Jessica's Dinner Party

by jessica yoon

brooklyn

The Chocolate Room

Valentine’s Day is not for another few months but thoughts of love and cupid filled my head when I went to the Chocolate Room in Park Slope.  It’s a very cozy but not crammed spot in Brooklyn and feels like the perfect date spot.  Too bad I didn’t go with a boyfriend, a lover, or a secret crush, because it would have been very romantic, a piece of dark, chocolate cake and spoons knocking together. But!  I went with a very, very wonderful friend and had a fabulous time.  So, I guess a boy wasn’t very necessary at all!

I like chocolate, but wouldn’t say I’m a chocoholic. However, for the Chocolate Room I might convert.  Each dish had just the right amount of sweetness and cocoa intensity.  There was sophistication but also homey, comfort as well.  When we sat down we were welcomed with a little taster of a dark chocolate sorbet.  I like to say that I like dark chocolate, but secretly I prefer milk.  The sorbet was exceptional though, refreshing with just enough of cocoa aftertaste.  It made you yearn for me.

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Baked, a Review

As I looked at the tantalizing desserts and stood amidst the urban wild, cabin decor of Baked bakery, I began to think that the long trip to Red Hook, Brooklyn would become the first of many. It was extremely difficult to narrow down the menu, especially after reading reviews here and flipping through their delicious cookbook.  Finally my friend and I decided to order two cupcakes, a whoopie pie, two brownies, and apricot rosemary bar to go.  Yes, it was kind of a beastly thing for two girls to do, but in our defense, we did not finish everything, it took us an hour and three transfers to get there, and we spent a fair amount of time working our way through.  Excuses, excuses, I know.

We started off with the sweet and salty cupcake.  It was definitely a winner for me.  The chocolate cake had a upper crust like a brownie and the inner workings of a molten chocolate cake.  Inside was a soft, almost melted chocolate filling that worked well with the mouse-like, airy frosting.  Despite the layers of chocolate, it was a very delicate cupcake that gave a hint of salty caramel.  In contrast to my opinion, my friend found the cupcake boring and cliche.  I agree with the cliche, but the speckles of salt really saved it from being boring for me.

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