Dessert Darling

Flan from The Flan King

 While my friend claimed to be "no flan expert," she raved about the Flan King from the Farmer's Market.  I was excited to try the original and banana flans that she brought to book club since they sounded legendary. Perhaps my expectations were too high though, because I didn't quite understand the big to-do. Yes, the flan was yummy, but not necessarily more so than any other flan I had tried before.  

Perhaps the most off-putting part for me was the consistency.  This flan was literally as hard and thick as cheese.  In fact, I took a slice of cheese from the plater and a slice of flan and ate them side by side to compare.. yep, same consistency! My other friend, the Cheesecake lover, didn't mind this at all. But flan, my fellow sweet-teeth, should have a whisper of lightness, a hint of a jiggle, a bubble of laugher somewhere in there. The Flan King's version, however, was impenetrably unyielding. It took no prisoners.

Someday I'll have to tell you about the flan at LaLa's on Melrose. Now that custard treat is one for the record books!

But in the meantime, click here to check out the Flan King's site to see their fabulous array of flavors and locations. Perhaps I just had an off batch...~

 

 

 

Creme Brulee at Little Next Door

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

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

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

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

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

 

Creme Brulee at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel

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

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

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