10 lbs. and many desserts later, summer is officially over. I explored all things desserts in multiple locations over the past three months, from New York to Dallas to LA. Here is a list of five places that I would recommend, if you ever find yourself in the area.
5. Oldie but Goodie: Diddy Riese
926 Broxton Avenue
Westwood, CA
What could be better than Dreyer’s Ice Cream sandwiched between two delicious cookies, all for $1.50? Yes, for you native Californians, the price has increased 50% since the good old days when it was priced at $1.00… But seriously, it’s still just $1.50! What can you buy in New York for $1.50? Located in the heart of UCLA, this delicious and affordable bakery allows you to customize every part of your ice cream sandwich. My favorite combination is cookie dough ice cream sandwiched between one chocolate chip and one white chocolate macadamia nut cookie.
4. Refreshing, Without the Calories: Blueberry Twist – Sugar Free Slurpee
7-11
Plano, TX
When you’re dealing with temperatures over 100 degrees every day, you’re constantly looking for something cold and refreshing to drink. The problem is that it starts to add up in terms of calories and expenses. While my husband and I were in Texas for a week, we discovered the most satisfying and economical refreshment: 7-11 slurpees. Whether you like soda-like or fruity slushees, the slurpee has a flavor for everyone. Best of all, Icebreakers now offers different sugar-free flavors, which are low in calories (previously slurpee partnered with Crystal Light, now it’s partnered with Hershey’s!). My favorite low-calorie flavor is the blueberry twist, but the cherry limeade is also very delicious.
3. Fancy Restaurant with Amazing Desserts: Osteria Mozza
6602 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
As in any Batali you visit, always save room for dessert. Nancy Silverton (La Brea Bakery), Mario Batali (Iron Chef America) and Joe Bastianich join forces to grace Los Angeles with Osteria Mozza, a reasonably priced Italian restaurant where you will never leave disappointed. As far as desserts, I recommend the Torta della Nonna and the Bombolini. The Torta della Nonna is a cheesecake-like dessert, which turned out to be incredibly light and airy, with a perfectly crumbly crust and a crunchy, flaky top layer sprinkled with toasted pine nuts. The Bombolini is a decadent take on an Italian doughnut with huckleberry marmellata & vanilla gelato. All three components of the dessert together provide a rich and tart experience.
2. Great Dessert to Share: Mango Shaved Ice at Bin Bin Konjac
651 W Duarte Rd
Arcadia, CA
After any delicious meal in LA, a great place to end your evening with a group of friends or family is Bin Bin Konjac. I have had several different types of Asian shaved ice, but konjac was new to me. What is konjac? Konjac is a chewy, jelly like substance, that is full of fiber and healthy for you, at least so the menu says. Regardless, it tastes delicious and the chewiness adds to the cold and smooth texture of the rest of the shaved ice. We ordered the mango shaved ice, which was incredibly fresh and delicious. I would definitely recommend this place, especially after a great meal at the famous Din Tai Fung (right next door!).
1. Best Cake in the World: Birthday Cake at Momofuku Milk
251 East 13 Street
New York, NY
September is a very popular birthday month, so if you are ever contemplating where to get a delicious birthday cake while in New York, Momofuku Milk is the place to go. Although a little pricier (around $50) than traditional cakes, I guarantee that anyone who tries it will fall in love with it. Three tiers of deliciousness, the birthday cake is a vanilla cake coated with white chocolate and a “rainbow cake crumble” heavy on the rainbow sprinkles. The best part of the Birthday Cake is the dense center that tastes almost like raw cookie dough. As with most kids’ birthday cakes covered in sprinkles, the cake is insanely sweet, but also insanely good.
Writtn By: Lisa Chang
