This Sweet Summer

Soooooo, today is the day.  For most in the state of New York (and possibly elsewhere, I wouldn't know) it is the first day of school.  Woooot- I can only type that because I am lying comfortably in bed with my laptop and a bottle of Canada Dry is beside me.  However, my summer is winding down, considering I begin school next Monday; i have 6 more days of freedom (counting today.)  Therefore, I thought I would make a list of my favorite desserts that I had this summer:

1.  Green Tea Ice cream & Lychee Ice cream from "Sundaes and Cones"

I've been eating this combo for a couple years and I eat it all year round, but I thought I'd include it because I love it so much.  Sundaes and Cones offers an interesting variety of flavors ranging from the normal (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc.) to some which are a little more interesting- although, not too interesting (mainly Asian flavors, like my favs, as well as wasabi, red bean, etc.)  I love that Sundaes and Cones is open till 11pm on the weekdays and 12am on the weekends; if you get out of a late movie at Union Square you can go there after. 

 

95 E. 10th st.

(between 3rd and 4th ave)

nyc

2.  Soft serve from "Momofuku: Milk Bar"

Yet another place in the East Village that has ice cream.  Next to the Momofuku noodle bar there is the Milk Bar; often, if you come at night it will be quite crowded and there may be a line.  The interesting thing about the soft serve is how realistic it tastes- this isn't Tasti D's.  The flavors change but they all taste surprisingly accurate to the real thing.  For instance, the Red Licorice tastes just like twizzlers, the Old Fashioned Donut has all the flavor of the real thing- as if the only difference between the soft serve and it's flavor inspiration is the cold temperature and consistency.  The Milk Bar also offers baked goods.

207 2nd ave

corner of 13th and 2nd

nyc

3.  Blackberry Jelly filled donut and Pistachio donut from "Doughnut Plant"

This tiny shop on the Lower East Side is quite frankly, awesome.  Lots of yummy goodness here in the form of donuts.  I went kinda safe on this one, but they offer others, like: creme brulee, tres leches, and "cake donuts."  Its a fun place to go and has been featured on a number of television food programs.  I'm not a huge donut enthusiast but I really enjoyed this one, perhaps because my dear friend, Malina dragged me about 2 miles on foot to get a donut.  Worth a go if you're tired of Dunkin Donuts.

note: according to the website you can get some of their donuts at places like Dean & Deluca- but I think its more fun to go to the actual Doughnut Plant considering there are only 3 in the world, only one of which is in the US.  

379 Grand st.

nyc

4.  Considering that I spent 4 weeks of this fair summer in China, I obviously had to have my sweets there, some of which are not actual desserts but are snacks.

a.  Pocky (different flavors)

b.  White Rabbits, original flavor (I bought the mint by accident and hated it)

c.  Mung Bean Ice pop

d.  Corn Ice Pop

e.  Apple, banana, or taro covered in hot sugary stuff in a heap, you have to pry the pieces apart and dip it in water.  Fun, a little messy and good.

f.  Buns (steamed or "golden") with a little bit of condensed milk for dipping

g.  Any green tea cake

h.  Green tea "gelato" (but it wasn't really)

i.  "Chilled Watermelon", we ate a lot of watermelon on this trip but while on the rice terraces of Guilin this was the best because it was cold and we were hot.

5.  Pavlova from "M on the Bund"

A lovely Russian meringue cake with cream and fruit.  We had this while in Shanghai at "M on the Bund"(not to be confused with the other "M Glamour Bar")- a very "swanky" restaurant with an amazing view over the Bund, which is best viewed at night when you can see all the lights!  Probably the best part of the dish was the very small cut up berries- we hadn't had fruit without a peel or skin in weeks.  

6/F, No. 5 The Bund (corner of Guangdong Lu)

Shanghai, China

6.  Red Plum, Pistachio and Pomegranate Sorbet and Gelato"Il Laboratorio del Gelato"

Its always good.

95 Orchard st.

nyc