Monday, April 8, 2013

Best Desserts in Utah (chocolate cake, mousse, creme brulee, etc)

Best Desserts in Utah
- parts revised 13 Oct 21 

Check out Best Ice Cream in Utah, Best Pies in Utah, Best Peach Cobbler in Utah, and our OTHER FOOD REVIEWS at TasterTestersClub.BlogSpot.com 


Best chocolate decadent (flourless) cake - our favorite!

Note: All on the list below were tested TOGETHER, side by side, so the list is accurate. The only exceptions are BYU Skyroom and Current Oyster House below, which were tested on different dates.
2014 test:

1. Zoom, Park City. A+ (with cherry compote: A+). Callie Varner, the Pastry chef, has done an amazing job there.

2. P. F. Chang, It's called the Dome there, national chain. A

3. Windy Ridge Cafe, Park City. A-/A

4. Snake Creek Grill, Heber City. A-

5. BYU Skyroom, Provo B+/A- 

6. Red Butte Grill, SLC. B+/A-

7. The Roof, SLC chocolate tart (in pastry shell) B++

8. Whole Foods Market, SLC, "Gem City" brand (national chain) B+

9. Whole Foods Market, SLC, chile flourless choc cake B+

10. Windy Ridge Bakery, Park City, orange flavored "chocolate torte" B+ 

11. Riverhorse, Park City (not serving in fall 2014),  with oreo crust. B+

12. Snake Creek Grill, Heber City, a second type: one layer of their black bottom banana cream pie - the pie filling is a C but the flourless chocolate cake it rests upon, different than the regular flourless cake, is a B+

13. Red Butte Grill, SLC. "Truffle Aztec Tart.." Has truffle-like choc filling, dusted with cocoa and cinnamon, overed in bittersweet choc glaze and toasted almonds. B

14. Shabu, Park City. B-

15. Gourmandise, SLC C+/B-

16. RATING ABOUT HERE, BUT NOT TESTED WITH OTHERS ON THIS LIST: 
Current fish and oyster house, SLC, chocolate torte C+

17. Cafe Rio (various locations) chocolate flan (some similarities to flourless chocolate cake). C

18. Trader Joe's, national chain, in SLC. C-, another test in Oct 2016: B/B+


Note: Sundance was also a contender for one of the top spots, but pastry chef Jessica left in mid 2013. Mamacita's in Provo in 2013, now out of business, was a B+

2 great ones gone:
OUT OF BUSINESS: Madison Gastropub, Provo A-/A
OUT OF BUSINESS: Chef's Table, Orem (served occasionally) A- 

Chocolate Decadent Cake: A newer, second, shorter test 
(compare these to above)
2016, November
1. Whole Foods Markets, Gem City brand A-
2. Trader Joes Decadent Chocolate Cake (we assume this is different than #17 above, but is perhaps the same but given a higher grade compared to others on this test) B/B+
3. Whole Foods Market, Belgian Chocolate Mousse B-
4. Whole Foods Market, Chocolate Parfait: overall with cream B-, chocolate part: C-

Best chocolate raspberry, flour cake 
2014 test
1, Burgers & Bourbon, Park City, Montage at Deer Creek, "Ginormous Cake." Cake alone: A-; with raspberry sauce, fresh raspberries, and whipped cream: A alone. A+ with their fresh raspberries and whipped cream. Note that they drench the sauce over the cake before serving - or so it seems, as the second and third times we've ordered it they provided a side of sauce for us to pour over it. Important note: in October 2014 when we had it a third time they used raspberry jam of sorts - at least not FRESH RASPBERRIES - and the jam was a D -. That made the cake-with-jam a C- so it was best to leave off the jam, as the cake itself rates a B/B+. (This may be the most expensive slice of cake in Utah for 2014 (but fairly large) at $14.) 

2. Z's Chophouse, Midway A- / A 
(their cake alone: B)

3. Red Butte Cafe, SLC. "Chocolate Aztec Tart" (we got it with raspberry jam; at rare times they serve it with fresh raspberries. With jam: B+++

4. Seigfried's Deli, downtown SLC B/B+ 
(Note that there are 2 other decent cakes of their cakes listed in the last section below. We've had all of their's, but these are in our opinion the best.)

5. Special order note: If you requested a full cake from The Chocolate in Orem, they would custom make you a raspberry chocolate cake. In so doing, request milk chocolate cake with dark chocolate frosting. It would be an A.

6. Gloria's Little Italy: Fragosa chocolate cake with raspberry filling and Italian cream. B

7. Cheesecake Factory B

Best regular chocolate cake
2014 test, some revised in 2016 and 2018:
4 A's:
1. Billy Blanco's, Park City A
2. The Chocolate, Orem - the "Brooklyn Blackout," milk chocolate cake with dark chocolate ganache frosting (revised 2016:) A-/A
3. Whole Foods Market, national chain and SLC locations, "Rubicon" brand. A-
4. Bangkok Thai, Park City - molten cake. A-

3 B+'s
4A. The Chocolate,Orem and West Jordan, yellow cake with choc frosting B+
The Last Course, SLC and Draper, Smores molten cake (2018:) B+
4B. The Last Course, German Chocolate cake (2018)  B+
4C. Old Spaghetti Factory, "Chocolate Mousse Cake," with over 1/4 mousse: A-, about 3/4 choc cake: B, choc frosting: A-. Total: B+

The rest are Bs and Cs:
4D. Gandolpho's Deli, Mousse cake B/B+
5. The Chocolate, Orem - "Cherib" - milk chocolate cake milk with chocolate frosting (revised 2016:) B/B+
6. n/a
7. Ditto: "Turtle," also an B/B+
8. P. F. chang. alone: B/B+. With added fruit and mediocre raspberry syrup. B+
9. Burgers and Bourbon, Park City, Ginormous cake (minus the raspberry jam) B
10. Tucano's, local chain B
11. Red Lobster, national chain B
12. French Bakery, Provo B/B+ (cake alone C)
13. P. F. Chang Chocolate Wall cake C+
14. Cheesecake Factory tower truffle B+ (cake alone C)
15. Cheesecake Factory Linda's Fudge Cake B - - (cake alone C)
16. Cheesecake Factory Black out cake B - -
17. (not in this category, but also at Cheesecake Factory is our fave cheesecake there: Godiva cheesecake B+)
18. Cheesecake Factory choc tuxedo cream B
19. Cheesecake Factory (this might be one listed above:) 8 layer choc cake, yellow, nut topping B-/B
20. ditto but with choc chip topping, 8 layer: B-/B
21. Cheesecake Factory - another with chocolate chip topping and mousee or choc fristing between layers: B++
22. Zupa - chocolate mousse cake B+/A- (the chocolate cake part: B-)
23. The Garden, SLC. Classic chocolate cake C+/B-
24. The Garden, SLC, Molten choc cake B
25. Buffalo Wild Wings, state-wide. choc cake B, choc cake with ganache B+

Honorable mentions (B's):
Harvest, Thanksgiving Point
Iggy's tower cake
LaJolla Groves, Provo bundt cake
Red Lobster, yellow cake with choc frosting A-
Cafe 300 B-
Numerous others in Utah we tried are B-minuses and Cs.
GLORIA'S NOW OUT OF BUSINESS:
They offered 4 chocolate cakes (we tested them all) of their many cake varieties; their best was:
9. "Duomo Cioccolato: B/B+
10. Gloria's. 3rd best: moist, but needs stronger chocolate flavor. B- 
11. Gloria's 4th best: tarfuto? good if warmed (not good unless warmed). B-
12. Gloria's 5th best choco and  strawberry B-
Gloria's 6th best: choc nutella B-

Best Misc. cakes:

1. Orange Chocolate Mousse Cake, Red Butte Cafe, A+ 

2. carrot cake - Black Sheep, Provo A+ (at least before mid 2013: it may be different now. Their chocolate mousse before then was the best in the state, but has slipped way down.)

3. carrot cake - Archibald's, South Jordan A-

4  beet cake, weird but gets an A from Pago, SLC A

5. strawberry poppy seed cake (they use seasonal fruits). Red Butte Cafe, SLC A-

6. carrot cake - Red Butte Cafe, SLC B/B+ (Amazingly, this is the lowest grade of all their wonderful cakes.) For Carrot cake, see better offerings above.

7. "Husband," yellow cake with milk chocolate fudge frosting. The Chocolate, Orem. B

8. black forest cake - Siegfried's Deli, Salt Lake City B-/B

9. German chocolate cake - Siegfried's Deli, Salt Lake City B-


10. Gloria's Little Italy - Strawberry white cake with Italian cream and chocolate covered strawberries on top

Note: Little Italy Cakes are good - but most rate a B - of their 11 that we tried. (The higher rated ones are in various categories above.) 

11. ditto. Lemon-raspberry white cake 

12. ditto. tiramisu

13. Chocolate mousse cake - BYU Museum Cafe, Provo

14. Whole Foods Market deli, SLC - orange glaze-topped cheesecake A-

15. ditto - cheesecake alone C-

16. ditto - berry, apricot tart with almond cream filling B




Best Chocolate Mousse in Utah

Note: Although Pago's version is a "panna cotta" and thus has no egg whites in it like mousse has, if you like chocolate mousse, we recommend Pago for the best-tasting version of this, which is technically not mousse. Also, Le Caille's chocolate marscopone is technically not a mousse either, as it is thicker, more like a thick pudding, but we include it below:

1. BYU Museum Cafe (the mousse is part of the chocolate mousse cake) B+A-

2. OUT OF BUSINESS: Oregano Grill, Provo B++
3. Olive Garden, national chain B+
4. Mimi's Cafe - petite chocolate mousse B+
5. Tiburon, Sandy - chocolate almond B+
6. Gourmandise, SLC, chocolate mousse B+
7. The Roof, SLC chocolate mousse, flavor A, texture C+, overall B+
8. Le Caille - chocolate mascarpone (flavor is A-, texture is B-) B/B+
9. Vanilla Bean, Orem, as one of the components of "Triple Heaven:" B/B+
10. Whole Foods Markets deli, SLC B/B+
11. Black Sheep, Provo - chocolate B (it used to be the only A in the state until mid 2013 when their chef, Dario, left; since then it has gone to a B, which is still good)
12. LaJolla Groves, Provo - triple chocolate B-
13. Talisker, Park City - Valrona choc mousse with pistachio flavor. B-
14. Bistro 412, Park City - liquor mint choc mousse. B-
NOT GOOD:
15. Enliten, Provo - chocolate C+ (but their fruit tarts rate an A. Great cream filling) (They have strawberry and mango mousse as well, both rating Cs.)
16. Appleby's. D

Historical note:  Best ever was at Black Sheep before mid 2013: it was the only solid A. Also good: Spark in Provo went out of business June 2013. 

Best other-flavored Mousse in Utah
a. Lavender mousse: Purple Sage, Park City: A - (with berries: A)
b. passion fruitmousse: Gourmandise, SLC (is mostly cake) B/B+
c. chocolate raspberry mousse: Gourmandise, SLC, mostly cake B+
d. white chocolate mousse, Vanilla Bean, Orem C+ (this is contained within the dessert, "Triple Heaven," which also contains choc mousse and choc cake, with the package grading at B/B+)

Best Chocolate Pudding in Utah 
FIRST 4 ARE BASICALLY A TIE:
1. Copper Onion, downtown SLC, dark, A
2. Cafe Terigo, Park City: A (they call it "chocolate creme brule" but it's like a great pudding; should be eaten same day - not as good next day!). A
3. Pizzaria 712, Orem A
4. Ruth's Diner, Emigration Canyon, SLC, light, A-
5. The Roof, SLC: chocolate custard, cold B+
6. Trader Joe's (buy in container), dark Belgian, B
7. Kozy Korner (in containers at many grocery stores), light, C (best of the store-bought brands by far, except Trader Joe's) B-
8. (Not truly a pudding:) Brown Cow chocolate yoghurt (at macey's and other markets) C

Best Panna Cotta in Utah 
From northern Italy, this dish (when rarely made right, such as the Top 3 places below make it) is made from cream, milk and sugar, with some amount of gelatin. (El cheapo versions, which most are, go heavy on the gelatin and light or non-existent on the cream, using milk probably.)

1. Pago, SLC. Chocolate (VERY similar tasting to chocolate mousse, but, as stated above, under "chocolate mousse," panna cotta has no egg whites in it) A
WARNING: THIS one from Pago IS THE ONLY DESSERT IN THIS SECTION THAT MUST BE EATEN WHEN SERVED - It DOES NOT last  - at least if it is out of the fridge for long and then refrigerated and eaten the next day -  because it collapses and turns.to a bad texture, unlike the others. So eat while fresh!

2. Terra Mia, Orem, SLC

3. Pizzaria 712, Orem (tangy but yummy, with an amazing thin, real fruit sauce). A

4. Harvest, Alpine, buttermilk panna cotta withberries: alone: A - -. with berries: A

5. Vanilla Bean, Orem (2017) B+
(with strawberry topping: B/B+)

6. Oregano Grill, Provo. Get the cherry flavored one if they offer only two the day you go; not the pistachio. B

NOT GOOD:
7. Enliten, Provo: C-

HISTORICAL NOTE: One of the best ever was at Spark, Provo, but out of business since June 2013.

Best Creme Brulee in Utah 
1. The Garden, SLC. Caramel creme brulee A+
2. Cafe Terigo, Park City, chocolate creme brulee A
3. Wahso Asian Grill, Park City, coconut creme brulee A
4. Franck's, Holiday, butterscotch creme brule A
4a. Red Rock Grill, SLC creme brule (inner portion, below burnt top C++), total, with burnt top: A
5. Oregano A
6. Ruby River, Provo A; another test B+/A-; another test A-
7. Whole Foods Market, deli section: the one in a ceramic dish that you take home A-
8. Target's Archer Farms (sold pre-made) A
9. Sundance, Provo Canyon: vanilla: A- (this may be different now, as it was tested in 2013, and this place changes pastry chefs and goes up and down in quality) 
10. The Roof, SLC, 2016 December B+/A- 
11. Romano B++
12. Ruth's Diner, SLC Sweet and Savory, Orem: vanilla B+
13 Tucano's, Provo B; another test: B+; another test had strong pudding flavor, lowering the grade to B/B+
14. La Jolla Groves' Citrus Creme (note: their tangerene rated lower, below; also note the two hits against them is due to their pudding-like texture and their weak crust) B/B+; another test: B
15. Harvest Restaurant, Lehi (Point of the Mountain): vanilla creme: B (another test B-/B)
16. LaJolla Groves, Provo: tangerene:  B-
17. Snake Creek Grill, Heber (like pudding, not creamy enough): B-

Historical notes: One of tops in the Creme Brulee family we found was the Creme Brulee Cheesecake at Spark Restaurant, Provo; but out of business since June 2013. Savory and Sweet's vanilla creme brulee was very good at a B+ till they closed in 2016. Also gone: Madison's Gastropub in Provo in 2015, which had coffee caramel creme brule B-/B (but A texture). Out of business 2015: Chef's Table, Provo: cinnemon B+

ITALIAN DESSERTS, additional 
(in addition to those listed above in various categories)
Maxwells, SLC
a. Dessert Cannoli A
Carrabbas
a. mini cannoli B/B+
b. chocolate dream (very think layer of mousse, grade C, and mostly whipped cream and choc cake) total: B+
Olive Garden
a. Black Tie mousse cake A-
b. Lemon cream cake B+

Best cinnamon buns in Utah
Not including those at donut shops, in second list below:
1. Papa Johns A-
2. Hruskie's Kolaches, Provo. B+
3. Rockwell Creamery, Provo B+ 
4. Cinnabon. too sweet for some of us. B+
5. Marley's Sliders - house made (sometimes only on Saturdays - so call first) B/B+

FROM OUR SITE, "Best Donuts in Utah:"
a. Dunford Bakery A-
b. Donut Star, Draper, big, round A-
BYU Creamery's fried cinnamon bun was an A- but no longer seems available.
c. Avenue Bakery, cinnemon bun B/B+
d. Lehi Bakery, cinnemon raised roll B
e. Banbury Cross, cinnemon twist B
f. Banbury Cross, cinemon roll (inner part B/B+, outer part C), total: B
g. Donut Star, Draper, chocolate cinnamon twist B
h. Johnny O's Spudnuts, Layton, B-/B
i. Cowboy Donuts, Spanish Fork, fried cinnemon bun B-
j. Daylight Donuts, cinnemon roll C
j. Krispy Kreme C-/C

k. Provo Bakery C-


Best Dessert Pizzas in Utah
(also in our site, "Best Pizzas in Utah")
2017 Best Dessert Pizza
1. peach - Pizze Pie Cafe B+
2. Berries and cream - Malawai, when cold (better than room temp) B+
3. raspberry white chocolate, Malawai, when cold B+
5.  peaches and cream, if FRESH peaches - Malawai B+, if not fresh peaches B/B+


Fried bread and scones with butter
All A's, in this order:
1. Black Sheep (as tested in 2014), Provo
2. Slate (2014), Provo
3. Family Tree, Payson

Other Best DESSERTS in Utah

1. beet cake, Pago, SLC 

2. chocolate fudge brownie, Corner Bakery Cafe, national chain

3. n/a

4. Sweet Potato cheesecake - Sundance: A-

5. lime-filled cupcaeks: B++ at Sean's Smokehouse, Saratoga Springs (heavy, European style cake with decent lime filling)

6praline pecan cookie - Kaiser's BBQ, Salt Lake City

7. Lemon meringue tart, Red Butte Cafe, SLC B/B+ (could be in "pies" category)

8. N/A

9. chocolate cake with raspberry chocolate truffle filling B, at ditto

10. dark chocolate strawberry ganache tart, at ditto (sour cream ganache, strawberry, pecat tart shell, with caramel sauce) B-

11. ginger peach cobbler, Slate, Provo B

12. peach cobbler, The Garden, SLC C+/B-

13. apple pie, Cafe 300, Provo B+

14. German choc cake, Cafe 300, Provo A-

15. bread pudding, Pizzaria 712 (chamomile creme anglaise, high west bourbon caramel) grade A
Note on bread puddings: this one and the bread puddings at the Eastern BBQ chain, "Mission," are the only two A grade bread puddings we have discovered.
Historical note: The dessert crepe with strawberries, ice cream, chocolate sauce drizzle at Savory and Sweet in Orem was an A. they went out of business. Also an A was their Bananas foster, 

16. Last Course, Draper/SLC: 
a. S'mores lava cake B+

b. German Chocolate Cake B+

Weak:
17. Outback: carrot cake, too sweet, too strong nutmeg? B-

CONTINUED BEST DESSERTS AT VARIOUS RESTAURANTS BELOW:

The Last Course Dessert Parlor, SLC and Draper
July 2018
PASTRIES:
a. caramel apple pie (caramel sauce: A, but pie alone is only a C, highly seasoned) Total: B/B+
b. S'mores lava cake B+
c. German Chocolate Cake B+
d. coconut cream pie (filling B+) total: B+
e. peanut butter pie (filling: A-, crust C/C+, choc shavings B/B+, choc cookie on top C+) total B+
f. carrot cake (cake alone C+, cream cheese frosting C/C+, cream sauce A-/A) total: B
g. cheesecake B++, with fresh strawberry sauce: A
h: seasonal (June 2018): chocolate brownie bomb (brownie base with white choc mousse. B/B+
i. chocolate stacker B
j. chocolate caramel lava (seasonal) B-/B 
k. chocolate bomb B/B+


ICE CREAMS:
a. dark chocolate ice cream (1st time, grade D, with a strong herb in it, probably a mistake; 2nd time:) B/B+
b. maple bacon ice cream B-
c. cheddar apple pie ice cream B
d. vanilla B/B+
e. rosemary and honey B-/B
f. horchata B-/B
g. malden salted caramel B/B+
h. key lime ice cream C-
i. brownie ice cream B/B+

2018: All desserts from Whole Foods, Market, SLC
DESSERTS AT DELI: 
2018, July:
chocolate cake B-/B, frosting B/B+, total: B/B+
chocolate cream pie B+
Gem City flourless chocolate torte C/C+
Pie in the Sky Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake C-
Best Ever Chocolate Explosion Cake:
a. chocolate cake B
b. chocolate frosting B-/B
c. chocolate mousse B
d. "Best Ever" cheesecake B++
Belgian chocolate mousse B - -
chocolate torte B/B+
TOTAL grade for "Best Ever Chocolate Explosion Cake": B+/A-
Pie in the sky cheesecake B-
Key Lime Pie from Pie in the Sky (too sweet) B
Key Lime Pie from Whole Foods Market deli (too sweet) C, later: B/B+
key lime tart C-
Lemon ice pie filling C-/C
50% whipped cream atop, alone B
total: B-
lemon ice tart D
fruit tart C - -
brownie tart (fudgie) C+/B-
chocolate frosting covered mousse tart B-
Rubicon double chocolate layer cake B-
Rubicon carrot layer cake C-
Zest chocolate hazlenut Italian torte, gluten free C-
flax 4 life muffins - wild bludeberry C-
2017, August:
Chocolate Eruption Cake B/B+ (for some reason it got lower grade when tested later and earlier)
chocolate mousse B/B+ (higher than below)
Tres leches B
Toasted almond cream cake C/C+
Chocolate parfait B+
2016, September:
chocolate cream pie B
2014:
a. Rubicon chocolate cake A-
b. triple chocolate mousse cake B+/A-
c. chocolate mousse portion of triple chocolate mousse: A-/A)
d. eruption cake: total: C (chocolate cakecenter: B-/B)
e. best ever chocolate explosion slice C+/B-
f. cheesecake part C+/B-
g. choc mousse C+/B-
h. choc cake B-
i. best chocolate milks in state, 3 brands A
j. orange glazed cheesecake A-
k. cheesecake alone C-
l. berry, apricot tart with almond cream B
m. Rubicon brand cinnemon bread (best brand, no longer there, is Greenlee) B+
n. "Best Ever" cheesecake (tied for best in state) A- 
o. house-made Key Lime Pie (nice strong flavor but texture is too dense) B/B+

p. "Pie in the Sky" brand key Lime Pie (graded higher than in 2018, perhaps was less sweet in 2014) B++

2017: Chocolate desserts only from Whole Foods Market, SLC (also included in above list)
2017:
a. choc cake B-
b. Rubicon chocolate cake A-
c. triple chocolate mousse cake B+/A-
(chocolate mousse part: A-/A)
d. eruption cake: total: C (chocolate cakecenter: B-/B)
e. bestever chocolate explosion slice C+/B-
cheesecake part C+/B-
choc mousse C+/B-
gem city flourless choc cake A-

Other desserts from Whole Foods Market, SLC
2017 (also included in above list)
a. apple pie B-
b. pecan pie B-
c. "Best Cheesecake in the World" A-
d. house key lime pie abt. B
e. pie in the sky key lime pie abt. B+

Best desserts from Cheesecake Factory, SLC
Cheesecake Factory, national chain
Note: We have tried most of their 30+ cheesecakes, including all their chocolate ones, and all their non-cheesecake cakes. These are their only 3 notable desserts. 
2015:
a. key lime pie (A-) (BUT NUMERO UNO IS AT COSTA VIDA)
REGULAR CHOC CAKES
a. raspberry chocolate cake B
b. tower truffle B+ (cake alone C)
c. Linda's Fudge Cake B - - (cake alone C)
d. Black out cake B - -
e. choc tuxedo cream B
f.  8 layer choc cake, yellow, nut topping B-/B
g. choc chip topping, 8 layer: B-/B
h. another cake with chocolate chip topping and mousse or choc frosting between layers: B++
i. 50th anniversary (German Chocolate with coconut) B
j. Chris's (2 white layers of 1/2 inch and 2 chocolate layers of 1/2 inch) C+/B-
CHEESECAKES
a. Godiva Cheesecake B+
b. plain B
c. Chocolate mousse cheesecake (upper 1/3 is darker; shavngs on top) B+
d. pineapple upside down cheesecake C-, with cream B-/B
e. Hershey's with almonds (top half regular choc cake, lower half Hershey's choc cheesecake) B
f. mango key lime cheesecake C- 
2016, OCTOBER: DESSERTS:

a. banana cheesecake B-, added with real banana slices B/B+

Gourmandise, SLC
DESSERT PASTRIES:
2018
a. chocolate raspberry mousse, white and choc cake layers with 1/4 inch fluffy raspberry mouse B+
b. passion fruit mousse, 2 thin layers of 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch layers of white cake. B/B+
c. jalousse cup: top of 1 inch choc cream pudding, then 1/2 inch choc cake, then 1/8 inch raspberry jam, then 1/4 inch cream and 1/4 inch choc cream and 1/4 inch choc cake. BB+
d. cheese cake with berries C
d. pallehin: 1/2 inch chocolate mousse top, then 1/3 inch hazlenut crunch, then 1/2 inch choc cake C-
2017
pecan roll, room temp C, warmed B
chocolate mousse B+
chocolate decadent cake C+/B-
tartiette mixed fruit (fruit and custard tart - normally one of our favorite pastries, but not great here) C
passion fruit mousse cake B
chocolate mousse cake B
dusty chocolate mousse cake C-
berry layered cake with mousse bottom B/B+
"Mille Feuille straberre" (gold topped, layered, croissant style cake and cream and strawberries) B+

The Current fish and oyster house DESSERTS, SLC
2018
a. choc torte C+
b. apple torte: buttery pastry shell with flower, poppy seeds, great apples, yell cream B+

c. hummingbird: roasted pineapple with mango buttercream (B++ alone) layers in spice cake. total: B/B+

Gandolpho's Deli, Provo
2016
a. mousse cake B/B+

The Roof, SLC
for more items, see our site, "Best Restaurants in Utah"
creme brule B+/A- 
flan, cold B-
chocolate custard, cold B+
chocolate mousse, flavor A, texture C+, overall B+
bread pudding with caramel sauce B+
pumpkin cheese cake B/B+
chocolate ganache peppermint cake B+/A-
chocolate tart (in pastry shell) B++
jelly roll B-
chocolate squares C+
orange poppyseed A
holiday pudding and lemon sauce C+/B-
pecan pie B+

key lime pie C

Vanilla Bean, Orem
July 2017 test:
(some of these are repeated above in various categories above)
a. cheesecake B-
b. Triple Heaven, consisting of:
choc mousse B/B+
choc cake B-/B
white choc mousse C+
package: B/B+c. key lime parfait C+/B-
d. panna cotta B+ with strawberries atop B/B+
e. frozen hot choc: served frozen B+/B-, served mostly melted B+
cookies
f. oatmeal raisen C
g. peanut buter B-
h. choc chip C+

A Little Taste of Britain, Layton
BRITISH TREATS SOLD IN THEIR MARKET:
2018:
a. McLeans - Sticky Toffee Biscuits C+/B-
b. Ultimate - English Maple Fudge B-/B
c. Walkers Ecclefechan Tarts C-

Trader Joes, chain
2016, October test
Belgian Chocolate Pudding B
Decadent Chocolate Cake B
Pecan Chocolate Pudding B-
Handmade chocolate ganache torte B - -
Dark Chocolate Ganache C+/B-
Chocolate lava cake C+

Whole Foods Markets deli, chain
chocolate mousse B/B+
chocolate eruption cake B/B+
Chocolate payent? B+
Tres Leches B
Toasted Almond cream cake C/C+

Rockwell Creamery, Provo
PASTRIES:
2018:
1. cinnemon bun (one of best in Utah): inner part: B+/A-, frosting A-, outer part, stale, C-), total: B+
2. brownie B-
2015:
1. hummingbird B
2. koek sisters B/B+
3. mini cheesecake B/B+
4. black forest bomb B/B+
5. peanut butter doey goey B/B+
6. carmelita B/B+
7. sticky toffee B+
8. milk tort B/B+
9. brownie B-/B

OUT OF BUSINESS 2021: It's About Thyme, Provo
DESSERTS:
1. choc chip cookie B
2. choc nutella cookies B/B+
3. pecan bar (buttery and too rich) B/B+
4. peach cobbler square B/B+
5. chocolate cake C










OUT OF BUSINESS IN  2017: Deserts from Gloria's Little Italy, Provo 
They offer 4 chocolate cakes (we tested them all) of their many cake varieties; their best is "Duomo Cioccolato: A- and "Turtle," also an A-
Note: 7 of Gloria's Little Italy Cakes are good (of their 11 that we tried). (note that #1 and #5 below are in the chocolate cake category above): 1) Turtle [a chocolate cake with some mousse, moist but needs more choco flavor] A-, 2) Strawberry white cake with Italian cream and chocolate covered strawberries on top B++, 3) Lemon-raspberry white cake 4) Fragosa chocolate cake with raspberry filling and Italian cream 5) Duromo Cioccolato (moist, but needs stronger chocolate flavor) A-, 6) tarfuto C+ but if warmed: B+, 7) tiramisu B+/A-
8. dulche de leche (white cake plus raspberry inside) B/B+
9. Vulcano (dry, no cocoa flavor) C-
10. Fiochi (2/3 white cake and 1/3 choc cake with nutella) A
11. lemon raspberry cake B+/A-
12. blackberry cake  (thin layers of white cake, thin cream layer) B-/B
13. Frago (choc cake with no choc flavor C, plus raspberry filling and italian cream) total B+

See our site, "Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in Utah." 

Other Cookies Ratings
2018

Baked Bear, American Fork and several Utah locations
a. Mexican chocolate (with cinnamon) B
b. brownie (non cookie), one of the best! B+
c. oatmeal/raisen B
d. milk chocolate chip, per our other site that lists all the best ones we've found A-
e. cookies and cream C+
f. peanut butter B/B+

Smart Cookie, American Fork, Farmington, and Midvale
a. peanut butter B+/A-
b. double chocolate B/B+
c. oatmeal raisen B+
d. milk chocolate chip B+
e. milk chocoalte chip with walnuts C+
f. semi sweet chocolate chip B/B+
g. semi sweet chocolate chip with toffee B++

Vanilla Bean, Orem
a. oatmeal raisen C
b. peanut butter B-/B
c. choc chip C+
 - check out our ratings on the Best Pies, Cobblers, and Ice Cream in Utah!

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