Stretchy ice cream: dense, creamy, and pliable frozen dessert Who knew stretchy ice cream was a thing? Well, I didn’t. Not until one family member had to do a project about ice cream versus gelato versus… (Whether this was an actual research project or something they made up has yet to be revealed.) Anyway, stretchy ice cream does stretch, but it’s not super elastic. If you’re thinking rubber bands, you’d be wrong. There is a kind of give to the ice cream, though, and it’s quite fun to … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Mochi Donuts
Well, I’ve blogged about these treats (filled with cream) before. If you don’t like a cakey interior, you might want to grab a mochi doughnut. It has more of a chewy texture to enjoy. Mochi donuts (with strawberry and cookies & cream flavors) Other pluses? Won’t miss a bite (without the crumbly, cake nature, you’ll be able to gobble up the whole thing)Offers unique flavors (distinct glazes like pandan, guava, and green tea pair well with the mochi flour)Easy to share (fresh ones … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Matcha Ice Cream
Matcha ice cream: green tea ice cream I know it's not summertime, but ice cream can be eaten any time, right? Since I enjoy tea, I like to get matcha ice cream once in a while. It's got this nice earthy flavor that counterbalances the sweetness of the dessert. When the creaminess is done just right, it really does remind me of properly blended matcha tea. Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor, or do you like to mix it up? … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Boba Cake
Boba cake: vanilla cake roll with embedded boba I did a double-take when I first saw this cake. Could boba actually be placed inside a baked dessert (and survive)? This was a really great vanilla cake that had cream inside it flavored with a hint of milk tea. The tapioca balls inside were also quite tender, although not as springy as those in a boba drink. I would give this a thumbs-up as a unique dessert, but for the most part, I still prefer drinking pearl milk tea. … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Chocolate Dobash Cake
Chocolate dobash cake: moist cake with thick frosting I got this at a local Hawaiian bakery as a treat. My friend has been raving about dobash cake for a while, so I'm glad I finally tried it out. This is definitely a winner. The cake itself is moist and fluffy, reminding me of chiffon cake. Despite the thick layer of frosting, it's not overly sweet and has a pudding-like texture. Maybe, like my friend, I should get a dobash cake every year for my birthday... Fun fact: The dobash … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Boba milk tea ice cream bar
Boba milk tea ice cream bar: boba—but as a popsicle! My brother kept telling me about these, but whenever I popped by the grocery store, I couldn’t find them in the freezer aisle. I finally located a box the other week. Hurrah!They actually really taste like milk tea, with that decadent flavor combo of rich black tea and sweetened milk. (Perhaps a little too sweet.) The tapioca balls are frozen, so they’re not quite the same chewy texture. If you lick the ice cream bar, though, it … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Ginger Cake
Ginger cake: local baked goodie made with lots of ginger and spices This is a kind of cake roll made specially at a local bakery. My friend told me that it’s a seasonal item. The rich spices, which include a heavy dose of ginger, provide winter immunity. It’s got a ton of flavor, including ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. Think of it as the baked love child of a cinnamon roll and a gingerbread cookie. Delicious and good for you? That’s a winner in my book! … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Obanyaki
Obanyaki: mini stuffed pancakes These puffed-up Japanese pancakes open up to reveal delicious interiors. Custard or red bean paste is often used as a filling inside the round treats. They're quite similar to taiyaki, except without the stylized fish shape. Though they're often eaten for dessert, tweaked recipes make them more savory by inserting meat, vegetables, or curry. Want to see how they're cooked? Fun fact: They're named after the Oban coin. … [Read more...]
Foodie Friday: Ube Soft Serve
Ube soft serve: purple yam ice cream When it gets hot during the summer, I turn to cool things. And what's cooler than an amazingly bright purple ice cream? Yep, it's ube soft serve. Ube is a type of root vegetable (chock-full of vitamin C, thank you very much). As expected, it tastes earthy, much like sweet potato and taro. The brilliant thing (I couldn't resist) about ube is its lovely color! The hue just makes you smile. A lot of Filipino desserts will incorporate ube in their … [Read more...]