Eat in Culver City: Margot

Cinnamon Horchata Sorbet


Tres Leches Tiramisu

After catching up over tacos at Loqui, my friends and I stopped by Margot, a sleek restaurant serving coastal Mediterranean cuisine in the Platform shopping center in Culver City, for dessert. We ordered two dishes: the Cinnamon Horchata Sorbet and the Tres Leches Tiramisu. Both were quite good. The sorbet came with berries and flakes that gave it a nice crunchiness. The tiramisu was sweeter, topped with delicious whipped cream.

I would definitely stop by Margot again. If you've visited Margot recently, what did you try?

Margot
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8820 Washington Blvd., Ste 301, Culver City, CA 90232
Open: Daily 11am - 2am

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Dessert in Mexico City: Churrería El Moro, Amorino, and Pazzesca Pizzeria

Churro from Churrería El Moro


Left: Coffee, Mint, and Hazelnut gelato from Amorino

Right: Mango, Tiramisù, and Stracciatella gelato with a Strawberry macaron from Amorino

Tiramisu from Pazzesca Pizzeria


Right: Margarita from Pazzesca Pizzeria

My dining companion and I tried a variety of desserts while exploring Mexico City last March. 

We first tried a churro from Churrería El Moro, a popular churro chain found on Génova in Juárez as well as throughout Mexico City and now in some parts of California. The churro was perfectly sweet, had the crunch we were looking for, and was pretty inexpensive. It is no surprise that churros are a must-try when you're in town. Next time, I might order one with a chocolate or caramel dipping sauce.

To cool off on a warm day, we stopped by Amorino for gelato: a gelato chain on Av. Emilio Castelar in Polanco with locations across Mexico, the US, Europe, and elsewhere. I ordered a cup with three flavors — Coffee, Mint, and Hazelnut — all of which were delicious. My dining companion had Mango, Tiramisù, and Stracciatella gelato, served in the shape of a flower, with a Strawberry macaron on top, which he also enjoyed. They actually have a location near San Francisco's Union Square, which I can easily visit the next time I'm craving gelato.

My dining companion is a big fan of tiramisu, which we tried at a cool pizza spot known as Pazzesca Pizzeria on Calle Marsella in the Juárez neighborhood. This beautifully made dessert was as good as expected, while we also enjoyed a couple of drinks to end the night. I would definitely stop by again the next time I'm nearby. 

Churrería El Moro

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C. Génova 59, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Open: Sunday - Thursday 8am - 10pm, Friday - Saturday 8am - 11pm

Amorino

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Av. Emilio Castelar 107H, Polanco, Polanco IV Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11550 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Open: Monday - Wednesday 8am - 11pm, Thursday 8am - 12am, Friday - Saturday 8am - 1am, Sunday 10am - 10pm

Pazzesca Pizzeria

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Calle Marsella 59, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Open: Monday - Tuesday 1pm - 10pm, Wednesday - Thursday 1pm - 11pm, Friday 1pm - 12am, Saturday 10am - 12am, Sunday 10am - 8pm

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Eat in Oakland: The Dough Joe at Tamarack

Tiramisu Donut

Calamansi Glazed Donut

Castelvetrano Olive Focaccia

In March of last year, I stopped by The Dough Joe pop-up at Tamarack — a cafe, library, and event space on Harrison and 15th in Oakland — with a couple of friends. This pop-up was created to support the local dojo, Suigetsukan, and served a variety of sweet and savory treats.

We tried a few things: the Tiramisu Donut (I believe it was this, but it's hard to confirm), Calamansi Glazed Donut, and Castelvetrano Olive Focaccia. Although I don't remember the specifics, I do remember liking the dynamic flavors and variety of goods offered. If I were still living in the area, I would have attended the pop-up that followed a couple of months later.

Although it's unclear if there will be more pop-ups in the future, I'm glad I got to experience such inventive flavors and support a local business when I had the chance. I would recommend following Tamarack on Instagram or peeping their event calendar to see what's coming up.

The Dough Joe

Instagram

Open: see Instagram for details

Tamarack 

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1501 Harrison St., Oakland CA 94612

Open: Sunday 1 - 4pm, Tuesday 10am - 3pm

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Eat in San Francisco: Bettola

Side of Eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, and olives

Left: Bettola Spritz, made with Italian bitter and sparkling wine, and Lambrusco

Right: Arancini made with saffron risotto, beef ragu, English peas, and mozzarella

Lasagna Alla Bolognese made with ground beef ragu, tomato, and bechamel


Tiramisu: creamy coffee-soaked ladyfingers

Budino al Cioccolato: chocolate mousse

Last October, my dining companion and I were on the hunt for an Italian restaurant for dinner when we stopped by Bettola, a relatively new spot on Clement between 4th and 5th in the Inner Richmond. This casual restaurant combines modern and classical elements that make it perfect for the area.

We started with a refreshing drink each: the Bettola Spritz, made with an Italian bitter and sparkling wine, and a glass of the Lambrusco. We shared the Side of Eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, and olives, which was quite good. It's one of those dishes that makes you wonder how ingredients you've had so often can be taken to a new level. We tried the Arancini, which is a croquette filled with saffron risotto, beef ragu, English peas, and mozzarella. It was both fun to eat and had a nice treat inside. 

For our entree, we split the Lasagna Alla Bolognese made with ground beef ragu, tomato, and bechamel. Although it's been a while, I remember it being decadent but not overly so. For dessert, we had the Tiramisu and Budino al Cioccolato, both of which satisfied our sweet tooth. Along with the amazing food, we enjoyed the expert hospitality and surprisingly quick service. There was no wait to get in and we were treated so well when we were there. 

I would definitely return to Bettola for lunch or dinner, next time trying the Orecchiette Con Cime Di Rapa or Gnocchi Con Le Spuntature. I would even stop by to check out their impressive selection of Italian foods that can be purchased on the store shelves that line the interior dining room.

Bettola 

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343 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94118

Open: Daily 11am - 9pm

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