Extraordinary Desserts Menu

Extraordinary Desserts Restaurant Review:

Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef Karen Krasne's Extraordinary Desserts is an industrial warehouse turned airy, stylish dessert bar. Enter to encounter colorful fruit and chocolate concoctions all artistically garnished with edible flowers of every type. What distinguishes this menu from that of Krasne's Hillcrest flagship store is the array of bruschetta, like the avocado with artichoke truffle tapenade, along with panini, dips and spreads. Of special note are the carefully chosen cheeses; try the Ping Pong Surfing Goat (tasty with mango chutney) and the dolce Gorgonzola with rich, caramelized onions. Panini (a term used loosely here) are large and difficult to eat, but we do like the pairing of Serrano ham, buffalo mozzarella and red plum conserve. Beverages such as hot white chocolate infused with lemon myrtle, lavender flowers and Madagascar vanilla bean rival the legitimate dessert choices. Patrons can also enjoy more than 50 teas. As for those sweets, we favor the white Shangri La cake with guava and raspberry coulis and the warm, intensely chocolate bread pudding. Also located at 2929 Fifth Ave., San Diego, 619-294-2132.