Category Archives: Dessert San Diego

True Food Kitchen in Fashion Valley

Posted on August 11, 2012 | 1 Comment

I first fell in love with True Food Kitchen on a recent trip to Arizona when one of our friends introduced us to the Scottsdale location. So you can only imagine my excitement when I heard that True Food Kitchen was opening up a San Diego location in Fashion Valley, my favorite mall in the area! Already, I’ve been loving the addition of Stacked at FV [read my blog here], and with this opening news I knew I would never go hungry while  shopping again (dramatic, I know).

    

So, what’s to love about True Food Kitchen? How about…everything! First off, Dr. Andrew Veil, who developed this restaurant with Fox Restaurant Concepts, actually taught me a lot of what I know about healthy eating in his book 8 Weeks to Optimum Health (really good read). So, off top, I was on board!

    

Secondly, the food is not only healthy but INCREDIBLY delicious and proves once again that clean eating doesn’t mean bland and boring. In fact, it’s anything but! The flavors work together to fully please even the most particular persons’ palate.

The Mission Statement: “At True Food Kitchen, we want you to feel better, live longer, and make your mouth happy in the process.” Mission Completed!

                                                            The Global Cuisine:

    

                          Shown Above: Miso Soup, Wild Mushroom & Scallion.

    

    Shown Above: Grilled Shrimp Spring Roll: Green Papaya, Soba, Cashew

    

  Above: Strawberry Chopped Salad: Snap Pea, Fennel, Walnut, Goat Cheese.

    

           Just because it’s healthy, doesn’t mean you can’t have pizza & tacos!

    

            And even dessert! Shown Below: Flourless Vegan Chocolate Cake.

   

In addition, True Food Kitchen is made up of environmentally friendly materials, from low-voltage LED lighting and recycled materials to reclaimed wood flooring.

    

    

And, last but not least, I LOVE various elixirs made up of unusual and exotic ingredients and this restaurant always has me covered on that front. Refreshing!

    

Shown Above: Medicine Man: Antioxidant Blast: Sea Buckthorn, Blueberry, Pomegranate, Black Tea and Soda Water. 

   

       Shown Above: Cucumber Refresher: Cucumber & Honey Lemonade. 

    

                                      Shown Above: Jasmine Pearl Green Tea.

                                         

                           Shown Above:  Complimentary Melon Berry Water.

                          Visit True Food Kitchen Online: TFK Fashion Valley.

                                Address: 7007 Friars Road, San Diego 92108.

      In-A-Rush Tip: If there’s a bit of a wait, grab a chair by the bar or the fire pit!

      “Food is the focus, but the love, the genuine connection, is in the details.”

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Posted in Dessert San Diego, Dining San Diego, Dinner San Diego, Lunch San Diego

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Cafe Zucchero: Dessert in Little Italy

Posted on August 5, 2012 | 3 Comments

 As I’m sure you’ve all noticed, dessert is my all time favorite part of just about any meal. And Italian desserts? Some of the best in the world! The Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego has innumerable places to get a fine dessert and Cafe Zucchero is one of my favorite spots. Not only do they have (in my humble opinion) the best cannoli’s in town, but the other desserts are just as tantalizing!

                               Some of my all-time favorites from Cafe Zucchero:

     

    

    

So if you’re in the area and are craving an Italian treat, I highly recommend checking out Cafe Zucchero, located at 1731 India St. In addition to a huge selection of delicious pastries, this cafe also has an amazing gelato selection and a full menu with pizza, pasta, and panini’s. One stop shop for all things Italian!

                                   Check them out online: Cafe Zucchero.

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Bardot: La Jolla

Posted on July 11, 2012 | Leave a comment

     

While out exploring this weekend, I stumbled upon an absolutely adorable (yes, ADORABLE) ice cream shop in La Jolla: Bardot. Now forget everything that comes to mind when I say “ice cream shop” because Bardot is unlike any other one that I’ve been to! First off, no scoops! All Bardot ice cream comes as a whimsical, handmade bar on a stick (or as they say, LOVE on a stick). Secondly, the interior is more what you’d expect from an exclusive lounge than an ice cream parlor: boudoir color scheme, gorgeous extra’s, and even a hidden love seat for two. And last, but certainly not least, the ice cream bars are gourmet perfection, including sweetly sinister flavors like  Lucifer’s Dream (Chewy Marshmallows), Italian Mob (Coffee Beans), The Forbidden Fruit (Soursop), The Heart of Darkness (Chocolate), and even The French Kiss (Toasted Almond).

                                                              Have A Look:

     

      

                         

                                                              The Philosophy: 

     

                                                                   The Goodies:

     

      

                                Visit Bardot online by simply clicking here.

                         Bardot is located at 1025 Prospect Street in La Jolla.

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Afternoon Tea at The Grand Del Mar

Posted on July 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

     

There’s several incredible places to get a proper afternoon tea in the San Diego area, and of these, The Grand Del Mar is one of my favorites! First off, the grounds of this gorgeous resort are absolutely stunning. As you drive up the winding roads, surrounded by fields of green, you truly feel that you’re somewhere far, far away from the hustle and bustle of San Diego, though in actually it’s only mere minutes up the 5 North. While  the outdoor atmosphere is breathtaking, inside The Grand Del Mar you will find opulence of the finest variety. Marble everywhere, fine furniture and art galore, and the absolute coziest library ever awaits you within the resort. And while the surroundings are plush as can be, the tea service itself is divine: from the cute, little, finger sandwiches to the aromatic tea itself, this service leaves little else to be desired.

    

 ”There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.” Emerson

     

     

Tea Selection Includes: 

Black Tea: Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Bombay Chai

Green Tea: Jasmine Green

Herbal Tea: Chamomile Tisane, Citrus Mint, Ginger, Raspberry Nectar

White Tea: White Ambrosia

Afternoon Tea at The Grand Del Mar  is normally served in the library, see below, but can also be served on the balcony or by window-side if you so desire:

     

                                  Further Interior Photos at The Grand Del Mar:

     

     

     

After tea, I highly recommend a walk around the grounds to explore this resort.

                                                                     The Grounds:

     

     

     

                         Tea is served from Friday to Sunday from 2 to 4pm.

Call (858) 314 1988 to make reservations for your Afternoon Tea experience .

                            Visit The Grand Del Mar online by clicking here.

Spoil Yourself Tip: Southern California’s ONLY 5 Star/ 5 Diamond restaurant: Addison, can also be found at The Grand Del Mar. In addition, The Grand Del Mar is quite famous for their beautiful resort golf course and luxurious day spa.

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Sugar & Scribe Bakery in Pacific Beach

Posted on June 19, 2012 | 1 Comment

While roaming about and enjoying the sunshine several days back, I stumbled upon a delightful treat (many, actually) tucked away in a little blue nook upon Garnet St. in Pacific Beach; a lovely neighborhood bakery called Sugar & Scribe.

                                             

While I enjoy just about anything so long as it’s sweet, I have a deep-rooted affinity for BAKED GOODS in particular. Yes, I had to capitalize that because that’s how much I love them. My favorite subtitle in my favorite category!

                                                       Some of the lovely goodies:

       

                                                        A few more of my faves:

       

      

I’m not one to be shy about cupcakes: I’ve been back several times since my first visit and each time proves to be just as delightful as the previous. In fact, I’ve introduced several of my friends to Sugar & Scribe and they are also in love.

Side note: While I love, love, love mini-cupcakes, I can’t forget to add that this bakery also serves incredible souffles, pies, tarts, cakes, breads & even soups!

       Just the other day I broke from my routine and tried a prosciutto quiche:

       

                                                             Highly Recommended!

Sugar & Scribe is located at 1420 Garnet Avenue in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California.   For further information and/or catering orders, visit them online at sugarandscribe.com or simply call (858) 274 1733.

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Beach Sweets in Ocean Beach

Posted on April 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

    

I’m quite sure I’ve informed my readers about my sweet tooth on several occasions. If it’s candy or chocolate, chances are I’m all about it! One of my favorite places to pick up candy and other assorted treats is Beach Sweets in OB. Not only are the ladies who work there super friendly, but they have an incredible selection of sweets to choose from. Check out some of the goods:

             

 While the taffy and gummy candy is delicious, my heart lays with the chocolate:

              

Top selling items include candied orange peels, chocolate dipped jalapenos & bacon, salted caramel, s’mores on a stick, truffles, Wipe Out (rice krispies, white chocolate & peanut butter), chocolate honeycomb + old school childhood faves.

                       My personal favorite? Chocolate covered strawberries!

       

Beach Sweets is located at 5022 Newport Ave in Ocean Beach. For more information, visit their website by clicking here or simply call (619) 222 3322.

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La Jolla Brunch: Mediterranean Room at La Valencia Hotel

Posted on April 6, 2012 | Leave a comment

Brunch is, by far, my favorite meal of any day! I am not by nature an early riser so I prefer to have my first meal a bit later than most. Due to this, it’s never easy to tell whether I will be craving a breakfast item or a lunch pick by the time I’m ready to dine. Which is why brunch is the best of both worlds! One of my favorite places to brunch is located in La Jolla, a lovely spot called The Mediterranean Room. This restaurant can be found within the charming La Valencia Hotel, a gorgeous pink villa setting that has been a La Jolla destination since it’s opening in the 1920′s. The incredible view upon the Ocean View Terrace inside La Valencia is just one of my reasons for loving this restaurant.

                                                        Check out the view:

As for dining, first things first! I always start off with a cup of tea or two, and the Mediterranean Room provides a wonderful variety of fresh scones to go with.

    

                                                         Now, for some Starters:

   

                  Jumbo Shrimp & Crab Claw Cocktail, Baja Cocktail Sauce

 

Apple + Hooks 10 Year Aged Cheddar Salad, Arugula, Bacon, Mustard Vin.  

    

      Scottish Smoked Salmon, Hardboiled Egg, Caper Aioli, Grilled Baguette

                                                       Followed by the Entree’s:

    

 Chilaquiles, Eggs, Corn Tortilla, Chilies, Queso Fresco, Braised Jidori Chicken

    

Monte Cristo, Smoked Turkey, Artisan Ham, Battered Swiss, Strawberry Jam

          For dessert, they have a wonderful buffet. Here’s what we picked up:

                                                       

                             Tiramisu                                                                     Key Lime Pie

In all, I highly recommend The Mediterranean Room as a brunch destination! The ambiance, combined with the incredible cuisine and stunning views, makes it a prime spot to start off your day. In addition, I love the quaintness, luxury and charm that the La Valencia hotel is legendary for.

La Valencia Hotel is located at 1132 Prospect Street in La Jolla. For further information, visit them online by clicking here or call (858) 454 0771.

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Cupcakes at Cups La Jolla

Posted on March 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a delicious cupcake! Freshly baked and organic? Even better! Cups La Jolla is a premier spot for getting my cupcake fix, since they use only the best local, sustainable and organic ingredients to bake top notch cupcakes daily. Here’s a visual taste of what they have to offer:

   

Some of the best cupcake flavors featured at this spot include: Vanilla Vixen, Death by Chocolate, Velours Rouge, Limone Ricotta, Health Nut and Goober. There are plenty of health options, from gluten free and vegan to utterly dairy free, and they all taste amazing! I highly reccomend the hot chocolate (pictured above) or the strawberry milk to accompany your chosen sweet bites.

Note that Cups La Jolla also offers a variety of hands-on cooking classes ranging from Pickling 101 to Easter Cookie Decorating and Passover Meal classes. Click here to view the complete schedule for  up-coming classes.

Sweet Tip: Happy Hour is from 9-11am (20% off coffee drinks) and from 5 -7pm (20% of all cupakes).

Cups La Jolla is located at 7857 Girard Avenue. Click here to visit the website.

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Beyond Bliss: Extraordinary Desserts

Posted on March 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

                                

Those who know me don’t need to be reminded that my sweet tooth is something fierce! From cupcakes to creme brulee, I like to think of myself as a bit of a candy-coated connoisseur when it comes to decadent desserts. While there’s much to be said for the simplicity of a European Style Fresh Fruit Tart or the classic taste of a New York Cheesecake, sometimes our palate yearns for something a bit, well, extraordinary.

 Enter Extraordinary Desserts: a place with mouth-watering desserts that are (almost) too pretty to eat. This establishment, open since 1988, was recently featured on Food Network’s hit television show “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” and is one of my very favorite San Diego spots for dessert and tea.

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In addition to desserts of all varieties, this unique cafe also offers an incredible selection of rare coffee, jams & jellies, unique gifts and collectibles.It is well known that Extraordinary Desserts makes a great effort to use organically grown and sustainable products, with vegan and gluten-free dessert options also available. Note that there is also an enticing menu of snacks,salads and savory bites!

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Karen Krasne, the Cordon-Bleu trained owner, is a fellow yogi and traveler at heart. She states on the company’s website: “By creating an enchanting mood with the flavors and unique artistry please, I encourage my customers to lose themselves completely in the sweet sensuality of it all.” Done & Done!

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If you’re craving something sweet or savory, stop by either of their 2 locations:

1430 Union Street, San Diego CA 92101: (619) 294 7001

2929 Fifth Avenue, San Diego CA 92103: (619) 294 7032

Want more info? Visit Extraordinary Desserts online!

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