A Chica Review – ChikaLicious Dessert Bar
Prix-fixe menus conger up mixed feelings for most. While they are practical, you don’t usually get spectacular food from them as in many restaurants the really good dishes never make it on their prix-fixe menu.
Now what if a prix-fixe menu that offered three courses of dessert was put in front of you? My eyes opened wide a few weeks ago when I visited ChikaLicious in New York City and was given a menu with three courses of dessert with wine pairings for each course.
ChikaLicious Dessert Bar is a dessert aficionado’s dream come true. By aficionado I don’t mean someone whose idea of fine pastry to be Pizzeria Uno’s Brownie Bowl, Friendly’s Ice Cream Cake or Applebee’s Maple Butter Blondie. While I have had all of these myself and don’t think there is anything particularly wrong with them, ChikaLicious is on a whole other level. If you’re looking for a small bite of something succulent with out of this world flavor combinations that looks as beautiful as it tastes, this is where you want to go. Eating here once will raise your expectations for what desserts should be for the rest of your life.
“Est. 2003, ChikaLicious Dessert Bar features fresh, fun and innovative individual desserts, as served in NYC’s top restaurants. This intimate, 20-seat eatery is built around an open kitchen where the chefs and sommelier work and serve customers directly. If you are passionate about food, here is your chance to enjoy fabulous desserts while watching both their preparation and plating.”
“The 3-course prix-fixe menu, described as American desserts, French Presentation and Japanese tasting portions, is $14; and includes an amuse, dessert of your choice and assorted petits fours. Additional Desserts (add-ons) are $7. [They] also offer a select list of wines, dessert wines, ports and champagne, along with organic coffees and teas. The menu provides suggestions for the best pairing for your dessert.”
Your amuse and petits fours are chosen for you by the chef. Your dessert or “main course” comes off of a menu that changes almost daily. My friend Teresa and I chose their two signature desserts that always on the menu – cheesecake and chocolate tart. The first and third courses are quite small. But what you have to keep in mind is that ChikaLicious is about quality not quantity. Our amuse was a yogurt sorbet with a piece of kiwi infused in a lavender syrup and it was fantastic. The sorbet was soft, icy, tangy, and sweet. And paired with the kiwi and lavender syrup, my only issue was that I wish I had more. Our petits fours consisted of toasted coconut marshmallow, lemon poppy seed cake and chocolate chocolate chip cookie. All were delicious but my favorite was the marshmallow as I really enjoyed the contrast of the gooey marshmallow and toasted coconut.
Our main courses were ridiculously sick! (as in good ridiculous and good sick) The chocolate tart was a bit of a surprise. The center is soft and when you dip you spoon into it warm chocolate oozes all over your plate and mixing it with the pink peppercorn ice cream gives you a perfect pop of flavor in your mouth. Pink peppercorn ice cream is one of the most interesting things I have ever tasted – it’s cold, creamy, hot, warm, spicy and sweet all at the same time. I wish they sold it by the tub. And as for the cheesecake – I wouldn’t necessarily call this cheesecake. I would call it a dessert made with cheese and a phenomenal dessert at that. No cream cheese here; this “cheesecake” is made out of fromage blanc and its texture is more reminiscent of a mousse. Served cold inside a bowl nestled in another bowl full of shaved ice, this lightly sweetened “cheesecake” for the sophisticated palette melts in your mouth and was the highlight of my evening.
With a minimalist approach to desserts, ChikaLicious makes you sit and use your palette instead of stuffing yourself with an oversized sundae. It’s an overall great “fine dining” experience. If you want to indulge and experience a special treat, make sure to give ChikaLicious a try. I will definitely become a regular and take my camera next time to update this post with some pictures.
ChikaLicious Dessert Bar
203 East 10th Street
New York, NY 10003
Web: www.chikalicious.com
Phone: 212.995.9511
Email: info@chikalicious.com
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steph- whisk/spoon — October 21, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
i've never been to chikalicious, and i'm that neighborhood all the time…need to correct that!
Megan — October 21, 2009 @ 9:37 pm
Someday I hope to go back to the city and try all these fabulous places. It does sound like a dessert lovers idea of paradise.
Sophia — October 22, 2009 @ 5:50 am
I'm actually not a big fan of desserts. So I like the idea of a non-overwhelming dessert course! The name is so cute, too!
5 Star Foodie — October 22, 2009 @ 4:01 pm
A dessert tasting menu – how awesome!
Emily — October 23, 2009 @ 3:17 am
I would love to try it… if I lived in New York.
Bren — October 23, 2009 @ 4:44 am
oh my gosh! i was there 3 weeks ago and looooved it! the tea cup and saucer I had my cappuccino in was adorable. let's not even talk about the actual dessert. great place. so glad to have found it.
Teanna — October 26, 2009 @ 2:24 am
Why have I never even HEARD of this place?! I have to try it! Thanks for the review!
Barbara GF — October 29, 2009 @ 11:57 pm
Thanks for the tip on this luscious-sounding place, Eliana. I'll have to look it up next time I head into the city.
Ingrid — October 30, 2009 @ 1:36 am
Yes, this is I'm so jealous look! ~ingrid
alittledashofthisalittledashofthat — November 1, 2009 @ 4:51 am
That sounds like a fun place!
Mary Jo — November 2, 2009 @ 2:44 am
such a great idea. i would be all over that! i wonder if there is a place here in LA like that, hmm.