SUGAR COOKIE SANDWICH!  I about died, DIED, when I bit into the amazingness that is the vanilla, vanilla "Oreo" with buttercream frosting inside. I must award it the Golden Cherry now for best Sugar Cookie-Vanilla Buttercream sandwich, for I'm sure nothing in that category will compare. ;)

Imagine baking Pillsbury sugar cookies and then spreading on some Betty Crocker frosting: now imagine that combination tasting a hundred times better with real, natural, and fresh ingredients, and Voila- you've got yourself my favorite cookie from Platine Cookies in Culver City.

Platine Cookies makes small delights that look and taste like the best batch from a friend's homemade recipe. Butter plays a prominent role in each baked good that Platine makes. It's amazing how something as simple as real, great butter, and it's ratio to salt, can dictate the wow-factor in a cookie. But it does!

 

 

Above is an image of my box of treats that I bought and devoured today.  My star cookie is in the far left, upper corner.  That Disco Ho Ho on the far right wasn't kidding around either.

As I was buying my goodies, the couple next to me said that Mary Steenburgen had recommend the bakery to them.  So there you go- Platine's Cookies is even celebrity approved! ;)

For more info on Platine's Cookies, click here. 

 

xoxo

Kee's Chocolates in SoHo, NY: Intoxicating!!

Ooh la la! I feel energized... and Flushed! Like I've been sipping an after-dinner drink sprinkled with pixie dust.  And yet, this sensation comes not from alcohol, but rather, chocolate: Kee's Choclates, to be exact.

Every night Kee hand-makes her chocolates with the freshest ingredients and secret recipes that she, alone, knows. The extraordinary results are small globes with delicate shells that crack to expose silky, exotic fillings like rose & black tea, sesame seed, cognac, and creme brulee.

These intoxicating truffles would make the perfect gift for that special someone (including yourself ;).

For more info on Kee's Chocolates, click here.

 

Image from blog.ratestogo.com

xo

 

Baking Betty's Make Heavenly Cookies

I was recently craving cookies when quite instantly, the most delicious cookies came my way. Call it the Law of Attraction.. or don't, but the very next day I received a darling box of glorious cookies. The treats came from Baking Betty's and stood out to me for three reasons. 1) the fun name 2) the darling packaging, and 3) the scrumdiliuptious cookies. I received one bag of large cookies and one bag of mini-mes. Both sizes were soft and chewy chocolate chip dreams with the surprise addition of little marshmallows on top. These marshmallows made traditionally substantial treats seem airy, light, and heavenly! I'm swooning just thinking about them and shall hereby throw them into the ring, nominating them for the 2011 Golden Cherry for Best Cookie! Woa, competition is getting fierce this year! Stay tuned in November for the Golden Cherry Awards to see who wins in each category!

 

For more info on Baking Betty's, click here. 

xoxo

Cookies By Joey- an Intensely Delicious Experience

Uhhhahh! Sometimes you bite into a dessert so sumptuous that time freezes around you. Your mouth relishes the sweet, buttery, and chunky goodness in slow-mo as your head tilts back in quiet elation. This, my friends, is the result of eating Cookies By Joey. The shape and texture of these deep pocket cookies remind me of the famous ones from Levain Bakery in NY (review here). However, Joey's cookies are far superior in flavor and even size, as Joey's are not quite as monstrous. 

My Cookie-fiend friend insisted that these were the best cookies he had ever tried, and now I see why. While Cookies by Joey are based in IL, they ship nation wide. I'm officially nominating Cookies by Joey for the 2011 Golden Cherry Awards! Stay tuned.    ;-) 

 

For more information on Cookies By Joey, click here. You know they'd make a great Valentine's gift! 

xo

Froyo Life, Great Premium Frozen Yogurt

In Beverly Hills I stumbled upon a fabulous Frozen Yogurt chain called Froyo Life. With around 12 different flavors and over 25 different toppings available, this self-serve frozen yogurt place ranks up there with the likes of Menchies and Yogurt Stop. One thing that differentiated Froyo Life though, was that they offered more low-fat options than you normally see at yogurt joints. Since my fave flavors were low-fat (versus fat-free) the yogurt was more reminiscent of eating soft-served ice-cream: that slight amount of fat made for a noticeably richer experience. Also, I didn't see healthy ingredients like live yogurt cultures and acidophilus advertised the way I do at other places, like my all-time fave, Yogurtland.  Overall, a delicious 5-cherry experience, but if I'm going to do Fro-Yo, I want my live, active yogurt cultures! 

 

For more information on FroyoLife, click here. 

xo

Maison Richard Cafe and French Bakery, Heavenly Chocolate Mousse!

If you're looking for true French pastries, Maison Richard Cafe and French Bakery offers a great selection of exquisite delectables. I purchased an eclair, chocolate mousse, and custard & apricot pastry, thinking that I'd enjoy little bites from each. Not a chance: I inhaled all three goodies on the spot. The eclair was smooth and subtle with rich chocolate ganache on top. The pastry was mild and lovely with its cool custard and sweet apricots, and the chocolate mousse... My Gawd. The chocolate mousse! The chocolate mousse was insanely delicious with a slightly salty tinge and a heavenly whipped consistency that, for some reason, made me think of eating freshly made cookie dough. In a word, Divine. Cinq cherries for you Maison Richard!

 

 

For more information on Maison Richard, just off of Melrose in Los Angeles, click here. 

 

Sweet E's Delightful Cake Pops

Yesterday I wrote about my exciting discovery, Sweet E's Bake Shop, and her mini-cupcakes here. Today I'm sharing that her Cake Pops are as great as any Cake Pop can be. They're not too sweet, not too mild, and super fun to eat (these pops are secure on the stick, which not all Cake Pops are). It's hard to achieve a balance of flavors with Cake Pops and Sweet E's has done an excellent job. I have to say though, as trendy as they are, I'd take a cupcake with tactile frosting any day over a Cake Pop.

 

For more information on Sweet E's, click here.

Fairytale Brownies Assure a Happy Ending

For my first review of 2011 I thought I'd start with a 5-cherry Bang! My brother recently sent me a box of gourmet, Belgium, Fairytale Brownies.  The wrapping on each brownie made me skeptical since it gave the illusion of being an artificial, store-bought item. However, these brownies enchanted me upon first bite with their gooey consistency inside a thin, crispy layer of cooked, brownie perfection.  Heaven! The Belgium chocolate gives these brownies a lovely depth, while the array of flavors endows them with charm and variety.  Fairytale Brownies are the perfect gift to send a brownie lover for his/her birthday, Valentine's day, or just to say "thinking of you."  And look! There's even a post-holiday sale right now. :)

 

For more information on Fairytale Brownies, click here. 

 

Delicious Cookies that Give Back! The Do Gooding Good Cookies

Tis the season of 5-cherry reviews! I recently got tubes of delicious cookies called The Do Gooding Good Cookies at a charity event supporting Project Angel Food. The thin but chewy Ginger Snap cookies are Perfection and the buttery Iced Lemon cookies are decadent and addictive! You can now find these treats in Pavillions where 100% of the purchase price gets donated directly back to Project Angel Food, an organization that nourishes people suffering from HIV/AIDS, Cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses. It is an incredible project that has touched the lives of many. So the next time you're in Pavillions, be sure to find The Do Gooding Good cookies! Yum Yum!

 

 

 

The Best Cake in Hollywood Baby!

Ahhh!! Cake and Art makes the most Amazing cakes! This creative bakery has lived in the heart of West Hollywood for the last 35 years, producing over half a million cakes in its time-span! These impressive creations range from gorgeous, to hilarious, to downright jaw-dropping (they've even done a life-sized car out of cake!).  Nearly every studio and celebrity has enjoyed Cake and Art at their festive celebrations. Since Cake and Art is accustomed to crazy requests, wedding cakes are comparatively.. well, a piece of cake to them.  This means that they charge much less for them than other bakeries! MY GAWD. It's enough to make me want to get married in S.Cal. And did I mention.. the cake and frosting is DELICIOUS! Five cherries all the way, Baby!

 

 

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For more information on Cake and Art, click here. 

 

 

My Favorite Snack, Kettle Corn by Popcorn Indiana

This Thinny Thursday I'd like to feature my current obsession: Popcorn Indiana's Kettle Corn. I discovered that Yummy.com delivers it to my door, and well, it was just game over from there.  This Kettle Corn boasts the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and crunchy. With only 130 cals, 5 grams of fat, and even some fiber, Popcorn Indiana's Kettle Corn is the perfect daily snack!

 

 

For more information on Popcorn Indiana- Kettle Corn, click here. 

 

Choco Bon Bons, Delicious Ice Cream Treats for Any Season!

Perfection.

These delicious treats taste way more fun and decadent than something you'd purchase from a grocery store. And yet, there they are in the frozen aisle of Whole Foods and Trader Joes (under the TJ label though).  

Mmmmm.

"Ice cream Treats with a cookie crust, dipped in rich chocolate!" says the Choco Bon Bon website. Aw, but they don't specify that the chocolate layer is so good it could stand alone (unlike the waxy, thin shells on Dibbs and other ice cream treats), or that the vanilla filling is as luxurious as Haagen-Dazs, or that the cookie adds a unique dimension to the traditional bon bon, soaking up the ice cream and delighting all around.  

Furthermore, these treats are 100% natural, and "only 60 calories per Bon Bon." Which is great if you can limit yourself to a few at time!

 

 

 

For more info on Choco Bon Bon and all their flavors, click here. 

Susie Cakes Cupcakes, a Childhood Classic

Susie cupcakes taste like a birthday party in your mouth.   The frosting evokes childhood and has a certain, dare-I-say.. hint of store-bought flavor that comes in Betty Crocker tubs.  However, I know it's all made from scratch with the freshest and finest ingredients, so I don't question this twist of taste.  The pastel colors are fun and fanciful and each cake is adorned with just a tasteful amount of sprinkles to give it a delightful crunch in a few surprising bites.

But perhaps the most unique trait of the Susie cake is the hole they poke out the middle and fill up with extra icing, ensuring that almost every bite is frosted. Oh how special!

Now, if I'm to get picky here.. the cake itself might have leaned a bit on the dryer side. Overall, these cupcakes earn 5 cherries for the carefree sentiments of childhood that they evoke in addition to the fresh and delicious taste!!!

Click here for more info on Susie Cakes.

 

 

Some of the World's Best Chocolates- La Maison du Chocolat

Exquisite! La Maison du Chocolat makes some of the most delectable chocolates and macarons that a girl could dream of. Their treats are simple, delicate, and divine with silky ganache fillings and unforgettable flavors.  La Maison du Chocolat gets their goodies shipped in from France daily which makes them both Ooh-La-La Tres Chic and Ooh-No-No So Pricy!

Gentlemen, you'd do well to treat your ladies to a box of La Maison du Chocolat chocolates.  However, it should be noted that their packaging is rather austere.  You won't find the fun and frivolity of a Teauscher's or K Chocolatier's box at La Maison du Chocolat.  

 

 

For more information on La Maison du Chocolat, or to check out their online store, click here! 

 

xo

Donsuemor does Madeleines Right

Madeleines aren't exactly the treat that get me jumping up and down for joy, but when done right, they could almost compete with the real desserts world. While Madeleines look like cookies, they're actually small sponge cakes that are distinctively shaped like shells. Madeleines make lovely additions to sophisticated gatherings like teas, luncheons, and showers.

Donsuemor recently sent me a box of Madeleines that included Lemon Zezt, Chocolate, regular, and chocolate dipped Madeleines. Mmm, I was impressed! Surprisingly so! These fresh treats smelled of rich butter and were adequately sweet for my tastes. I also loved the spongy yet buttery consistency.  Well done Donsuemor! 

 

For more information on Donsuemor Madeleines, click here. 

 

The Best Ginger Cookies, yet another reason to Love Trader Joe's

Nom nom nom nom... that's me munching away at the yummiest ginger cookies ever. They're called "Molasses Chews" and they're from my long-time crush,Trader Joe's. I can't stop eating these seasonal goodies as they boast both the perfect, chewy consistency and a supreme balance of sugar & spice and all things nice! Bravo Trader Joe's! You've done it again, 5 Cherries!

 

Amazing Raw Oreo Cookie Recipe from Awake and Living

This Thinny Thursday I'd like to introduce you to my friend and health aficionado, Juls from Awake and Living.  Juls has a contagious zest for life and energetically encourages those around her to live it to their fullest. At Awake and Living, Juls doles out daily health tips with weekly themes ranging from diet & nutrition, to skin & beauty, with much more in between.  

Recently, Juls created this amazing recipe for Raw "Oreo" Cookies that were UH-mazing. Totally rich, moist, sweet, flavorful, and healthy on top! Say what!? If you're looking for adventure in the kitchen and a party in your mouth, you must try this recipe! 

 

The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie

I can't stop thinking about this cookie!!!! More like "The Cookie," as my friend and I referred to it all weekend long. I accidentally stumbled into a Marie Callender's and discovered these rather large and intriguing chocolate chunk treats...

OOOhMyGAwwD, AMAZING.  Chewy and buttery in the center with sumptuous chocolate chunks, slightly firm and well cooked edges, the perfect balance of flavors, a mouthful of perfection, I can't can't even think straight! All weekend long my friend and I worked through our stack of cookies, gnawing on them for breakfast, during lunch, before dinner, and late night after our Saturday festivities.  "The Cookie" is the quintessential Chocolate Chip Cookie experience and a Golden Cherry winner at that. Congratulations Marie Callender's! 

 

 

For more information on Marie Callender's, click here. 

 

Perfect Gelato from TuttiMelon

I don't normally blog on a Saturday night, but I had the most heavenly trio of gelato and I really must share! I stumbled upon Tutti Melon in San Francisco and was stopped by the tempting gelato display before I could even make my way back to the frozen yogurt machines.  I ordered scoops of Creme Brulee, Butter Pecan, and Pumpkin.  Mmmm! Not only was each scoop divine on its own, but together the flavors blended to make sweet, sweet harmony.  In a word? Perfection.

For more info on Tutti Melon, click here. 

 

 

S'mores Treat from Mauro's Cafe at Fred Segal's

Mmm, I wasn't expecting such a delicious treat from Mauro's Cafe at Fred Segal's since I'd had such disappointing experiences with their bakery in the past. Furthermore, I was full from lunch and not even hungry! Yet, I was about to embark on four more hours of traffic school and thought I'd console myself with a sweet treat anyway.  I mean, I really only needed one bite.. right?  

See, this is the problem with being the Dessert Darling. If a dessert is great, I can't just have one bite! I eat the whole darn thing, (sigh) and whole darn thing I ate. This S'mores bar featured an abundance of mini-marshmallows that laid snug in a bed of light mild fudge, all supported by a soft Graham cracker crust.  I loved every last morsel!

 

 

For more information on Fred Segal's Mauro Cafe, click here. 

 

The BEST Cupcakes in LA Thanks to Bacon Cheddar Magic

GLORY HALLELUJAH! I had not one, but two mind blowing cupcakes from Frosted Cupcakery today. My mind quite literally checked out the door as I momentarily floated to Heaven, bathed in a daze of delicious wonder.

I've always loved Frosted, as you may recall from this 5-cherry posting here.  But today's experience with the Vanilla/Vanilla cupcake filled with Pumpkin Ice-cream and the Bacon Cheddar Corn Cake with Vanilla frosting, has officially escalated Frosted Cupcakery to Golden Cherry status.  This is not to take away from the 2009 Winner, Yummy Cupcakes, which is fabulous in its own right. It's simply to say that this year, Frosted Cupcakery has come through for me time and time again with perfect cupcakes. They're never dry, dense, bland, or overly sweet.  Instead, they're light, bouncy, flavorful, and delicious. Indeed, Frosted Cupcakery makes the quintessential cupcakes.  

 

and now for today's insanely delicious and unique cupcake samples...the Vanilla with Pumpkin ice-cream filling...

and the Bacon Cheddar Corncake with Vanilla frosting..

MMmmmmm, I want more....!

the best cupcakes in LA

For more information on Frosted Cupcakery, click here. 

Mechies Frozen Yogurt

If you think about it, there're really only two kinds of frozen yogurt: great frozen yogurt and bad frozen yogurt. Most of these places buy the same mixes, but the art is in the machines and how well the employees handle them.  

Menchies falls under the category of Great frozen yogurt.  In Yiddish, a "mench" is "a person of integrity and honor,"  basically someone who does good deeds.  Well great deeds are done at Menchies with rotating selections of delicious frozen yogurt, a clean and cheery environment, and the widest selection of toppings that range from locally grown fruits to Nerds candy. Mmm, I'm craving the red velvet selection as I write!

 

 

For more information on Menchies, click here. 

 

Burgers and Cupcakes Produce the Best Cupcake in New York

Mmmm, now these delicious cupcakes could not have been more opposite from the Cupcake Cafe confections that I had just tried down the street from Burgers and Cupcakes. This joint wasn't on my "to do" list, but with a name like that, how could I not go in?

The cupcakes from Burgers and Cupcakes looked a little sloppy with tall mounds of pleasing icing.  Surely someone slathered on the frosting by hand and not with a fancy device. I liked this personal touch, because it evoked the notion that mom made them, and well, moms are kinda great.

Each cupcake was incredibly moist while not being too dense, had the perfect balance of flavors, and totally delicious frosting on top! Mmmm! One heavenly bite will sway even the biggest skeptic.

 

For more photos of their other cupcakes options, click ofter the jump.

For more info on Burgers and Cupcakes, in NY, click here!

 

Quite Possibly the Best Cake Pops Ever

Wow- now these cake pops were stop-in-your-tracks-throw-your-head-back-and-gasp Amazing. I recently attended a book signing at William-Sonoma for the book tour of Bakerella's fabulous compilation on making and decorating cake pops. Perhaps more exciting yet, I actually got to try one of her creations! These pops were perfection.  I learned that the cake was made with Sprinkles pumpkin mix and I could see that the shells were made with orange candy melting discs like these. Mmmm!  Completely, completely Amazing. 

 

To make these cake pops yourself, check out Bakerella.com or buy her darling book here!

And here are pics of Bakerella meeting all of us! 

SCOOPS Gelato

The Heat is ON!  Evidently Mother Nature swapped her seasons on us, giving Angelenos a chilly summer and a smoking hot autumn so far.  No complaints here! This just means I get to eat more of my favorite dessert... gelato!

The other day I finally checked out SCOOPS, a charming little gelateria near Silver Lake that serves both traditional gelato as well as vegan, gluten and lactose-free options made with soy milk. This gelato holds true to the Italian tradition of using milk instead of cream, which results in a markedly lighter fair. This fresh rendition is incredibly desirable during a heat-wave (and a diet, for those counting cals)!

In addition to great consistency, Scoops boasts unique and original flavors like Mascarpone Butterfinger, Honey Lavendar, Red Velvet Cake (with cake and icing in it!) and their best selling "Brown Bread," which is an incredible combo of brown sugar with crunchy Grapenuts! Mmm. Five cherries all the way!~

 

"Brown Bread" on top of Honey Almond and gluten-free Pistachio 

 

For more info on SCOOPS, click here. 

 

Kettle Corn from POPS A LOT

Ok, I just took down a whole bag of gourmet kettle corn by POPS A LOT, which kind of makes me mad at it. But can I fault a brand for concocting popcorn so addictive-ly delicious that I can't put the bag down?? 

I've actually always found kettle corn to be supremely addictive by nature. With its hint of sweet and savory, it makes me dig through the bag in search of more flavor! POPS A LOT scratches your itch by adding a substantial amount of sugar and salt, thus yielding a more flavor-packed item than what you'd find at a street fair. For most people, this addition should be the satisfying touch that prevents them from downing the whole thing (..clearly, I'm not most people).

I appreciate how fresh and crunchy this popcorn tastes. Furthermore, it's made with 100% all natural ingredients, which is always a huge bonus in my book. POPS A LOT popcorn has a varity of tasty flavors, including a perfect caramel corn that you must try as well.

 

POPS A LOT also sells popcorn tins which would make the perfect gift to send this festive time of year. I've even heard that POPS A LOT is Julie Andrew's favorite treat to send! Yes, Maria from the Sound of Music sends POPS A LOT popcorn as her gift of choice. Um, need I say more?!

For more on information on POPS A LOT popcorn, click here.

 

 

Raw, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free Ice-Cream at Kind Kreme

Wow- it's rare, if ever, that you'd see me award five cherries to a Gluten Free, Vegan, no less raw dessert, but I have to say, the soft serve ice-cream at Kind Kreme completely knocked my socks off. For ages my friend has been telling me about this cute little joint in Studio City, but I dilly-dallied, wondering how edible could this stuff really be?  I'm a changed woman. 

A sample of soft-served Chocolate Vanilla swirled

I started to feel healthy just entering Kind Cream where the air smells of fresh grass (which is odd since they don't actually have wheat grass), and wide smiles greet you from behind the counter.  The employees generously allow you to try their many creative flavors with mini, earth friendly wooden spoons.  As I tasted my samples, I learned quickly that the flavors sweetened with Agave Nectar were significantly tastier than those sweetened with honey, which left a bit of a bitter aftertaste.  Ultimately, the soft serve was the best option, but the the hard packed Ginger Basil, Rocky Road, Chocolate and Mint Chip totally delighted me as well. 

 

Made with "Superfood" ingredients like Maca, almond butter, Goji berries, Chia seeds, and Cacao nibs, this is one dessert that truly leaves you feeling uplifted and energize. The only downside of these high quality ingredients is their steeper price.  Also, there're some reports that Agave nectar can be hard on some people's systems. ((Sigh)), I guess you can't win them all.  Ultimately though, Kind Cream makes incredibly refreshing and delicious ice-cream that can compete with even the creamiest, most sugar-packed store brands...just make sure you pick the right flavors!  

 

 

Check out my Tasty Tuesday video here to see how Kind Kreme makes me Fly! ;)

For more information on Kind Kreme, click here. 

 

Best Ice-Cream at Baskin-Robbins

Baskin-Robbins is more than just childhood in my mouth, it's the quintessential ice-cream. Many ice-cream brands have played serious roles in my life: Dreyer's in the home fridge, Buds after school (just down the street), Häagen-Dazs after the dentist (er, also just down the street, sorry doc.), and Ben & Jerry's in college (right by the factory). None of these other brands, however, encapsulate joy quite like walking into a Baskin Robbins, where scoops of ice-cream sport happy clown faces with cone hats and pink spoons and polka-dots abound.  

 

With 31 traditional and idiosyncratic flavors, there's something for everyone and every memory. Dad's Pralines and Cream, Mom's Jamoca Almond Fudge, my brother's Mint Chip, and I was Rainbow Sherbet and Bubble Gum as a kid (when gum was strictly forbidden in my house), Gold Medal Ribbon in middle school, and Light Cappuccino Chip for life. 

 

 

I don't extol the virtues of Baskin-Robbin's ice-cream simply for nostalgia's sake.  In addition to the colorful joy of this all-American brand, the ice-cream is downright delicious. BR ice-cream boasts the perfect consistency (not too packed like Häagen-Dazs, not too fluffy like Breyers), the perfect chunkyness (not intrusive like Ben & Jerry's hunks, not minimal like Dreyer's) and finally, the perfect flavor (not too mild, not too intense).  

Honestly, eating this tasty ice-cream and reading their history here, well... it's enough to make me proud to be an American.~

 

 

Yogurt Stop Frozen Yogurt

You know you're in West Hollywood when the names of the yogurt flavors are "Milk My Harvey Chocolate," "I'm Comin'Out Cake Batter," and "'Fierce' French Vanilla."  I can't say that the vanilla was really that Fierce and the Cake Batter tasted disturbingly like.. well, real cake batter, but overall, the frozen yogurt at Yogurt Stop was especially creamy and pretty delicious.  My favorite flavor was the unique and devine "Red Velvet Cake."  I also enjoyed the "Girl Power Pistachio," but found the "Original WeHo Tart" to be a bit too tart. 

Overall, I enjoyed my experience in the clean, chic, orange and white shop, listening to hip tecno tunes while watching old reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on the flat screen TV.  You're sure to get a delicious cup of rich tasting yogurt here, but with only ten yogurt pumps, half of which are devoted to sugar-free or low-fat options, your choices are more limited than Yogurtland's, from where you have sixteen fabulous flavors to choose.  I'm rounding up to give Yogurt Stop 5 tasty cherries.~

 

 

 

 For more information on Yogurt Stop, click here. 

 

And don't forget about the GIVEAWAY! Money and Cupcakes could easily be your's! Click here for details :)

Apple Pie at Swingers Diner

  

La la la la LaaAAaaaAaa!!!

Golden Cherry desserts always make me want to sing it from the roof-tops! This Apple Pie from Swingers Diner on Beverly Blvd could not have been more succulent if it tried to be. Oooohmygosh- the apples were not sassy, tart and firm, nor were they saccharine sweet and mushy, but rather, they were demure in their simple Perfection.  

The crust was the most remarkable aspect of this tasty dessert, and I'm not even a crust girl! The warm, buttery layers literally melted in my mouth and could almost stand alone, earning freshly-baked cookie-status.  

And look at that heaping scoop of ice-cream on the side! Yet, this is the first and only Apple Pie I've ever consumed that was so delicious it didn't even need ice-cream or whipped cream.  That, my friends, is the true sign of a Golden Cherry worthy Apple Pie.  Mmmmmm.  I ate the whole thing in T minus two minutes.

 

For more info on Swingers Diner and their other locations, click here. 

To see my thoughts on their great cupcakes, click here.

To see my thoughts on their awesome milkshakes, click here. :-9

 

Jimmy John's Cookies

Four. Four is the number of giant Jimmy John's cookies that I have consumed today. Wow.

Jimmy John's sandwich chain is by far my favorite franchise in the blessed US of A.  We don't have them in CA, so when I'm near one, I eat nothing but JJs and I still can't get enough (I'm even getting to-go sandwiches for my flight home tomorrow).  The menu and food are simple and fresh.  Even though these cookies come wrapped from a chain restaurant, they don't have any ingredients that I can't pronounce or recognize from my very own recipes.  Indeed, Jimmy uses his grandma's and mom's recipes for his two options, Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Chip.

The Oatmeal Raisin is buttery and chewy with the perfect oatmeal cinnamon flavoring and plump raisins, while the Chocolate Chip cookies boast large, %60 cocoa, Ghirardelli Chocolate chips! I mean, what other chain does that?! Gourmet all the way baby.

True, these cookies aren't whipped and baked on site, but they're constantly rotating in fresh ones. Since Jimmy John's is just the greatest chain on earth, these cookies get ranked on more than a dessert scale alone, but rather as happy experience altogether.

For info on Jimmy John's, click here.

And please, will someone open up a JJ's in LA for me!?? (click here!)

 

Mini Cupcakes at Sweet Things in Tiburon, CA

Last weekend I attended a baby shower for my baby nephew to-be! It was such a lovely event full of fun, laughter, and great mini-cupcakes! I learned that the cupcakes came from Sweet Things in Tiburon, just outside of San Francisco.

The Carrot Cake was seemless and lacking raisins, which my sis'n'law loved, the Red Velvet cake had a strong cocoa presence, the Chocolate cake went splendidly with its cream cheese frosting, and the winner of the group, the Vanilla/Vanilla cake, was complete perfection!  Too bad these guys don't deliver to my future wedding location, otherwise they'd seriously be in the running for my reception!

For more info on Sweet Things, click here.

Paciugo Gelato

SwooOOooooNing~~~~

Right now I'm indulging a serving of Paciugo gelato (pronounced "pah-CHOO-go"), a company that was started by Italian husband and wife team, Ugo and Cristiana.  As a child in Tuscany, Cristiana would make gelato with her grandpa the old fashioned way, with wooden barrels and salt rock.  Cristiana grew up to apprentice at a four-generation gelateria and eventually moved to the states with her husband. Now in America (Mexico included!), this family has created one of the tastiest lines of gelato!

Paciugo Gelato boasts over 300 flavors, all made with the finest ingredients, passion, and creativity. Right now I'm going gaga for the Chocolate Orange Saffron and the Black Pepper Olive Oil, which tastes like sweet vanilla with a hint of olive oil and a peppery flirt in the throat. The soft consistency brings me right back to summer fun on cobble stoned streets when I studied a semester in Italy.

My only disclaimer is that I found the Sea Salt Caramel to be way too salty, but perhaps I had a bad batch since I'm told this is one of their most popular flavors (Hmmmm..?). With so many flavors, they can't all please everyone all of the time. But they can all be made with quality ingredients and care.  For this reason, I have to award Paciugo Gelato, one of the most authentic gelatos that I've ever had in the states, five-cherries. Mama Mia, cinque ciliegie!

Thank you to the Hermosa Beach location for sending me such a delicious treat today! To find a location near you, click here!

 

Tasty Tuesday Video - Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory

Hi everyone! It's officially my new favorite day of the month, Tasty Tuesday!

This past week I traipsed the UCLA, Westwood Village until I found myself in the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, where the nicest manager let me film inside his shop and even dip my own pretzels in the kettle of freshly made, insanely delicious caramel. 
MMMMMMMmmmmm, I'm literally dreaming about those pretzel sticks and candy covered apples as I write this entry!

The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory holds a dear place in my heart as I used to visit the shop in Colorado with my family on winter vacation. There was always a massive teddy bear sitting on the bench outside of the snow and just seeing him signaled joy and delights ahead (usually in the form of chocolate covered honeycomb :)

Anyway, check out the video! See how gorgeous those Apples are!? These impressive treats would made the perfect gifts! If you're near UCLA, you really must drop in this delicious little shop. :)

For more information on the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, or to even order online, click here!

To see my first Tasty Tuesday video, click here!

Cream Puffs from Pacific Puffs

Wow, these cream puffs, also known as profiteroles, were UH-mazing. Amazing, Amazing, Amazing.  Cream puffs are very dear and near to my heart as they were special treats that I'd enjoy with my mom on family vacations.

It's been so long since I've had a good cream puff that my expecations were mildly low when I stopped into Pacific Puffs, a bright and darling corner shop that sits pleasantly across a flower stand in San Francisco's Marina.

The first bite oozed the most delicious, silky filling that hinted fresh vanilla and eggs. Furthermore, this soft custard was chilled to a refreshingly cold temperature, making it reminscent of my all time favorite dessert, ice-cream.  Finally, the thick chocolate layer on top was precisely Heaven.  Clearly, Pacific Puffs uses only the finest ingredients, and with care at that.

If you're in SF, you must stop at Pacific Puffs! It's very likely that I'll revisit this entry to award Pacific Puffs the Golden Cherry.~

I enjoyed all 4 flavors of the day: fresh strawberries with cream, peanutbutter, vanilla, and with chocolate. Again- Amazing.

Images taken by my dessert companion, Anita of Dessert First. Check out her pastry book!

 

The store was created by two friendly brothers who use their mom's secret recipes. That's gotta be one proud Mama!

For more info on Pacific Puffs, click here.

 

 

Mint Chocolate Cookie Ice Cream from Ben and Jerry's

Well, I didn't mean to have two Ben and Jerry posts so close together, but since Yummy.com delivers it right to your door, I caved and ordered a pint of Mint Chocolate Cookie. 

Just FYI: Ice cream is my all-time favorite dessert, my Kryptonite, if you will. I enjoyed it frequently as a kid, daily in high school, and by college, had worked myself up to a pint a night.  The pint factor was thanks to my college's proximity to the Ben and Jerry's factory.  This location made pints of B and J's as common on campus as the leaves on the trees.  I eventually had to ban myself from buying pints altogether.

But here I am, ordering ice-cream, and feeling like a college kid again as I enjoy every aspect of my ice-cream experience from the hard frozen bites, to the soft melting spoonfuls, to all the fresh cookie chunkiness in between. Lord it's hard to stop eating this! The pint is that wicked in between size where, really, it's too big for one person, but not so big that you'd put it back in the freezer and save for a friend or another time.

2/3rds done.. throwing it in the trash!

Yikes, I can't do that again!  I feel revved up, like I'm locked and loaded, ready pull an all-nighter on a term paper that's due in 10 hours!! Woo! Ok, Ok, must calm down. Caaaaaaalm down.

The ice-cream? Yes, yes, the Mint Chocolate Cookie ice-cream by Ben and Jerry's is fantastic. I appreciate that it's not artificially green and that the generous cookie chunks taste fresh and delicious.  5-Cherrys for Ben and Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie!

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!

 

Pistachio Ice Cream from Ben & Jerry's

Right now I'm eating Ben and Jerry's "Pistachio Pistachio" and I totally can't stop myself. It's so creamy and soothing with the perfect amount of mild flavoring and fresh nuts.  I bought the pint on a whim as I rarely get Pistachio ice cream in the states (yet oddly enough, I'd eat pistachio gelato in Italy everyday!). I also am not that huge a Ben and Jerry's fan, even though I ate it almost everyday in college since the factory was so close to my school.  Alas, this pint 'o B and J's is doing the trick just splendidly. Mmmm, an easy 5-cherries. 

 

 

Liliput Truffles by Sprüngli

Wow- so many 5 cherry reviews lately! What a sweet summer it's been :) Just the other day my guy surprised me with a little box of Swiss chocolates by Sprüngly.  These tiny truffles were so darling and delicious, you couldn't stop from popping them in your mouth as they'd instantly melt away.

Sprungli's delicate truffles are not much larger than a Gumdrop and have exceptionally thin shells that envelop soft and flavorful ganache.  My guy, who not only claims to dislike all sweets, but furthermore, hates chocolate, couldn't keep his hands off of my gift.  Well then, I guess there are some exceptions in life, especially for divine little boxes of extraordinary truffles. 

For more info on Sprüngly, click here. 

Lemon Cake from Just Desserts

Ohmygawd, I'm totally melting.  I just inhaled a "single serving" lemon cake from Just Desserts. I couldn't help myself- it was that good.  Luckily, Just Desserts' goodies are 100% all natural and made with zero trans-fats.

The cake, the icing, the ratio of cake to icing... everything about this dessert was perfection!  Ohlord, who needs cupcakes when you can have mini cakes made from scratch? 

I always passed by these plastic domed cakes at Whole Foods, chalking them up as factory produced rubbish. Now that I've given it the time of day though, I see I was sorely mistaken.  Amazing. Just Desserts are my new Go-To cakes for gatherings like book-club and showers!

For more info on Just Desserts, click here. 

 

 

 

 

Dessert Platter from Global Cuisine Catering

One of the perks of living in Los Angeles is getting to attend sexy events like roof-top parties where you can marvel at a California sunset, test drive a new fancy car, and dine on divine food by caterers who happen to know a thing or two about great desserts.  Such was the case for a recent Jaguar party, catered by Gary Arabia from Global Cuisine.  

 After a lovely evening with friends and a delicious peppercorn steak, I couldn't wait to see what we had in store for desserts. Mr. Arabia did not let me down.  A delightful array of goodies came out that included parfaits, chocolate pot de cremes, mini macaroons, a cheesecake pop, and a ding-dong pop. Yummers!

I truly loved everything on my plate!  The cheesecake pop might disappoint specialists as it was a little sweet and had a hint of fruit, but I melted with joy while eating it.  I had to go back for seconds on the cool parfait since it was perfect for the warm summer night, and the ding dong was like the '80s on a sitck!

 Overall, a wonderful night!  Check it.. wind in my hair, dessert on my plate, and a sweet ride. What more could I ask for?  ;-)

For more info on Global Cuisine catering, click here.   

Carrot Cake at Daily Grill

Mmmm, this carrot cake from the Daily Grill was surprisingly delicious! For one thing, I question chains abilities to execute fresh baked goods with skill, care, and fine ingredients, and for another, I noticed an alarming lack of frosting on side. In fact, the back edge of the layers was completely naked!

Normally, cream cheese frosting is the highlight of carrot cake. I love it lathered in the layers, on the side, and with a decorative dollop on top!  When I first saw the presentation with lightly whipped cream, sweet glazed pecans, and cinnamon dust, I thought it was lovely.  Then I noticed the dearth of side icing and grew completely skeptical.

Wow though, this cake shocked me.  Truly, it was phenomenal. The cake was moist and delicious with a perfect balance of spices and flavor.  The notable shavings of carrots and zuchinis, along with chopped walnuts and raisins, gave it delightful texture without being too chunky.  Since there were five layers of cake, each sandwiched by a layer of frosting, I did not miss the extra serving of it on the side.  Additionally, the whipped vanilla cream that was served on top did a wonderful job of adding a cool sweet creaminess to the mix.  Mmmmm.  Finally, I loved the sweet pecans and enjoyed them with every other bite! This carrot cake was a unanimous home-run at our table. Kudos to the Daily Grill on their 5-Cherry rating!

For more info on the Daily Grill, click here.

Lemon Bar and Cream Cheese Brownie at Corner Bakery Cafe

 

Oh wow. I'm not normally a lemon or crust girl, but the Lemon Bar from the Corner Bakery completely swept me away. Sweet and creamy lemon curd melds right into a buttery soft crust that's totally irresistible. I intended on having only a few bites, but ended up eating the whole bar. I guess that's a 5-Cherry treat! Perfect for the summer time :)

 

 

The Cream Cheese Brownie from the Corner Bakery is also pretty delicious. I had low expectations since I'm weary of chain restaurants churning out generic treats with little care and poor ingredients, but both the Lemon and Cream Cheese Brownie bars totally impressed me. That said, when I sampled the cream cheese top separately from the chocolate brownie bottom, I found the layers a bit salty and lacking great flavor. Together though, the cheese and brownie combine to make a pretty tasty bar that would surely satisfy any sinful craving.

 

For more info on the Cornery Bakery Cafe, click here.

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.