Post-dinner, post-wine, post-long-and-enthralling-conversation, sometimes all you really want is a
nightcap.
Other times, you really want a nightcap served alongside a condominium-size piece of cake, or some other decadent after-dinner treat.
Yeah. We prefer those times, too.
So below: six of the finest desserts you’ll find in restaurants around the country. There’s a Cracker Jack–inspired dish with peanut butter mousse and popcorn sherbet in Chicago, deconstructed s’mores in New York and a pot of chocolate topped with cacao nibs and truffle salt in LA.
We know what you’re thinking: dessert road trip.
And you are correct.
S’mores
These s’mores by pastry chef Veronica Rivera involve a thin and crunchy graham cracker, toasted marshmallows and your quintessential pool of melted chocolate. Oh, and it’s all plated with a fiery twig. For authenticity.
Marc Forgione, New York City
20-Layer Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake
No one really needs 20 layers of devil’s food cake and peanut butter mascarpone. And yet...
Lavo, Las Vegas
S&S Cracker Jack
Meg Galus is the pastry chef behind Michelin-starred Boka, much-celebrated Momotaro and steak spot Swift & Sons. So you could say she knows a thing or two about dessert. Like how peanut butter mousse, salted caramel, caramel corn and popcorn sherbet can give the words “Cracker Jack” a completely new meaning.
Swift & Sons, Chicago
“Hit Me” Cake
And here we have a four-level tower of fudge brownie, ice cream, cake and a surprise-filled Klondike bar. Smack the top with your spoon, and see what happens. Or read what happens. (Melted white chocolate goes everywhere.)
Catch, Los Angeles
Toffee Banana Cream Waffle Stack
While on the topic of dessert towers, here’s one made of malted waffles, banana pudding, Nutella, crumbled Heath bar and caramel sauce. It’s a good topic.
Nosh & Booze, Chicago
Gianduja Chocolate Budino
This Northern Italian spot’s after-dinner options include a cake/pudding hybrid that’s topped with cacao nibs and truffle salt. People always say hybrids are good for the Earth.
Union Restaurant, Pasadena
AC Carbomb
And finally, a chocolate bread pudding with butterscotch, bananas and boozy ice cream. We’ll give you two a moment alone.
American Cut Tribeca, New York City
Other times, you really want a nightcap served alongside a condominium-size piece of cake, or some other decadent after-dinner treat.
Yeah. We prefer those times, too.
So below: six of the finest desserts you’ll find in restaurants around the country. There’s a Cracker Jack–inspired dish with peanut butter mousse and popcorn sherbet in Chicago, deconstructed s’mores in New York and a pot of chocolate topped with cacao nibs and truffle salt in LA.
We know what you’re thinking: dessert road trip.
And you are correct.
S’moresThese s’mores by pastry chef Veronica Rivera involve a thin and crunchy graham cracker, toasted marshmallows and your quintessential pool of melted chocolate. Oh, and it’s all plated with a fiery twig. For authenticity.
Marc Forgione, New York City
20-Layer Peanut Butter Chocolate CakeNo one really needs 20 layers of devil’s food cake and peanut butter mascarpone. And yet...
Lavo, Las Vegas
S&S Cracker JackMeg Galus is the pastry chef behind Michelin-starred Boka, much-celebrated Momotaro and steak spot Swift & Sons. So you could say she knows a thing or two about dessert. Like how peanut butter mousse, salted caramel, caramel corn and popcorn sherbet can give the words “Cracker Jack” a completely new meaning.
Swift & Sons, Chicago
“Hit Me” CakeAnd here we have a four-level tower of fudge brownie, ice cream, cake and a surprise-filled Klondike bar. Smack the top with your spoon, and see what happens. Or read what happens. (Melted white chocolate goes everywhere.)
Catch, Los Angeles
Toffee Banana Cream Waffle StackWhile on the topic of dessert towers, here’s one made of malted waffles, banana pudding, Nutella, crumbled Heath bar and caramel sauce. It’s a good topic.
Nosh & Booze, Chicago
Gianduja Chocolate BudinoThis Northern Italian spot’s after-dinner options include a cake/pudding hybrid that’s topped with cacao nibs and truffle salt. People always say hybrids are good for the Earth.
Union Restaurant, Pasadena
AC CarbombAnd finally, a chocolate bread pudding with butterscotch, bananas and boozy ice cream. We’ll give you two a moment alone.
American Cut Tribeca, New York City
