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 trompe l’oeil treats and desserts that are anything but sweet to terrific renditions of the classics, here are some of our Inspectors’ favorite desserts in California this year.
Aphotic, San Francisco
Dessert: Tomales Bay Oyster Ice Cream with Vermouth and Mignonette Foam
“File this under strange, but surprising and successful, the oyster lends a delicate oceanic note to a dish that somehow manages to find the sweet spot between shellfish and dessert.”
Ardor, West Hollywood
Dessert: Mojito Pie
“This was a memorable finale at the attractive Ardor in West Hollywood. A buttery graham cracker crust arrived with a very light lime and mint mousse that was dusted in lime powder to resemble an actual lime. This was served with a lime sorbet and spritzed with rum. It was adorable to look at and even better to eat.”
Read more: The Best Pie in LA
Californios, San Francisco
Dessert: Tres Leches
“Their rendition featured Ron Zacapa rum-soaked genoise topped with a frozen passion fruit disk and a quenelle of super smooth frozen milk. Yum!”
Nari, San Francisco
Dessert: Dreaming of Lod Chong
“Served in a small bowl, it’s a square of pandan parfait in a sauce of salted coconut cream. Crushed ice is added as a final flourish, too. It was an unexpected success, expertly balancing sweet and salty notes. The ice also added great texture. It was a solid finish.”
