Dessert? Um, yes, please. We’ll have the éclair. No, wait, warm raspberry-peach pie à la mode. No. A slice of the fruit tart. Actually, make that bread pudding. Wait—we’ve got it! Tiramisu. … Or how about we just get all of the above? You don’t need us to tell you Flying Star is the best place for desserts; you already know. (CC) 2) Cupcakeology 3) Cravin’ Cookies … and More!
Best Chocolate Confections
Chocolate-covered strawberries, Oreos and kiwis, dusted truffles, and a hefty chunk of milk chocolate molded to look like a pizza can all be found at this mom-and-pop shop. Chuck and Heidi Weck know what they’re doing with this most important of culinary delights—the chocolate’s crackling-crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside. What more could you ask for? (CC) 2) Chocolate Café and Bakery3) The Candy Lady
Best Cupcakes
Cupcakes aren’t just bite-size (or five-bite-size) cakes, they’re tiny little works of gastronomic art. Some are dense and moist, almost muffin-like, topped with whipped, multicolored caps. Others are airy and delicate, glazed with sugar and speckled with tasty accoutrements. According to our readers, Cake Fetish’s baking brush is best. (CC) 2) Cupcakeology3) Tie: Slate Street Café, The Grove Café and Market
Best Cookies
Is there any better treat than a sweet, crumbly cookie? Really, they’re perfect. Since there’s no limit to the shapes, sizes or flavors they can be baked into, there’s bound to be one for everyone. Cravin’ Cookies takes the possibility factor and runs with it. Its bite- and full-size cookies are deceptively cute, but one mouthful reveals just how serious this place is. Packed with chocolate chips, slathered with frosting or doused in sprinkles, Cravin’ never skimps on the good stuff. And it doesn’t shy away from bold concoctions like fiery red-chile-chocolate cookies. Take that and dunk it, Oreo. (MT) 2) Flying Star Café 3) Tie: ABC Cake Shop, Golden Crown Panadería
Best Frozen Desserts
Not only does gelato have less calories than ice cream, at Ecco it comes in flavors like habanero-strawberry, plum, cantaloupe, chocolate-lavender and, of course, stracciatella . And you get it in cute, colorful cups with tiny spoons. (CC) 2) Chillz Frozen Custard 3) Cold Stone Creamery
Best French Pastries
Best French Pastries: La Quiche Parisienne Bistro
Sergio Salvador salvadorphoto.com
From the pain au chocolat to fruit, lemon and blueberry tarts; the sculpted breads to the apple turnovers, La Quiche quiets our readers’ persnickety palates. Bruno Barachin and Sabine Pasco work wonders in this quaint Downtown eatery. (CC) 2) Le Chantilly Pastry Shop 3) Tie: French Riviera Bakery, Le Paris French Bakery
