Fresh Bistro: Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Herban Feast’s Fresh Bistro in West Seattle is a fab place for food and clinkies – last month Heed the Hedonist covered their new Happy Hour item: the Big Bento Box.

But this place is more than just savory sustenance and creative cocktails. It’s definitely one of the places to consider the next time you get a sugar craving. For the constantly changing items on their dessert menu are both outside of the (bento) box and unique in their flavor and texture combinations. Pastry Chef Maya Barber-Kurose is both innovative and balanced in her approach to the sacchariferous side of cuisine.

The last time I stopped in for a bite, they had an interesting dessert offering: an Olive Oil Cake (aside from the cheese plate, the closest thing to savory on their dessert menu). Intrigued, I tried it. Indeed, the savory olive oil in the moist, light-to-medium-density white cake, topped with an herbed cream was by itself lovely. But when served with the oh-sooo-sweet pears and full-bodied braised figs – and finished with a balsamic drizzle – the dish made me feel like I was enjoying an amuse bouche or appetizer at the start, rather than end, of my meal. Satisfying, yet light.

Although the olive oil cake is a seasonal item on their dessert menu, their Smores are a regular item. Until I had this smores-themed dessert, I had yet to try a good one; for the ones I’d tried to-date were heavy on both the quantity and marshmallows. Waaaay to sugary (for sugar, like salt, should be used in moderation to bring out the “real food” it accentuates rather than smother it).

But not Fresh Bistro’s Smores. With a very manageable portion of a single toasted marshmallow – complete with a hand-made “flame” graham cookie – along with an incredible scoop (and when I say incredible, dear hedonists, I mean “WOW!”) of toasted marshmallow ice cream perched atop a very cream-meets-chocolate-balanced ganache brownie. All this with a trail of graham cracker crumbs to lead you to pure bliss … with a touch of outdoor camping/backyard firepit thrown in.

Congrats to Chef Maya – keep up the good work!

So go satisfy your sweet tooth … I guarantee you’ll want s’more!