Best Bets
2009 Dining Guide: 10 sweet endings
By Tom Sietsema | Washington Post Staff Writer | Updated 10/23/2009
Tom Sietsema singles out great desserts, from decadent chocolate to homey apple pie.
Palena
Washington, DC
Sheep's milk ricotta from Rome whipped with cream cheese and flavored with vin santo, orange zest and maraschino liqueur add to the allure of the divine cheesecake ($10) here.
Marcel's
Washington, DC
Marcel's excels at the French classics, including souffles ($14) infused with chocolate, Grand Marnier or sometimes strawberry. Praline ice cream dresses up the warm wonders.
Blue Duck Tavern
Washington, DC
Putting the pastry kitchen and its signature dessert on display near the entrance of Blue Duck Tavern was a smart move: It's impossible for diners to ignore one of the finest, fattest apple pies ($8) around. The secret is in the crust, enriched with heavy cream.
Proof
Washington, DC
Slices of grilled banana and a scoop of creamy coconut sorbet accompany the warm-from-the-oven banana bread ($9) at this wine-focused restaurant.
Vidalia
Washington, DC
A 15-year veteran of Vidalia, baker Nelson Ramirez is behind the success of the restaurant's delectable pecan pie ($10.25). So are Georgia pecans toasted with sea salt and a custard of eggs, butter and dark corn syrup cooked in a slow oven.
The Source
Washington, DC
The restaurant's super-moist carrot cake ($12) yields an elegant slab of 15 -- count 'em! -- alternating layers of spiced cake and cream cheese icing.
The Majestic
Alexandria, VA
The nostalgia-inducing, three-layer-high coconut cake ($7.50) here has a suggestion of cream cheese in its frosting and a hint of coconut milk in its yellow cake. Meanwhile, untoasted coconut keeps the confection looking pure.
Volt
Frederick, MD
Textures of Chocolate ($8) at Volt looks like art and tastes like heaven, thanks to a ribbon of white chocolate ganache, a quenelle of milk chocolate ice cream, a chocolate tuile, caramel and more on the plate.
Buck's Fishing & Camping
Washington, DC
A buttery crust, a tart lemon curd and a creamy gratineed meringue add up to one fabulous lemon meringue pie ($7).
CityZen
Washington, DC
How to improve on the best gingerbread cake around? Top a small round of the cake with candied pecan mousse, decorate it with crisp Fuji apples, throw in some honey ice cream, and drizzle the plate with a honey-balsamic reduction. You'll find the happy ending on the tasting menu.
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