Bang Bang Ice Cream Avocado and Matcha ice cream: Redolent of butter and baked goods, Bang Bang Ice Cream is a small shop specializing in ice cream sandwiches and waffle cones all made in house. I was lucky enough to experience Bang Bang without having to wait in line, a rarity I'm told. I ordered one scoop, without a cookie or cone, combining two flavors: avocado and matcha. Both were excellent, with a distinct creaminess without being heavy or dense. Having had a lot of matcha ice cream, I was especially appreciative of the deep, rich her... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional icecream Toronto greentea bangbangicecream avocado matcha ice cream 4.5
Berkeley Bowl wasabi snack mix: An incredible value, at a little over $4 for 1 lb, this bulk rice cracker mix has all of the classics: unforgivably spicy wasabi peas, varied shaped (stars, squares, and more) crunchy glazed rice crackers, and nori-covered pieces. I do wish there was a sweet cracker thrown into the mix, but really, there is little to find fault with. 4.0/5.0
berkeleybowl wasabi ricecrackers asian exceptional 4.5 snack mix 4.0
Bhan Kanom Thai Sticky rice with taro: Wrapped in a banana leaf, this steamed dessert consists of long grain glutinous rice with a taro filling at the center. The quality of the rice is superb and quite possibly the best sticky rice I’ve had. It’s chewy but still has just enough bite. Perfumed with coconut water, the rice has a very faint sweet tropical flavor, while the taro adds additional richness and a contrasting soft and creamy texture. As far as classic desserts go, this traditional sticky rice was a revelation and at $1.5... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional la losangeles dessert stickyrice bhankanomthai sticky rice taro 4.5
Bhan Kanom Thai Pangchi: Pangchi is a bite-sized sticky rice pancake cooked on the griddle, giving it a crispy crust on both sides and mochi-like interior mixed with corn. While not captured in this photograph, panchi are actually lilac in color. Mochi is my favorite snack, and this take on crispy mochi was eye opening and delicious. A perfect bite. Purchased from the Thai dessert specialty store Bhan Kanom Thai in LA. 4.5/5.0
exceptional dessert thai mochi stickyrice corn bhankanomthai pangchi 4.5
Bonchi Ponsuke Nori-Aji: One of my favorite things about Asian snacks is the combination of sweet and savory. These substantially-sized wheat crackers have a sweet, soy-like glaze with speckles of nori. Balance is very good. Texture is similar to a rice cracker, but slightly more dense. Very addicting. For the type of snack it is, it's one of the best I've had. From Japan. 4.5/5.0
japanese hmart exceptional wheat crackers nori soy bonchi 4.5 ponsuke nori-aji
Bottega Italiana Pear and Grapefruit Mint Sorbet: Bottega Italiana is a little ice cream shop about a five minute walk from Pike Place. After a filling dinner of fried fish and chips from Ivar's, I wanted a sharp fruit sorbet and opted for one scoop with two flavors: a white pear sorbet, sweet and concentrated, and a grapefruit mint, which had a terrific acidity and refreshing, balanced amount of mint. They both tasted extremely fresh, and the texture was impressively smooth. By far the best ice cream I've had in Seattle – would not hesi... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional sorbet seattle icecream fruit bottegaitaliana pear grapefruit mint 4.5