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Dessert First

a san francisco food and travel blog | all things sweet

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Sweet Summer: Strawberry White Balsamic Caramel Tarts

Jul 29 by Anita 19 Comments

Deep in the heart of summer, and we can’t get enough of sweet ripe fruit around here. My daughter Isabelle would live on fruit if she could; it’s been a trial to coax her to eat her dinner when she keeps insisting that she only wants to eat blueberries and strawberries and mango. How can […]...

Filed Under: Recipes, Tarts Tagged With: balsamic, caramel, cream, fruit, seasonal fruit desserts, strawberry, summer, tart

Caramel, Lavender, and Fleur de Sel Lollipops

Mar 11 by Anita 24 Comments

  Dear readers, I’m so happy to announce that my newest cookbook, Lollipop Love: Sweet Indulgence with Chocolate, Caramel, and Sugar, is about to be published! I’ve spent so much of the last couple years dreaming about, researching, and testing out lollipops, so I’m very glad to finally be able to share it all with […]...

Filed Under: Candy, Lollipop Love, Recipes Tagged With: caramel, cookbook, lavender, lollipop, lollipop love

Black Sesame Ice Cream with White Miso Caramel

Mar 4 by Anita 20 Comments

  I’m continuing my streak of Asian desserts by looking back at one of my favorite Asian flavors: black sesame. It’s still kind of a niche flavor over here but in Hong Kong (or Japan) it’s a near-staple of any bakery menu. Interestingly, while both white and black sesame seeds are common in Asia, I […]...

Filed Under: Ice Cream, Recipes Tagged With: black sesame, caramel, ice cream, miso

Homemade Halloween: Making “Twix” Bars

Oct 22 by Anita 42 Comments

  With Halloween coming up next week. I’m finishing all my preparations, which mostly involve putting together Isabelle’s costume and moving all the pumpkins in the house back to their designated places, after she’s moved them all again for the twentieth time. Apparently pumpkins are way more fun than her regular toys – who knew? […]...

Filed Under: Candy, Photography, Recipes, San Francisco Tagged With: candy, candy bar, caramel, halloween, twix

Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel Buttercream and Apples

Oct 14 by Anita 56 Comments

  Indian summer continues on in full swelter here in the bay area. It’s honestly the hottest it’s been here for the last six months: the mornings start out promisingly grey and overcast, and then by mid-morning it’s just cloudless sky and shimmering heat. Not-so-little-Isabelle is growing out of her summer t-shirts and shorts, clothes […]...

Filed Under: Cakes, Recipes Tagged With: apple, cake, caramel, chocolate

A Tribute to the Queen of the Daring Bakers

Nov 15 by Anita 13 Comments

The Chocolate Caramel Tart, from Daring Bakers August 2007 I’ve been busy for weeks with pre-trip madness, but on Tuesday I got a sudden, sad reminder of how fragile and precious life is. Lisa, the blogger behind La Mia Cucina and one of the founders of the Daring Bakers, unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind a […]...

Filed Under: Personal, Recipes, Tarts Tagged With: caramel, chocolate, daring bakers, tart

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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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