dessert – Page 36 – Michael Eats

Outstanding (and Unique) Gelato at Nani’s Gelato

Published on August 9, 2019 by Michael NusairLeave a comment

Location: It’s a truck; check Instagram to see where they’re parked
Website: https://www.nanisgelato.com

Fact: it’s impossible to read this article without immediately being overcome by an extreme desire to go check out that gelato. High quality gelato with really interesting, Indian-inspired flavours? Yes please. Put that in my belly ASAP.

I was hoping to try the pistachio cardamom, but alas, it wasn’t available when I went. I guess I’ll have to go back — what a hardship.

It’s as delicious as advertised. The gelato itself is great; it’s rich, creamy, and smooth, with a perfect consistency.

As for the flavour, I got the Carrots and Cream, which is apparently based on a traditional Indian pudding called carrot halwa. I can’t say I’ve tried that particular dessert, but if this gelato is any indication, it’s good.

I’m not sure what to compare the flavour to. I guess carrot cake? But not really. It has a similar flavour profile to any number of Indian desserts, but it’s also got its own thing going on. I don’t know. It’s delicious. That’s the best way I can describe it. It’s delicious and you should eat it immediately.

A Delicious Apple Fritter at Dipped Donuts

Published on August 6, 2019 by Michael NusairLeave a comment

Location: 161 Baldwin Street, Toronto
Website: https://www.dippeddonuts.ca/

I almost didn’t order the apple fritter at Dipped Donuts. Sanremo — an amazing Italian bakery in Etobicoke — sells an apple fritter that’s so delicious, getting one anywhere else feels like a waste of time. How can you top it?

Well, I’m not sure if Dipped Donuts quite tops it, but it’s pretty damn close. Their fritter is absolutely amazing.

It’s got the perfect balance of crispy, chewy, and fluffy. It’s sweet but not too sweet, with the rich glaze balancing perfectly with the cinnamony, apple-infused pastry.

It’s easily the best doughnut I’ve had from Dipped Donuts — and everything I’ve had from that particular shop has been extremely delicious. It’s ridiculously good.

Summer’s Ice Cream: A Toronto Institution

Published on August 2, 2019 by Michael NusairLeave a comment

Location: 101 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto
Website: https://www.summersicecream.com/

Summer’s is a Toronto institution. It’s been around since 1984, which makes it one of the oldest local ice cream joints (I think only Greg’s, which opened in 1981, is older).

It’s not a place that I feel the need to check out on a regular basis (I think it’s been something like a decade since my last visit), but if you’re in the area and you’re craving ice cream, it’s fine.

It’s better than fine, actually. It’s a decent step up in quality from most of the stuff you can get at the supermarket, but it’s definitely not on the level of the city’s better ice cream shops.

On this particular visit I got their classic flavour, Toronto Pothole, which is chocolate ice cream with marshmallow and chocolate sauce swirled in, with chunks of almonds and peanuts (though I didn’t notice any almonds or peanuts, and their description doesn’t say anything about chocolate sauce. Did I get the wrong flavour…?).

The flavour of the ice cream is a bit Nesquik-esque, and the texture is slightly gummy, but for the most part it’s rich and satisfying. It’s nothing too mind-blowing, but it’s certainly tasty enough.

More Dipped Cones at Les Epicuriens

Published on July 29, 2019 by Michael NusairLeave a comment

Location: 2109 Yonge Street, Toronto
Website: https://www.facebook.com/indulgeyourtastebuds/

Hey, it’s yet another place doing dipped cones. Hooray?

Look, I can’t say no to ice cream, but as I mentioned in my review of Chocolats Favoris last year, we’ve got a lot of places that serve dipped cones in Toronto. It’s a crowded field.

So does Les Epicuriens stand out? I dunno, not really? I mean, they have a lot of dip options (a dozen when I visited), but then most of these places have a lot of dip options. They also have a handful of toppings (various nuts, candy pieces, etc.), but that’s also par for the course.

I went with the “special vanilla” ice cream (vegan chocolate is also an option) with a pistachio dip.

The ice cream is really good. It’s very rich and creamy with a nice, clean flavour. I’d say it’s about on par with Tom’s.

The dip was fine, though it was aggressively sweet and had only a mild pistachio flavour. It basically tasted like white chocolate with a vague whiff of nuttiness. I’d probably try a different dip next time, or just get the ice cream on its own.

Delicious Doughnuts at Glory Hole Doughnuts

Published on July 25, 2019May 24, 2020 by Michael NusairLeave a comment

Location: 1596 Queen Street West, Toronto
Website: https://www.gloryholedoughnuts.com/

I checked out Glory Hole Doughnuts when it opened and was thoroughly unimpressed. That was a few years ago, and in the meanwhile it’s been piling up accolade after accolade. Another visit was in order.

Yeah, everyone is right about this place: it’s great.

I had the bread and butter doughnut, which is a classic raised doughnut topped with brown butter icing, toasted breadcrumbs, and cinnamon.

The doughnut itself was perfect; just the right amount of fluffiness and chewiness, with a really nice flavour and no oiliness (this was an issue on my first visit, but not even a little bit this time).

The icing was creamy, slightly nutty from the brown butter, and perfectly sweet. The breadcrumbs add some crunch and a mild toasty flavour.

The sweet cinnamon-infused flavour, the creamy icing, and the crispy breadcrumbs are an irresistible combo. It’s an amazing doughnut.