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Dessert First

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Happy Summer: Berry Tart with Cheesecake Pastry Cream

Jun 15 by Anita 7 Comments

Happy almost summer! I took my summer vacation a little early and just got back from a gorgeous week-long cruise to Alaska. I can’t wait to share with you all, but before I do that I wanted to post the last thing I made before I left on my trip: this berry tart with cheesecake […]...

Filed Under: Custards, Fruit, Pastry, Recipes, Tarts Tagged With: berry, cheesecake, pastry, pastry cream, summer, tart

{SF}: Hyatt Centric San Francisco and Where to Go (And Eat) Nearby

May 25 by Anita 1 Comment

I was invited to a media event at the Hyatt Centric to preview their new amenities. I was not paid for this post and all opinions are my own. When my out-of-town friends ask me in what part of San Francisco they should they look for lodging, I usually like to suggest somewhere near the Embarcadero, […]...

Filed Under: California, San Francisco, Sweet Spots, Travel Tagged With: chocolate, hotel, hyatt centric, ice cream, san francisco, sweet spots, travel

Rose Meringues for a Simple Spring Dessert

May 19 by Anita 3 Comments

I know…with all the pink and red it almost looks like a Valentine’s Day post. Well, when you have two people in the house who claim pink as their favorite color, sometimes a lot of pink food gets made. When I was growing up my favorite flavor was strawberry everything, and I always wondered whether […]...

Filed Under: Candy, Cookies, Recipes Tagged With: cookie, meringue, mother's day, pink, rose, valentine's day

Happy Birthday to Me: Strawberry Pink Velvet Cake

May 10 by Anita 26 Comments

This is a big post, and it’s a big birthday for me. Last week I turned 40. (I actually made this cake in time for my birthday, I’ve just gotten to posting about it now). When I started this blog ten years ago, I was single, working full time as a design engineer in San […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Personal, Recipes Tagged With: birthday, buttercream, cake, life, pink velvet, strawberry, swiss meringue

{Peninsula}: Sofitel Bay 223 Restaurant

May 8 by Anita 1 Comment

San Francisco is well known as a culinary destination, but there are plenty of gems spread throughout the rest of the Bay Area. I recently found one at the Sofitel San Francisco Bay hotel, about half an hour down the Peninsula in Redwood Shores. I was invited to try the menu at the hotel’s Sofitel Bay 223 […]...

Filed Under: California, Reviews, San Francisco, Sweet Spots, Sweet Spots, Travel Tagged With: bay 223, bay area, hotel, restaurant, review, sofitel

{San Francisco}: Meals on Wheels Gala 2016

May 2 by Anita 2 Comments

San Francisco is home to so many fantastic food events, and a couple weeks ago I got to attend one of the biggest ones of all: the 29th Meals on Wheels Star Chefs and Vintners Gala. This fundraising event has become an annual showcase of some of the biggest names in the food and wine scene […]...

Filed Under: Events, San Francisco, SF Events Tagged With: bay area, events, food, gala, meals on wheels, restaurant, san francisco

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best of dessert first


The Making of Macarons (Sucre Cuit Style)

Hong Kong Eggettes (Daan Jai)


Tis the Season (Chocolate Mint Macarons)

A Better Brioche


Consider the Humble Chocolate Chip Cookie

A Feast of Figs


Pure Dessert, Pure Inspiration (Chocolate Citrus Tart)

My Own Remembrance of Things Past: Daan Tats


The Slow Drip of Coffee on a Languorous Summer's Day

Still Life of Strawberry Tart

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about pastrygirl

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. More about pastrygirl

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Please e-mail anita {at} dessertfirstgirl {dot} com with all collaboration inquiries, pastry questions, or just to say hi! I look forward to hearing from you!
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