Just Desserts: Brownie and Cookie from Sugared and Spiced

Decadent brownie and chocolate chip cookie from @sugaredandspiced. Easily the best brownie I have ever had (short of my mom’s) and the cookie had the right crunch-chew-chocolate ratio. #yeg #yegfood #yegeats #yegfoodie #sugaredandspiced #bakery #brownie #cookie

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Aug 22, 2018 at 1:07pm PDT

Just Desserts: Chocolate Gelato Shake at La Carraia

Wanted some gelato but went for a shake instead. I chose chocolate - no surprise - it was rather loose, and for over $8 I expected a bigger size. If I return I think I will stick with a scoop of gelato. #yeg #yegfoodie #yegeats #yegfood #gelato #nofilter

A post shared by Paula E. Kirman (@livingsanctuary) on Jun 28, 2018 at 6:30pm PDT

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: 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.

Breakfast for Lunch: Banana Chocolate Belgian Waffle at Artisan Resto-Cafe

I had a very late lunch this week at Artisan Resto-Cafe on Whyte Avenue. It was more like a mid-afternoon snack: a Belgian waffle topped with fresh banana and chocolate sauce. I also had some syrup because much of the waffle was dry as chocolate sauce does not permeate the waffle like berry sauces and such. The waffle was freshly made, and chocolate and banana are favourite toppings of mine, so if you enjoy them as well then you can't go wrong with this. I found it a bit on the light side so if you're very hungry, consider getting one of the many breakfast sides with it.

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: 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.

Just Desserts: Chocolate Pecan Chocolate Cake Muffin at Cafe Leva

A coffee meeting at Cafe Leva turned into a coffee and treat meeting. I enjoyed what I thought at first was just a chocolate muffin with pecans, but was actually a dense piece of chocolate cake that was almost solid chocolate within. It was also sold to me as vegan, but I found it hard to believe, it was so rich. It was like eating a chocolate bar shaped into a muffin. I was on a sugar high for the rest of the afternoon. And that, my friends, is a good thing.

Just Desserts: Gracious Goods

I found myself in Belgravia and in need of lunch a few days ago, so stopped in to Gracious Goods. My Thai chicken wrap had a lot of chicken in it, as well as crunchy noodles, green onions, and lots of spicy peanut sauce (which was a bit overpowering at times). Beef barley soup probably was not the most obvious side and the flavours clashed somewhat, but the soup was incredible: piping hot, and full of beefy goodness.

However, the real star of my afternoon was the affogato. A huge scoop of chocolate ice cream was surrounded by two shots of espresso. The mix of temperatures and a flavour combination that resulted in a pleasant mocha would bring me back here just for that.

Just Desserts: Bread Pudding at Cafe Leva

While it is no secret that I adore the coffee and pizza at Cafe Leva, I have actually never tried one of their desserts. I stopped in there this past week and had the bread pudding. It was presented in a flat square, slightly heated so that the chocolate on top had melted. The results were rich, buttery, and sometimes crispy. The portion of cream on the side added moisture and even more richness. An absolutely decadent treat.

Just Desserts: Fudge Truffle

During a meeting last week at Zocalo, I wanted something sweet to go with my coffee. I tried one of the truffles that look so beautiful in the display case. I chose the basic fudge truffle, with a thick milk chocolate coating and a gooey centre that tasted of chocolate and caramel. At almost $4 for one it is a little pricey, but a decadent occasional treat.

Just Desserts: Two Treats at Block 1912

Block 1912 is one of my favourite coffee shops, not just because the coffee is excellent, but because of the incredible, original desserts. When I wanted a treat, but something lighter, I tried the peach and nectarine cobbler. I loved the gluten free top crust, but found there was not a lot of fruit underneath. I also should have opted to have the dessert cold instead of heated up - I think some of the moisture might have gotten lost in the process.

On another visit, I had the chocolate cheesecake brownie. Wow. This was a mouthful. A rich chocolate brownie was topped with cheesecake, and baked with actual chunks of chocolate. It tasted exactly like it sounds! Oh, and if that wasn't enough, it was topped with whipped cream and chocolate crisps. I could not finish. Two people could easily share this.

Just Desserts: Chocolate Brownie Mousse Cake

There are times when you need chocolate. Then, there are times when you really need chocolate. If you ever find yourself feeling like the latter, head to Block 1912 and order a piece of chocolate brownie mousse cake. It features a thick layer of rich mousse atop a base of brownie. It is one of the riches pieces of cake I ever have eaten. It is actually more of a confection than a cake. Goes very well with coffee.

Riverside Bistro

I spent most of the weekend at a conference at the Shaw Conference Centre, and needed a break. So, I headed next door to the Courtyard at Marriott for an early even snack in the Riverside Bistro. I ordered a Thai chicken flatbread, which took a while to arrive. My extremely friendly and attentive server (I would go back again just on service alone) brought me a garlic bread stick to help me pass the time. It was tasty, but would have been better warm.

Finally, the main attractive arrived, and it was good. Lots of chicken, creamy bocconcini cheese, red Thai sauce, and red peppers. The bread was also much more flavourful than typical flatbread, which tends to be bland. It cost around $14 which is on the higher end, but not unreasonable, for a gourmet, personal-sized pizza.

I decided to have dessert, and had a piece of Death by Chocolate cake. Despite the beautiful presentation, it did not live up to its name. It was rather dry, did not strike me as being overly fresh, and overall did not justify the $8 price tag.

Returning for Dessert at Block 1912

Dessert at Block 1912 #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

A cup of coffee and delicious dessert can be a perfect nightcap, or evening-cap as it was in this case.

My Chocolate Marquise is one of the most decadent desserts I have ever had. The rich outer later of ganache, the rich, firm mousse on the inside, the thing layers of cake in the middle and bottom - all of this combined to something with incredible flavour and texture.

The other dessert of choice was a three layer chocolate torte with white, milk, and dark layers. It got more rich the further down I went, and the chocolate shavings on top added an element of decadence.

Both desserts paired well with Block 1912's excellent coffee.

Coffee Break - Chocolate Chai

Chocolate chai #yegcoffee, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

When I want a hot drink and don't want coffee, I usually go for chai. On my last visit to Wild Earth Bakery I decided to try the chocolate chai - it had the warmth and spice of chai with an overtone of chocolate that did not dominate. A really great winter drink.

Dessert at Block 1912

Dessert at Block 1912 #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

The dessert tray at Block 1912 was just too beautiful to resist. The colourful assortment of cakes, tarts, and other delights made by Block 1912's baker drew us in.

I had a vanilla panna cotta with fruit. The panna cotta was delicate in flavour and very cold in the centre - I suspect it had been frozen after it was first made. The selection of fruit that surrounded it was varied and delicious, with the syrup mixing well with the custard.

The chocolate chili square was rich - and spicy. I tried just a corner of it and my mouth was aflame. I do not recommend this for the faint of heart, or taste buds. I suspect the burn would have overwhelmed me had I continued.

Chocolate Lava Cake

Chocolate molten lava cake #yegfood, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

So, after a very ample steak dinner, I decided to give dessert a go. The Chocolate Lava Cake caught my eye, being a lover of chocolate.

The cake was warm and very rich. It did not explode with chocolate sauce as other lava cakes I have had, which was a bit of a surprise, but the accompanying ice cream and fruit sauce kept things moist and added layers of flavour. The fresh fruit pieces were also delicious.

Folk Fest Food: Banana on a Stick

Banana on a Stick, a photo by raise my voice on Flickr.

This was my final treat of this year's Edmonton Folk Music Festival. I love frozen bananas dipped in chocolate, but tend to avoid them at public events since I have a habit of wearing the chocolate on my mouth for a while. But, since I was leaving, I figured it did not matter and had a "Decadent" banana pop dipped in chocolate and rolled in chocolate chips. It was refreshing and at least somewhat healthy, because underneath the chocolate I was eating a banana. Right? Right?!?!?