Dessert Darling

Larchmont Bakery- Join me on a Gluttonous Journey

Heard great things about the desserts at Larchmont Bungalow. This is clearly due to their impressive display of very large and colorful dessert items!

Here's my experience in photos:

 

WOA- this is a Large cupcake!

 

Attempting to Bite it

 

The Vanilla/Vanilla wasn't nearly as good as that dreamy Red Velvet cupcake, though

 

It doesn't stop there...

 

Super moist princess cake, very sweet with strong almond flavor

 

Moon Pie: Chocolate covered Choc.Chip cookies with Marshmallow filling, also Very Sweet

 

For good measure I had 3 slabs of this Hawaiian pizza (my fave) from Mulberry Pizzeria

 

Weewf! One of those nights! Hmmm, Stressed much? Maybe.. maybe I am. Alas, nothing a week of veggies and running can't counter-balance.. right!?  Ug, so not as fun as cupcakes and pizza!

ANYway, Larchmont Bungalow makes impressive looking goodies, but over all these items are way too large and heavy-handed with the sugar! Great cream cheese frosting though :) 

For more info on Larchmont Bungalow, click here. 

 

Cheers!

Sweet Cupcakes at Buttercake Bakery

I really wanted to like the cupcakes from Buttercake Bakery in West Hollywood.  The quaint little shop has a simple, fresh and sweet feeling with its white interior and colorfully iced cupcakes. 

The first bite, however, repelled me with its saccharine icing.  It was so sugary in fact, that my mouth actually grimaced. Like Magnolia's cupcakes, it tastes like they dumped a box of powered sugar onto a mound of bland butter and mashed it all around. Now don't get me wrong, there is truly no better marriage then that of butter and sugar, but proportions and flavors need to be observed when it comes to frosting, like a sprinkle of salt or a teaspoon of vanilla. 

The cake part itself is very tall, another draw-back for me as I prefer manageably sized cakes to sink my teeth into. 

That all said, they're reasonably priced at $2.25 a pop (75 cents for the minis, which seem popular) and they're cute enough that they'd work for festive gatherings where the focus is not on the cupcakes.

 

 

For more info on Buttercake Bakery, click here. 

 

xo

Macarons from La Provence Patisserie in the Brentwood Gardens

While a gift box of macarons from La Provence Patisserie looks as promising as a box from Paulette Macarons, your mouth will surely be disappointed.  Compared to Paulette Macaron's refined perfection, these almond cookies zing your mouth with their intense sweetness and artificial flavors.  The orange cookie tasted just like Orange Fanta soda, and my friend couldn't even eat the "Rose" flavor, she was so horrified by the fact that it tasted just like the way her toy dolls used to smell (you know, like the perfume scent on a Strawberry Shortcake doll).  The Hazelnut is one of their most popular flavors and not surprisingly so. It's one of the most natural in both taste and color. The sea-salt caramel offering was also pretty tasty.

 

 

I've certainly had worse macarons in my day (eh hem, Little Next Door).  These treats do look delightful and have the right consistency.  Ultimately, La Provence macarons lurk somewhere between a 2.5-3 Cherry rating.  That said, the Cafe in the Brentwood Gardens is a darling and bright shop that serves wine and beer as well as other baked and savory goods.  It looks like a darling lunch or date spot. 

 

For more information on information on La Provence Patisserie and Cafe, click here. 

Photo by Sue Tofu. 

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Susina Bakery- Charming Atmosphere and Delicious Selections!

Su Su Su-Yeah! Woh-Oh!

What's that song from the '80s? Anyway, everytime I think Susina, that song comes to mind. 

Susina is a super charming bakery & cafe on Beverly Blvd and La Brea that serves one of the best berry cream cakes I've had. Indeed, their Berry Blossom vanilla sponge cake layered with white chocolate mousse, fresh berries, and touches of orange liqueur, meringue, and white chocolate shavings, would make Sweet's Lady Jane's bland rendition cry.

Susina's pastries are also quite delectable.

The red velvet cake let my friend and me down a bit with it's thick and mild frosting, and the cookie, while darling, was hard, firm, and tasted liked it came from a box in a grocery store.  

Overall, I highly recommend convening with friends at Susina Bakery or stopping by to try some of their many tempting treats yourself!

 

 For more information on Susina Bakery & Cafe, click here.  

xo

 

WOO! 30% OFF Platine Cookies- Special Deal for DD Readers!!!

Hi everyone! You know how I just posted this GOLDEN Cherry Review for Platine Cookies? Well the good bakers at Platine's are giving my readers, yes, YOU, 30% off of their goodies! All you have to do is follow them on their Twitter of FB and tell them that "DD sent me," when you go make your order in their Culver City store. 

This is an AWESOME deal guys!! Just in time for Valentine's Day and Oscar parties! I promise you, Platine Cookies will make you Swooon!

 

This offer lasts from Today through Feb. 15th, so take advantage of it! 

For more info on Platine Cookies, click here. 

 

You're welcome ;-)

XOXO

 

Big Sugar Bakeshop Has Small Sugar Results

I really wanted to like the cupcakes from Big Sugar Bakeshop in Studio City.  Indeed, I always want to like the treats that I try. Alas, these cupcakes never reached the climatic crescendo that one craves from an indulgent dessert. I was first weary of the thin layer of frosting on top, and then further put off by it's mild, buttery flavor and slippery, greasy touch. The cake itself, though, is perfectly tasty. If you're not a frosting person, these cupcakes might be for you.  Otherwise, there're far better cakes in the bakes out there..~

 

 

For more information on Big Sugar Bakeshop, click here. 

 

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. 

 

Best Vegan Cupcake, Hands Down

I've had a lot of bad Vegan desserts, so when I found a good one, let alone a delicious one, it nearly shocked me silly. Naturally, this vanilla goodness came from one of my favorite cupcakeries in S. Cal, Yummy Cupcakes. This Vegan vanilla/vanilla cupcake was so delicious I almost think they're lying. Ha. For this crafty work of tastiness, I must award Yummy Cupcakes yet another Golden Cherry for the BEST VEGAN CUPCAKE! Voila!

 

Vegan cupcake on the right

 

For more information on Yummy Cupcakes, 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.

The Perfect Sized Cupcakes by Sweet E's Bake Shop

Yay! I love love lOVE finding darling bakeries, like Sweet E's Bake Shop, that I know I'll frequent for its giftable goodies, adorable party options, and personal indulgences! Sweet E's recently transitioned from a Dessert Truck to a store front on Robertson in Los Angeles. "Adorable" barely begins to describe this pink polkda dotted place. The Candy Cupcake was fun and colorful with its mini M&Ms and the Cookie Dough Cupcake tasted exactly like cookie dough. The best part about Sweet E's cupcakes though? Their darling, perfect size. These treats are not too mini like those from Baked By Melissa, nor are they large and intimidating. Indeed, these cupcakes are just bigger than a golf ball. The downside of smaller cupcakes, though, is that they're not as moist and bouncy as their larger counterparts. I also found my iced-cookie to be a little firm and dry. Otherwise, Sweet E's Bake Shop might be my new Go-To place for buying treats for friends, meetings, Book Club, etc!

 

 

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

Stay tuned for my review on Sweet E's cake pops! 

xo

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. 

 

 

Hot Blondies Bakery serving up Blondies and Brunettes for Brownie Fans

Who doesn't love a Hot Blondie? The great bakers of Hot Blondies Bakery sent me a sampler of their delicious goodies and it was quite a treat.  While cupcake shops are sprouting up on every corner, few bakers focus on the art of the brownie. Hot Blondies Bakery features a wide array of Blondies and Brunettes with both traditional and original flavors like Butterscotch White Chocolate Chip, Peanutbutter Chocolate Chunk, S'mores, Nutella Hazelnut, and Espresso White Chocolate.  The consistency of the bars was perfection, however, some had strong flavors that made me melt, while others tasted a bit bland.  Surely there is a perfect bar for everyone though, Blondies and Brunettes alike!

 

 

Hot Blondies delivers locally in NYC and ships anywhere nationwide. For more information on Hot Blondies Bakery, click here. 

 

Levain Bakery versus Jaque Torres Cookies: Battle of the Upper West Side

I marched my way through blustering winds in NYC to try the legendary cookies at Levain Bakery. Indeed, these colossal cookies were epic in nature.  Really, they weren't cookies so much as giant, chocolate chip truffles, each featuring a thin, crispy cookie shell encasing a soft, chewy center of hot doughy goodness. A Levain cookie feels much like a weighty pita-pocket in your hand.  While this delightful play on size and texture titillated me, I can't say that the flavors entirely inspired me.

 

The chocolate chip was great, but lacked a little of that salty butter, brown sugar taste. The chocolate cookie reminded of the ones I made here using a low-fat recipe.. which is clearly preferable, and the oatmeal raisin was disappointingly bland. 

 

 

On my way back, I encountered Jacque Torres Chocolate shop and decided that I should buy one of his chocolate chip cookies for a good ol' compare and contrast. The differences in these cookies were striking.  Jacque's cookie was thin and flat with a rubbery texture that resembled chewing old gum. That said, the flavors were delicious with a slightly salty edge that always enhances a cookie experience.  

 

 

Ultimately these were both fine cookies with distinct hits and misses.  However, Levain's chocolate chip cookies just nearly edge out the competition with their unique texture and composition.  4.5 Cherries for Levain and 4 cherries for Jacque Torres!  

 

Jacques Torres    and    Levain Bakery Cookies

 

For more info on Levain Bakery, click here.

For more info on Jacques Torres Chocolate, 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.

 

 

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. 

 

Gluten-Free Cupcakes from French Meadow Bakery

Dear Gluten-Free Friends,

I'm keeping my eyes and ears peeled for tasty treats that you can enjoy too. Alas, these cupcakes by French Meadow Bakery that I found in Whole Foods are not the answer. The cake has an oddly firm quality and the icing tastes like a poor-man's buttercream. Let's just say, palm oil and corn syrup are no substitutes for real butter and sugar! I'm a purist, so these cupcakes let me down, but if you only eat Gluten-Free desserts, they may not be that bad in your book.  In the meantime, the search is still on....!                 ps: Sorry for the pink-ness of the shot. Camera was on a weird setting.. I'm learning!

 

   

 

Plaisir in West Hollywood

Today I met up with my bloggin' buddy BsideBlog for a little lunch and dessert.  We stumbled upon a modern French bakery in West Hollywood called Plaisir ("pleasure" in French.. ooh la la).  I was instantly smitten with Plaisir's desire to delight! They had colorful cream puffs on three-tiered platters, gorgeous cakes on the racks, a hi-def TV playing Top Chef, and rows of i-pods and headphones for customers to chill out to their favorite tunes!

Unfortunately, the desserts let us down a bit.  The red velvet cake was entirely too dry and had mild, nondescript frosting. The "Lemon" cheesecake barely had any essence of lemon and was a bit too textured with it's mascarpone cheese. I also wasn't sure I enjoyed the addition of hazelnuts in the crust.  That all said,  Plaisir's Cream Puffs were totally delicious with a great cream to puff ratio (mostly cream).  I think these colorful puffs would make adorable additions to your fun soirees! 

 

Joyful cream puffs

Dry red velvet cake

Pretty decent lemon cheesecake

 

Me enjoying their i-pod with my blue cream puff!

 

For more information on Plaisir in WeHo, 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. 

 

Baked by Melissa - The Tiniest Cupcakes in NYC

I'd heard amazing things about Baked By Melissa's mini-cupcakes and was eager to try them on my NY adventures. Upon seeing them I was struck by how tiny these treats are in real life. Surely you could fit six of them into one normal cupcake! Which leads me to think, cupcake is a total misnomer.  Why, these are teaspoon cakes! And while rich, flavorful, and delicious, there's something lacking in the experience.  That said, tiny treats leave room for lots of flavor sampling, a huge bonus. These cupcakes are great for children, treating your office, party trays, and ladies who want just one bite! But if you really want to sink your teeth into joyful decadence, buy a real sized cupcake!

 

 

For more info on Baked by Melissa, click here.

 

 

 

 

Cupcake Cafe in New York City

I stumbled into the Cupcake Cafe by accident while walking the streets of New York. The cafe had an antique feel and boasted rows of artistically decorated cupcakes and cakes that were reminiscent of Sweet Lady Jane's darling creations. However, I feared that like Sweet Lady Jane's, these cupcakes would disappoint me with a fancy show and little substance. Alas, I was right. The cake was firm and made me think of biscuits, while the "frosting" was more like slightly sweetened butter that had softened just enough to form delicate flowers.  

I give Cupcake Cafe credit for having been around since 1988 and offering cake decorating classes, which would surely be fun to take! I also think their cakes would make lovely additions to elegant and feminine affairs like showers, weddings, and tea parties.  However, these are not the treats to buy  to indulge in or satisfy your cupcake craving!  

 

 

For more information on the Cupcake Cafe, click here.

Photo by Yanina Manolova

 

New York City Dessert Crawl

Woowee! Today was an epic day of dessert eating that started with a Cupcake Crawl (four tasty Cupcakeries), and then wound itself into a general Dessert Crawl as I managed to tack on a milkshake and macaroons.

Below is a sneak-peak of the week to come in reviews. :)

 

Billy's Bakery

 

Burgers and Cupcakes

 

Cupcake Cafe

 

Baked by Melissa 

 

Stand 4

 

La Maison du Chocolat

 

Tomorrow will be a chocolate and cookie day!  Wish me well ;-)

 

 

Cupcakes at Vanilla Bake Shop

Sweet Sugar of Mary! Vanilla Bake Shop likes it SWEET! However, I don't mind the extra surge of sugar in their frosting because these treats also have wonderful flavor, unlike other intensely sweet icings that just taste like powdered sugar and butter (eh hem, Magolia and Buttercake Bakery). 

The minis melted in my mouth with fun and vibrant flavors, like the Key lime with citrus filling, the chocolate with whisky in the frosting, and the seasonal pumpkin spice. While the red velvet cake had a nice, strong cocoa presence, the cream cheese frosting was actually too sweet.

 

 

The large vanilla/vanilla cupcake had excellent flavor, but left room for improvement with its dichotomous consistencies. The frosting was whipped very thin while the cake itself was relatively firm and dense. This contrast lacked harmony, thus perfection. 

 

 

Overall, four cherries for Vanilla Bake Shop's super sweet but tasty gourmet cupcakes.

Stay tuned for my thoughts on their Cake Pops...~

For more information on Vanilla Bake Shop, click here. 

 

Macarons from Miette in San Francisco

This weekend in SF I made sure to stop by the historic Ferry Building to to visit Miette, a little bakery that Conde Naste deemed to be one of the top ten pastry shops in the world. While I had an incredible experience with their caramel panna cotta and coconut cake, I'd like to discuss their macarons.

As a refresher, macarons are meringue based, almond cookies that sandwich delicious ganache or jam fillings.  Traditionally, macarons appear in festive and delightful settings ranging from intimate tea parties to elegant weddings.  Additionally, they make wonderful little gifts.  Half the charm of macarons is the range of playful colors and flavors in which they come.  This trait is where Miette's macaron's fall short. Their cookies only come in natural shades of rugged almond, or perhaps chocolate, depending on the flavor. While I love natural and organic ingredients for my goodies, the macaron is not the cookie to downgrade the fun.  

Furthermore, these cookies are extra chewy, thus lacking the melt-in-your-mouth quality that the best macarons possess.  Two and a half cherries for these natural yet drab and chewy cookies.

 

For more information on Miette, click here. 

Vegan Banana Cupcake at Lark Cake Shop

 

Ok, this vegan cupcake from Lark Cake Shop was pretty awful.  I actually spit out the "frosting," which was really just saccharine sweet rubber.  I mean, the groves in the "icing" wouldn't budge when my tongue licked it.. I think a Jolly Rancher is softer than this stuff! Oh gosh- completely completely terrible.

However, the banana cake muffin below it really wasn't that bad.  Lark Cake Shop would be much better off just selling this item as a Banana Muffin instead of trying to pawn it off as a cupcake. 1.5 cherries for the marginally successful Vegan Banana bread base.  

 

 

At least their normal cupcakes that I reviewed on Monday are much better!

For more info on Lark Cake Shop, click here. 

 

 

Cupcakes from Lark Cake Shop in Silverlake

Today I met a guy who raved about the chocolate cupcake at the Lark Cake Shop in Silverlake. Since I was half way towards that end of the world anyway,  I promptly headed over to the bakery to see the goods for myself. I can't say I fully loved everything about any one cupcake, but that said, they each had strong qualities.  I shall break it down by flavor!

Chocolate/Chocolate Cupcake: the frosting on this cupcake was more like a really smooth, yet thick chocolate mousse.  It had a deep but mild cocoa flavor and I believe I detected hints of cinnamon, which evoked Mexican chocolate to me.  The frosting didn't quite wow me as I thought Mrs. Beasley's chocolate frosting did the mousse thing better. However, I did love the chocolate cake iteself, which tasted just like my grandma's famous recipe in the family!  Finally, there's a delightful whipped-cream filling inside this cupcake that nicely balances the heaviness of the mousse frosting.

Vanilla/Vanilla Cupcake: ok, if you haven't heard me state it before, let me be clear for the record: I do not like icing that is overly whipped into a thin poof of saccharine nothingness! Frosting is not meant to be whipped-cream!  Give me some consistency people! A little resistance against the teeth.  Hoy, I did not like this icing. Thank goodness for the purple sugar sprinkled on top to give it a little texture. This all said, I did like the vanilla cake.. but I ask you, what's a great cake without good icing? Not much, I'm afraid.

Red Velvet Cupcake: This cupcake was my favorite of the batch.  Compared to the vanilla cupcake, the frosting on this one tasted very sour, but on it's own, it tastes like fresh, cream cheese frosting. And while the consistency of this icing was also whipped very smooth, it still had some weight to it. Unfortunately, the red velvet cake itself was a little dry. Otherwise, it would have been a decent cake.

Finally, I tried their Vegan Banana Cupcake.  Because this cake stands in a category unto itself, stay tuned for its separate review tomorrow!

For more info on Lark Cake Shop, click here.  

 

Tasty Tuesday - Ralph's Strawberry and Cream Cake

Hi guys! This is a super short but sweet Tasty Tuesday video. Ohmygosh, I was literally dreaming about this cake in bed last night. Quite simply, it was Heavenly.  Ralph's can really pull through in the baked goods department! What a delightful surprise :)

 

Cupcakes at Mrs. Beasley's

The other night at Book Club my friend brought over a dozen Mrs. Beasley's cupcakes. We all dug in, ooeying and aweing, and sampling every flavor.  I had two immediate thoughts upon first bite: one was that these were very moist and tasty cupcakes, but the other was that the icing was way overly whipped.

Another point of contention was the Red Velvet frosting. A couple girls loved this cupcake anyway, but most of us missed the fresh cream cheese flavor that makes a red velvet cupcake so special.  The Chocolate Chocolate cupcake, however, was AMAZING. I've never had chocolate "frosting" quite like it. It was like a deep, rich, chocolate mousse whipped up onto a delicious, moist little cake.  

Overall, these treats lurk somewhere between a 3.5-4 Cherry rating.  While these cupcakes would surely delight your party guests, they're almost $5 a pop!  At 1/5th the price you can get Hansen's cupcakes on Fairfax.  They taste a little more artificial, but they're still enjoyable and will be easier on the wallet!

 

 For more info on Mrs. Beasley's and their other baked goods and locations, click here. They ship nationally!

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!  

Cupcakes and Sugar Cookies at Porto's Bakery

 

Just down the street from Yummy Cupcakes in Burbank is Porto's Bakery.  I walked into the large family-owned lunch and dessert stop and couldn't believe the hordes of people lined up to get their goods.  This place must have some seriously delicious food, I thought!  I admired the rows of colorful desserts that stretched as far as the eye could see and finally decided on an iced-sugar cookie, two cupcakes, and a slice of chocolate cake.  

Rows of Colorful Cakes!

Red Velvet Cupcake:  Mmmm, the icing was Perfection.  Not too sweet, not too salty, yet, it had a wonderful flavor.  Furthermore, it was smooth, cool, and generously whipped up so that it was nice and light! I inhaled it.  The icing that is.. the cake was good, but a little on the dry side.  

Vanilla/Vanilla Cupcake: the icing alone was a bit sweet and flavorless, but it perfectly complimented the cake which had an appreciated hint of salt.  These cupcakes are shaped like muffins, so it's very easy to just eat the top off and then neglect the remainder of the cake.

Sugar Cookie: This was the most disappointing purchase.  The cookie was too crispy/buttery and the icing had a rubbery/waxy glaze feel (versus fresh frosting).

Chocolate Cake:  overall this cake was very fluffy, so if you're into dense, flour-less chocolate cakes, this might not be for you. Between fluffy layers of cake lay whipped, anemic chocolate cream. Shavings of real chocolate on top really pulled the cake together for me.  

 

For more info on Porto's Bakery, click here. 

 

Blueberry and Strawberry Cheesecake Trifles at Champagne Bakery

Today I dropped into Champagne Bakery, a chain french bakery and cafe. I wasn't that hungry, so it delighted me to see that they offered mini portions, like the Blueberry and Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle.

I opted for the mini Blueberry Trifle, which tasted like it had  been sitting on the shelf for a while as the whipped cream on top had solidified into a glue-like substance. Furthermore, a strong lemon flavor alarmed my taste buds. Say what? I didn't want a zingy lemon dessert! I wanted a cool and creamy trifle, accented by fresh blueberries. When I asked the lady behind the counter if she knew that the trifle was indeed, lemon curd, she gladly gave me the Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle for free. Wooo! That was a really nice gesture that nearly upped their cherry points (nearly, not quite).

The Strawberry Cheesecake option definitely tasted more fresh and had a playful mix of consistencies with the fluffy whipped cream, chunky crust moments, smooth cream cheese center, and soft fresh strawberries. That said, the cream cheese was a bit sour (could have used more sugar) and overall, well.. I threw it away less than half way through. (Sigh).. Perhaps I didn't choose the right desserts here, but I say pass on the Trifles when you drop in the Champagne Bakery and make sure that what you order looks fresh!

For more information on Champagne Bakery, 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.

Chocolate Chip Cookie from Whole Foods

Today I decided to try a large Chocolate Chip cookie from the Whole Foods bakery.  I thought the cookie looked promising as the baked brown rim gradated to a lighter shade in the center, signifying chewy-goodness.

The first bite got my hopes up as I was right about the consistency of this cookie.  Perfection!  I had a bunch of chocolate in that first bite as well, which you can never go wrong with. But as I continued my journey through this cookie, I grew disappointed with each passing bite. It turned out to be rather bland. I think a little bit of salt would have really gone a long way, but as is, the cookie is a complete waste of space.

Points for wonderful texture,consistency and natural ingredients, but otherwise, this cookies is a pass.

American Cupcake in San Francisco

Last weekend in northern California I met Anita, a pastry chef in SF with a darling recipe blog.  We decided to hit up the trendy hot-spot, American Cupcake in San Francisco's Marina.

WOW! This place was cool! Los Angeles, doesn't have a late night sweet spot and we could really use a place like American Cupcake!

When we first walked into the sleek cupcake diner, futuristic light bubbles gave off cool blue vibes.

An array of exciting cupcake flavors enticed us, including Butterscotch, Chocolate Mint, Pixie Stick, Bubble gum and Cotton Candy.

Then as we sat down to eat, the lights shifted to illuminate a rainbow.

In addition to exciting cupcake flavors, there was a pop-corn maker, large pretzels, cotton candy, and other fun carnival foods.  And Look! A photobooth!

We could also admire the bakers whip up icing, right in front of us.

And unlike you're ordinary bake-shop, they sold beer and even had wine pairings where they served the most darling trio of mini cupcakes on a chic white platter with a glass of wine! Photobooth, Carnival food, Beer, and wine!? This is the perfect friend or date spot!! How could you go wrong with this place!??

(Heavy Sigh)

The icing... The icing, my friends, was Terrible.  The icing was that aweful, overly whipped, grocery store variety frosting that leaves a bitter, waxy film layer in your mouth.  Furthermore, the distinct flavors, while whimsical and exciting, were just as natural as buttered popcorn Jelly Bellies.  The only cupcake that didnt' make me cringe was the red velvet cake, which was thanks to the nice, natural, white cream cheese frosting.

Overall, a wonderful concept, a great spot to gather with friends or meet a date, and a super fun environment.  Just avoid any of the technicolored food items and I'll think you be fine!

 

Fore more info on American Cupcake, 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.

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

Tasty Tuesday at MILK

Hi everyone! I'm really excited to announce my first Tasty Tuesday video! I hope to get one of these bad boys up at least once a month, so stay tuned for all the sweet action as I continue to hit up bakeries around town.

 

 

In the meantime, check out my first experience eating Blue Velvet cake at MILK on Beverly Blvd. Ultimately, I'd give three cherries to both the red and blue velvet cakes there. But tune in to see my thoughts why! :)

ps: yes, I did shoot this around 4th of July.. just a little late getting it up ;)

Milk and Krunchies Rice Krispie Treats

After a string of fantastic desserts this week, I had a disappointing experience with a fancy Rice Krispie bar that looked far more delightful than it's execution.

I found my Milk and Krunchies at Joans on 3rd, a very upscale market, cafe, and bakery. Rows of darling polka-dot wrapped rice-crispy treats ranging in flavors from Peanut Butter Cup to Fruit Loops tempted me into trying the childhood treat of yore. 

The first bite of my Kookies n' Kreme selection completely let me down.  Instead of a fresh and chewy trip down memory lane, I encountered a firm and artificial bar.  I then checked the ingredients to see some horrific items listed, a few of which I can't even pronounce. Bummer! I was totally duped by the adorable packaging.  (Sigh).. sorry Milk and Krunchies, but you missed the mark on this one. 

 For more info on Milk and Krunchies, 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.

 

 

Iced Cookies from Victor Bene's Bakery

"I'm on a BOAT! (I'm on a Boat!) I'm on a Boat (I'm on a Boat!) Got my fish-shaped cookies and my flippy-floppies..." 

Awee yeeeah, spent my weekend on a boat.  Enjoyed the sun on my face, the wind in my hair, and these cookies in ma belley.  Truly, how cute are these iced-cookies made by Victor Bene's Bakery? While I found them a little dry and hard, they still pleased the crowd and had happy takers. 

For more info on Victor Bene's Bakery, with locations in Gelson's and Vicente Foods, 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!

 

Macaroon and Red Velvet Cake at Lemonade in Beverly Hills

Today I had lunch at the most darling spot called Lemonade, on Beverly in West Hollywood.  The array of delectable foods and desserts had me so giddy that I literally clapped and squealed to my friend "I'm so excited!"  This typical burst of DD-enthusiasm elicited a sideways glance from a painfully waif yet towering model. Hmm.  Whatever- Yummy Food!

For dessert I ordered this gigantic, pistachio flavored macaroon, and a slice of red velvet cake. 

Pistachio Macaroon

The gigantic macaroon was the size of my full palm and probably consisted of about four and a half normal macaroons in one.  When you bite into to it, a thin shell gives way to a soft chewy cookie that's almost cake-like due to the sheer volume.  Then your teeth continue to sink into the softest, gooiest, and most delightful ganache filling that's sweet with a dynamic hint of lemon.  I Love this rendition of the trendy Macaroon!

Red Velvet Cake

I also swooned over the delicious red velvet cake which was layered in a veil of coconut flakes.  The cake itself was super moist with mild flavors, and while the icing alone could have used a slight kick, the coconut shavings perfectly enhanced the flavor with it's sweet and distinct taste.  If you like coconut, you'll love this red velvet cake. If not, this is not the red velvet for you. 

Large Macaroons

Red Velvet Cake

 sorry for the blury pic here :-P

For more information on Lemonade and their other locations, click here. 

 

 

Cookies from Paradise Bakery

 This weekend I flew to Mexico (Ole!) and had the best lay-over ever in Arizona. What could make a lay-over exciting, you may wonder? Delicious desserts, of course!!!

The Paradise Bakery even smelled amazing as we ventured out of security to grab some treats for the second leg of our journey.  While I can't say these cookies were 5-cherry home-runs, the overall experience with Paradise Bakery was indeed, heavenly.

First, a friendly employee greeted us in line with samples of divine Chocolate Fudge Cookie Bites.  Then we were greeted yet again for free smoothie samples. Then, as we approached the cash register, we could see a big window where they place the cookie dough on the baking trays, right in front of your eyes!! Aghh, great aroma, free samples, delightful options, cheerful service and cookie dough in site! Are you kidding me?! I Love this place!!

I thought the Lemon Zest cookie was amazing, and I never even like lemon desserts. The Snickerdoodle was my least favorite as it was a bit plain, but over all, a top 4.5 cherry rating for Paradise Bakery!

For more info on Paradise Bakery and their other locations, click here. 

 

 

Carrot Cake from Canters' Deli and Bakery

No you're eyes don't deceive you, that really is a half-cherry rating.  If there were such a thing as negative cherries, this abominable carrot cake from the LA landmark, Canters' Deli on Fairfax, would surely earn the odious award.  

Carrot Cake... right?! How do you go wrong with Carrot Cake?!  My dear friend and actress, Autumn Reeser, and I set out to find a a slice of heaven as we both love carrot cake. However, we could not have gone more wrong than we did with Canter's.  "Repulsive" was all Autumn could mutter as she grimaced, gingerly trying small bites.

Autumn thought that the carrot cake resembled a large honkin' protein bar with waxy glaze and all.  Her sentiments were not far off.  The "icing" left a terrible taste in our mouths as it was the worst combination of chalky and waxy, and the dried out bread.. oops, I mean "cake," had barely any seasoning or flavor. Is this place for real!?  Canter's looked gross from the outside, continue to look gross from the inside, and ended up just tasting gross all around.  Repulsive, Gross.. what have you.. this cake? Definitely not worth the weight!

 

For more info on Canters' Deli on Fairfax, click here. (Ha, like you want it now ;)

 

 

 

Yum Yum Donuts

 If you live in Los Angeles, you've probably driven by Yum Yum Donuts about a thousand times heading up Highland or La Cienega by the 10.  You see a happy face licking his lips and wonder...just how Yum Yum are Yum Yum Donuts really? Probably pretty gross.. 

Actually, surprisingly Yummy!  This weekend friends delighted us by bringing over a large box of beautiful doughnuts and, as is my job, I had one of each.  Over all, the doughnuts are fresh and fluffy, with the exception of the old-fashion glazed, which was appropriately saturated, sweet, and dense.  I would have enjoyed custard filling in the maple glazed bar (which is an all-time fave from childhood) and I felt a bit ill after eating them, which made me want to dock points. Alas, I decided that would be unfair since it's not the doughnuts' fault that I ate so many.

So congrats to the Yum Yum Donut chain! You earned yourself a solid 4-Cherry rating :-9

 

Too Many Cupcakes

Yes, it is possible for even the Dessert Darling to have too many cupcakes.  This weekend we bought boxes of cupcakes for a photo-shoot and I ended up eating at least 8 of them.  That compounded with the Dodgers and Lakers both losing this weekend (read: too many Dodger dogs, nachos and beer) have left me saying, No More junk food this week!  

So what's a Dessert Darling to do while she gets bikini ready for the summer?? Fear not my fellow Sweet Teeth! I shall not leave you Sugar-Free this week! Instead, I'm going to feature recipes, articles, and posts from other fabulous blogs that I know and love.  If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment here or on my FB page.  And while you're at it, be sure to "Become a Fan" and "Like" my blog by clicking on the blue box on the right!!!

For now, check out this fantastic post about the wholesale and retail LA bakery, Bakelab, from the food-loving blog, DianaTakesaBite.  

 

 

 

Marzipan Treats and Pastries at Berolina Bakery

Today my friend and I stumbled upon Berolina Bakery in Glendale, where I had the most delicious marzipan treat. It was called a "Vacuum" and was basically a small log of mild rum soaked chocolate cake, enveloped by a layer of marzipan, with the sides dipped in a delicate shell of chocolate.  The mild rum and almond flavors ruled the show as the chocolate took a quiet seat back-stage.  The consistency was thick, pasty, and delicious! 5 Cherries for the Vacuum!

The pastry, on the other hand, bored me with it's thick dried out sides. However, it did have delicious fruit on top!  Over all, the Berolina Bakery earns 4.5 cherries for the exquisite Vacuum, which almost makes me forgive and forget the very ordinary pastry.  

For more info on Berolina Bakery, click here.

 

Caramelitas from Paula LeDuc Fine Catering

I just came home to the most amazing amazingness awaiting me in a Fed-Ex box.  I opened the lovely package from Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, one of the companies I interviewed for my wedding, and discovered her home-made "Caramelitas."  

Caramelitas, if you were wondering, are described as "oatmeal and brown sugar crust topped with almonds, chocolate chips, and caramel." In short.. Heaven.  

Since I inhaled almost every single bar already, I must award these treats the Golden Cherry. Woo, Paula LeDuc Catering.. you are now in the lead! (Anyone else care to challenge? Ha ;)

For more information on Paula LeDuc Fine Catering in N.Cal, click here. 

Vegan Cupcakes from Luscious

The last two years at the Coachella Music Festival I've had the pleasure of stumbling upon the organic and vegan dessert booth by Luscious. 

Their cupcakes are both delicious and relatively "healthy" as they use the finest ingredients with no hydrogenation, refined sugars or bleached flours. Normally, this would raise an eyebrow for me, but truly, I don't even miss it in these delectable treats.

The cupcakes are delicious, but a little on the dense side, so a few bites go along way and are great to share with a friend (then again, I might have been full to start off with too much pizza and beer.. hey, it was a rock festival ;)

Kudos to Luscious for desserts that are both delicious and organic & vegan!

For more info on Luscious and their other yummy looking baked goods, click here. 

 
 

Hummingbird Cake at Doughboys

While the famous Doughboys Cafe and Bakery in West Hollywood closed down for rumored reasons too naughty to share on my blog, I was happy to see it recently re-opened under new ownership and management in its freshly redone venue.  Oprah, after all, did love their red velvet cake.

While you might think I had to try Oprah's pic, everyone around me insisted that the Hummingbird Cake, a banana-bread/carrot cake combo with  cream cheese frosting, was even better.  Clearly, I had to try the Hummingbird cake!  

Eh. It had clearly been in the fridge, which made it cool, dense, and a bit dry. I felt robbed of a fresh experience. The flavors were mild and the cake super chunky with it's generous serving of walnuts.  It was tasty enough for me to demolish it, but nothing to write home about. Oprah always did prefer savory foods to sweets. What does she know? ;)

For more info on Doughboys, which does have Delicious food, click here. 

Photo courtesy of Diana from her blog Diana Takes a Bite.  Thank you!