Rich, creamy, but not too sweet deliciousness

THE LADY WHO LUNCHES

For all of the wonderful meals we enjoy, it’s often hard to make it to dessert. In spite of our best intentions and anticipation, we find ourselves too full when it gets time to order that last course. Today I will share some of my favorite restaurant delights and baked goods that will make you want to order dessert first.

If I am going to indulge, it needs to be something more than the obligatory molten lava cake or fruit-topped cheesecake. I am looking for something decadent, different or the next best thing to homemade.

Glenwood Tea Room offers the perfect dessert for a rejuvenating afternoon break. Available in buttermilk or flavors like cranberry orange, lemon blueberry or chocolate chip, their naturally flavored scones are delightfully tasty without being overly sweet. Each plate includes a serving of lemon curd and Devonshire cream, allowing you to sweeten or tart it up as you please.

While enjoying scones with a nice pot of tea at the Glenwood Tea Room is relaxing, they also make a great treat to take to the office. Don’t mistake these as “just for the girls.” My beau does not particularly like sweets, but the white chocolate apricot scone is one of his favorite desserts. He is partial to the BLT sandwich they serve at GTR, too.

If you are in the mood for soul food, Sherry’s Diner has a brand new location at 3719 Lakeshore Drive, where they are still serving daily lunch specials and her famous banana pudding. Since this is his favorite dessert, I had my father join me to offer his experienced opinion. Surprisingly, we found the pudding so thick the wafers were still crispy. With none of the cloying artificial banana flavor found in many desserts, this creamy vanilla dish laced with fresh bananas has well-balanced flavor. It’s definitely worth a return trip soon.

If you head out to try it yourself, their temporary sign was a little hard to see. Look to the left just after you turn off of Jewella Avenue. They are in the corner of the shopping center to the left of the Sav- A-Lot.

For my favorite I had nearly given up hope of finding my elusive ideal slice of bread pudding, until I visited the Crescent City Bistro during the watch party celebrating Chef Darrell Johnson’s participation on an episode of “Cutthroat.”

Absentmindedly, I dipped my spoon into the dessert dish while talking to friends, and the texture instantly got my attention.

My spoon pulled up the perfect warm, baked blend of bread and rich custardy pudding. This dessert was definitely not dense or brick-like. As I raved about my excitement, chef quickly gave his grandmother credit for the White Chocolate Bread Pudding recipe. His skill and talent for embracing tradition seems to show through in all of their dishes.

When a stressful afternoon makes me crave chocolate for lunch, one of my favorite afternoon indulgences is a couple scoops of fresh all-natural ice cream made at Blue Southern Comfort Food and Ice Cream Parlor. In addition to traditional flavors like milk chocolate and vanilla chocolate chip, Chef Carolyn Manning Simmons is always creating new specialty flavors like Almond Joy, toasted coconut made with milk steeped in coconut, banana Nut, and Shreveport Road with toffee and marshmallows.

Two great things about her ice cream are what is missing: artificial colors and artificial flavors.

After tasting the difference in the pale gold banana and light green mint, you may not want to pick up a neon-colored pint ever again. Vegans, she has you covered, too, making at least one flavor each week with an almond milk base. Healthy is well and good, but it is the rich decadent taste that will win you over.

Wine Country Bistro and Bottle Shop also offers a wonderful selection of desserts. When we meet as a group there for lunch, we often order some of each for the table to share, because it is so hard to choose. The bourbon peach pie and lemon curd meringue pie are my top two choices, until I recently tasted their Take 5 dessert.

Served in a low mason jar, the silky layers of caramel, chocolate and peanut butter flavors are topped with salted pretzels and whipped cream. Yes, this more elegant version tastes just like the candy bar it is styled after.

For desserts on the go, Julie Anne’s Bakery & Café has been making fabulous fresh pies, petit fours and pastries daily since 1992. Their strawberry pie featuring a thin layer of custard holding the strawberries on the sugar-cookie-like crust is a birthday favorite among my coworkers. The melt-in-your-mouth sugary petit fours make me anticipate the next baby shower I attend then wonder why I wait.

No one is ever disappointed when I show up with a beautiful, thickmarbled Caramel Risque Cheesecake from Julie Anne’s. I am not a huge fan of crusts, but in addition to its lush creamy chocolate and cheesecake layers, the crust is a butter-nutty caramel delight. When you need a special fresh-baked dessert without turning on your oven, Julie Anne’s is an excellent choice.

While I love the idea of celebrating every day like a holiday, doing that can be hard on the waistline. Some days, though, you deserve to order dessert first. Enjoy!

Lynn Laird is a writer, fine artist and self-professed bon vivant living in Bossier. With her “Flair for Cooking” blog, she seeks out interesting ingredients and techniques to help make everyday meals just a touch more fabulous. She can reached at flairforcooking@gmail.com.