Just Desserts: Pumpkin Pie Torte at Block 1912 (10361 82 Ave.)

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Pumpkin pie torte - a buttery crust topped with pumpkin goodness. #yeg #yegfood #block1912 #dessert #coffee #yegeats #yegfoodie

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 7, 2018 at 9:18am PDT

Pumpkin pie torte - a buttery crust topped with pumpkin goodness.

Just Desserts: Tiramisu at Block 1912

A Tiramisu that kept me full for the rest of the day. #yeg #yegfood #yegfoodie #yegeats #block1912 #nofilter

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jul 8, 2018 at 1:46pm PDT

Just Desserts: Vanilla Bean Iced Latte and Fresh Fruit Danish at Block 1912

This is what I do after a rally. Vanilla iced latte and fresh fruit danish. I love how fresh and flaky the pastry is. #yeg #yegfoodie #yegfood #yegeats #nofilter #dessert #block1912

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jun 30, 2018 at 1:23pm PDT

Just Desserts: Mixed Berry Frangipane Cake at Block 1912

This is Saturday. Cappuccino and a mixed berry frangipane. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Feb 17, 2018 at 12:24pm PST

Saturday afternoons at Block 1912 are precious, when I have a moment to catch my breath. This past weekend I paired a mixed berry frangipane cake with my cappuccino. The cake had a crispy bottom, with a moist centre layered with fruit. Of course, the top was covered with fresh fruit. The result was not too heavy and very satisfying (and delicious).

Just Desserts: Nutella Creme Brulee at Block 1912

Nutella crème brûlée and espresso. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #foodporn

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Nov 25, 2017 at 2:54pm PST

Block 1912 is a regular haunt of mine on Saturdays. I had a craving for dessert, so headed here for espresso and a Nutella creme brulee. I was tempted to try one, even though I have never been a huge creme brulee fan, after seeing an episode of the Baker Sisters where the women visit Block 1912 and owner Jorel shows how it is made (on the show, it is referred to as "hazelnut chocolate creme brulee, likely because of the fact Nutella is a trade name and this was not a commercial for it). First of all, I love Nutella, so the creamy, chocolatey filling was decadent and rich to my tastebuds. The use of caramel on top worked so well because it hardened into candy. As pointed out on the show, sugar is generally used in this dessert, which ends up getting a burned taste that I personally find sickening. However, this dessert was perfection and I am already craving more.

Just Desserts: Bread Pudding at Block 1912

Coffee and bread pudding. #yegfood #coffee #dessert

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 28, 2017 at 1:47pm PDT

It was back to Block 1912 for a treat a few weeks ago. I love bread pudding, so was eager to try theirs. Warmed up, with some whipped cream on top, the dessert was enjoyable but read more like a piece of cake in a bed of syrup than a bread pudding. The pudding itself was not moist enough, and I just felt like I was eating bits of cake rather than bread. I liked it - it was sweet and comforting - but I think it needs a better description.

Just Desserts: Pumpkin Spice Cake at Block 1912

Coffee and pumpkin spice cake. I have been told I am the first to try it. #yeg #pumpkinspice #yegfood #dessert #coffee #yegcoffee

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Oct 25, 2017 at 3:27pm PDT

It's that time of year when pumpkin spice takes over the drinks and desserts of many coffee shops. I had a piece of pumpkin spice cake recently at Block 1912 and was apparently the first to try it. I am sure I was not the last. The cake was light and fluffy, with the pumpkin spice flavour coming from the icing between the layers. This was a really interesting and light alternative to pumpkin pie.

Just Desserts: Mars Bar Square at Block 1912

Mars bar square and Vietnamese coffee. #yegfood

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on May 20, 2017 at 12:33pm PDT

It was a rare Saturday afternoon off and to myself, so I headed to Block 1912 for coffee and dessert. I had a Mars Bar Square, which surprised me with its crispy lightness. It was a Rice Crispy square made to taste like a Mars bar, and it really did. The rice bits had been covered in a sweet coating resembling caramel and nougat, and the top was drizzled with chocolate and caramel. Very sweet, but not too heavy. To drink I had a Vietnamese coffee, which is more like a sweet iced latte here. The tiny bit of condensed milk sinks to the bottom, with lots of milk on top and fresh espresso (as opposed to the slow drip over condensed milk like you get in Vietnamese restaurants).

Just Desserts: Creme Caramel at Block 1912

Creme caramel and espresso #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 23, 2016 at 1:19pm PDT

It's Passover, so my diet is rather restricted when it comes to cakes and cookies! But I was at Block 1912 a few days ago and really craved something sweet. I had the delightfully gluten-free creme caramel with my espresso, a firmly shaped pudding of sweetness. I don't usually order this anywhere because I tend to find it too sweet. Here, it was definitely sweet, but not cloying. There were undertones of vanilla, and it wasn't too rich either. Highly recommended, especially for the gluten free crowd.

Smoked Tofu Sandwich at Block 1912

Smoked tofu sandwich #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 16, 2016 at 1:29pm PDT

A Saturday lunch meeting on Whyte Avenue brought me to Block 1912. I decided to try something from their new sandwich menu. The smoked tofu sandwich was a nice size, on a fresh bun. I loved the smokiness of the tofu, which my companion said resembled liver pate. The dried kale and sprinkling of ramen noodles added crunch and a nutty flavour, while the peanut sauce was rather nondescript. The sandwich was a very interesting combination of flavours and definitely unique.

Just Desserts: Chocolate Toffee Torte and Corn Loaf at Block 1912

Chocolate toffee torte and corn loaf. #yegfood

A photo posted by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Apr 6, 2016 at 1:59pm PDT

While having coffee and dessert at Block 1912 a couple of weeks ago, I opted for something lighter - a small loaf of corn bread, which was heated for me. It had just the right amount of sweetness, and quite a buttery finish - I am not sure if butter was added to the exterior when it was heated, but it was definitely there. I tried a forkful of the chocolate coffee torte at the other side of the table, and found it rich with a definite taste of caramel amidst the sea of chocolate.

Just Desserts: Chocolate Stout Cake and Triple-Berry Mousse Cake at Block 912

After a few weeks of renovations, Block 1912 is open again. I was there this past week for an after-dinner espresso and dessert. My triple-berry mousse cake was moist, with an outer layer of chocolate ganache, a top layer of thick, rich mousse, and several layers of berry-infused cake. I also tried the chocolate stout cake, which was rich and chocolatey, but did not taste much from stout. "Maybe it's just the shape you turn into if you eat too much of it," said the witty person who had actually ordered it.

Just Desserts: Mocha Cream Puff Tower at Block 1912

The fact that Block 1912 has re-opened after four weeks of renovations (which are not quite finished - but hey, the place is open again!). The tempting dessert display is still there, and I tried the mocha cream puff tower. It lived up to its name - it had three levels of cream puff with chocolate ganache topping and mocha cream filling. The coffee flavour of the cream was extremely powerful, so be sure you are a coffee-lover before ordering this decadent treat.

Just Desserts: Sicilian Cassata Cake at Block 1912

When I am in the mood for a sweet treat on a Saturday afternoon, I usually head to Block 1912 like I did today. To go with my coffee, I had a piece of Sicilian Cassata cake. Block 1912's take on this dessert, which is an Italian fruitcake, is to have a top layer of chocolate cake between two layers of ganache. Underneath the chocolate ganache sandwich is a thick layer of cheesecake mixed with chocolate chips (just in case the top layer did not provide enough chocolate) and preserved fruits. The bottom, thin layer is an intense lemon cake. The mixture of the sweet chocolate, creamy cheesecake, and almost sour lemon is quite the taste bud combination. And, like most of the desserts at Block 1912, I could not finish it.

Just Desserts: Pumpkin Pie at Block 1912

In a rare moment, I had time to myself on a Saturday afternoon to read, sip coffee, and enjoy dessert. I had pumpkin pie at Block 1912 because I have not yet had a chance to enjoy this autumn treat. The individual pie was loaded with pumpkin filling (albeit still a bit frozen in the very centre) and the crust almost read more like a decadent cookie, especially the frosted part at the very bottom (which helped prevent it from getting soggy, I am assuming). I didn't finish. I rarely do with Block 1912's desserts.

Just Desserts: Pumpkin Mousse Cake at Block 1912

Before going to see one of my favourite bands at Blues On Whyte, I decided I needed some coffee and dessert to keep me going throughout what was going to be a late evening. I headed a few doors down to Block 1912 for coffee and a piece of pumpkin mousse cake. The top of the cake was fluffy mousse, with a thin layer of moise spiced cake underneath. Delicate sprinkles of dark chocolate enrobed the outer layer. The mousse part itself did not taste much from pumpkin - one had to scoop up the mousse and cake together for the full flavour experience. This was one of the lighter desserts I have had here, as far as a cake can go, and made a good after-dinner treat.

Just Desserts: Tiramisu at Block 1912

When I am on Whyte Avenue and want coffee and a dessert, Block 1912 is usually the first place I head. I tried the tiramisu and found the flavours of mascarpone cream and cake soaked in coffee liquor to be rich and moist. This was a less traditional take on the dessert, as the only Ladyfinger to be found was a garnish on top. That aside, I loved how moist the dessert was, if not just a tad too sweet, and could barely finish.

Just Desserts: Raspberry Chocolate Mousse at Block 1912

A trip to Block 1912 on a rainy afternoon tempted me with the dessert display so much that I had to have something sweet with my coffee. I had a raspberry chocolate mousse - and sweet, it was. The chocolate mousse was perfect in texture and flavour. The raspberry ganache was incredibly cloying, however, even when cut with the chocolate and moist cake at the bottom. Chocolate and raspberry is one of my favourite dessert combinations, but it just did not come together well this time.

Just Desserts: Brownie Cheesecake at Block 1912

My solo Saturday continued at Block 1912. I as craving a decadent dessert and went with the brownie cheesecake, which was a single portion of cheesecake with chocolate brownies swirled around in it. The cheesecake part was dense and rich, while the brownie part was not as gooey and chocolatey as the description led me to believe. The bottom of the dessert also had an oily taste that I could not quite put my finger on. Like most of the desserts at Block 1912, it was huge, and I gave half to a friend who happened along, and agreed with me concerning the flavour. Whether I would be in the mood for chocolate or cheesecake, I don't think I would go for this confection again.

Coffee Break: Mocha at Block 1912

Feeling the need for both a caffeine and sugar high, I ordered a mocha during a meeting at Block 1912 a couple of weeks ago. Yes, it did the trick. The chocolate and coffee notes worked well together, and the whipped cream on top added another touch of decadence. Don't expect to fall asleep after one of these.