Banh Mi Saigon Mochi bread dessert: First time trying non-sandwich options at Vietnamese bakery Banh Mi Saigon in Chinatown. This spongey bread has an aerated mochi-like texture that’s lighter than Korean mochi bread. It comes in a sizeable half roll, with a green interior (I think unrelated to its flavor, as the dessert just tasted faintly of brown sugar to me). Exterior is a bit like a baked muffin top. There wasn’t any labeling on the packaging, so if anyone is able to clarify the exact name of this dessert, it would be muc... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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Lu Raspberry Paille d’Or biscuits: It’s rare for me to come across a snack that bears little resemblance to anything I’ve eaten before, but this raspberry flavored “cookies” fall into that category. Literally translated as “golden straws” the cookies come from Lu, a popular French biscuit brand. The cookies come stacked in individually wrapped package, laid out in a row of three you can break off similar to a 3-prong Kit Kat. The exterior is flaky and somewhat reminiscent of a wafer, but more styrofoam-like in texture and non... (read more) 3.0/5.0
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Milk Bar Cereal milk soft serve: You’re probably familiar with the cereal milk flavor, which replicates the taste of milk after a helping of frosted corn flakes. Attributed to the Milk Bar franchise, the cereal milk flavor has since been duplicated by many. Although I’ve sampled it before, this is the first time I actually purchased the cereal milk flavored soft serve from its original source. The smooth texture was excellent, but the generous serving size might be best shared with others. The soft serve comes in a single ... (read more) 3.5/5.0
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Gjusta Miso date cookie: Gjusta, the sister bakery of Gjelina in Venice, LA, is apparently popular enough to not need any signage. It’s unlabeled storefront conceals a narrow counter and dining area, where patrons wait for a variety of pastries (cakes, cookies, croissants) and hot and cold prepared items (pizza, salads, pâtés). Luckily, their express line was relatively short, which meant purchasing this miso date cookie took just a few minutes. The sizable cookie contains a single date at its center. Its texture is... (read more) 4.0/5.0
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Satie Chocolaterie Koi no Teppoudama Chocolates: Translated as "Love's Tadpole" via Google Translate (though I doubt that's accurate), these earplug-shaped chocolates from Japan are much tastier than they look. The pieces are dusted in cocoa powder and begin to melt instantly on the tongue, with an exceptionally creamy and rich flavor. I'm normally not a chocolate person, but these were some of the best chocolates I've had, reminding me of the high quality hot chocolate from L.A. Burdick but more snackable and slightly less rich, which I... (read more) 4.5/5.0
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Pepperidge Farm Apricot Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies: I haven't had Pepperidge Farm cookies in years but had a sudden carving for fruit-jam cookies and purchased these Apricot Raspberry thumbprint cookies from Safeway. They were surprisingly good, with a buttery and slightly crumbly cookie base and just enough fruity sweetness. The interior had a slightly chewy consistency, which worked well texturally with the biscuit. At about 1.5" in diameter, and with 3 cookies per serving, they were satiating too. A good, affordable snack! 3.5/5.0
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