dessert

Friday Reads

More of the pitfalls of (the cost of) modern higher education. College Enrollment Falls as Economy Recovers

From The New York Times, a really interesting exploration of how Suni Tripathi was wrongly identified as the Boston bomber. Should Reddit Be Blamed for the Spreading of a Smear? (Also, if you still haven’t gotten around to reading the Rolling Stone story on the real Boston bomber, I strongly urge you to. It’s an amazing piece of reporting and a really interesting look into why Dzhokhar Tsarnaev did what he did. Oh, and the Massachusetts State Police photographer who leaked photos of Tsarnaev/the night of the April manhunt has been stripped of his gun and badge.)

On one newspaper’s struggle to stay alive and how they did it: California newspaper defies industry wisdom to stay alive – and prospers

From 7×7 magazine, this article on the deliciousness and uncertain future of Drakes Bay Oyster Company.

Speaking of oysters…Outside Lands is coming up! Check out the full food line-up to get your belly excited. It’s divided into 2013 Taste of the Bay Area, Chocolands, Food Trucks, Cheese Lands and Outside Lambs. How can you go wrong?

Speaking of food…check out my feature on C.R.E.A.M. (ice cream sandwich spot) in downtown Palo Alto. You’re better off picking up the print version to appreciate the drool-worthy photos paired with the article (or viewing the PDF here), but I know better than that. Read online: Cookies rule (with ice cream, too)

Feature :: Batter Bakery

Batter Bakery is an adorable sweets shop on Polk Street in Russian Hill. They have cupcakes, breads (the moistest ginger carrot I’ve ever had), cookies (try the peanut butter thumbprints if you know what’s good for you – see below), scones and more. They also share a space with Square Meals, a meal delivery service, so they have a ton of prepared savory foods as well. And Sightglass coffee!

Batter Bakery // 2127 Polk St., San Francisco

B&M :: NYC Edition

I headed to the East Cost last week to spend a long weekend in New York City, visiting friends and eating my heart out. I’m going to do a few specific posts on individual places that merit it, but check out a few photos of random spots. Blackberry peach People’s Pops were saviors in 90-plus degree heat/humidity, Momofuku Ma Peche quite delicious (see pork buns below), a Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop turkey sandwich with spicy mayo the perfect hangover cure…it goes on and on. I love San Francisco, but the sheer number of places and the unique character that each individual restaurant embodies both in food and the physical space is really amazing.

Also shown below: Market Table and The Butcher’s Daughter.

Photobomb

Feature :: Mission Pie

I finally made it to Mission Pie tonight. I’ve been lusting after this place for longer than I can remember and am so happy I finally tried it. They do sweet and savory pies, plus scones, granola, quiche, coffee, salads (yeah I know, strange, but they look good) Emmy’s pickles, Inna jam, chocolates and more. They even sell pie dough. It’s a really cute space, surprisingly big with lots of places of sit and post it up with your favorite kind of pie. I tried the mixed berry, which was divine.

Mission Pie // 2901 Mission St., San Francisco

Feature :: Easy Breezy

From the outside looking in at Easy Breezy on 24th St. in Noe Valley.

I stumbled upon frozen yogurt heaven last night. I’ve walked past Easy Breezy many times, and really thought it was just another cutesie froyo place. Boy, was I wrong. The concept is the same as many standard places – self-serve frozen yogurt that’s weighed out for price – but the flavor and topping options are special. Crumbled bacon, warm peanut butter sauce, almond ro’s, cookie dough, kosher rock salt … intrigued yet?

I was lame and attempted to be healthy last night (I try to save my gluttony for weekends, who knows if that’s a good strategy or not) so just got some vanilla with berries, Belgian dark chocolate and coconut shreds, but it was delicious. They also have a special full-fat frozen custard that I can’t wait to try.

Check out this interview with Easy Breezy owner Ariel Ford for some other interesting tidbits about the place.

Easy Breezy // 4028 24th St., San Francisco

Feature :: Loving Cup

I literally crave Loving Cup every day. It’s the ultimate sweet treat where you can indulge and not feel too bad about it (or just pretend because theres frozen yogurt involved that you’re being semi-healthy).

The idea behind this Russian Hill frozen yogurt shop is totally simple – pick vanilla or chocolate froyo, blend it with your choice of about 15-20 add-ins (from nutella to almond butter to fruit and toffee) and enjoy. But high-quality ingredients, plus the ability to custom create your own froyo flavor just makes it so special and delicious. My go-to is vanilla with nutella and toffee, but you can really go any way you choose (fruity, chocolatey, peanut buttery, smooth, crunchy…you name it).

Loving Cup also makes their own rice pudding. The coconut and chocolate chip flavors are divine. Oh, and they sell these crazy-moist, perfectly-sized red velvet cupcakes (that you can blend into your frozen yogurt, if you so please).

Loving Cup // 2356 Polk St., SF // Monday-Friday noon to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Openings :: Tin Pot Creamery

During a brief lunchtime stroll through Town & Country in Palo Alto (okay, I admit it, I really like going there just to check in on how construction is progressing at Gott’s), I noticed the shopping center is also getting a new ice cream spot, Tin Pot Creamery. It’s their first brick and mortar location, or “scoop shop” as they adorably call it. As of now, they offer pints for sale at various locations (SF, Larkspur) and also boast an “ice cream of the month” delivery service in the city.

With flavors like salted butterscotch with brownie, earl grey tea with shortbread and smores ice cream with homemade graham crackers and toasted marshmallows, Tin Pot is sure to be a success. I’m very excited and will surely be waiting not-so-patiently in line at their Memorial Day opening this May.

Tin Pot Creamery // 855 El Camino Real, Building 4 North, Palo Alto

Feature :: Rocko’s Chocolate Tacos

Rocko’s employees hard at work making custom-made dessert tacos at OTG Fort Mason.

My friends and I have been debating recently about whether or not cupcakes are fading as a trendy dessert. Are macaroons the hot new dessert of 2013? Are cupcakes here to stay? It’s yet to be determined. But the debate does beg the question: If cupcakes are out, what’s in?

My answer? Dessert tacos.

That’s right. You heard me. Dessert tacos. If you had any sort of childhood, you’ve had a Choco Taco, so you understand the concept. But what if a Bay Area mobile food stand took Choco Tacos to the next level by making to-order, custom dipped dessert tacos with organic ingredients? Well, Rocko’s Chocolate Tacos has done that. And boy, do they do it well. I had never seen the stand before Off the Grid this past weekend, but I’m incredibly happy they were there. My friends and I also got in line just in time to snag the last two taco shells available.

Here’s the deal: You choose an ice cream flavor (we got toasted coconut and kahlua coffee), which is then delicately stuffed into either a pre-made mini or standard sized sweet taco shell. It’s then submerged in your choice of “dipping option”: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate or peanut butter. (See picture below of this step in the process.) We went with dark chocolate on both of ours. The result is one of the most delicious, custom-made sweet treats I’ve ever had. They only had mini taco shells left when we got there, but I actually really liked the miniature size — similar to the advantages of getting multiple mini cupcakes instead of getting overwhelmed by one or two really large ones.

Follow Rocko’s on Twitter to find out where you can stalk them down next.

Feature :: Monterey

This past week, I jetted off to Monterey for two days (amazing birthday gift from my boyfriend). I hadn’t been there since I went to see the aquarium when I was a wee one, so it was really fun to re-explore. Monterey itself was adorable, quite the kitschy small town, very empty in the winter. Lots of great food. It’s also incredibly close to Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove and Carmel so we got to explore and eat there as well. My favorite meal was at Montrio Bistro in Monterey: lobster mac and cheese, steamed mussels in coconut broth with lemongrass and pork chops with sweet potato fritters, greens, maple butter and bourbon jus. Plus delicious drinks. Another highlight was heading over to the Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach for drinks at sunset. They have a huge patio overlooking the ocean with fire pits and blankets so you can sit, drink, eat and watch the sun go down in comfort. Amaze. Enjoy pictures below.