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Flourless Chocolate Cake at Cecconi’s Restaurant

By Dessert Darling · March 22nd, 2013

Hats off to Cecconi’s! Last night I experienced an incredible trio of desserts at this swanky, Italian restaurant.

The most exquisite of the the offerings was the:

Flourless Chocolate Cake, so cool and creamy my friend claimed, “It’s smoother than George Clooney hitting on a cocktail waitress.”

EGSactly. That’s exactly how to describe this slab of deliciousness. Mmm, I swoon just thinking about it. If you need a chocolate fix, I urge you to visit this fine establishment. At $9 a slice, it doesn’t come cheap, but for the George Clooney experience, it’s well worth every penny.

Additionally, I enjoyed:

Summer Berries Pannacotta, lovely chilled, creamy custard with plump berries, and fresh mint garnish.

Peach Gelee (special of the night) This gelatinous delicacy was made with fresh peaches and Italian sparkling wine for an alcoholic kick that was tempered by home-made peach gelato.

Bravo!

For more info on Ceconni’s in West Hollywood, click here.

Trader Joe’s Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds & Organic Dark Chocolate Mint by Green & Black’s

By Dessert Darling · March 17th, 2013

The other night I had the greatest catch-up with my dear, dear friend Laura. We chatted for four hours straight about everything under the sun from Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In to how amazing these Trader Joe’s Chocolate Sunflower Seeds are. First of all, count on Laura to have the best of the best in her pantry. The Green & Black’s Mint Dark Chocolate was exquisite. Rarely do a I find a store bought bar of dark chocolate to be that delightful. That said, it had some serious competition.

The Chocolate Sunflower Seeds were the most addictive and delicious little morsels of joy. They’re sweet, nutty, and fun to eat with their jubilant colors and varying sizes. And since I avoid artificial ingredients, I was glad to see that the bright colors were derived from natural sources like Paprika and beets.

That said, there is such a thing as eating too many (as I’m apt to do), and I ended up with an unequivocal tummy ache. Awe, yes, now I remember why I never buy Chocolate Sunflower seeds. If you can practice control around these tempting treats, they’re a totally fun indulgence to share with a friend.

Organic Chocolate Nut Munch from Healthy Batch

By Dessert Darling · February 8th, 2013

In case you missed this HealthyDarling.com post, I’ve been pretty excited about the launch of my friend’s site, HealthyBatch.com. Healthy Batch is a flash sales site (like Fab) that features organic products at discounted rates. Amazing! I immediately ordered these Chocolate Nut Munch bites and they arrived the very next day. What What?!

The order came with all three flavors- Omega Munch, Maple Nut Munch, and Coco-nut Munch. All of the selections are Fair Trade 75% dark chocolate, and contain protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Additionally, they are soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Wow.

With their deep, dark chocolate and refined ingredients, these bites are definitely suited for a sophisticated palette. While they’re not the most decadent dessert in the world, I have to give 5-cherries for making something so historically sinful, both delicious and healthy.

To order Chocolate Nut Munch on HealthyBatch.com, click here.

Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt, Caramel, Chocolate Bar by Vosges

By Dessert Darling · February 4th, 2013

Last Monday I wrote this scathing review of Vosge’s Bacon Chocolate Bar. Vosges has quickly gone from zero to hero with their Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt Caramel Bar. Yes, that’s a just really long way of saying “salted-caramel bar.” But hey, they figure they can charge $7.50 per bar with a fancier name. Marketing aside, this bar really does delight with its high quality, 70% cacao chocolate, and salty-sweet, drizzling caramel. Warning, the caramel can make things messy if you don’t eat a whole square at a time. This designer chocolate bar would be great for gifting (on top of a gift, on it’s own, or as a stocking stuffer).

Yummy. For more information on Vosges chocolates, click here.

Healthy Super Bowl Dessert to Cheer the Niners to Victory!

By Dessert Darling · February 1st, 2013

YEA!!!! Today I’m flying to New Orleans to watch the 49ers go the distance at the Super Bowl- How exciting! Good thing this isn’t the early 2000s, or else I’d be bummed I was missing the Britney Spears commercials (ha). While I won’t be attending any home parties this year, I still recommend these darling Chocolate Covered Strawberries. These treats are festive, delicious, and practically a health food compared to the other items that abound at Super Bowl parties.

GO 49ers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers!

Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar from Vosges Haute Chocolate

By Dessert Darling · January 28th, 2013

Bleck. I love chocolate and I love bacon, so I thought that these sinfully delicious ingredients together, in Vosges Haute Chocolat’s “Mo’s Dark Bacon Bar,” would yield a hot love fest. Oy, more like hot mess! Truly, I’m grimacing as I write, trying to disintegrate the aftertaste of bad bacon with sweet cocoa.

While the ingredients look fine enough with uncured pork seasoned with sea salt, white pepper, and celery juice (eh?), I almost think they should have just fried up some crispy strips of Oscar Mayer for a familiar and pleasing result. Ironically, the bacon in this bar tastes artificial or bad, like the shredded, unwanted bits that you find waiting around at a salad bar.

This bar’s only saving grace is the 62% cacao, high quality chocolate. But at $7.50 a pop, the Dark Bacon Bar is a complete Pass!

Baked Hot Chocolate Chaud and Fruit Crumble from Zazie in SF

By Dessert Darling · December 14th, 2012

OOOOOOhhh how I LOVE desserts that give me Sweet, sweet dreams. In San Francisco I found myself at Zazie, a quaint, French fusion restaurant in the heart of Cole Valley. My wonderful lunch companion recommended the Baked Chocolate Chaud, also known as the signature “hot chocolate” with golden marshmallows.

Just thinking about it makes me want to sing high notes- I mean, look at this goopy, soupy, chocolaty, marshmallow marvel!

Oh I could roll into a sleeping bag of this stuff and just melt!

I also ordered the Crumble aux Fruits, fresh fruit crumble served warm with creme fraiche. While I wasn’t as enthusiastic about this mild tempered and firm crusted dessert, I still managed to eat most of it.

I find nothing more delightful than discovering excellent desserts to share with my fellow sweet-teeth! YUM! I hope some of you N.Cal peeps try out this Chocolate Chaud!

For more information on shnazzy little Zazie, click here.

Peanut Butter Brownies from Dancing Deer Baking Company

By Dessert Darling · November 12th, 2012

Love free samples at Whole Foods! Without them, I’m not sure I would have discovered these beyond-delicious, all natural, Peanut Butter Brownies by the Dancing Deer Baking Company! A drizzle of peanut butter lays on top of these dark fudge, peanut packed brownies that boast the prefect combination of sweet-and-salty: they’re totally addictive and crave-worthy. An easy 5 Cherries!~~

For more info on the Dancing Deer Baking Co., click here.

XOXO

Elaine’s Toffee Company makes Seriously Addicting Toffee

By Dessert Darling · October 12th, 2012

CRIKIES, is this CRACK!? A twitter friend sent me some seriously addicting toffee by Elaine’s Toffee Company and I CANNOT stop eating it. I think I have to march myself to the garbage can right Now and throw it away before I consume all 8 servings. Yikes, what to do?! It’s so yummy, crunchy, fresh and homemade. Can you blame me?! Ok, I’m wrapping up this post to hop on the elliptical machine. I’ve been indulging in way too much yumminess!

For more info on Elaine’s Toffee Company, click here!

Tasty Chocolates by B.T. McElrath Chocolatier

By Dessert Darling · September 21st, 2012

While I won’t dream about B.T. McElrath chocolates at night, I like them. It took me a moment to get past the sturdy shells, but the zesty ganache fillings with flavors like Chile Limon Mayan Truffle and Zinfandel-Balsamic kind of hooked me. The shells are made of high quality chocolate, however, they’re too firm to meld seamlessly with the fillings once in your mouth. Ultimately, there’s a bit of a heavy-handed, masculine touch to these truffles and I think the plastic divider that separates each chocolate in the box cheapens the brand a bit. I’m lingering somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4 cherry rating, but since ’tis the season.. I shall round up to 4 cherries! Cheers B.T. McElrath Chocolatier!

For more information on B.T. McElrath Chocolatier, click here.