POWERFUL PASTRIES
Galatoire’s Bistro profiteroles
Some say the best things in life come in threes, and that saying rings true with this trio of cream puffs. Choux pastry is filled with scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream and topped with chocolate sauce.
3535 Perkins Road, Suite 400
753-4864
galatoiresbistro.com
THAT’S AMORE!
Nino’s tiramisu
This highly underrated Italian restaurant serves up some of the best tiramisu around. Italian cream cheese flavored with marsala wine is layered between espresso and Kahlua-soaked ladyfingers in this airy dessert. Sure, tiramisu might sound like a safe choice to end an Italian meal, but owner and chef Elton Hyndman has spent many hours tweaking the recipe to perfect this elegant take on the dessert.
7512 Bluebonnet Blvd.
757-9300
ninos-italian.com
DAILY BREAD
Restaurant IPO’s bread pudding
The only thing better than bread pudding? Deep-fried, white chocolate bread pudding topped with praline sauce, toasted pecans and vanilla bean whipped cream cheese. Restaurant IPO, known for its Southern-style tapas, changes up the dessert menu every night. But the one dessert that remains constant is the bread pudding: It’s a hit.
421 Third St.
302-5541
restaurantipo.com
LET THEM EAT CAKE
Bin 77’s brulee cheesecake
You can’t go wrong with cheesecake. Bin 77 takes it to another level with this creme brulee version, but it doesn’t stop there—a tart raspberry coulis and chantilly cream make it truly decadent. Share the slice out on Bin 77’s expansive patio with a glass of wine and you’ve got the perfect end to a romantic dinner.
10111 Perkins Road
763-2288
bin77.com
CULINARY ARTISTRY
Blend’s chocolate torte
Presentation is everything, and the chocolate torte at Blend looks like an expertly arranged mixed-media painting. Smears of chocolate sauce and scattered strawberries adorn a substantial slice of rich chocolate torte. This beautiful dessert is a standout on the downtown wine bar’s small plate-centric menu.
304 Laurel St.
757-5645
blendbr.com
OH SO FRENCH
Maison Lacour’s The Clam
Nothing is more elegant than an intimate French dinner, and Maison Lacour offers the feel of dining in a country cottage in France. The dessert menu is extensive, and this delicate, clam-shaped pastry is a favorite. It’s filled with homemade vanilla ice cream and fresh raspberries and served atop sweet raspberry sauce. Ooh la la.
11025 N. Harrell’s Ferry Road
275-3755
maisonlacour.com
GETTING THE SCOOP
La Divina gelato
Rachael Ray, Alton Brown and John Besh are all fans of La Divina. And with good reason. The homemade, organic gelato is some of the best around. The café also touts itself as being the only place in the state to make gelato completely from scratch, without powders, pastes or bases. In addition to light Italian fare, the local La Divina serves a variety of gelatos and sorbets including the pictured rosewater sorbet, creme brulee gelato, pink flamingo gelato and satsuma sorbet.
3535 Perkins Road, Suite 360
771-8488
ladivinagelateria.com
DRINK TO THAT
Duvic’s dessert martinis
If you’re in the mood for drinks and desserts, a cocktail at Duvic’s Martini Bar kills two birds with one stone. In addition to traditional martinis, the diverse cocktail menu includes sweet treats like a mint chocolate chip drink, a chocolate martini and the pictured espresso and white chocolate martinis.
2854 Kalurah St.
336-4821
duvicsbar.com
