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 Chicago this year.
Kasama
Truffle Croissant
A petite croissant, served over a brass cooling rack dotted with Pearl sugar and honey, it was filled with a gooey Délice de Bourgogne cheese and finished at the table with black truffle. It’s clever using this as a cheese course. The technique and execution were exemplary.
Obélix
Pain Suisse + Ice Cream
Warm pastry with defined buttery ridges and a melting layer of dark chocolate in the center. It’s flaky and rich—you can see the butter seeping out. Go for a scoop of toasted coconut ice cream—creamy, proper coconut flavor, smooth.
Valhalla
The Valhalla Chocolates
A lovely finish to the dessert tasting menu! This one course deeply reflects the Chef Tatum Sinclair’s passion. There is a synergy here between modernity and classicism, all in all a very creative process. From the presentation on it was intriguing, with four chocolates with various fillings (fragrant truffle, aerated ganache with red wine) presented inside a series of "nesting dolls.”
Hero image: Courtesy of Valhalla
Thumbnail: Courtesy of Valhalla
