Tag Archives: Chocolate chip

BESFREN

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Pastries. I love em. Like, a lot. I’ve tried them from lots of different countries and cultures. However, when it comes to Korean pastries, I really can’t say that I’ve had any. Korean savory food, of course, yes, and, I love it, but was unfamiliar with the Korean world of pastry. So, I needed to check out BESFREN in K-Town, NYC

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Along with their own in-house made classic Korean pastries, with a modern twist, you’ll find some classic pastry items like chocolate chip cookies, and items from local vendors.

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Now, these guys have been getting a lot of Insta-love for their Triple Chocolate Cookie, so, I had to see what all the hype was about. First off, it’s large and in charge, pretty much the only way I like my cookies. There are three variations of chocolate chunks, hence, the triple part. Now, the cookie is super delicious, but, I wouldn’t go so far to say it’s anything ground breaking, it tastes like a good chocolate chip cookie. What they got really right is the great consistency, the edges are slightly crisp, the center is soft and chewy, and the chocolate chunks are rich and melty. So, while it’s not the most unique thing there, for it’s size, at only $2.50, it’s certainly worth getting. 

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Then, I went with something more unique to the shop, I got their Jasmine Green Tea Roll Cake. Visually, it’s really pretty and definitely photogenic (because, in this age, if you didn’t take a picture of it, it never happened). The cake is super moist (terrible word) and somewhat spongy, with a light green tea flavor. The center is where you’ll get a much more rich and strong green tea flavor, with the consistency of a buttercream. All together, it’s lovely and delicious, and has a feeling of decadence, yet still light enough so that you can scarf down that mega cookie. 

The Shorts:
Name: BESFREN
Location: 315 5th Avenue, NYC
The Long and Short: Would I go back? Yes. It’s a great little spot to grab a coffee and pastry, with a hand full of cafe tables along floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Sweet treats and a view.
Would I recommend it? Yes. The items and flavors are unique, yet still very accessible, so it’s definitely worth a try. 

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The Misfit

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Well, after my super short stay in San Diego (say that three times fast and you win a prize), I was off to LA for a couple days. Again, not a long time, but, enough to fit in some tasty food. Now, this was my third time visiting LA, but, since this is the first time post-blog writing, and I only have places documented from that point on, this section will be limited, until my next trip there. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming…
My first stop was for some lunch at The Misfit in Santa Monica. Located right outside of the Santa Monica Promenade, you can grab some cocktails and snacks at the bar, or enjoy casual comfort food at a table. 

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They offer a bunch of dishes meant for sharing, so, to start we I shared the Life’s A Choke Charred Broccoli (sweet sambal, crispy garlic, soy). Loved this. The broccoli was wonderfully cooked with that really nice char on the florets. The sauce gets soaked up by the florets, giving it a sweet but spicy flavor, topped with potato chips. Didn’t think at first that they had a place there, but, after eating the combo, yeah, they sure had a place there.  

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Then, for my entree, I had the LGO Cafe Brussels Sprout Salad (almonds, dried berries, manchego) with Salmon. This was such a great salad. It was hearty, yet light, and flavorful. Since I added the salmon, it definitely made it more substantial, but, if you wanted a lighter salad, you could enjoy it as-is. I loved the freshness and texture of the shredded brussels sprouts, with the salted, roasted almonds and the sweet, tartness of the dried cranberries and blueberries. The salmon was glazed in a BBQ type of sauce, which gave it a really nice savory flavor that worked really well with the rest of the salad. 

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Oh, and the best part? At the end of your meal, they come by with a bowl of their Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies. Now, I’m not sure if you can take more than one, I wanted to be polite, but, I’m not sure they’d say no if you tried. 

The Shorts:
Name: The Misfit
Location: 225 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA
The Long and Short: Would I go back? For sure, the service was friendly, the food was great, and, hello? The free cookies!
Would I recommend it? Definitely. The location is great, you can do some shopping along the way, and the food is really delicious.