Desserts

Cold Stone and Marble Slab and other chain stores have really staked out many of the popular retail places around the Triangle. Unfortunately, it leaves little space for the true contenders, such as Maple View and other shops that truly deserve our business.

In downtown Raleigh, one coffee shop deserves serious attention - for not only their coffee, but their selection of ice cream flavors - each one custom designed by yourself. You choose between ice cream and yogurt; then you have about 30 flavors options to choose from... fruit, nuts and other flavors. Everything is blended together.... and wow! It reminds me of a place on the coast... but that is for another day.

Open late, even on weekdays.

Crema
121 Fayetteville St Ste 110
Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919) 832-5959

Who would have thought that there would be room for another ice cream parlour in the Triangle area? Goodberry's in Cary will start to have some competition now. A national chain, Kilwin's has opened across the street from Goodberry's. The fun storefront also has fudge made in store, as well an assortment of chocolate dipped options. Frozen delights include both sorbet and creamy options, including a few low calorie choices. The ice cream was smooth and creamy, and though a chain, it felt a bit less cookie cutter than Marble slab or Coldstone. Packed with Cary kids and parents, the ice cream was a great finish from the local dinner options.


Kilwin's - Cary
2004 Boulderstone Way
Cary, NC 27519
Phone:919-463-9360

Popsicles? Gourmet? are you sure? It's hard to believe that the frozen artificially flavored sugar water could be considered a gourmet food. However, Locopops, located in Durham near Ninth Street, is out to prove that the frozen treats on a stick can indeed be gourmet.

The storefront is on a corner, where the first clue is a bunch (about a dozen people) of people were standing around with popsicle sticks in their mouths. In a way, it's a strange scene, since most of the people were well above the grade school years. Inside an undecordated interior is three chest freezers and a huge whiteboard that lists all the different flavors available. Our decision making settled on brownie vs. mexican chocolate, and watermelon lime vs. hibiscus. Though there were 20 odd more flavors to choose from - those were just the ones that tickled our fancy. Brownie turned out to be an exquisite creamy chocolatly experience - quite accurately named - literally a frozen brownie on a stick is probably the best description. Wow! Watermelon lime was light, not too sweet, and a perfect send cap for a hot summer meal.

Mental post-it note - bring ice cooler and packs next time we visit - that's probably the only correct way to enjoy the flavors - bring about a dozen home! At about $1.25 each for the small, $2.25 for the large, it isn't too far out of reach, either.

can't wait to be back.

Loco Pops
2600 Hillsborough Rd.
Durham, NC
286-3500

The weather has cooled a bit this week - but thoughts of ice cream and gelato continue...

My personal experiences with Gelato began on a trip to Italy decades ago - in the old city of Bietigheim-Bissingen. Bietigheim is an old walled city within Stutgart area of Germany. The city is approximately a mile or so across - and offers a pleasant stroll through old Europe. Though it is a beautiful city, I'm not aware of any significant tourist attractions located there, at least not as of a decade or so ago. One summer day - as we strolled across the city, we decided to go to every gelato shop (Eis) along the way. As I recall, this was approximately 8 shops, where we spent about 1 deutschmark or so at each shop. Given the small size of each cone, this was actually a great way to spend a summer afternoon - seeing the old town and enjoying gelato. This experience provides the basis for my gelato comparisons.

Unfortunately, no local Gelato joint quite provides the smooth flavorful european experience... until now. Enter Henry's Gelato - located in NW Cary, off NW Maynard road. Tucked away in a new fancy set of shops, Henry's Gelato offers some of the best tasting (and textured) gelato in the area. With a european derived base, they offer a creamier experience as compared to other local shops. The flavors are also wonderul - try there hazelnut / chocolate (read NUTELLA). I still await getting to the shop when they have made amaretto... so I keep on going back, as you will too.

Gelato gelato - the name rolls off the tongue as easily as the flavors roll across your taste buds.

The old standard in the Triangle for Gelato is Francesca's Dessert Cafe near Duke's campus in Durham. The little coffee shop has served gelato for years, with a wide variety of flavors, including a great icy mango and very fruity melons. Though the remainder of the desserts there are fair; on a hot summer night, there is little that beats the cold gelato delight.

Wow - who would have ever thought that Krispy Kreme would have a true rival in the donut world?


The Fractured Prune is now here in Raleigh, within Brier Creek. It is on the Northwest corner, next to the Carolina Ale House, across from the GCF store.


Cake donuts are served hot, with your choice of glaze and toppings. You can customize the donuts any way you want, or choose from some preselected options, such as the Rolo or Trail Mix. Our Rolo doughnut's chocolate chips were perfectly soft, creating a chocolately mess when eaten. The glazes are a bit artificial, but since when do we worry about that on doughnuts? Warm, hot and tasty - the start of a new weekend tradition! They are not open late, so it is not an after dinner option. Eat them warm - by the time they are cooled down, they become above average cake donuts.


Location: 7961-110 Skyland Ridge Parkway