BEST DESSERT (NON-PIE DIVISION) 10.
Juice N Fruit - Tucson, AZ
This is a raspados, which is a combination of shaved ice, a scoop of vanilla ice cream and the fruits of your choice. Maybe my decision to go with plum and pineapple wasn't the ideal selection (even the young man making the raspados hesitated for a second and told me that was a new one to him), but it was an incredibly cool and refreshing snack on a hot Tucson day.
9.
Bauder Pharmacy - Des Moines, IA
My visit to
Bauder Pharmacy was just a week before the Iowa State Fair. Since they are famous for the peppermint bars they sell at their stand during the state fair, I asked if they happened to have any available now. The young man told me no, but he would be happy to make me a sundae which approximates the candy. Two scoops of their homemade delicious peppermint ice cream, covered by hot fudge and I was a happy boy! Still, a return trip during the Iowa State Fair to try those peppermint bars is a must!
8.
Durgin Park - Boston, MA
I order Indian Pudding anytime it is on the menu, but the one they serve at
Durgin Park still sets the standard. The combination of the thick molasses-y pudding and the melting vanilla ice cream is wonderful, so make sure you get some of each in every bite!
7.
Sweatman's - Holly Hill, SC
The banana pudding served at
Sweatman's has just the right amount of pudding, vanilla wafers and cut up bananas for my taste. And at 99 cents for a small cup, is a real bargain.
6.
Pico de Gallo - South Tucson, AZ
What looks like a simple cup of tall, cut up fruit (coconut, pineapple, mango and watermelon) is much more. Sprinkled on top is some salt, lemon juice, but most importantly, a generous dose of chili powder, which really brings out the flavors of the fruit. A stunning combination!
5.
Kick Ass Cupcakes - Somerville, MA
During an amazing eating weekend in Boston, led by Roadfood team members
ayersian, the root beer float cupcake was what made the biggest impression. It really did taste exactly like the world's best root beer float.
4.
Kopp's - Greenfield & Glendale, WI
During a week plus in Wisconsin, Cousin Johnny and I only managed to eat the fabulous frozen custard at
Kopp's twice. But, had we been there everyday, we still would have wanted more. Going into the vacation, I would have probably told you that
Leon's is slightly better. Not anymore, I am now officially on board the
Kopp's train! The two flavors above are cookies & cream and (I'm not 100% on this) Orange Creamsicle.
3.
Buttonwood Farms - Griswold, CT
During a fast paced weekend of Roadfooding in Connecticut,
Chris Ayers took me to about a half dozen high quality ice cream shops. The clear #1 was the Graham Cracker Ice Cream served at
Buttonwood Farms. An odd flavor I have never seen anywhere else, it is chocolate covered bits of graham cracker in graham cracker flavored ice cream. Strange, but delicious!
2.
Cafe Latte - St. Paul, MN
Cafe Latte has a huge selection of some of the best looking cakes you have ever seen. I ate a slice of the Grasshopper Torte which was very good. Then,
The Travelin Man brought back this piece of chocolate cake and it blew mine out of the water. Luckily, he was nice enough to share. Ultra-moist and rich, this is the perfect slice of chocolate cake. The only thing I can imagine a chocolate lover enjoying more, would be.....
1.
Hominy Grill - Charleston, SC
Easily, the best dessert I had last year and most likely the single best item of any kind. This chocolate pudding is not too sweet, but deeply chocolatey like nothing else I have ever tasted.
ChiTownDiner and I actually came to
Hominy Grill for breakfast, so this was being eaten at about 8:00AM!
Honorable mention:
1. Caramel Cake -
Homemade Ice Cream and Pie Kitchen (Louisville, KY)
2. Date Shake -
Shields Date Gardens (Indio, CA)
3. Coffee Brownie Ice Cream -
Harry's Roadhouse (Santa Fe, NM)
4. Gateau Sirop -
Cafe des Amis (Breaux Bridge, LA)
5. Whoopie Pie Cake -
Becky's (Portland, ME)
<message edited by buffetbuster on Sun, 01/2/11 9:55 PM>
