In Japan, they excel in everything, from maintaining impeccably clean and organized streets/city to offering delicious food and desserts. One standout treat is the matcha ice cream, which is unlike any matcha ice cream I've tasted before. Boasting a stronger matcha flavour compared to what we typically find in Canada.
If you're not a fan of matcha, this might not be your cup of tea, but for matcha lovers, it's a delightful dessert that strikes a perfect balance. Not overly sweet but rather pleasantly bitter. The matcha in Japan was absolutely incredible—I couldn't resist bringing some back home with me. I'm looking forward to experimenting with it in desserts or treating myself to a homemade matcha latte! :)
Matcha Desserts
I totally want to whip up that amazing matcha tiramisu I devoured at this cool Asian spot in Little Korea during my Paris adventure—yeah, I said Paris! It was seriously awesome! Taking inspiration from the mouthwatering flavours of I had in France, I'm picturing whipping up this dessert with some authentic Japanese matcha. Just the thought of it has me drooling in anticipation!
The next delightful dessert I stumbled upon was at a charming little donut shop called I'm donut? Let me tell you, it was an absolute gem! The standout feature? A donut crafted from sweet potato. It might sound unusual, but trust me, it was a amazing. The dough was incredibly light, and what struck me was that it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. Despite the 45-minute wait and not great reviews, every bite was worth it!
On the last day in Tokyo, I was so excited to indulge in I'm donut?, but to my disappointment, both the locations in Harajuku and Shibuya were sold out for the day. It was disappointing not to have one last taste before heading to Bangkok, but I suppose it's just another reason to plan a trip back someday!
I've never been particularly fond of mochi, so when I found myself at the renowned Tsukiji Fish Market, I decided to give it a try anyway. To no one's surprise, including my own, I didn't quite take to the texture. It was the one dessert during the entire trip that didn't win me over. But maybe you might. Not saying it's not for everyone.
One of the last desserts I savored in Japan was a delightful flan, and let me tell you, it was an absolute delight! Creamy, velvety smooth, and bursting with flavor, it truly hit the spot. While flan might not be the dessert Japan is famous for, I would totally recommend giving it a try. It's a delicious surprise that shouldn't be missed!
Next Stop:Thailand
While I was in Thailand, I enjoyed some amazing food and desserts. One of the favorites was mango sticky rice, a simple yet delicious dish with mango slices, sticky rice, and coconut milk drizzled on top. The sticky rice was usually good, although it took me a bit to get used to the taste. But the mangoes? They were incredibly sweet! This is a very popular and common dessert in Thailand as you can find that at almost any restaurant.
Another dessert I had at dinner the first night in Bangkok was the pineapple ice cream served inside a mini pineapple, topped with pineapple chunks. It was so tasty and creamy—a real tropical delight!
The most exceptional dessert I had in Thailand was undoubtedly in Chiang Mai, at Bar San. They served their exquisite sticky pudding. Accompanied by really good family friends during our travels, one of them initially claimed to only want a bite or two. However, once she tasted it, she couldn't resist and ended up devouring half of it! That's how irresistible this delicious treat was! The drinks were also very good, but we're not hear to talk about the drinks :)
After enjoying the light and delicious sticky pudding made with dates, I've been inspired to test out sugar-free recipes using this natural sweetener. Now I'm excited to give making this awesome dessert at home a shot!
The final dessert I indulged in while in Thailand was a canelé. Now, I know it's not a traditional Thai dessert, but there was this amazing French bakery across from my hotel that made them to perfection. These little delights had a delightful rum flavor, with a crispy exterior and a soft, chewy interior. If you're a fan of French pastries, this is a great thing to try!
U.S.A: Las Vegas
For the past two summers, I've had the pleasure of visiting Vegas with my sister. Each trip has been filled with amazing food experiences. However, hands down, the best dessert aside from crème brûlée I've had was the cereal milk ice cream with cornflakes, located in the Cosmopolitan building on the strip. Every time we're in Vegas, we make it a point to visit Milk Bar for this incredible ice cream. It's perfect for cooling down on a scorching hot day while satisfying our sweet tooth and it has a crunch from the cornflakes.
Toronto
A few years ago, I lived in Toronto, specifically in Mississauga, Ontario. While living there, I visited Chinatown in Toronto with my cousin and sister and came across a donut shop called Dipped Donuts. Their flavors are great, and the donuts are so light and fluffy. I would definitely go back! Dipped Donuts is one of my favorite donut places. My other two favourites are Bernie Beigne in Montreal, Quebec, and I'm Donut in Tokyo, Japan.
