4 out of 5 stars

A weath of new frozen treat shops are opening in the Raleigh area. They may prove harsh competition to our long-time favorite, Goodberry’s. Freshberry features about six flavors of yogurt each day that come with your choice of two or three toppings included in the price. They also have neat-looking popsicles that are all under 100 calories, and a selection of smoothies. The topping selection includes a wide variety of freshly diced fruits as well as some traditional candy toppings.

While a healthy dessert sounds like a good idea, I didn’t end up going that route. I gave a taste to the coconut frozen yogurt, which was tasty with a bit of a tang to it. But I ended up ordering Decadent Dark Chocolate yogurt with oreo as a topping. However it’s awesome to have the option to look at the nutritional content and to order something healthier (they have a no-sugar added vanilla in addition to the healthier pops) when you have health issues to watch out for. I haven’t been to Pinkberry so I can’t compare, but I did feel this was some decandent yogurt! Still, Goodberry’s still has a place in my heart (and stomach) with their rich custard.

View Larger Map

2 out of 5 stars

I was particularly dissappointed in my snack at Baker’s Dozen because I had been wanting to try out this hidden bakery around the corner for quite some time. All the glowing reviews had led me to believe I’d find here a wonderful snack. The bakery selection looks great, except my brownie was more than a little bit stale, and Mom’s muffin wasn’t very fresh either. For me there is no excuse for serving day-old (or more) items at full price at a bakery!

View Larger Map

5 out of 5 stars

Hidden off Franklin Street down a delightful brick-laid corridor is the equally delightful Bliss Boutique Bakery. After disappointment at Raleigh’s Cupcake Shoppe I was afraid to hope… but the amazing chocolate cupcake I had today could cause me to have to make regular drives to Chapel Hill in order to repeat the experience. The cake was deliciously moist and fresh and seriously chocolately without being over-rich. The icing was amazingly smooth and decadent as well. I later told hubs that it was the best cupacke I have ever ingested! Excuse my low light photography. I barely managed to stop eating long enough to take the picture and then afterwards had to find a spoon so that I could scrape the cakey bits off the wrapper.

One of the flavors of the day, chef’s choice for today, was a Vanilla cupcake with pomegranate filling and a pomegranate buttercream icing. They also offer a vegan option each day, today’s was chocolate cake with a coconut pecan icing. Be sure to give them a shot, especially during “happy hour” where they offer half price cupcakes (limit 6) between 5:30 and 7:30pm.

View Larger Map

3 out of 5 stars

Coffee and Crepes is a little coffee joint (plus crepes!) in the sprawling Crossroads shopping center. On the day of our visit I decided to try a popular item, the Raspberry Chicken crepe, which contains chicken, spinach, ricotta, diced tomato, and melted cheddar. It’s topped with a drizzle of raspberry preserves and a sprinkling of walnuts. It comes with a nice spring mix salad on the side with a vinegarette dressing.

I appreciated the whole wheat option but I was left with the feeling that I would have loved my crepe a lot more had I gone straight to dessert – the banana nutella crepe sounded amazing.

Perhaps my mistake was asking the employees which crepe was the best and then ordering the one they told me was the most popular rather than the one they said was the best. Of course they were split – I heard votes for the fajita crepe and the turkey bacon tomato. I mean basically this is a glorified quesadilla, this is what you forget about until you’ve just paid $7 for it. Hubby, my designated coffee taster, ordered a cappuccino and declared it average. I applaud the use of fair-trade local roaster Larry’s Beans, but the coffee taster does not lie.

View Larger Map

4 out of 5 stars

I always do my research before I go somewhere and Hayes is no exception. There have been some horror stories about bad service here (mostly due to a strong-minded owner/waitstaff) but I didn’t experience any problems. Perhaps part of the reason is because I knew in advance the rules of engagement – extras cost extra, no splitting checks, no trying to come in for dessert when they close in 20 minutes, and don’t send anything back. Luckily those things didn’t particularly apply. Glen and I stopped in for an Anniversary dinner, and after wandering past the front door and the other side door semi-confusedly, we found the entrance. Greeted by a quirky 40′s interior (and matching black-clad noir employees), we were ushered to our table for two with a single rose.

Our bread basket was filled with red pepper flecked cornbread, dill biscuits, and sourdough. My favorite was the moist cornbread, it was cheesy and just a bit sweet. My bountiful chicken pot pie was enough for three filling meals and was even better the next day- flaky pie pastry with creamy mashed potatoes and tender chicken, plus peas, carrots and celery. Hubby’s filet mignon was melt-in-your-mouth tender, with an amazing red wine mushroom sauce and crisp green beans.

For dessert I chose a head-sized slice of coconut cake which lived up to its promise. Moist and coconutty, but more dense than Village Deli’s also excellent cake. I’d love to try some of the other many cake options! Bountiful sized plates help soften the blow of the prices in these difficult times. Our total came to about $66 for the two of us.

Hayes Barton filled up pretty quickly and by the time we left it was mostly full. A friendly group of locals seem to enjoy coming here to socialize at the bar. It would be a great place to bring a date or some friends to celebrate a birthday, listening to some big band music. I can’t wait to go back and try another dessert.

Hayes Barton Cafe & Dessertery
(919) 856-8551

View Larger Map

5 out of 5 stars

An oasis in a sea of horrible airport food. Yes, that’s my opening line. After traveling a bit for business lately I actually decided to research in advance where I would eat. Luckily French Meadow was not too far out of my way. So when was the last time you went to a self service counter at an airport eatery and were greeted with a nice pleasantry like “How are you doing today?” Something so small does make a difference after being crammed in uncomfy seats for two hours and getting ready to do so again. Service here was great.

I ordered a lovely roast beef and havarti sandwhich which was warmed up for me in the little oven and I also couldn’t resist getting some amazing tomato bisque and a to-die-for cheesecake brownie. The brownie I saved for later as a pick me up after I got to the final destination (which helped me forget the yucky room service dinner). This wasn’t super cheap, I recall something like $15 for the lot including drink. But it was sooo worth it. If I wasn’t hungry I’d still make a point out of going there to get a baked good from their large case.

French Meadow Bakery and Cafe
The Mall, near entrance to Terminal E
Minneapolis Airport
Minneapolis, MN 55111
(612) 355-4641

4 out of 5 stars

My sister is in love with Pitango and took me on a recent trip to Baltimore. I do agree, it is quite tasty. A bit expensive ($8 for a small gelato and a cappuccino), but you are paying for fresh and organic ingredients – imported pistachios and hazelnuts and free range eggs, etc. I liked my half chocolate hazelnut half “crema”, which is a creamy vanilla flavor. Sis’s Pennsylvania strawberry flavor was also delightful and the dark chocolate had deep winey chocolate flavor. But I’ll need to go back and try some more of the unique flavors like espresso or banana to definitively award another star. Or the Afogato: “The ultimate desert-snack-energy-booster, afogato combines espresso with a dollop of hazelnut or chocolate gelato.” See you again soon, Sis!

Pitango Gelato
802 S Broadway
Baltimore, MD 21264
(410) 702-5828

5 out of 5 stars

Finally I’ve gotten to try the much-anticipated Locopops since they have opened in Raleigh. They’ve existed for a while in Chapel Hill and Durham. It was a rainy gloomy afternoon but we saved room after dinner and headed over to Hillsborough. The shop is surprisingly simple inside. A white board with a number of flavors and coolers with little popsicles inside. They are only $2 each. I tried the cookies and cream (should’ve been more adventurous) and Glen tried the very cherry (sugar free). They were quite tasty and not bloatingly filling like a dessert of ice cream. I can’t wait to go back and try pomegranate tangerine or mojito or mexican chocolate..

They only take cash but I’m sure you can rustle up enough change to make $2! Here are some photos compliments of Flickr. Locopos has it’s own photo group!

Locopops
1908 Hillsborough St
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 286-3500

2 out of 5 stars

This shop seems to be a brand new one on Glenwood. They had balloons outside and a chalkboard advertising Grand Opening. I just happened to be driving by with Glen so we decided to stop in.

The shop had a small selection of cupcakes, including coconut, red velvet, chocolate with chocolate or vanilla butter cream icing, also chocolate with Oreo cream icing and a pumpkin cupcake which is the flavor of the month. There was also other cupcakes which I can’t remember. Each cupcake is $2.75. We each ordered a chocolate cupcake, I had chocolate icing, Glen had peanut butter icing. I’m glad we ordered some milk to have with the cupcakes because they were rather dry. There was what I felt to be an excessive amount of icing. It made the cake difficult to eat because it crumbled all over but there were no forks to scoop up the leftover big crumbs of cake with the remaining swath of icing.

While these of course beat out your average grocery store cupcakes, they’re not quite worth the $ IMHO. However, I do think you should stop and try for yourself – perhaps try one that’s not chocolate. Some people on the chow bulletin boards liked their cupcakes (negative comments seem to be repeated about the chocolate ones), and there was one repeat customer who wandered in asking for a lemon cupcake which was sold out today, so that may be one to try out. Another customer asked for carrot cake, which they also were out of.

Another thing to note, this shop has regular coffee (Larry’s Beans) but no cappuccino or lattes.

The Cupcake Shoppe
104 Glenwood Ave
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 821-4223

Hereghty Heavenly Delicious

3/5 stars 

Good cappuccinos, pastries I felt were overpriced for the quality. Neither my husband nor I particularly enjoyed our $4.50 pastries. I didn't finish my chocolate caramel tart, it was too rich. I normally am a glutton for any kind of dessert but I just didn't enjoy mine.  Husband's was light and airy but didn't have much flavor.  It was a combination of white chocolate and dark chocolate mousse, with some sort of chocolate cake (called the Berlin).