Dessert. It’s the last word, the sweet send-off, the goodbye kiss—and it just so happens to be one of our Inspectors’ favorite courses. They’ve sampled, savored and devoured plenty of delicious treats but some of their favorites this year are far from your average piece of cake. From creative takes on the classics to not-too-sweet treats, here are three of our Inspectors’ favorite desserts in D.C. this year.
Petite Cerise
Profiteroles
A single large profiterole served in a metal dish was filled with house-made ice cream dotted with candied pistachios and finished with a chocolate ganache sauce. The ganache had a really good flavor, not too bitter and offset the other elements well, while the use of the candied pistachios added some texture.
Ellē
Honey Goat Cheese Cheesecake
This tangy honey goat cheese cheesecake had a firm and sweet cookie crumb base, a fiery caramelized chili-pineapple curd, and coconut-pignoli nut crumb. It was an elegant finale, combining the modern with traditional, and delicious in every way.
Maketto
Egg Custard Tart
This was a wonderful take on a classic Chinese dish. Flaky pie crust, a smooth vanilla egg custard filling, and then the whole thing is finished with sugar and bruleed like a crème brulee. It’s leagues ahead of the classic version you typically see in most dim sum restaurants.
