Sweet Satisfaction
Topping off Decadent Dining
Think of the words we use to describe dessert: tempting, rich, luscious, scrumptious and sinful. Something about a blend of sugar, cream, eggs, flour and chocolate causes us to give in to our cravings for just one, two or more-than-a-few sweet bites. Chocolate especially has captured our imagination, beginning with its origin as an ancient ceremonial drink of the Mayans and the Aztecs. Casanova is said to have considered chocolate a love potion and to have consumed vast quantities to maintain his amorous energy.
And who can blame him? Just one glimpse of a chef’s artistic concoctions on the dessert cart or one tantalizing description on a menu has me hooked. So for those who share an adoration for sweets, we present a sampling of delicious temptations too tasty to resist.
Photography by Scott Kelby, courtesy of Flamestone Grill
CAFE PONTE
CLEARWATER—In this elegant restaurant with white linen tablecloths and attentive service, you’ll find amazing desserts that throw all caution to the wind. For pure chocolate indulgence, try the Flourless Chocolate Cake, a rich, thick, dense cake that could best be described as in between fudge and a brownie. Add crème anglaise, a lovely, smooth textured custard sauce, and burnt caramel ice cream for a fabulous pairing of flavors. It’s a rich and satisfying end to a perfect meal. But in case you just haven’t had enough, sample the Warm Chocolate Soufflé, an upside down soufflé topped with Tahitian Vanilla Bean ice cream and chocolate. Take one bite and the chocolate oozes out, similar to a lava cake.
www.cafeponte.comCITY STREET SWEETS
TAMPA—If you are a candy-aholic, watch out. This to-die-for candy shop is overflowing with mouth-watering confections. There are over 50 kinds of chocolate bark alone, plus 18 flavors of fudge, a dozen or more different chocolate truffles and classics like Gummi Bears, Atomic Fireballs, licorice and taffy. Hang out at the “Chocolate Lava Lounge” and enjoy the Cran-Gran-Blue chocolate bark. It’s made with dried cranberries, blueberries and granola mixed with 72 percent cocoa dark chocolate. Other equally out-of-the-ordinary flavors include Chipotle Chilean Pepper, Spicy Peanut and Mudslide. For something different, experience handmade specialties on “Caramel Revolution Row” and indulge in a Caramel Chocolate Cookie Swirl CraZapple.
www.citystreetsweets.comPiña Colada Cake at Tommy Bahama's Restaurant & Bar
CONCH REPUBLIC GRILL
NORTH REDINGTON BEACH—Dress casually for this laid-back, beach-style restaurant located right across from the water. The restaurant’s name is taken from Key West’s amusing, but short-lived announcement in 1982 that they were “seceding from the Union” and reinventing themselves as the new “Conch Republic.” Try the Bananas Foster served tableside, a showy presentation that starts with the waiter cooking up butter and brown sugar to create a sweet syrup, followed with a little cream and then fresh sliced bananas, all doused with several liqueurs, including a banana-flavored one and Triple Sec, with its distinctive citrus flavor. The whole concoction is set aflame and after the fire dies out, it’s poured over two crepes filled with vanilla ice cream. Wow.
www.conchrepublicgrill.comFLAMESTONE GRILL
OLDSMAR—Campfire S’mores are the perfect finishing touch to a meal at this sizzling American restaurant featuring fire-grilled steaks and seafood. When you order this creative twist on an outdoor campfire favorite, the waiter brings a tiny hibachi grill to the table, along with plenty of marshmallows and a supply of graham crackers coated in thick Godiva chocolate. Toast the marshmallows to your liking, golden brown to blackened, and then smash the gooey mess inside the cracker sandwich—chocolate, espresso and key lime flavored creamy custards, all arranged in individual pots on a decorative wrought iron frame.
www.flamestonegrill.comPACIUGO GELATO
ST. PETERSBURG—Gelato is the Italian version of ice cream, smoother and less filling than the American style with 75 percent less butterfat. It’s also served at a warmer temperature to bring out the flavors. At Paciugo Gelato, you’ll find a creamy “Tuscany” version made with milk, eggs and sugar, and a “Sicilian” style comprising water, fresh fruit and sugar, similar to a sorbet. No preservatives or corn syrup are used, only natural ingredients. Choose from a dazzling array of flavors, from Fondente, an extra dark Belgian chocolate that is pure heaven for chocolate lovers, to the unusual Vanilla Black Pepper Olive Oil, a surprisingly fantastic flavor of creamy vanilla blended with a pinch of black pepper for a subtle bite.
www.paciugo.comTHE SUN HOUSE RESTAURANT & BAR
ANNA MARIA ISLAND—Beautiful sunsets are cause for celebration at this beachfront restaurant with a gorgeous view of the Gulf of Mexico. Each night one customer is selected to ring the gong, while the sun slowly dips below the horizon and the crowd sings, “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.” Sit outside on the balcony and enjoy the unique Roasted Almond Berry Basket, an edible basket formed from a baked mixture of pastry dough, sugar and almonds and filled with a creamy egg custard. The custard is drizzled with the distinctive orange flavor of Grand Marnier and then crowned with whipped cream. An abundance of fresh seasonal raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries are sprinkled on top.
www.thesunhouserestaurant.comTOMMY BAHAMA’S RESTAURANT & BAR
SARASOTA—Eclectic with a tropical twist, Tommy Bahama's Restaurant & Bar offers a relaxed, elegant island ambience along with truly inspired cuisine. Their "Life is One Long Weekend" mindset turns the island experience from wishful thinking to a tasty reality with a cosmopolitan collection of dishes inspired by diverse getaways to Jamaica, Barbados and beyond. You’ll feel like you’ve been whisked away to the islands as you enjoy the rich Piña Colada Cake, a unique twist to the Caribbean rum cakes. Picture a moist vanilla four-layer cake soaked in Myers Dark Rum. In between each layer, you’ll find a thick, delicious coating of white chocolate mousse frosting and tidbits of juicy pineapple. The finished cake is covered with more white chocolate mousse and then coated with flakes of toasted coconut, which adds a distinctive nutty flavor. Instead of toasting paradise, you’ll taste it.
www.tommybahama.comWRIGHT’S GOURMET HOUSE
SOUTH TAMPA—At this landmark Tampa deli and bakery, you’ll find an incredible variety of made-from-scratch cakes, pies, cookies, brownies and…you get the point. It’s tough to choose from a selection that includes coconut cream pie, lemon squares, cream cheese brownies, pecan pie, or one of the famous cakes (on the whole or by the gargantuan slice). Rich, banana-layered Hummingbird Cake will make your spirit soar. Also taking your taste buds to new heights is the Alpine Yellow Cake with chocolate frosting and white chocolate shavings or the Hawaiian Princess, a coconut cake layered with a pineapple-coconut filling and cream cheese frosting, with coconut and pineapples sprinkled on top. Wright’s signature Carrot Cake is a richer, spicier version than the average with flavorings of cinnamon, nutmeg, coconut, pecans and hand-grated carrots.
www.wrightsgourmet.comPhoto courtesy of The Sun House Restaurant
Photography by Scott Kelby, courtesy of Flamestone Grill
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