Dining Downtown with the Dietitian: In love with our desserts

By Kim Galeaz

You may never come across a dietitian who loves dessert like I do. And I’m not talking about “healthier versions.” I want the real thing with plenty of flour, sugar, butter and cream.

I’d like you to enjoy the real thing, too, without guilt and anguish, because we have some wonderful choices right here in our downtown neighborhoods. Within walking distance. Because walking – or whatever form of increased physical activity you choose – is how you’ll balance all those extra, utterly delicious, dessert calories.

Just in time to celebrate the “get outside and walk around” season, here are some of your neighbor’s picks for favorite downtown desserts.

Crazy for Coconut Cream Pie

Barb McLin of Lockerbie Square: The Coconut Cream Pie at Ralph’s Great Divide. It’s not

only my favorite downtown dessert, it’s my favorite any place in town dessert. I think it’s so good that I think about it. I crave it! I’m crushed when we’re there and there is none left. I don’t dare buy a whole pie, as I’m sure I’d eat it all myself. Just writing this response has made me start planning our next trip over there so that I can have a piece.

Marjorie Kienle of Lockerbie Square: No contest: Ralph’s Great Divide has the best desserts in town. The Coconut Cream Pie is the best I have had and I have tried coconut cream pie from places all over the country for years.

Don and Kathy Willing of Lockerbie Square”  Even though we are not really dessert eaters, if we go off the wagon, it is for the Coconut Cream Pie at Ralph’s Great Divide.  We also have been known to order a whole pie and serve it to our dinner guests.

Pieter VanMaaren of Chatham Arch: In general, my favorite desserts are tiramisu and Neapolitans, but the Coconut Cream Pie at Henry’s on East is my pick for best “neighborhood” dessert.

Is it time for a friendly neighborhood “Coconut Cream Pie Throw-Down” Bobby Flay-style? Because Pieter isn’t the only one that thinks the Coconut Cream Pie at Henry’s on East is the best neighborhood dessert. Co-owner Chris Curran told me this pie variety is one of their most popular desserts. They bake and serve it weekly, but it goes fast.  How fast? “It may be gone in a matter of hours,” he said.

So if you go to Henry’s on East and it’s sold out, numerous other choices await in the dessert case. Depending on the day, you might find Chocolate Turtle Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Lemon Cake or another pie like Key Lime, Butterscotch Cream, Chocolate Cream or Berry Cream with Pecan Crust.  Other days might feature Brownies, Lemon Bars, Molten Lava Cakes and/or Cinnamon Rolls. Chris said they even offer Bread Pudding, which is made with their leftover muffins, wheat and banana breads, along with the prerequisite heavy cream, eggs, brown sugar and pecans. No matter what you purchase at Henry’s on East, though, you’ll still be tempted by Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter or Chocolate Chip cookies sitting next to the cash register! All desserts at Henry’s are completely homemade; Chris said the staff rotates baking duties, plus some desserts are made by baker (and school teacher) Glenn Brandon.

A truffle by any other name…

Cheryl Strain The Old Northside: I do love the Dark Chocolate Nocturne Truffle from The Best Chocolate in Town. It’s intense and not too sweet. Delicious with a good Pinot Noir,

Zinfandel or Cabernet. The Dark Chocolate Espresso Cardamom is also yummy. Another always-delicious dessert is any flavor of Homemade Ice Cream at R Bistro. It’s always creamy and not too sweet. Usually an unusual flavor, like Guinness or carrot. You just never know what the talented kitchen staff will create. Always a surprise and always a treat.

Renee Sweany of Fall Creek Place: Oooh, The first one that comes to mind is the Asian Spice Truffle from The Best Chocolate in Town. It’s unique and delectable!

Jennifer Dennis of Fletcher Place: My favorite dessert is the Dark Chocolate Rosemary Truffle from Best Chocolate in Town. I am not a huge fan of sweets but I love really dark chocolate. It has just enough rosemary in it so that you can really enjoy it without overpowering the dark chocolate. I recommend it to anyone that I am telling about Best Chocolate in Town!

Fred Hash of Lockerbie Square: Strawberry Cheesecake Truffle from Best Chocolate in Town. All the truffles are good there. I give BCT truffles at Christmas and actually year round. A box of four is always a welcome gift. Tyler and Laura Henderson of Cottage Home: The Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel at The Best Chocolate in Town.

The Best Chocolate in Town will satisfy your candy craving with more than just unique truffles and caramels. They’re also known for other confections, all homemade right there in the Mass Ave shop: turtles, buttery toffees, chocolate-dipped cookies, pretzels and grahams, peanut butter bon bons, peanut butter crunch (crispy rice cereal with peanut butter and white/dark chocolate) and an array of chocolate-covered and flavored popcorns. The Best Chocolate in Town now offers Sugar Free Chocolates, as well. Owner Elizabeth Garber said so many customers were asking for them, she decided to bring in a premier line made by Asher’s, a high-quality sugar-free confectionary in Pennsylvania.

If  you’re screaming for ice cream, then head over to The Best Chocolate in Town for a cup (or pint) of Gelato, made by local family-owned business, Gelato DaVinci. Flavors change with the seasons, and there’s sorbet during the summer, but Elizabeth will typically always have Pistachio, Cake Spectacular, Italian Kiss, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cappuccino and Chocolate.

Truffle Pie is the newest dessert at The Best Chocolate in Town. These made-to-order, no-bake, refrigerated pies are a spinoff of the shop’s popular candies. They’re made with Oreo cookie crust (graham available upon request) and filled with flavored, creamy mixtures such as Irish Whiskey, Peanut Butter, Chocolate, or Tiramisu. Elizabeth hopes to feature other flavors, like S’Mores, and offer “pie by the slice” eventually.

Chocolate and beer ?

Sharon Gamble of Meridian Park: Oh, my. If you know me you know that I am a Fan of Dessert, which makes this question very difficult to answer. I must present you with a tie between The Flying Cupcake’s Salted Chocolate Caramel Cupcake and The Best Chocolate in Town’s Sea Salt Chocolate Caramel (Hmm, do you see a pattern here?). A tall glass of milk – or perhaps a Sunlight Cream Ale from Sun King Brewery – is de rigeur either way (yes, beer most assuredly goes with chocolate; do not knock it until you’ve tried it!).

I totally agree with Sharon on that chocolate and beer thing. And even Jill Ditmire, owner of Mass Ave Wine Shoppe (MAWS), right next door to The Best Chocolate in Town, backs us up. “Wine and chocolate pair well because both have tannins,” explains Jill. “Think of a cocoa bean as a grape.  The shell/skin holds the tannins which is where the flavor, aroma and mouth-feel start. Press the grapes or grind the beans and the goods are released. Same deal with beer. Hops, barley, malt also have shells, or outer layers to the grain, and have tannins, which are the flavor, aroma and enjoyment enhancers.”

Here are just a few of Jill’s many suggestions for pairing Mass Ave Wine Shoppe craft beers and Best Chocolate in Town truffles; her complete list of pairings is online at www.urbantimesonline.com.

Samuel Smith Taddy Porter, Rogue HazelNut Brown Ale: roasted barley, chocolate, coffee, caramel flavors in the brew pair with similar chocolate selections, like caramels and caramel-filled truffles.

Left Hand Milk Stout: Milk stouts are brewed with lactose sugar that gives a touch of sweetness and body and enhances that rich, dark chocolate flavor and velvety mouth-feel. Enjoy with coffee/cappuccino/espresso-filled truffles, mint-filled truffles, dark chocolate truffles and The Gorg truffle.

Spaten Optimator: silky and warming, with nutty, molasses flavors. Pair with Chai, ginger, cinnamon and/or wasabi-filled truffles.

If you like to drink dessert at MAWS, try Chocovine, a Dutch chocolate and red wine drink. “Chocovine is the quintessential indulgence for those who love wine and chocolate,” Jill said. “It’s like a truffle in and of itself. But it’s the ultimate dessert indulgence when paired with chocolate influenced desserts.”

And don’t forget to grab a couple of MAWS’s more “traditional” desserts, like Mini Frosted Cherry Chip Cupcakes, Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes, or Mother May I Cupcakes. Jill said this special May cupcake features “recipes from our Moms.”

Not one, but  four, favorites

Nancy Armstrong of The Old Northside: Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels from The Best Chocolate in Town. Just the right mixture of sweet and salty in one bite. Chocolate Tiramisu from Palomino. The combination of chocolate sponge cake, crème anglaise and

cookie bits make it a great texture experience as well as a wonderful flavor combination. Tres Leches Cake from Barcelona Tapas. Just one serving and you get all your dairy requirements for the day, along with almost all your calorie count. Vanilla Bean Crème Brule at Agio. Perfect burnt sugar topping with a cool creamy intense vanilla flavor.

Nancy seems to have so many dessert favorites, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind     if  I suggested adding a few – or five – more to her list.

Aesop’s Tables regularly features five desserts, three made in-house by co-owner Bonnie Rose. Poppyseed Cake is a traditional vanilla cake filled with crunchy poppyseeds and topped with rich, cream cheese icing. Lemon Pound Cake is a dense, lemon-infused pound cake topped with a creamy lemon juice and zest-spiked glaze. Chocolate-lovers will revel in the Chocolate Cake Supreme. Co-owner Kathy Sarris said these individual walnut-studded cakes are made with dark and bittersweet chocolates along with chocolate pudding mix, glazed with rich dark chocolate and topped with plenty of whipped cream.

Two other desserts always available at Aesop’s Tables include Cannoli and Baklava, both freshly-prepared by a premier bakery specializing in labor-intensive indulgences.

My endearing editor, Bill Brooks, made the fatal mistake of telling me “Bonnie makes the best brownies in the world, even Jeannie (his partner) says so.” He did not remember that brownies –fudgy, rich, dense brownies – are my all time #1 favorite dessert. Brownies aren’t on the menu at Aesop’s because Bonnie works a full-time job in addition to dessert duties. And only Bonnie can make them perfectly, according to Kathy. So we’ll all just have to pine after Bonnie’s brownies or try making them ourselves. Kathy revealed it was “Katherine Hepburn’s Brownie Recipe.” I googled. I found. Katherine Hepburn’s Brownie recipe is now also online at www.urbantimesonline.com

Loving the Sticky Toffee Pudding

Jim Strain of The Old Northside: Unlike Cheryl (see Truffle section), I am particularly fond of R Bistro’s Sticky Toffee Pudding. It is soooo good and gooey. It reminds me of great

times in England.

Monice Leeuw of Lockerbie Square: R Bistro’s Sticky Toffee Pudding is to die for! I went with a girl-group and one friend just needed to savor in silence one heavenly bite to carry her away.

Pauline Moffat of Renaissance Place: Definitely the sticky toffee pudding at R Bistro. It is an old English dessert and a favorite of my son when he was a little boy. It evokes fond memories. I love the smell of the caramel, the texture of the pudding which is as light as a feather, the sweetness of the toffee is balanced by pure cream on the side. My mouth is watering!

Kristin Kohn of Herron-Morton Place: Regina’s Sticky Toffee Pudding (or is it bread pudding) at R Bistro – something I wouldn’t even consider normally, but now only go to the restaurant if it is on the menu – the only non-chocolate dessert in my repertoire!

And more tasty treats …

Carole Veatch of Herron-Morton Place: Hand’s down it’s the Galaktabouriko from Santorini’s in Fountain Square. The dessert is made up of layers of sweet creamy custard and phyllo dough with a dusting of cinnamon. It’s the first thing everyone in my family orders when we sit down, just to make sure they don’t run out! Even the 4 year-old, who was already pronouncing it at 2½! We do wait until after our entrée to eat it, but it’s hard. Half of mine always goes home with me for breakfast the next morning! Everyone in my home knows that if they so much as touch my leftover Galaktabouriko, they’re dead, or at least going to buy me a brand new piece!

Tiffany Benedict Berkson of Herron-Morton Place: Raspberry Streusel Bar by Circle City Sweets, available at Calvin Fletcher’s on Virginia Avenue and at the Farmer’s Markets and an upcoming store of its own at City Market (slated for May 3). This is one of the tastiest non-chocolate treats I have ever had! Cindy Hawkins even makes her own raspberry jam for this crumbly sweet snack. I find myself swearing I’ll just have a couple bites or half and save the rest for later, but once I’ve had a bite, the thing’s life span is an hour maximum.

Jeannie Kiley of Lockerbie Square: At the Saturday morning Winter Farmers Market, I’d walk through the door and immediately turn right. Past the eggs. Past the lettuce. I’d head directly to the Circle City Sweets booth for my weekly Streusel Bar. The raspberry ones are delicious; so are the cherry ones. But, I wanted to be sure I got my favorite – almond – before they sold out. Thank heavens they will be available at the City Market.

Ross Whitfield of Fall Creek Place: The Papaya and Cream dessert from Fogo de Chao. For summer or warm weather, it is the most refreshing dessert I think I have ever had. It is not too sweet and is very flavorful in a mellow sort of way.

Don Elliott, owner of The Frame Shop & Franklin Barry Gallery: Raspberry Cheese Cake at the Skyline Club. It’s one of those “to die for” desserts that makes me want a second piece.

Megan McKinney of St. Joseph: The Crème Brule at Palomino. I’m not a huge dessert person, but I cannot have only one bite of that – it’s soooo good. Not too sweet, very creamy. Yum.

Sally Spiers of Chatham Arch: Tough decision – but I’m going to go with whatever is on the menu at RBistro… Their menu changes based on what is available locally, and the desserts are always yummy!

Dave Damin of Holy Cross: The fried ice cream at El Sol de Tala on East Washington Street is very unique – and delicious.

Dave Russell of The Old Northside: My favorite dessert is a huge Rice Crispy Treat at Starbucks.

Tessie Lloyd-Jones of Woodruff Place: My favorite dessert is the Red Devil Cupcake from Flying Cupcake. It is out of this world.

Kris Davidson of Arsenal Heights: The Mini Cini Cookie & Cream from Scotty’s Brewhouse. Cinnamon and sugar, cookie dough and graham cracker crumbs, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s the only justifiable portion of dessert I’ve ever seen – about the size of a shot glass. Light on your wallet and your conscience and you can actually eat it on a full stomach.

Kris also put in a vote for the Strawberry Shortcake from the Christ Church Cathedral’s Strawberry Festival. “I look forward to this event every year, mostly because it’s fun to watch little kids eat strawberry shortcake the same way I do – like a filthy little hog,” she said.

Chatham Arch  resident Kim Galeaz, RD, CD, is a registered dietitian and consultant to food and beverage companies, restaurants, super-markets and agriculture associations.

Some food for thought from Keira Amstutz

With the Indiana Humanities Council in the middle of its year-long “Food for Thought” campaign, Executive Director Keira Amstutz has been spending extra time thinking about the concept of food. With that experience under her belt, here are here recommendations for the best Downtown desserts.

What great food for thought on a gorgeous spring day. Here are a few of my top recommendations:

– Chocolate Nut Toffee at The Best Chocolate in Town. Every time I eat lunch on Mass Ave, my car automatically drops me off at The Best Chocolate in Town for that little bit of chocolate that we all need to cap off an excellent lunch. Although the truffles are amazing, the crunch and butterscotch aroma of the chocolate nut toffee gets me every time. It has the perfect blend of sweet caramel, rich chocolate and salty nuts. Get a napkin though because the nuts and chocolate coating sometimes end up on your skirt. Maybe I need to take bigger bites.

– Shagbark Cookies at Goose the Market. Did I dream that these used to be served warm at Elements with some kind of delicious whipped cream for dipping? If so, it was the best dream ever. Not only do these enormous cookies have a cool, local vibe, but they are insanely delicious. Sweet but not too sweet, salty, chewy yet a bit crunchy, these cookies are the real deal. Warm them up for an amazing afternoon treat. Oh, and if you can find a little whipped cream with espresso powder for dipping. Go for it.

– Sticky Toffee Pudding at R Bistro. Once you have tried this pudding, you will never be able to eat lunch or dinner at R Bistro and not order it. It’s true. The warm, gooey cake drips with caramel sauce and is topped with just the right amount of whipped cream. Perfect.

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