Archive for San Francisco, Bay Area – Page 2

The Ultimate Gift Guide for Valentine’s Day

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Friday, February 10th, 2012

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I have ALL your bases covered with this ULTIMATE Gift-Giving Guide! Have a sweet one :) xoxo

1. For Him:

Though it’s traditional for the lady to receive chocolates, our men need a little recognition too. John Kelly Chocolates makes the most delicious truffle fudge bites that quite literally melt in your mouth and send you to Heaven. John Kelly’s packaging is masculine and sleek, making it the perfect present to gift your guy.

2. For Her:

Gentleman, if you want to score some serious points with your lady this Valentine’s Day, invest in a gorgeous box of chocolates by K Chocolatier. Intoxicate her with the delicious vodka balls, or delight her with the dark chocolate truffles that were once hand-made for Jackie O. When the chocolate’s all gone, the box with paper mache roses can be used for keepsakes for years to come.

3. For the Kids:

Teuscher Chocolates from Switzerland not only makes some of the most delectable chocolates, but also they boast the most whimsical and playful packaging. Treat your daughter to a small ladybug box, or your son to a lion box. But don’t forget to treat yourself to their famous, signature champagne truffles first! Totally divine.

4. For the Health Nut:

Not everyone is excited to sink their teeth into butter and sugar. Fear not, now health nuts can receive sweet love this Valentine’s day too with a box of Benchic Chocolates. These homemade, raw, organic, and vegan treats are made with only six simple ingredients that are all actually good for you! And the craziest part? The even taste extraordinary.

5.For Mom:

No one deserves a little TLC more than Mom. Honor her with these delicious and gorgeous gems of chocolates by Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates.

6. For Dad:

Let Dad know he’ll always be your first Prince Charming with some exquisite chocolates from La Maison du Chocolate. These fine treats are shipped in daily from France and come in these sweet and masculine book boxes.

 

7. For Your Girlfriends:

Whether your friends are in relationships or not, show that they are loved with darling, cellophane-wrapped baggies of these delicious mini-cookies by Baking Betty’s. Each treat is baked from scratch and made to order. Their signature cookies sport soft and sweet marshmallows that make them effortlessly light and totally enjoyable!


8. For Your Guy Friends:

Yes, even your platonic guy friend or brother can partake in this holiday thanks to your thoughtfulness. Be their hero with a box of Cookies By Joey. These massive cookies are legendary for their extreme deliciousness. Indeed, they may be the best cookies he’ll ever have. Make sure he shares though or his friend status will be seriously jeopardized.

9. For the Office:

There’s something for everyone in a box for Fairtytale Brownies. These individually wrapped gourmet, Belgium brownies are soft, rich, and divine. With flavors like peanut butter, mint, walnut, toffee, and more, you’re sure to have a happy ending.

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Shari’s Berries, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for a Special Treat

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Monday, January 30th, 2012

With Valentine’s day around the corner, I thought I’d try some chocolate dipped Shari’s Berries. These treats impressed me with their juicy, high quality strawberries and equally delicious chocolate coating. The stark white chocolate made me nervous at first, since chocolate that blanched can taste like toxic wax. However, this white chocolate was simply sweet and delicious. The only gripe from my book club friends was that Shari’s is a bit heavy-handed on the chocolate. They would have preferred a more delicate treatment. I for one, am never one to complain about too much chocolate, but if you’re looking for a healthy substitute to chocolate truffles, these berries are probably not it. Overall, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries are tricky treats to pull off well and Shari’s does an excellent job.

For more info on Shari’s Berries, click here.

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The Pizookie at BJ’s Brewhouse in Westwood

By Dessert Darling · Comments (6)
Friday, January 20th, 2012

If you’re familiar with the BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse chain, you’ve surely had a run-in with the Pizookie. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, a Pizzokie is a Pizza Cookie, of course! Also known as one of the greatest dessert inventions ever. However, as beautifully conceived as this concept is…a hot, melting, gooey cookie in your own little pan, topped with heaping scoops of vanilla ice cream, BJ’s falls short of brilliant by using crappy ingredients. I could tell that they didn’t use real butter in the cookies and the vanilla ice cream could not have been more bland. Really, it’s hard to mess up vanilla ice cream, people. Alas, I did nail the order by getting half Chocolate Chip cookie and half Red Velvet Cookie with White Chocolate Chips. The combo was awesome and the Red Velvet cookie better masked the poor quality of the ingredients. After the Pizookie, I went across the street to Diddy Riese for a good ol’ comparison. Ooooh, Very interesting. Tune in next week for the results!

PS: Freak-out alert- the Pizookie has roughly 1,120 calories. WTF!? I NEVER count calories or fat, but freaking BJ’s has it right there on the menu. I would have totally inhaled the whole thing had I not known. (Sigh) Ignorance is Bliss~

For more info on BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, click here.

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Organic Gummy Bears by Yummy Earth, DD Approved!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (2)
Thursday, January 19th, 2012

You may have seen my recent posts about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in our food and my deep sadness over how sick they are making our nation (for more, click here). When I was a kid I ate my share of sugary cereals and Candy Candy Candy everyday! Yes, everyday I would go to am-pm after school to buy a treat!! And then go home and eat Lucky Charms! And while it wasn’t “good” for me then, it wasn’t the same grade of poison that today’s candy is with its High Fructose Corn Syrup made from corn seeds that were cross-bread with insecticides by Monsanto’s scientists. Bleh! I wonder how I’ll feel someday, letting my future kids go trick-or-treating when I know how detrimental today’s candy is to their health. It really bums me out as Halloween is a holiday that is near and dear to a DD’s heart! In this vein I’ve kept my eyes peeled for candy that children can have now that won’t alarm their systems with a barrage of chemicals, artificial colors, unpronounceable substances, and GMOs. I came across these Organic, Gluten Free Gummy Bears by Yummy Earth at Whole Foods and they are totally delicious! They even have that perfect, tough consistency that a Haribo Gold-Bear has (my childhood favorite). Sure they don’t come in the same technicolor rainbow as other candies, but they also don’t have those toxic colors that contribute to ADHD (see here). I’m really glad that I found Yummy Earth. They carry other organic candies that I hear are phenominal… particularliy the lolipops. Yummy Earth is DD Approved with 5 Shiny Cherries!

Ps:  I like to freeze my Gummy Bears. It takes longer to eat them and I enjoy how my mouth has to melt each one. :)

Pps:  Click here to ask the FDA to label foods with GMOs so that you don’t have to shop in the dark.

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Cako Cupcakes in San Francisco

By Dessert Darling · Comments (1)
Thursday, January 12th, 2012

On a whirlwind trip to San Francisco this week I managed to hop into Cako Bakery by Union Square to sample some cupcakes. I recognized this bakery name from one of the eight cupcakeries that my husband used to surprise me with 200-plus cupcakes for his proposal (story here)! Just seeing all of those cupcakes in the window brought me fond memories (happy sigh).

To cover my bases, I bought a Carrot Cake, mini Red Velvet, Vanilla, and mini a Chocolate.

I loved the flavor of the Carrot Cake, but the cake itself was a bit dry. The sweet cream cheese frosting had a high sheen which can irk me with frosting. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but I’ll think on it! Ultimately I prefer a little more rugged texture and sour taste for a great cream cheese frosting. The Red Velvet had the best execution of the bunch, but still underwhelmed me. I loved the bouncy cake and hearty taste of the Vanilla cake, but the frosting was overly sweet and bland. And finally, mint flavor had seeped its way into the Chocolate frosting, which made that experience null and void for me.

Wow, it sounds like I’m tearing Cako apart! Really, these were delightful cupcakes that would surely satisfy a craving if you’re in the ‘hood. I just think that there is room for improvement.~

For more information on Cako Bakery, click here.

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Kozy Shack Pudding

By Dessert Darling · Comments (2)
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012


Compared to bold and popular ice cream, pudding is an overlooked and unassuming treat. That said, it can be equally soothing and delightful when done right. For store bought varieties, Kozy Shack does pudding best. With all natural ingredients, they dominate in every arena, covering rice, tapioca, flan, chocolate, and even soy and sugar-free options. I especially enjoy getting the single serving sizes to help with portion control.

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

 

Kozy_pudding

For more info on Kozy Shack, click here.

XOXO

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The 2011 GOLDEN CHERRY AWARDS!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (5)
Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Another great year of sumptuous desserts has come to a conclusion. While these new-comers stood out as clear and worthy winners, some honorees from years past had no competition to knock them off their Golden Cherry standing (old winners not shown). Without further ado and a little drumroll please……….

BEST CAKE BALL:  95th Street Bakery

With high quality dark chocolate shells, creative flavors, and rich centers, 95th Street Bakery wins this year’s Golden Cherry for best cake ball! Unfortunately, these treats are only available in the S. California region and don’t have a Golden Cherry shelf-life (they drop to 4 cherries after refrigeration) so get them fresh!

BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE :  Baking Betty’s.

These dainty chocolate chip cookies with sweet mini marshmallows just beat out the much heartier Cookies By Joey for the Golden Cherry. When nearly every wedding guest raved about these cookies that we stuffed into our Welcome Bags, I knew they were a sure a crowd-pleaser and this year’s winner.

BEST MACARON:  ‘Lette Macarons 

Formally known as Paulette Macarons, these colorful confections just beat out Mad Mac NY Macarons for two reasons: 1) greater variety with prettier design and 2) the Mad Mac pastry chef is a total snoot on Cupcake Wars. Lette’s haut couture macarons boast unique flavors like violet cassis and caramel, melt in your mouth, and got my husbands enthusiastic thumbs up (he never likes sweets). These naturally low-fat cookies make the perfect gift or personal indulgence for any time of year.


BEST BROWNIE SUNDAE:  The Farm of Beverly Hills  

With a freshly baked and piping hot brownie under a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream, this decadent dessert is a party on a plate. I recommend celebrating this masterpiece with a friend!

BEST BREAD PUDDING:  Huckleberry 

The heavenly Caramel Chocolate Bread Pudding at Huckleberry Cafe in Santa Monica is an ooey gooey bowl of buttery sin that I want to swim laps in. For those who prefer more dry and traditional bread puddings though, this custardy option isn’t for you (try the muffin version at the Larchmont Bungalow instead).

BEST BAKLAVA: Bakluvit 

While I’m not normally a Baklava fan, Bakluvit makes sweet and flakey bars that revolutionized the treat for me. With original, chocolate, butterscotch, and seasonal flavors, these perfectly balanced Baklava squares make a surprisingly wonderful alternative to more traditional party treats.

BEST CHOCOLATE:  Christopher Elbow Chocolates

These gorgeous, chocolate gems melt in your mouth with outstanding textures, intriguing flavors, and the finest ingredients, making the steep price-tag of $2 a piece worth the indulgence.

BEST CAKE:  Cake and Art

While these cakes might not be as polished for weddings (like NancyKay’s Confections or Hansen’s) they are incredibly tasty, affordable, and can be made into any creation that you could possibly imagine. From a life-sized car made of cake to Rob Pattinson’s head, Cake and Art has done it all! Including my birthday cake last year. :)
Mmmmmm! I can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for me! Thank you so much for an incredible year!!!!
XOXO
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Design Your Own Cookies with The Mason Jar Cookie Company

By Dessert Darling · Comments (1)
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

I love this concept! The Mason Jar Cookie Company allows you to custom design your own cookie mix which they then ship to you in a darling mason jar. These jars not only make super cute gifts, but also, they make it incredibly easy for you to whip up your own batch of sumptuous cookies.


I designed a batch called DD’s Winter White which consisted of traditional cookie base with white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and marshmallows. I love how you get to even give it your own title!

The cookies were a cinch to make and the dough was some of the most utterly, delicious substance I have ever consumed (Yes, I eat raw cookie dough- Lots of it. I can’t help myself!) Check Charlie out.. how jealous is he!?

And finally, the cookies turned out to be a huge success. I brought them to my girlfriends who insisted that they were the Best (I was a bit too cookie-doughed out myself to really know left from right by that point.)!

These darling mason jars would make the perfect hostess gift or personal indulgence.

I just got word that they are closed for shop during the holidays, but in the new year, you get 10% OFF by being my reader and using the code: TENOFF  Woo! The code expires Jan 31.

To build your own custom mix in 2012, visit The Mason Jar Cookie Company (or click here now just for fun ;) ).

XOXO

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Éclat Chocolate Wine Lover’s Gift Box from Williams-Sonoma. Divine~

By Dessert Darling · Comments (2)
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Mmmmmm- dreamy, heavenly, delightful. These thoughts ring through my head every time I pass by the Éclat Chocolate Wine Lover’s Gift Box on my kitchen counter. I’ve been working my way through this box for days now and have finally polished off the last luxurious confection (sniff). These delicate but decadent truffles boast deep chocolate shells with silky, smooth ganache fillings infused with Shiraz and Champagne. These handsome truffles would be the perfect treat for that special someone in your life.

For more on the Éclat Chocolate Wine Lover’s Gift Box purchased at Williams-Sonoma, click here.

XOXO

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Cherry Cordial M&Ms and Cinnamon M&Ms – Ho Ho Holiday M&M time!

By Dessert Darling · Comments (3)
Friday, December 16th, 2011

I teased some of you on Twitter about this post and you were all chomping at the bit. So without further ado… My reviews on this season’s m&m flavors!

CHERRY CORDIAL M&Ms:

These solid milk chocolate m&ms tasted freakishly like real cherry cordials… but, you know, without the cherries. Lately I’ve been extra weary of Franken-foods, so I’m torn on my reaction to these treats. They’re Tasty! Like florescent-red-popsicle-cherry-flavor in a milk chocolate form Tasty!

Additionally, these are Large m&ms.  (Cherry Cordial vs. regular below)

This greater size makes for a more chocolatey and enjoyable experience. Though, I can’t say much for the red and maroon color combination. It’s not the most aesthetically pleasing scheme to pour into your crystal candy bowl. Not that I have any brilliant suggestions, but that IS the point of buying a large bag of seasonal m&ms around the holidays, right? To decorate your house with colorful bowls of candies?

CINNAMON M&Ms: 

While the Cinnamon m&ms were far more subtle in flavor, they were the same monster size of solid milk chocolate as the Cherry Cordials. I’ve never been a huge fan of Mexican Chocolate (the cinnamon- chocolate combo), so I can’t say I leapt for joy over this holiday rendition. The color-combo, though, was a little more exciting with a third shade of brown to spruce things up.

Overall, I can’t say I’ll be going back for more. I enjoyed the larger portion of milk chocolate in each candy treat, but neither of these holiday flavors with their blah color schemes will be making it into my candy bowls.

How about you? What’s your favorite m&m flavor? Do you fill your bowls with m&ms?!

To see past reviews on other m&m flavors, click here for the index!

XOXO

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