Unusual sweet treats.

mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog.  We (Kirk, Ed (from Yuma), Cathy and a few others) try to share some sort of food centric post almost daily...no reason, other than we do indeed all eat and like to write about it.  Cathy is sharing today.

It's close to Christmas and people are probably using up vacation days and perhaps doing last minute shopping. Thought I'd share some sweet surprises found around town recently. Maybe you've seen something out of the ordinary in your shopping travels, too.

The Mister and I tend to stop in to K Sandwiches once a week, either for a sandwich (breakfast, lunch, dinner) or something from the steam tray, or a grab and go croissant, loaf of bread and tasty beverage.  A few weeks ago, while waiting in line to pay, I noticed this handwritten sign on the counter.

 

You know I had to.  

Crépes, made in the waffle maker, thin and rolled so they cool to a nice, light crispiness. 50¢ each.  The green one is pandan flavor (a light, floral, kind of nutty-like pistachio pudding is light, sweet and nutty in flavor) and the other is original flavor (pretty much tasted like it was made with coconut milk). Both with black sesame.  A nice treat and a box full would be a nice gift. 

K Sandwiches 7604 Linda Vista Road at Mesa College Drive San Diego 92111 (858)278-8961

Trader Joe's is carrying these frozen treats.  I saw them being put into the freezer the Monday after Thanksgiving.  $3.99 for a box of four.  Pronounced "queen yamman".  This pastry originated in Brittany, France; a popular Breton dessert.

These frozen treats are similar to the Trader Joe's frozen croissants (you have to proof overnight/6 hours and then bake).  (That's a pumpkin croissant starting to rise in the background.) 

The Kouign Amann will bake in its cup into crispy, sugary layers.

 Not as many layers as a croissant, but like a croissant dough-with sugar between the layers. The sugar caramelizes and is crispy.  I adore this basic, simple French dessert. That I can make it fresh- and one at a time- makes it perfect. 

Rose Donuts, all the way at the West end of Linda Vista Road, near USD (NOT the location in the same parking lot as K Sandwich) is open 24 hours. (it's in the same mall as Ryan's).  Rose's makes and sells wonderful croissant based sandwiches, grilled burgers, hot/grilled sandwiches, bagels, ice cream, a variety of beverages...and...not just donuts.

 Oh, these two items are NOT the same.  The larger one is your traditional 'apple fritter', which is, indeed, wonderful, large and filled with apples and cinnamon.  The smaller one...in the front of the above photo... 

An apple-blueberry fritter.  Oh my, yes.  A wonderful, surprising, fritter.  Unexpected and great.

Rose Donuts 5201 Linda Vista Road San Diego 92110 ( 619) 294-8856

I hope everyone runs across a delightful surprise.  Soon.

Comments

[caninecologne]

Ooh, those crispy crepes at K's look so good! I haven't seen them before.

Your kouign amann came out better than mine did. Mine did not rise because it was too cold! I still have two boxes in my freezer and hope those batches will turn out better. thanks for the tip on these.

Your apple blueberry fritter is calling my name.

I came across a delightful surprise today on my day off...illegal Kinder Surprise eggs at a small shop in San Ysidro. Bought 3 of 'em, ha ha!

[ken]

Nice! Makes me want to hop in the car and drive over to Pangea Bakery for a treat. A nice mission impossible objective for tomorrow.

[Cathy]

I was surprised at a variety of new items at K Sandwiches, cc- they do their own cronut version (sold on the counter also)- and have a few other unusual items...maybe trying to see what sells. I still crave the curry from the steam tray the most.
Now, Pangea...two words: bulgogi cheesesteak. Yes, Ken: not sweet (well, it's sweet and salty). There is a menu on the counter. The weekend before Thanksgiving they were grilling whole squid on the patio in front. (A post is forthcoming...there is a lot more than bakery items and various coffee available. Soups have been good so far...)

[Wandering Chopsticks]

I fell in love with kouign amann in Paris. Too bad they haven't quite caught on in the U.S. So when I saw them at Trader Joe's the other day, of course, I had to buy. Had to proof them in the path of the heater vents because they didn't rise enough overnight. I may or may not have eaten them all in one sitting. :P

[Cathy]

Kouign amann is a perfect pastry with just enough sweet, WC; wish it was more popular, too. We hardly ever have the heat on inside the house, so I warm the oven (at 200º) or put the pastries in a still warm oven right after using it; it retains the heat enough to allow rising. Alternately, I do the same thing (pre-warm then shut off) in the toaster oven with a single pastry. (I am diabetic and need to keep my carb intake to 20 or less per meal/snack; that's why lots of single items cut in half happens.)

[janfrederick]

I'm an apple fritter junkie.

[Sandy]

I picked up a box of the kouign amann at Trader Joe's, but haven't tried it yet. With the colder weather at night, it's a good idea to let them rise in the oven.

[Cathy]

24/7 JanFrederick...blueberry apple; a very nice treat. If you want a great fritter on Christmas Day, Mary's in Santee is definitely open.
Sandy-I started researching kouign amann and found out that they are usually baked inside a metal ring- so they do rise and bake and are more layered. The cup doesn't hold its shape and that's why it turns out flat. The flavor is magnificent in any case. It's so difficult to do something plain and simple.