So We Went To Dinner

1. We just got home from a retirement dinner for a wonderful lady in D’s office. It was one of those deals where I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to go or not, but I lined up a babysitter at the last minute and tried to make myself presentable and hopped in the car and ended up having such a great time. I love when that happens: when you don’t really have any expectations one way or another, and then you end up laughing a whole bunch and feeling really grateful and wondering how on earth it’s possible for a chef to make meatballs so tasty, MY WORD.

2. At dinner I sat by a darlin’ 20-something girl who works with D. We’d met before because she goes to our church, but we’d never really gotten to have a nice, uninterrupted conversation. She is just a DELIGHT. And I’m telling you: the more I talk to and interact with the teenagers and the 20-somethings who are bold enough to live life with a global, Gospel-driven focus – the teenagers and the 20-somethings who love the Lord and love the nations – the more I’m convinced that they’re going to change the world.

Seriously. They’re going to change the world.

3. D and I aren’t really people who do a lot of “fine dining,” and tonight was the first time in a couple of years when we’ve been out to a really nice restaurant. After what could only be described as an array of appetizers – meatballs, calamari, crab cakes – we dug in to our main course of veal and risotto. We don’t eat a lot of risotto in this neck of the woods; we sort of prefer our rice cooked for 20 minutes then bathed in butter.

Anyway, D was initially a little hesitant about his risotto, but he was a gamer and more than willing to give it a try. He took a bite, then sort of examined all the herbs and whathaveyou that were stirred into the risotto. He took another bite, and after a few seconds he started to nod his head.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Hmmmmm,” he responded. “Tastes like tree.”

WE ARE SO FANCY.

4. I still don’t like red wine even a little bit. And I still like Diet Coke over ice a lot.

5. For most of my life I was kind of on the fence about tiramisu. It was okay, but it wasn’t my favorite. It certainly wasn’t something I’d order in a restaurant, not when there were things like lava cake and flourless chocolate cake and brownie a la mode and whathaveyou.

Chocolate? GOOOOOOOOOD.

But over the last couple of years I’ve had a change of heart about the tiramisu. I so enjoy it. And tonight’s did not disappoint. I would totally order it again…and while chocolate desserts still reign supreme, I think tiramisu may have passed cheesecake as my second-favorite dessert to order at a restaurant.

Anyway, tonight’s tiramisu made me start thinking about my all-time dessert favorites. I think the best chocolate dessert I’ve ever had was last spring at Nobu in NYC with Ree and Melanie. I have no idea what it was called (except for “TASTY” and “ALL GONE”). My favorite dessert that’s not chocolate? Tiramisu from Bottega here in Birmingham. Or maybe the lemon pie from Jim and Nick’s. Because it is also very divine.

So I’m curious: what’s your favorite dessert to order in a restaurant? And if you’d like to go so far as to specify the restaurant where you most like to order that dessert, all the better. Let’s please remember that knowledge is power, my friends, and if you can encourage someone in terms of setting their dessert goals for 2011, well, you have certainly been of service today.

And we are all ever-so-grateful.

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Comments

  1. I’m with you on tiramisu. It’s soooo yummy and it’s just not something I can make at home. That said, I also love love love a really great bread pudding or creme brulee (Anthony’s restaurants in the Pacific Northwest… that’s Washington. As in the state. Waaayyy over here in the top left of the map… nope, that’s Alaska, you went too far). Anyhow, it’s not that I don’t like chocolate, I just never make those other things so it’s a treat to order them from a restaurant!

  2. There is a restuarant in Nashville called Jackson’s Bistro (in Hillsboro Village by Vanderbilt). It has the most incredible dessert! They are called cookie dough egg rolls. I am not even sure how to describe them. I dream about them! It is deep-fried chocolate chip cookie dough. With vanilla ice cream. And chocolate sauce. Oh my! You have got to try it!

  3. And that would be restaurant. Not restuarant. I am not sure what that is. But, if they served cookie dough egg rolls I would go!

  4. I’m sorry to say it because you love it so much, but tiramisu? Blech! Not for me, thank you very much.

    I am a plain cheesecake kind of gal. No crust needed. Just the cake. An if any piece has touched any sort of sauce, drizzle, or sugary syrup. Then, Blech! The little tainted piece is amputated from my cake and banished to the far side of the plate.

    If there isn’t cheesecake, then I will be having creme brulee. I only eat creme that touches the burned up sugary parts though. My husband’s brulee is the best. Yum! We have the fancy little dishes from the restaurant piled up in the cupboard. :)

  5. The best tiramisu I have had is at Amerigo. I don’t like the kind with lady fingers, and theirs is just moist and delicious. I also love Snicker Pie at Tico’s in Jackson, MS. I cannot eat there without have that dessert.

  6. I don’t ever order dessert, but I’m going to jump on the cupcake bandwagon about 5 years too late and say that The Cupcakery here in STL is THE BEST. When my best friend died, I told my mother I needed them because they were mourning cupcakes (I was 30 at the time – so grown up!).

  7. I don’t get to do much fancy eatin’, but my favorite go-to is the vanilla bean cheesecake at TGIFridays. I’m not even sure what makes it so crazy-good, but it’s one of the few restaurant desserts that I will eat all of and wish I had more! I’m just sayin it’s some goood eats :)

  8. Bread Pudding at Samantha’s in Jupiter FL. Best ever.

  9. I love white chocolate more than a person should, and the white chocolate molten lava cake at Chili’s is beyond what I could ever dream for a restaurant dessert! I’ve never finished a piece in one sitting…and for the silly people who don’t like white chocolate, they also have it in milk chocolate. It’s the stuff dreams are made of people…..

  10. You have some great restaurants in B’ham. I live in Atlanta but I’d drive two+ hours for the lemon tart at Chez Fon Fon – it’s better than my late grandmother’s (and that’s saying something).

    Going to have to drive over over and try Bottega and Jim & Nick’s!

  11. I’m glad you had such a good time at the dinner. I love it when that happens.

    As for dessert, my favorite is the Black Tie Mousse Cake at Olive Garden. I can’t even begin to describe the deliciousness, but should you ever have the opportunity to have it, you won’t be disappointed.

  12. Creme Brulee from Americas in Houston. OH MY WORD! Can only eat 1/4 because it is so stinkin rich.
    Speaking of fancy, my husband and I attended an event this week at Houston Country Club. Lets just say we were among the economic elite and I was addressed as madam several times by the wait staff! Cracked me up.
    No red wine for me either, just a Dr. Pepper with Sonic ice please!
    Have a great weekend,
    Madam Lynch

  13. Tiramisu ALL THE WAY!!
    (Though I never turn down Cracker Barrel’s Coca Cola Cake either!)

  14. Have you ever had the Chocolate Bag at McCormick and Smicks? It’s so tasty and cute!

  15. We lived in B’ham for four years, and there were always so many great choices for our Friday nights BC (before children). Handsome is never really on the dessert bandwagon. He says we just spent money on supper, we can eat Oreos at home. However, when we went to Johnny Ray’s, it was understood that we were getting pie before we left. Coconut cream was our very favorite with chocolate a close second. The night our first yahoo was born, my daddy brought us chocolate cream pie from Johnny Rays to our suite at St. Vincent’s. They even sent us a pie server and forks with the pie when they found out it was headed to the matenity ward. We have been gone from AL for almost five years, and we still talk about that pie. Birmingham is a very well kept secret, by the way! ;)

  16. Mary Kat's Mom says:

    Well, the St. Barth’s Chocolate Torte at Village Tavern is something to die for and I must say that discovering the Nutella Burnt Marshmallow Milkshake at Flip Burger has me seeing life differently now. But who could turn down a Chocolate Mocha Caramel Seasalt cupcake from Dream Cakes ? ! ? Not me! In fact, I’m heading to Oxmoor Road right now! ! ! (Wishing, dreaming!)

  17. Katherine says:

    My favorite is Key Lime Pie – anywhere and everywhere. Both times I was pregnant, that is the only thing I craved – definitely NOT the only thing I ate, mind you, but really the only thing I craved!

  18. tiramisu cheesecake from the cheesecake factory

  19. Oh Boo, I heart Tiramisu. Okay that was so wrong, but seriously–I even made it from scratch once. Once. (very detailed)

    I also love OG’s Raspberry Cheesecake. Yummm.

  20. Lynnette R says:

    I almost never order dessert when I eat out. I would have said never but I do recall two specific times that I did. Once a couple years ago at Pinchers in Ft Meyers Fl I ordered the Key Lime Pie. Yum. And I had Tiramisu at an Italian Restaurant in Michigan several years ago. It no longer exists. The restaurant not Michigan. Anyway, the Tiramisu was one of the best things I have ever eaten. I must do that again sometime. Obviously somewhere else.

  21. Mmmmmmm chili’s white chocolate molten cake. YUMMY! Also,I used to love the strawberry flambe at Old San Francisco steakhouse.

  22. My fave, and it’s super-rare to find, is cappuccino pie. I am not a coffee drinker but I love coffee ice cream. And mixed with the chocolate crust? Yum. Usually there’s chocolate drizzled on top, too. Though it’s easy to make at home (buy an Oreo crust and put some softened coffee ice cream in it), I’ve only done it once. It was nearly too much of a good thing. But to be able to enjoy a piece while in a restaurant? Perfect.

  23. “Tastes like tree.” Oh, I about died laughing at that one.

    Hands down, the Cinnabon is my favorite dessert ever. Is that sad? That my favorite dessert can be found at your local mall or airport? But it is just so dern good. I am a big lover of the apples/cinnamon/cream cheese frosting goodies of any and all kinds.

  24. For years my husband worked internationally and waxed just ‘poetically’ I tell you about the Bananas Tres Leches at a place in London called Gaucho Grill.
    He finally took me there, and my lands, if he wasn’t telling the truth.
    Good stuff it was.

  25. Outback’s Chocolate Thunder from Down Under is my husband’s favorite. I like the Red Velvet Cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory. The BEST cheesecake I ever had and I will never forget it was a New York-style Black Forest cheesecake at a little deli in Richmond, VA — closed years ago. :-(

    We don’t eat at fancy restaurants because my 6’2″, 250 lb. husband wants to get his money’s worth. The portions at fancy restaurants aren’t up to his standards. ;-)

  26. I have a 20-something daughter who is as you describe…we hear a lot of the bad about that generation but there is much to be excited about too.

    My favorite dessert is creme brulee…it absolutely positively must have that hard crackly top…there is nothing more disappointing than a creme brulee without the proper top!

  27. Nelson's Mama says:

    I’ll skip the red wine too, that’s just asking for a headache…but a nice white, that’s a different story!

    Creme brulee, with fresh berries.

    Homemade Banana pudding, WARM from the oven!

  28. My absolute favorite dessert that I cannot make at home and must purchase from a restaurant is Double Dave’s dessert pizza. My tastes are highly refined. But seriously, it is unbelievably good. Especially hot from the oven. I’m feeling a little desperate for a taste of it (or maybe even a lot of tastes) because our local DD’s has closed down. I’ve searched the internet desperately to find their recipe, but have not had any luck.

  29. I’ve always thought that tiramisu is for other people, not for me. I still haven’t found one I like, but I’m willing to fall on that sword and keep tasting them. For the good of the people.

    My all-time favorite dessert is the white chocolate bread pudding at the Palace Cafe in New Orleans. I once ate it twice in one day. I do not like any other bread pudding anywhere, but that one is to die for. No raisins, of course, because raisins are nasty in dessert. It’s just chocolate goodness. Ahhhhhhhhhh.

  30. Would you believe I don’t think I have ever ordered dessert in a restaurant. I love chocolate and all but I rarely eat dessert right after a meal… I usually need a little break before I want something sweet.

  31. Love, love, LOVE Creme Brulee!

  32. Listen. We spent New Year’s in Vienna and had hands-down one of the best desserts I’ve ever enjoyed – the original Sacher Torte from the Sacher Hotel. We had to wait outside in the freezing cold for an hour, then it took another 45 minutes to get our lunch, but we were rewarded with the sweet deliciousness of that torte. You need to do this once in your life. Possibly twice.

  33. The Sticky Toffee Pudding at Peli Peli in Houston. It’s cake and pudding and caramel and ice cream and to die for.

    The Banana Pudding at Pappadeux.

    Anything on the dessert tray at Taste of Texas. Husband loves their Slice of Heaven dessert.

  34. I love the “chocolate dream” dessert at Carrabba’s. There is a fancy Italian name for it, but I don’t know how to pronounce it Sogna …. something or other. Just say chocolate dream and they know what it is. The best part is the chocolate kahlua sauce. For this non-alcohol drinking pastor’s wife, it is almost naughty! Ha! :)

  35. I love the tiramisu at La Bagette in Norman, OK. Oh! and the creme brulee at Marcel’s in Port Aransas, Tx is divine!!

  36. J. Alexanders carrot cake is amazing. Served warm. Actually all their desserts are fantastic! We’re in Orlando, but I believe you have one in Birmingham, too.

  37. Oops..HOW could I forget the Dulce De Leche cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, even the whipped cream has so many layers of flavor. I actually got a little tear in my eye when I tasted it…but I was on a diet at the time and sometimes a dessert will do that to me when I’m on a diet. :^)

  38. Creme brulee is my standard restaurant dessert order. Mostly because I don’t have a torch to make it myself, & I can always make cake & pie at home. In Missoula, Montana the place to get it is Finn & Porter- good job boys!

  39. I am ashamed to say that I have NEVER ordered a dessert from a restaurant – unless Dairy Queen counts.

    What kind of world am I living in? And why aren’t I skinny in this world?

  40. Ooh…beignets from the Grand Lux. Tiramisu from Cheesecake Factory is usually divine. Also, bread pudding from Papadeaux here in Texas is so good.

  41. I like those little shot glass thingies they have at Carrabba’s (the chocolate one of course, not the tiramisu or the fruity one), but they also have a chocolate brownie that it takes me three different sittings to eat. Although Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie from Chili’s is pretty darn good too…

  42. When J and I did our stint in New Orleans (disaster insurance adjusting for Hurricane Katrina), we found that the whiskey bread pudding at the Royal Sonata Hotel is the best in the world. We made special trips there in the French Quarter with baby girl in tow just to grab a piece.
    Also, I have a Tiramisu Toffee Trifle recipe that I made once, and it is excellent. It is labor intensive, though, which is why I’ve only made it once. I’ll try to find it and send it to you.
    “Tastes like tree.” – can’t quit chuckling.

  43. I don’t usually order big fancy desserts when I’m eating out— but when I’m in the 280 area in Birmingham, I MUST, MUST, MUST stop for an Edgar’s sugar cookie. I cannot explain it–I just LOVE their cookies– the icing, the colored sugar, the sweetness of it all… I about die. Really. Simple tastes, that’s me. :-)

  44. The Cheesecake Factory. It is my friend. Godiva cheesecake? Yes please. But my other favorite is the oreo/cookie dough cheesecake. My nearest Cheesecake Factory is about 2 hours away. But do you know where else I can get a fix? The Barnes & Noble Starbucks. And…SAM’S CLUB.

  45. Oh, please go try the Lemon Passion cake from Macaroni Grill!! It is heavenly. I promise. :)

  46. Have you been to Bettola up by Pepper Place? Best Italian food in town,hands down. Better than Bottega. Seriously. Much more “of the people” than Bottega, too. The tiramisu there? Made me cry. Also, the gelato there is fresh and divine. Great pizzas and fantastic fresh pasta. Love, love, love. http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/45/490075/restaurant/Avondale/Bettola-Birmingham

  47. Coconut cream pie! I don’t do much fine dining either, so I don’t often have the opportunity to order fancy desserts. That’s ok, though. Regular ol’ pie suits me just fine!

  48. Chocolate souffle from Roy’s. Fine dining at its finest! Can’t get that in Guymon, Oklahoma ya know.

  49. I have to admit that I have had many a dessert and don’t really have anything that I don’t like!

    But if I had a favorite: my sister-in-law’s turtle cake, which is an exact carbon copy of the Turtle Cake at Cafe Latte in St Paul, MN.

    The funny thing is my sister in law makes this cake every year for a school fundraiser. Last year, the cake sold for $650.

    Yes. SIX HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS.

    Now that’s one heck of a school fundraiser (and it’s a public school)!

  50. I have never been a big fan of tiramisu. Since my husband and I rarely get a night out for fine dining, I am going to have say my favorite dessert is the Chocolate Molten Cake from Chili’s shared with my 3 and 6 year old boys. Depressing isn’t it? Ha!

  51. Oreo cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory!

  52. Amy from Austin, TX says:

    Favorite dessert? Hands down, the banana puddin’ cheesecake from Hoover’s here in Austin. Locally owned, down home southern cooking (you can actually get collard greens! Not that I would, but still…) Anyway, the banana puddin’ cheesecake is DIVINE. You have your regular cheesecake below with about an inch of homemade, from scratch banana puddin’ on top. OH. MY. WORD. SHUT. THE. FRONT. DOOR!!!! Heaven on a plate. If you’re ever in Austin you have to go there (or call me and I’ll take you there and out for some HEAVENLY mexican food as well! – and you think Chuy’s is good? Just you wait missy!)
    Amy

  53. I’m a simple girl… I usually just stick with the cheesecake.

    I’m also so glad to know that I’m not alone in my un-fancy preference of ice-cold Coke (I like the real stuff but I think the similarity is close enough:)) over red wine, hands down, any day, any time.

  54. Kelli kegley says:

    The tres leech cake from chuy’s is ahhhhhmazing!

  55. Oh, dear. I miss America and its desserts so much! German desserts are beautiful to look at but not as sweet as ours. Right now I could be happy with a peanut buster parfait from Dairy Queen and a fudge nut brownie from Chick-Fil-A!

  56. Creme Brulee (sp?). Hands down I will order this at any restaurant that I’m am at and that it’s on the menu…delicious!

  57. banana spring rolls with ice cream from pf chang…umm,umm!

    bananas with a slightly fried outside with ice cream and some kind of yummy sauce drizzled on top.

  58. Catherine says:

    If you are a chocolate lover (and even if you’re not), you CANNOT beat the chocolate mousse cake at Hugo’s Frog Bar (total misnomer b/c it is a restaurant, not a bar) in Chicago.

    It is A-mazing!!

  59. Ohiomom9977 says:

    Red Lobster’s “Warm Chocolate Chip Lava Cookie” is to die for!! It’s a warm jumbo cookie with extra gooey chocolate sauce in the middle topped with a scoop of ice cream. Heaven!!!

  60. First, “Tastes like a tree” is So something my husband would say.

    I guess a Wendy’s Frosty doesn’t count for this post, does it?

    Happy Friday!
    -FringeGirl

  61. I love, love, love brownies, so my favorite restaurant dessert is the Ultimate Brownie Sundae from Longhorn. It is a Ghirardelli brownie with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream in a pretty glass bowl. It’s way better than the Molten Chocolate Cake from Chili’s that was my favorite dessert for a looooong time!

  62. Key Lime Pie from the Original Oyster House in Gulf Shores. Apple dumpling from Cracker Barrell. My all time fav, though, is history now. It was the apple dumpling from Morrisons Cafeteria, God rest it’s soul. My mother smuggled one of those into the hospital for me once.

  63. We are not a “order-dessert-while-eating-out couple but when we go to Cheesecake Factory…let’s just say the line “let them eat cake” is declared!

  64. The chocolate sauce at Outback.

  65. Banana’s Foster over vanilla ice cream at Brennan’s in New Orleans. heaven. And a good fried ice cream with fudge sauce can soothe the soul.

  66. Birthday cake from a REAL bakery. Not Publix, Sam’s or Costco. I could basically just eat REAL Buttercreme icing off a spoon and be happy!. Second fav is a homemade pound cake w/ a sad streak. That’s the part on the bottom that doesn’t bake fully. Bakers try to avoid that sad streak and are unhappy when it appears but I LOVE it. Whe I got home from the hosp w/ my 2nd child we had 4 pound cakes from friends and family. I eyed the one w/ the most promising sad streak, flipped that baby over and cut the entire streak off the cake. I ate it all by myself because I could. I had just had a baby by golly !!

  67. I will eat almost anything……my husband eats meat, potatoes and almost anything Italian……no veggies except corn on the cob……you get the idea…..well the week before Christmas wew werre invited to a very small dinner party and both of the hosts are gourmet cooks……first course……French onion soup…..I thought my husband would pass out…..but he was able to spoon out the very tasty broth and leave the delicious sweet onions……next course….salad 4 kinds of greens with poached pears, grilled apples, goat cheese, bacon and pamagranites oh my….he ate enough of the fruit and bacon to make a dent in the salad…..next course…..fillet and a lamb chop….delicious garlic mashed potatoes and a spinach soufflé ……for dessert we each got a little chocolate bunt cake with raspberry sauce.
    I thought everything was wonderful ……he was just glad it was over and he didn’t offend anyone……my favorite dessert …..raspberry cream pie from the Blue Gate Rest. In Shipshewana Indiana (Amish food) God Bless, Pam

  68. my very favorite place is Lillo’s, in Leland, Mississippi. This is the Italian food that is being served in Heaven – I am certain. They have a fantastic canoli – I know they come from a place in New Orleans, but I only get them when I am at Lillo’s, and they are the perfect end to a wonderful meal .
    My other favorite dessert is flan from any mexican place – love it. Really.

  69. I’m a big fan of peanut butter pie. If I’m going to order dessert at a restaurant, then I hope that’s on the menu.

  70. Tres Leches at Americas/Churrascos/Amazon Grill in Houston… All owned by Cordua Restaurant Group, so they serve the same recipe – it’s INCREDIBLE!

  71. my favorite hands down is the Dulce de Leche Caramel cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory: http://cdn.thecheesecakefactory.com/resources/6e95d9804e9e5866bb14ffda82dffe33/menu_Cheesecake_DulceDeLech.jpg

    followed closely by the Godiva Chocolate cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory:
    http://cdn.thecheesecakefactory.com/resources/66a249804e9e4d3eba94ffda82dffe33/menu_Cheesecake_GodivaChoco.jpg

    and since you like Tiramisu AND Cheesecake Sophie, I threw this one in for you from, yes, The Cheesecake Factory:
    http://cdn.thecheesecakefactory.com/resources/df8753804e9e5e5bbb3effda82dffe33/menu_Cheesecake_Tiramisu.jpg

    (ps… if you’re interested, I have the recipe for a no-bake white chocolate cheesecake that will Change. Your. Life.)

  72. giiiiiirrrrrllll…where do I begin?
    Tiramisu @ Maggiano’s Little Italy (ATL, baby), Their pound cake is to die for too, Outback: Sinful Sundae (toasted coconut, ice cream, the best tasting chocolate with strawberries on top, their peanut butter pie was a prize too but they just took that off the menu
    Applebee’s:White chocolate blondie with maple topping (served warm, mmmhuh) Cheesecake: Snickers or Key Lime – Publix baby and you can get it by the slice in the bakery, booyah!
    California Dreaming: Apple Crisp-ish thing (my hubs fav dessert ever)

    Dang, my will power for healthy eating is going down, better stop there.
    Go enjoy something for me! Closest Maggiano’s to you is Nashvegas, Atl or if you vacation in FL there are a few there too, you won’t be sorry!)

  73. Cookie monster from Cheddar’s, but I’d actually take a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard over that any day.

  74. anything chocolate or cheesecaky :)

  75. My fav dessert is my own bread pudding! YUM! Or my key lime pie in the summer.

    I like tiramisu okay but last year, I visited a friend in Rhode Island. We went to Federal Hill for dinner and there are some FABULOUS Italian restaurants there. Let me just say that I don’t think I will ever be able to eat tiramisu again anywhere else. Wow. It wasn’t even remotely like any other I had ever had.

  76. It’s ridiculously simple, but the brownie a la mode at Chili’s is AMAZING! I shared one with some friends at a birthday dinner and I dreamed about it for WEEKS afterward, and am still talking about it 7 months later. It was PHENOMENAL!

  77. I love me some Tiramisu! Where did you guys go for dinner? Was it a local place or a chain? My second fav dessert is Creme Brulee – yum!!

  78. My favorite restaurant dessert in Houston is the panna cotta with saba from Da Marcos.

  79. Key. Lime. Cheesecake.

    Oh my head. The Cheesecake Factory introduced this dessert-o-bliss to me years ago and now it is my absolute, hands-down, desert island dessert. It’s sweet and it’s tart and it’s CHEESECAKE for heaven’s sake.

  80. Look at you! Next thing you know you’ll be a fancy-shmancy blog designer :)

  81. Oh my, my absolute favorite dessert is found at a restaurant named Barabra Jean’s at St. Simon’s Island in Georgia. It is called Chocolate Stuff. Not very descript name, but oh my goodness it is out of this world. It’s all of this different textured chocolate mixed together. Think icing, brownie like substance, hard chocolate crust and other textures all mixed together. Coming from a person that is not too much of a chocolate eater, this must be the best dessert. And one of the best parts is the homemade cream that they put on the top. It’s been a long while since I’ve had it, but would plan a day trip just to get some!

  82. Slightly baffled by all these folks who have never ordered dessert in a restaurant. I am clearly spoiled rotten and also chunky. My favorite favorite dessert (although I will never turn down tiramisu) is the Chocolate Nachos at Cheeseburger in Paradise. “Chocolate and flour tortillas fried, sweetened and covered with chocolate sauce, strawberries and colored sprinkles. Served with Blue Bell® strawberry and vanilla ice cream for dipping.” There’s a picture of them here, but neither words nor photos can do justice to them. http://www.cheeseburgerinparadise.com/sensuoustreats.aspx

  83. MUD PIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  84. In reference to #2 above…would you please take Oldest Child to live with you. She would also make a great built-in babysitter so you and D could go to more “fancy” dinners. If there ever was a teenager living for the Lord, it is Oldest Child. She is at Bible study at least 4 days a week and would probably go 7 if she could find one. She would live at our Methodist church camp if they would let her – she is missing a family wedding next month because it interferes with her church camp weekends. Of all the problems todays teenagers face, I’ll take these any day!

  85. So, I’m liking the new look! Is your head at the point of exploding yet? :D Love template changes, HATE the process.

  86. I’m an occasional post-er on my friend’s Christian-community blog, and since all of us members are 20-somethings trying (with varying degrees of day-to-day success, of course!) to “love the Lord and love the nations,” your #2 felt great to me. I’m planning to excerpt it on said blog; let me know if for whatever reason you’d rather I didn’t. Thanks!

    Also, I wish I ordered restaurant desserts more so I could have a stronger opinion, but offhand I think I’m a fan of the smooth and silky stuff – chocolate cheesecake, key-lime pie, flan.

  87. Having a hard time coming up with a favorite (I’ve eaten a lot of desserts at a lot of different places and I love most all of them) but the Strawberry Cake from Ashley Mac’s is DIVINE!!! I had a cupcake version at Pepper Place last summer and have been dying to get my hands on an entire cake of the real deal ever since!! You’ve got to try it!