Foodview: Almond Vanilla Custard Cheesecake

In light of the March Muffin Deal we're doing here at this olde shoppe, I was going to order a fluffy cappuccino muffin and write about it. Instead, our dear readers, I decided at the last minute to try a dessert item many are fond of: Cheesecake.

Crafted by the hands of the boss himself, this almond vanilla custard cheesecake is excellent if you haven't had a slice of heaven recently. Homemade, and just a few doors down, you may never have to take  the trip up to the Factory of the Cheesecake ever again. :)

This cheesecake's appeal is that it's not overbearingly sweet (that is loaded with behemoth amounts of sugar), but fluffy and light, deriving its sweetness from the subtle vanilla almond custard on top and bits of candied cherries baked into the crust.

Having a high quality dessert isn't about bombarding the taste buds with sugar (if that's your idea of a good dessert, then go pick up a pack of "donuts" from the gas station), but about adding just the right sweetness to a collection of complementing textures and tastes.

I feel that this dessert item hits on that principle just right. It seems most fitting to have with some wine on a date night. You could always get the cheesecake to go, pick up a bottle of wine from the Garden Herb Shop, and head home to set something romantic up before she arrives. Pretty suave, eh? See, we're not just foodies here at HM, we're also killer romantics. ;)

~The Harvest Crier~

Foodview: Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownie with Icing

This big-as-my-head brownie was staring me down all day long, so I taught it a lesson - by eating it!

Rich in density, but not overpowering in sweetness, this delicacy of gluten-free is best shared by two people if it's eaten after a meal. Like I said, it's big. Plus it's very dense, which is how a brownie should be in my opinion.

Its sweetness is most potently found on top with rich white frosting and a smattering of dark chocolate chips. The texture of icing with chocolate chips is incredible, the most sensational part of the dessert! The brownie itself would have seemed, well, naked without it.

If you find yourself face to face with this sweet opportunity, you may want to give it a shot. They make a lot of delicious and unique edibles here at the Moon, often times exercising a, "Hey, let's give this a shot!" attitude in the kitchen. This is good because new pastry ideas come out of the blue, but if they're really sensational, they'll be gone in the blink of an eye. Let me just say that they aren't surprised when someone comes in and buys all of the cookies on display!

Many a restaurants claim to to have freedom and creativity in the kitchen, but only in Harvest Moon has this journalist actually seen it done. Bon Appetit.

~The Harvest Crier~