Talk pastry and you must mention Pierre Hermé. The Ispahan is one of his signature creations, a startling combination of rose, raspberries and lychees that blend into a sum that is most certainly greater than its parts. It is also one of the most beautiful desserts I’ve seen as well, all shades of pink and […]...
Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe
While driving through Walnut Creek’s posh downtown (where you can see a Pottery Barn next to a Williams-Sonoma next to Restoration Hardware, with a Tiffany’s across the street) this weekend, I stumbled upon a Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe, another addition to the growing number of chocolate-focused stores in the Bay Area. Moonstruck Chocolates is a chocolatier […]...
Chocolate and Beer?
Full disclaimer: I am not a beer expert, or even a regular beer drinker. I am pretty girly-girl in my choice of alcohol – Cosmos and Rieslings, if you please. However, my sweetie is quite the beer aficionado, so when I saw the posting for a Beer and Chocolate Dinner at the Cathedral Hill Hotel […]...
Sugar High Friday #16: Strawberry Rose Cakelets
When I saw the theme for this month’s SHF, strawberries immediately popped into my mind. Whether piled sweetly and innocently next to a bowl of cream or sprawled naughtily besides chocolates and champagne, strawberries almost demand to be eaten sensually. While there are many recipes involving whole strawberries, I wanted to see if there was […]...
Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe
Tucked away on College Avenue in Rockridge,Oakland is Bittersweet, a rustic little cafe devoted entirely to chocolate. The first time I stumbled onto this place was when I was going to dinner at the wonderful Soi 4 Thai restaurant next door (the particular stretch of College Avenue around Rockridge boasts a marvelous conglomeration of eccentric […]...
Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, and dog Max. 
