569503 Mon Nov 03 18:10:55 -0800 2008 25 2 Los Angeles Area 0 4147689 I'm doing an article for a class on the most unusual or original desserts in the Los Angeles area, but it's been a while since I've been around. I'm trying to stay away from the trendiest places in town. Any suggestions? Thanks! Mon Nov 03 18:10:55 -0800 2008 127788 MyTongueEatsThenSpeaks 1 4147944 Garlic ice cream is pretty weird. Available at The Stinking Rose on Beverly Hills. I've not tried it, but have been there for their garlic dishes...food's okay...place is very eclectic. Mon Nov 03 20:38:39 -0800 2008 4147689 142682 attran99 1 4148002 Check out Exotic Cakes http://www.exoticcakes.com/ Mon Nov 03 21:20:34 -0800 2008 4147689 11914 monku 1 4148028 I'd head to "Asia." Among desserts from Asia are lots of icy desserts to cool off folks on those hot sweltering days. Off the top of my head, ice kachang, cendol, kueh lapis (Malaysian/Singaporean); coconut milk ice cream, mango or durian w/ sweet sticky rice (Thai), snow ice (finely shaved ice often infused with milk) often topped with things like mango, almond tofu, rice balls, grass jelly and condensed milk (Taiwan), bing su (Korean), and mochi, manju, yokan, kanten (Japan). Don't even get Asian dessert places and bakeries started on maccha (green tea) desserts. Cakes, puddings, cookies, ice creams, etc., etc., as well as kintoki (sweetened red bean) ________ fill-in-the-blank. The coup de grace is combining the two with some decadent custard and/or sweetened mochi. Pandan is an essence that not many outside of Southeast Asian cuisine have heard about. A very heady herbal/nutty/vanilla-like essence that is used mostly in pastries and cakes, but some savory dishes as well. The Japanese are reputed to have some very "unique" ice cream flavors that might send you into some bad dreams: http://www.who-sucks.com/food/101-frightening-ice-cream-flavors-from-around-the-world Speaking of ice cream flavors that you won't find at the local Baskin & Robbins 31 list, try Scoops on Heliotrope. I've never been but I believe the owner (Tai?) was told as a child that he would change the ice cream world, one scoop at a time. Embracing these prophetic words, he has created some of the most inventive flavors that often push the ice cream flavor envelope. Vegan carrot cardamom pistachio? Chocolate wasabi? Fig/brie cheese? Calpis/green tea? This guy's got a serious mad scientist gene combined with a Picasso-like palette for previously unexplored flavor combinations... Places to try: Scoops (ice cream) JJ Bakery (Taiwanese bakery) Patisserie Chantilly (French-inspired Japanese patisserie) 85C (Taiwanese tea/desserts/snacks) Class 302 (Taiwanese desserts/snacks) Simbala (Taiwanese dishes, snacks, desserts) Shau May (Taiwanese meals, snacks, desserts) Ice Kiss (Korean desserts, coffee, tea, ice cream) Mitsuwa (Torrance location - Japanese desserts, specialty dessert counters) Belacan Grill (Malaysian cuisine, ice kachang, cendol) 99 Ranch (Chinese supermarket - broad range of foods including snacks, desserts, baked items) Van's Bakery (Vietnamese bakery - good pandan-_______; cakes, breads) Phoenix Food Boutique (Chinese/Cantonese snacks, noodles, desserts) I don't think any of these places fall under the "Trendy" category for most. Aside from the Japanese options, you might be shocked at the QPR (Quality/Price Ratio). Your $$ go pretty far at many of these places... Enjoy :) Mon Nov 03 21:32:46 -0800 2008 4147689 64003 bulavinaka 2 4148152 My latest 3 pints I bought from Tai (AKA The One who would reinvent ice cream) at Scoops: Fig + Cashew(?) Green Tea + Almond Very Blue Blueberry Yum. Mon Nov 03 23:49:15 -0800 2008 4148028 11933 J.L. 2 4148541 This Belacan Grill concoction is now on my to-try list: http://manbitesworld.com/Gallery/10//?set=72157608389682932&img=2976012408 Tue Nov 04 07:23:52 -0800 2008 4148028 11205 JBC 2 4154079 What a great list... Thanks... There goes my waistline. Thu Nov 06 13:03:22 -0800 2008 4148028 67270 poggibonzzi 2 4154498 I really like the strawberry mochi thing they have at the JJ Bakery in Torrance. It's basically a small flat square of sponge cake. On top of that they put a bunch of fresh strawberries. It's more or less encased in a sphere of whipped cream. And then the whole thing is wrapped with a thin sheet of mochi to form a huge ball. The whole thing is about the size of a softball. They have a mango version, too. Thu Nov 06 15:26:23 -0800 2008 4148028 124045 huaqiao 3 4154547 Those alone are worth making a trip to any of the JJ bakeries around SoCal. If I recall correctly, they also have a maccha version as well... Poster nomofan and his wife loved these treats so much, they handed them out at their wedding reception - I believe 300+ if my memories serves me correctly... Thu Nov 06 15:48:25 -0800 2008 4154498 64003 bulavinaka 1 4148085 Check out Guppy Teahouse in Cerritos, CA. http://www.myguppyteahouse.com/ Mon Nov 03 22:05:24 -0800 2008 4147689 119250 rdstargrl 1 4148128 mashti malone's on la brea north of sunset has some interesting ice creams (rosewater and the noodles - i forget what they're called) as well as a host of other interesting ethnic treats. there's a new place i've yet to frequent on santa monica blvd in bev hills called Fulfilled, that advertises japanese pastries... not sure exactly what that will entail... i'll have to check it out more closely when i run by tomorrow morn. nata's pastries in sherman oaks has some tasty and unusual desserts, the nata as well as others. avoiding the trendier places will leave you out of the junk food platter at SimonLA, as well as the blackberry cobbler at Cynthia's (those this isn't particularly trendy anymore). Mon Nov 03 23:04:11 -0800 2008 4147689 15572 Emme 2 4149112 Are "..the noodles..." called Falooda? Tue Nov 04 10:52:59 -0800 2008 4148128 10864 sel 3 4150496 Faloudeh. It's a Persian dessert. Wed Nov 05 02:09:17 -0800 2008 4149112 11933 J.L. 1 4149137 Lamill Coffee and XIV both have some very unusual creations with touches of savory flavors like mozzarella ice cream. Tue Nov 04 11:02:50 -0800 2008 4147689 12460 Chowpatty 2 4153648 That mozzerella ice milk was disgusting. Thu Nov 06 10:38:09 -0800 2008 4149137 212582 schrutefarms 1 4149177 If they are still doing it, the "junk food" dessert platter at Simon LA and what about the olive oil gelato at Mozza? Tue Nov 04 11:15:48 -0800 2008 4147689 108169 Servorg 2 4153651 Yes, I had the junk food platter a few weeks ago, it's great, but huge. The olive oil ice cream is amazing. Thu Nov 06 10:39:07 -0800 2008 4149177 212582 schrutefarms 1 4149204 Butterscotch Budino at Mozza Tue Nov 04 11:28:11 -0800 2008 4147689 66416 orythedog 1 4150129 I first tried it thirty years ago, so it certainly is not new or cutting edge, but is anyone doing a really good fried ice cream these days? When executed well (and served very promptly) the combination of hot and cold, crispy and rich creamy is still one of my most memorable and favorite desserts. Tue Nov 04 18:01:49 -0800 2008 4147689 10855 nosh 1 4150662 What about the honey toast at Tokyo Table? Wed Nov 05 06:22:54 -0800 2008 4147689 97644 ReelMike84 1 4152434 hey thanks so much for the leads! if i come up with anything fantastic i'll post more! xoxox Wed Nov 05 19:00:41 -0800 2008 4147689 127788 MyTongueEatsThenSpeaks 1 4153658 The Foundation Room at the House of Blues on Sunset has a Chevre cheesecake, with rosemary phyllo, black pepper cherry sorbet, and fresh rosemary. It's amazing. Thu Nov 06 10:41:07 -0800 2008 4147689 212582 schrutefarms 2 4153762 We had dessert recently at both Mozza Pizzeria and Craft. The olive oil gelato at craft was okay, but oily. Nothing to write home about. The salted caramel gelato at craft was very good, their sorbet trio--the persimmon was tasteless, the cranberry was good the apple, okay. For my money it was all about MOZZA pizzeria's desserts. The budino was amazing, absolutely wonderful and their chocolate sorbet with cocoa nibs and the coconut sorbet were too die for. The pear sorbet was really nice too. Thu Nov 06 11:14:53 -0800 2008 4153658 16640 compucook 3 4154024 I dare to say the Budino is the best dessert in the city. Thu Nov 06 12:46:29 -0800 2008 4153762 212582 schrutefarms 1 4153906 You must check out these artisan mochi truffles creations at http://moonpillows.com/ They are delicious! Thu Nov 06 12:01:19 -0800 2008 4147689 15633 fdb 1 4154412 I think the dessert bun Take a s’More--chocolate, marshmallow & graham cracker in a sweet bun--from Take a Bao is quite unusual. Thu Nov 06 14:51:23 -0800 2008 4147689 15633 fdb