The Course Series: Dessert

Ok.

Get excited.

It's time for the best part of a meal.

You know,

DESSERT.

Sugar, cookies, cake, chocolate, ice cream, pie, tarts -

though the real stuff is best enjoyed in moderation,

go ahead and feast your eyes on these pics to your heart's content.

Sweeeeet.

Idylwilde Farm, Acton, MA - Fresh apple cider donuts

Tatte, Boston, MA - Vanilla-fig-hazelnut biscotti

Mike's Pastry, Boston - Chocolate chip ricotta cannoli

Mike's Pastry, Boston - Oreo cream pie

Waiola's, Honolulu - Lychee and haupia shave ice

Waiola's, Honolulu - Push Up Pop

Ice Garden, Aiea - Milk shave ice with condensed milk, mochi balls, and caramel custard

Betty Ann Food Shop, East Boston - Sugar raised doughnuts

Robeks, Aiea - Acai bowl with granola and banana

Agnes' Portugese Bake Shop, Aiea - Chocolate raspberry cakelet with raspberry jam, vanilla frosting, and chocolate drizzle

Homemade - Meltaway cookies drizzled with milk chocolate

Somewhere in Chinatown, Boston - Dan ta (sweet egg tarts)

Homemade Oreos with milk

Henrietta's Table - Chocolate (white chocolate chip?) cookies

Homemade - Craisin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Before baking:

After baking:

After icing:

Homemade pumpkin shortbread Halloween cookies with royal icing

Homemade lady fingers

for:

Homemade - Tiramisu with mascarpone, homemade ladyfingers, semisweet chocolate, and Bailey's Irish Cream

Happy Day, Honolulu - Jin dui (deep fried rice balls rolled in sesame seeds filled with sweet red bean paste)

Chuck & Augie's, UConn, CT - Coffee espresso crunch sundae with hot fudge, whipped cream, and maraschino cherry

Homemade - Bananas, vanilla ice cream, CC Brown's hot fudge, cacao nibs, and maraschino cherries in miniature bath tub from Bubbies

Fenway Park, Boston - Vanilla and chocolate swirl soft serve

Dole Plantation, Wahiawa - Dole Whip (pineapple soft serve) with fresh pineapple skewer

Gargoyles on the Square, Davis Square - Nutella smoothie with blackberries, whipped cream, and dry ice

Cupcapes, Falmouth, Cape Cod - Vanilla cake with raspberry jam filling vanilla frosting and fresh blueberry and strawberry topping

Homemade - Mini red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting

Homemade - The "803" Cupcake: Secret recipe pound cake with milk chocolate macadamia kiss center and homemade vanilla frosting

Homemade - "Cupcake Pop": Red velvet cake mixed with cream cheese frosting, dipped in dark and white chocolate and topped with sprinkles

The next four cupcakes are from Kickass Cupcakes in Davis Square, MA:

Super Chocolate - Chocolate brownie cake with bittersweet chocolate ganache topped with chocolate shavings

Cookies & Cream - Vanilla cake with cream filling and Oreo topping

"The Green Monster" - Chocolate cake with chocolate beer ganache filling and chocolate beer frosting

Mojito - Rum soaked cupcake with sugar cane lime frosting and fresh mint

Ted's Bakery, Haleiwa, HI - Pineapple upside-down cake

Homemade - Pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream

Cafe Miro, Honolulu - Green tea ice cream in tuile with ladyfinger, créme brûlée, raspberry cheesecake, raspberry coulis, and fresh fruit

Clear Flour Bakery, Boston - Pain aux raisin

Homemade - Mocha créme caramel

Homemade - Dark chocolate and honey-roasted macadamia nut covered apples

Homemade - 12-layer guava cream cheese-sour cream cake encrusted with honey-roasted macadamia nuts

Mmmmmmm.

So my father - who loves a good dessert - always says,

"Anything with chocolate in it has no calories."

But I say,

"Anything that tastes good is worth the calories."

And I am a firm believer that you can bake your cake and eat it too.

So go ahead and say YES to dessert.

The Course Series: The Plated

Mmmmm tapas. And bread. These come on plates, but you can get away with eating with your hands.

Toro, Boston: Maíz Asado con Alioli y Queso Cotija (grilled corn with cotija cheese, aioli, pepper, and lime)

Toro, Boston: Patatas Bravas (Fried potatoes with alioli and spicy tomato sauce)

Betty's Wok and Noodle, Boston: Rangoons stuffed with mushrooms, cream cheese, ginger and scallions with chili sauce



Homemade: Cheddar cheese pull-apart rolls


Fluffernutter: Peanut butter and strawberry marshmallow fluff on toasted potato bread

Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, Haleiwa: Garlic shrimp with white rice and lemon

The Clam Shack, Cape Cod: Fried clam bellies on shredded lettuce with fries

Homemade: Cinnamon chex fried chicken with applesauce, corn, and salad

You'll need a plate and some sort of utensil for these - at least if you want to avoid the disgusted looks from nearby diners or getting yelled at by your mom.

Taranta cooking class, Boston: Butternut squash ravioli in a fried sage butter sauce

Homemade by Mama Noel: Potato latkes

The Border Cafe, Cambridge: Mesquite grilled chicken breast with grilled tomato and fries

Homemade Thanksgiving dinner #2: Braised steak in red wine sauce with carrots and onions, sauteéd garlicky green beans, baked beans, and fully loaded baked potato

Homemade: Leftover-Thanksgiving-turkey pot pie with corn, carrots, potatoes, red pepper, and peas

Duk Kee, Honolulu: Duck pho with green onions and rice noodles

Homemade: Oyakodon (chicken and egg omelet on rice with furikake)

Homemade: Baked extra sharp cheddar mac n' cheese with panko topping

Somewhere in the North End, Boston: Chicken parmesan on linguine in a red sauce

Hungry yet? Go eat something that'll keep you cool in this ridiculous summer heat - salads, chilled soups, sushi, cold sandwiches, and salsa are my go-tos. Freshly-squeezed lemonade, popsicles, and sorbets are always perfectly refreshing and just scream summer to me.
Next up: desserts. Get excited!

The Course Series: The Handhelds

Sorry for the (very, very) long hiatus - but here's the next part of the series mentioned in my last post. Since the pictures are from a while back, I apologize if my memory fails me as to what exactly the food is or where it's from - but let's be honest, you only really look at the pictures, right?

Wawa, NJ: Ham, pickles, lettuce tomatoes, & white onion on baguette

The Other Side Cafe, Boston: California Wrap - cucumber, carrots, onion, sprouts, lettuce, tomato, cucumber dill dressing, havarti dill cheese, & avocado on white bread

Cafe in Newport, RI: Lobster roll

Kua'aina, Honolulu: Pineapple burger with grilled onions, tomato, and lettuce on a kaiser roll

The Counter, Honolulu: 1/3 lb. beef burger with tomato, lettuce, caramelized red onion, and herbed goat cheese spread on a hamburger bun

I honestly can't remember where this burger was from, but it appears to be a beef patty with shredded cheddar cheese, onions, lettuce, and ham on a sesame seed bun

Kingston Station, Boston: the Station Burger - sunny side up egg, applewood smoked bacon, gruyere, lettuce, tomato, and onion

Also don't remember where this delectable burger is from, but it's got lettuce, tomato red onion, and multiple melted cheeses on it

Falafel King, Boston: Falafel with tomato and lettuce with a yogurt sauce in pita

The Counter, Honolulu: Sweet potato fries with a garlic aioli

Homemade: Garlic-ham-spinach-cheddar cheese bread bites

Happy Day Chinese Restaurant, Honolulu: Baked cha siu bao (bbq pork bun)

Char Hung Sut, Honolulu - Steamed cha siu bao

Homemade: Buttermilk scones

Homemade: Muenster and fresh tomato on seeded artisan bread

Homemade: Cheese quesadillas with fresh pico de gallo and sour cream

Cafe in Newport, RI: Fried shrimp pockets with fresh salsa

Fenway Park: Fenway Frank with mustard relish, and ketchup

Spike's, Allston: Hot dog wth bacon, onions, and mozzarella

T Anthony's, Boston: Cheese pizza

Homemade: Shredded chicken rosemary, and provolone on naan

KCC Farmer's Market, Honolulu: Fresh tomato, mozzarella, pesto, and lettuce pizza

More to come!