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Dessert First

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{Sacramento} Park Winters Summerland

Jul 30 by Anita Leave a Comment

Park Winters perfectly captures the ideal of simple country luxury. This magical bed and breakfast and estate is a hidden paradise in the farmlands of Winters, California. A few weeks ago I was invited to experience the myriad pleasures of Park Winters at their first ever Park Winters Summerland private event. As it turns out, […]...

Filed Under: California, San Francisco, Sweet Spots, Travel Tagged With: B&B, california, event venue, farm to table dinner, hotel, park winters, sacramento, summerland, travel, winters

{Travel}: One Week in Oahu

Aug 16 by Anita Leave a Comment

  What to you when you have one week in Oahu? Besides wishing it were two weeks? Our official summer vacation was a return to Hawaii, where I haven’t been since before Isabelle was born, meaning it’s been far too long. This trip was thus Isabelle’s first visit to the islands, a family reunion, and also […]...

Filed Under: Hawaii, Travel, USA Tagged With: aulani, dessert, disney, hawaii, honolulu, hotel, oahu, summer, surfjack, travel, vacation

{Palo Alto}: [esc] at Four Seasons Silicon Valley

May 1 by Anita 2 Comments

Is [esc] at Four Seasons Silicon Valley the perfect escape? [esc], the new cafe/lounge space in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley is a sleek and welcome addition to the luxury hotel. Chef Eric Keppler, the in-house pastry chef, creates morning pastries like croissants and kouign amann for breakfast along with coffee […]...

Filed Under: South Bay, Sweet Spots Tagged With: bakery, bay area, dessert, esc, four seasons, hotel, palo alto, sweet spots

{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

{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


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Archives

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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