Bearded Brothers Mega Maca Chocolate Energy Bar: A glazed protein bar flecked with a scattering of beige and white crushed nuts (almonds and cashew to be exact). Given its chocolate flavoring and brown color, I expected a strong cocoa flavor only to find that the predominant taste is dates (also listed as the first item in the ingredient list). Maca, a type of root vegetable, is mixed in powdered form, though I am inexperienced with its actual flavor. The bar had a much softer texture than I anticipated, more like a soft cookie than a c... (read more) 3.0/5.0
vegan glutenfree organic protein beardedbrothers mega maca chocolate energy bar 3.0
Kind Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Bar: Kind is a rare brand where quality meets affordability. Their mantra, "Ingredients you can see and pronounce," clearly manifests in their packaging and choice of ingredients. This bar, combining glazed nuts drizzled with dark chocolate on top of a chocolate-coated granola base, is familiar yet executed well. A good, filling snack. 3.5/5.0
chocolate peanutbutter granola protein kind peanut butter dark bar 3.5
Dominique Ansel Bakery Frozen S’more: Brûléed to order, this sizable toasted marshmallow resembles a baked Alaska, with a vanilla ice cream interior mixed with chocolate crunchies. The texture of the marshmallow is excellent - light but having a satisfying chew - and it has a crisp honey-flavored sugary shell. Before you reach the ice cream filling, it’s overly sweet due to the layer of caramelized sugar, but the chocolate crunchies add a touch of bitterness that ultimately balances it out. An elevated and playful reworking of a... (read more) 4.0/5.0
dessert recommended la marshmallow icecream chocolate dominiqueanselbakery frozen s’more 4.0
Dominique Ansel Bakery Gingerbread Pinecone: I still haven't tried a cronut, but I have tried some of Dominique Ansel's desserts in the past, mostly through special events held at his New York West Village Kitchen location. While some were exceptional, namely a pea and carrot dessert modeled after a baby's first word, others have actually been quite bad (like the pie night a few years ago). There is a relatively short line at his first bakery and restaurant in Los Angeles at The Grove, so I opted for a seasonal treat: the gingerbread... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional desserts cake ganache ginger spiced speculoos chocolate losangeles la dominiqueansel dominiqueanselbakery gingerbread pinecone 4.5
Destroyer Tarragon chocolate chip cookie: A cookie that has mass appeal, with its gooey, 80% baked texture and generously sized (mostly melted) chocolate morsels. A dusting of tarragon powder adds a pleasant amount of bitterness, elevating it beyond a classic but extremely well done chocolate chip cookie. 4.0/5.0
recommended la destroyer tarragon chocolate chip cookie 4.0
Nature’s Path Love Crunch dark chocolate and red berries granola: For those who enjoy “indulgent” granola, this combination of chocolate-flavored granola, dark chocolate bits, and pieces of freeze dried raspberries and strawberries will be a treat. It turns your granola into chocolate milk and is fun to eat out of the bag. I purchased it on sale at Berkeley Bowl and thought it was one of the better granola mixes I’ve had. 3.5/5.0
recommended naturespath love crunch dark chocolate red berries granola 3.5 organic berkeleybowl