AweSum Dim Sum, NYC

AweSum is a (cutely) named dim sum restaurant with several locations in Manhattan.  I don't know much about the place, besides that they get generally good reviews (4.5 stars on Yelp, with a fair number of reviews), and ... they do a promo for a free dessert  for your birthday.  You know how much I love a good freebie, and a birthday one at that, so, AweSum easily made it on my list of birthday adventures.

The promo I had seen was for a sweet peach filled bun.  When I arrived, I mentioned my birthday, and had my ID ready, knowing it would be needed (the promo is on your birthday only, no sign up or anything required).  The staff member had no idea what I was talking about, and further, they don't even have a peach bun on the menu.  I wasn't going to press on it, as I had a list of 20+ other birthday freebies I could go do, but, the staff member quickly offered to ask someone else.  A few staff members chatted, they pulled out a laminated sign with the peach bun on it, all exclaimed a few things and nodded vigorously,  and told me they no longer have it.  But, they were happy to give me something else instead.  The manager did a quick check of my ID, and said it would be just a moment.

I had no idea what I was getting, but, victory?  I couldn't wait to see what they had randomly given me.

Seating.

If you are interested in visiting, the business is a casual one, where you order at the front register with a staff member or via a kiosk, and seat yourself.  It seemed clean and comfortable.  I took my treat to go, headed onward to the next stop on my crawl.

Egg Custard Tarts (3). $5.95.

I opened my bag to find an order of egg custard tarts, a full order of 3.  I certainly expected only 1 of something.  They were still warm.

And ... they were very good!  The pastry was light and flaky, the custard lightly sweet and very creamy, not too eggy.  They really struck a great balance of just lightly sweet.  Very nice custard tarts really.  Considerably better than average, and they seemed very fresh.  ****.

These are normally $5.95, but, for your birthday, free!

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More Beverages from Starbucks

Update Reviews, 2022 - 2023

I don't really need to introduce you to Starbucks, right? You've, uh, likely encountered one before.

Dragon Drink.  Venti.

"This tropical-inspired pick-me-up—crafted with a refreshing combination of sweet mango and dragonfruit flavors—is handshaken with creamy coconutmilk, ice and a scoop of real diced dragonfruit."

I see people with the Starbucks pink (or purple) drinks all the time. At some point, I decided they must not *just* be Instagram worthy, but rather, actually something worth trying.

I went for the Dragon version, made wtih mango and dragonfruit.

My first impression?  THIS WAS SO SWEET! Yes, it had 22 grams of sugar in it. No wonder.

The coconut milk was somewhat refreshing yet creamy, and a nice choice for it.  I didn't taste mango, but it was fruity in a  non-specific way, perhaps that was the dominant dragonfruit?  I appreciated the dragonfruit inclusion as well, although it mostly just floated on top.  Some sips got a few hunks though, and they added a nice texture.

I was expecting something more refreshing overall though, and the sweetness just made this hard to do more than sip. I also think it would be better as a smoothie, blended with ice.  

I didn't realize when I ordered, but this is a caffeinated beverage - it has green coffee extract in it.

Fun to try, I won't get again though. ***.

Blonde Roast. Venti. $2.95 or 50 stars.

"Lightly roasted coffee that's soft, mellow and flavorful. Easy-drinking on its own and delicious with milk, sugar or flavored with vanilla, caramel or hazelnut."

The most well known, common coffee at Starbucks (by coffee, I mean, drip coffee, not espresso drinks or frappucinos, actual drip coffee) is their Pike Place Roast.  I think for many years, it was the only one you could get.  Now, Starbucks always has the signature Pike Place Roast ready to go, but also a darker, bolder blend, and the one I got, the Blonde.

I haven't consumed that much coffee from Starbucks over the years, so it is a bit hard to compare, but, I thought it was good, and still quite dark, at least compared to my normal coffee.  Fairly smooth, no funk, but, it had a deepness to it (that, uh, could have been from being kinda old ...).  Overall though, a nice cup of coffee, and a decent use of my 50 stars, particularly for the massive size (since, 50 stars gets you a coffee, no matter the size).

***+.

Sweet Cream Cold Foam. $1.
(on the side).

Cold foam is such the rage these days, so I decided to finally try it out, but opted to get it on the side, just in case I didn't care for it.  I randomly picked the Sweet Cream version, not really knowing the difference.

I later learned that regular cold foam is just nonfat milk and vanilla syrup that is blended with specific setting on their blender to fluff it up, but the Sweet Cream cold foam uses a mix of 2% and heavy cream, plus vanilla syrup.  The seasonal Pumpkin cold foam also uses the higher fat dairy, and this time, pumpkin syrup.

Anyway.  It is kinda cool stuff.  Fluffy and light, like whipped cream, but not quite the same, and, in this case, very sweet, since it has the vanilla syrup in it too.

I see how it could be nice to cap off a cold coffee drink, if I was into dairy in my coffee (which I'm generally not).

***.

Cold Brew, No Ice, Venti.
Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Foam (on the side). $6.25 or 135 Stars.

"Handcrafted in small batches daily, slow-steeped in cool water for 20 hours, without touching heat—Starbucks® Cold Brew is made from our custom blend of beans grown to steep long and cold for a super-smooth flavor."

Since I planned to drink this over several days, I asked for no ice and the vanilla sweet cream cold foam on the side.  My barista filled my cup ALL the way up in both cases, which was certainly going above and beyond - normally the cold brew would have plenty of ice in it, and it would just have a dollop of the foam.

The cold brew was fine - fairly intense, dark roast Starbucks style, but good, and I enjoyed it both warm and cold (although I did actually add a little water to dilute it a bit).  Not remarkable, not bad. ***+.

The vanilla sweet cream cold foam was lovely to add as a float on top, but also, I used a big scoop on my bread pudding that night, and it was great - sorta like a softer, sweeter whipped cream, if that makes any sense.  ****.

Nitro Cold Brew. Tall.

"Our Nitro Cold Brew is created when our signature Cold Brew (slow-steeped for 20 hours) is infused with nitrogen as it pours from the tap. Nitrogen infusion creates microbubbles, giving the coffee a cascading, frothy texture. The result is a velvety-smooth coffee with a subtly sweet flavor and a rich, creamy head of foam."

The head on this really was impressive.  Perfect microbubbles, really.  Sure, it didn't last long, but I really enjoyed the froth, and liked to sip this without the lid, and yes, even if that meant I got a froth mustache.

The nitro cold brew didn't taste much different to me than the regular cold brew however.  Yes, it had the head, but otherwise there was no noticeable difference.  Like the regular cold brew, I enjoyed it warm or cold, and diluted a bit.

***+.

Nitro Cold Brew (Grande). $5.75.
Chocolate Cold Foam (on the side). $1.25

"Our small-batch cold brew—slow-steeped for a super-smooth taste—gets even better. We're infusing it with nitrogen to create a sweet flavor without sugar and cascading, velvety crema. Perfection is served.  Topped with a silky, chocolaty cream cold foam."

Another day, another nitro cold brew.  I went for the largest size available, intending to drink it over two mornings.  For nitro cold brew, Starbucks does not allow venti.  The cold brew was good - very smooth, exactly as described.  Deep, intense coffee.  You can almost *feel* the  caffeine hit in here -  280 mg, compared to 205 mg in the same size non-nitro cold brew, or only 165 mg in a grande iced coffee.    ****.

The chocolate cold foam I asked to have on the side, not really intending to use it with my drink, but rather, to put on top of my dessert.  I was surprised by how sweet it was, definitely too sweet to really enjoy on its own, but I do see how it would nicely infuse a coffee beverage sipped through it.  The chocolate flavor was quite good, and it was very frothy, but, very sweet overall.  ***+.

Decaf Pike Place Roast. Venti. $3.45.
Add 4 shots decaf. +$4.

If you are a Starbucks rewards member, you know that a drip coffee (any size) is a 50 star item, while any espresso drinks are 150 stars.  For me, since I just get an Americano most of the time, this makes getting regular drip coffee when I'm redeeming stars considerably more attractive - 3 drinks instead of just one, although, obviously, not freshly prepared since drip coffee is batch brewed. 

The more interesting bit is that you can do whatever modifications you want for no additional stars - you can add shots, add cold foam, etc, modifications that themselves can easily cost more than the drink itself (or cost 25 stars each on their own).  To take full advantage of this, I ordered the largest size (venti) and added 4 extra shots to it ($1 each or 25 stars each normally), and intended to just add my own hot water to water it down and turn it into multiple servings.  So, 50 stars only, for a $7.45 drink.

When I arrived to pick up my order (I ordered on mobile), I was told that they did not have any decaf brewed, and I was offered an Americano instead.  I said sure, after confirming they wouldn't charge me more stars for it.  So now, I was getting a $8.25/150 star drink for just 50 stars, AND it was freshly made.  Even better.

How was it?  Well, obviously VERY strong, since I added the extra shots, but it worked perfectly to bring it home, add my own hot water, and have decaf to drink all afternoon long.  I don't think it is that great of coffee, not very complex or interesting, but, it doesn't have any decaf funk, and didn't taste stale.  I certainly would not pay $8.25 for this, but, for 50 stars (that I had won), it was fine.  ***. 

Extra Pistachio Cold Foam. $1.25.
Extra Caramel Brulee Topping. $0.50.

"Silky, pistachio cream cold foam."

Starbucks continues to capitalize on the cold foam fad, with new drinks topped with different flavors of cold foam coming out every few months.  In the winter of 2023, this was pistachio.  The recipe uses the regular vanilla sweet cream base (heavy cream, 2% milk, vanilla syrup) and adds pistachio sauce to it.  You can add it on to any drink for $1.25 (or, as I did, for free when redeeming stars for any other drink).  I also added the caramel brulee topping to try it out (usually $0.50.).  I asked for these on the side so I could really try the cold foam, and not have it masked by my drink.  

The cold foam had much less of a pistachio flavor that I was expecting.  It was mostly just sweetened cream, with a very very mild nutty flavor on the finish.  I wanted more pistachio, but, the flavor was still good, and the texture was great.  This is not whipped cream exactly, it is thicker and richer in a way, even if you'd expect it to be less heavy as a "foam'.  Like all the cold foams, it works best on top of a cold drink, where it can kinda float on top, and you get a little with each sip if you drink carefully.  If you put it on a hot drink, it just melts in, like whipped cream would on hot chocolate.  I also love using it on top of a thick slice of toasted brioche.  I was happy to try this one, and even if I wanted stronger pistachio flavor, it was still a favorite of the ones I have tried.  ***+.

The caramel brulee topping was basically fairly large size shards of caramel-y sugar.  Crunchy, sweet, and enjoyable.  I'm not sure I'd want them on my coffee normally, but, on top of the aforementioned toasted broiche, it absolutely worked.  ***+.

Extra Peppermint Chocolate Cream Cold Foam. $1.25.
Extra Chocolate Curls Topping. $0.50.

"Silky, chocolaty cream cold foam."

Another day, another cup of flavored cold foam, this time, I went for the peppermint chocolate, and to really seal the deal, added chocolate curls on top.  On the side from my beverage of course.  This one uses the regular sweet cream cold foam base, adds malt powder, and peppermint syrup.  

The foam was the same lovely texture as always, rich and sweet.  I didn't taste the peppermint, but the mild cocoa flavor was nice.  Not in your face chocolately, but, reasonable.  ***.

The dark chocolate shavings were delicious, and I appreciate that "extra" really meant extra here. ****.

I'm not sure I'd want this foam and shavings on a coffee (hot or cold), but it was delicious to dunk strawberries into, and use on top of toasted brioche to make a custard soaked fancy toast.

Update Reviews, 2019 - 2021

For my previous reviews, check out the collection:

• Exclusive drinks at Starbucks Reserve, with more time intensive brewing techniques, and generally better results
• The sometimes satisfying pastries that you know are mass produced and have crazy long shelf life, but can't help by grab sometimes
• Yogurts, for when you are trying to be "healthy"
• Desserts, masquerading as drinks, known as Frappuccinos
• Sandwiches, including breakfast ones, for when you want "real food" and find yourself at Starbucks
• Seasonal offerings, of course I'm looking at you PSL
• A bunch of assorted drink reviews, below
• And ... a super minimal original review, from way back when

Tall Iced Americano in Venti Cup, Decaf, Ristretto, Marshmallow Whip, Cinnamon Dolce Sprinkles, Cinnamon Powder, Vanilla Powder. $2.25.

It was S'mores Frappuccino "season", and I wanted the amazing marshmallow whipped cream. But it was a hot day, and I wanted something refreshing, and I didn't want something super heavy. Such a conundrum. So what's a girl to do? Yup, get an iced Americano, and top it with the whipped cream (and other yummy things ...)

I ordered through the mobile app, and noticed the option to have the shots ristretto, so I opted for that too.

I really enjoyed my creation. The flavor of the americano really shocked me, particularly for decaf. Maybe the ristretto made a difference? Maybe i just got lucky? It was complex and really not bad at all.

And then … the marshmallow whip. Swoon. That stuff is just delicious. Honestly, I’d gladly get an entire cup of just it. Hold the coffee. Just give me the whip.

And then the cinnamon dolce sprinkles, cinnamon powder, and vanilla powder, for a little extra fun.

This was perfect for the weather, perfect for my mood, and I'd gladly get it again.

Venti Clover Reserve® Nicaragua La Laguna Farm. $6.

"Lemon-lime citrus flavors with hazelnut and caramel accents, brought to you by the Valladarez family in Dipilto, Nicaragua."

I *ordered* the Reserve Nicaragua La Laguna Farm, made on the Clover.  I picked it specifically after reading all the tasting notes for the current selection, and felt it was the best match for my interests, hazelnut and caramel accents?  Sure!

When I got there, and my order was handed over however, I was told, "Oh, we are out of the Nicaragua, we haven't had it for a long time, but I made you another Reserve instead.  Its African too."

Sigh.  Double sigh.  And also, if they have been out of it for a long time, why did the mobile app allow me to order it?  Starbucks is actually usually pretty good about this, its frustrating actually, how often a store is out of what I want to order, but, at least I can see it in the app, and generally just pick another store that has it.

I was in a rush, hence my pre-order, so I didn't take the time to investigate more, and just accepted my fate.  It *was* a birthday freebie after all, but I had put a lot of thought into it.

Anyway, it was actually quite good.  I think it was probably the Zambia Isanya Estate, as I think the others were Hawaiian and Jamaican.  The Zambian one was described as having "citrus & baking chocolate" flavors, which I'm glad I didn't taste, as I don't care for citrus.  Instead, it was just a rich, very smooth coffee.

I was pleased with this, and I really do think the Clover can be worth it.  It had a remarkably smooth finish, zero touch of acidity or bitterness.

Sweet Cold Brew Whipped Cream
Cascara Topping / Cinnamon Dolce Sprinkles on the side. $0.50.

"Cold Brew White Chocolate Mocha Dark Caramel Whipped Cream."

"Whipped cream that's infused with cold brew, white chocolate and dark caramel. "

When I saw the option to add "Sweet Cold Brew Whipped Cream" as a topping, I just couldn't resist.  If Starbucks has a new flavored whipped cream, you know I need to try it.  Even when it contains caffeine.  And I always adore the cascara topping and cinnamon dolce sprinkles.

But I really didn't want it on my Clover brewed Reserve coffee, that would be ... just wrong.  There is no way to specify toppings "on the side" in the app, but, you can ask for this in the store.  I certainly wasn't expecting such a generous serving of whipped cream!  Yes, she gave me a full cup of whipped cream.  There is nothing else in the cup.

The description when I added it on just said "Sweet Cold Brew Whipped Cream", but I quickly tracked this down to the new whipped cream for the summer Frappuccinos, listed in the ingredients as "Cold Brew White Chocolate Mocha Dark Caramel Whipped Cream".  How's that for a mouthful?  A descriptive one, at least I guess!  "Sweet Cold Brew" summed it up a bit better.  It also carried a warning that it had caffeine, which I appreciated, and, promptly ignored ("it can't be that much ... " said the voice in my head).

It was good.  The flavor certainly had a mocha aspect to it, but it wasn't intense in your face espresso flavor.  It also wasn't too sweet, as I thought it might be from the dark caramel.  Nor too chocolately.  They did somehow balance these things out.  It was, well, tasty whipped cream.  Likely great on a Frappucino.  Or, um, by the spoonful, with crunchy sweet cascara topping and cinnamon dolce sprinkles, as I very much enjoyed it.

Tall Iced Americano in a Venti Cup, Decaf, Marshmallow Whip. $3.25.

I got delayed at Logan airport, and decided to recreate my drink once again.  However, ordering through the app was not enabled because of the airport location, and so it felt too complicated to add all my modifiers (ristretto, cinnamon dolce sprinkles, powders ...), so I kept it simple and just added the marshmallow whip.

It wasn't as good. The decaf was fine, but not as complex as my memory of the ristretto version just a week earlier.  Was it different beans? Different skill of barista?  Or just the fact that it wasn't ristretto?  I don't know.  It was fine, but, not great.

The marshmallow whip was again delicious, and I had a lot more this time since the barista used a domed lid.

The airport location was a full $1 more expensive than the one in town.

Venti Jade Citrus Mint Green Tea Latte
Soy, 2 Scoops Matcha Powder, Marshmallow Whip. (August).

"Bright citrus and rich China Chun Mee green tea base gets a hint of spearmint for a combination where refreshing meets refreshing." + "Smooth and creamy matcha is lightly sweetened and served with steamed milk. A perfect zen." + "Organic vanilla soymilk" + "Marshmallow-infused whipped cream."

Another year, another birthday reward to use.  I normally opt to make decadent Frappuccinos and maximize the value of my freebie that way, but, this year, San Francisco decided to celebrate Fogust in real style.  The weekend of my birthday was cold.  Dreary.  Moist.  I didn't want an icy beverage.  I wanted something warm and comforting.

I was not in the mood for just getting a coffee though, even a nice Reserve roast, even a Clover.  Nor was I in the mood for a milky sweet espresso drink.  And then I realized, I've never had had a Starbucks matcha.  But ... I also knew they switched to a matcha powder that is 50% sugar (rather than adding in sweetness separately), and it crazy sweet.  I like soy milk with my matcha, and they use sweetened vanilla soy milk.  I feared the result would be too sweet (which, everyone says).

So I did some research, and found a recommendation from a barista on Reddit. Use one of the Teavanna green teas as a base.  Have it made as a tea latte (Starbucks can do this, even though they only list the English Breakfast and London Fog as tea lattes on the menu).  Add half the matcha powder.  You get a more complex green tea flavor, still some matcha-ness, creaminess, and, it isn't too sweet.  This sounded great to me, even though I couldn't order through the app (no way to transform a different tea into a latte).  And, because I saw it was still offered, I added on some marshmallow whip.  Because I love that stuff.

I was really satisfied with the result.

The tea flavor really was quite complex.  I appreciated the citrus and the mint tones (in fact, I often add peppermint syrup to a matcha anyway).  I appreciated that it did taste like green tea AND matcha.  The matcha was just strong enough to add a pleasant bitter undertone.  It was creamy from the soy milk.  And, swoon, that fluffy sweet marshmallow whip I just adore.

This was a total success, and I'd gladly get one again.

Cold Brew. No Ice.  Tall. $3.25.

"Handcrafted in small batches daily, slow-steeped in cool water for 20 hours, without touching heat—Starbucks® Cold Brew is made from our custom blend of beans grown to steep long and cold for a super-smooth flavor."

Starbucks has been really, really pushing the cold brew drinks lately, and now offers a very wide range of items (cold brew or nitro cold brew, with many different syrups and toppings).  Every store boasts signs for them, and the cold brew taps are prominent inside the store.

I finally decided to try it.  I went simple, and classic.  Cold brew.  No cold foam, no caramel syrup, nothing.  I wanted to taste the cold brew on its own first.

I also got it without ice, since I was planning to try a sip immediately, but otherwise walk home with it and enjoy it in my warmer environment (it was not exactly a warm day, and, although I did grow up in New England, I do not drink iced coffee in the winter!), so I didn't want it to dilute, and hey, I had plenty of ice at home.  I actually wasn't expecting them to fill it up to the brim, I wasn't trying to "hack" Starbucks to get even more coffee for the same price, but hey, not a bad thing.

I took my first sip, and was quite pleased.  This was some serious coffee.  It was intense, and that was a good thing.

The word "velvety" immediately jumped to mind.  It ... almost tasted thick.  So smooth.  Intense flavor.  I loved it.

I drink a lot of bottled cold brews, but this was really in a league of its own. Maybe from being on tap, maybe from being fresher, I don't know, but it was smooth, rich, and very, very good.

I also have since found that I can get a bigger size, save half, and enjoyed it the next morning, warm or cold, and it is still great.  And yes, it tastes good warmed as well (I do it in microwave, at reduced power, and it seems to work!)

Cold Brew with Salted Cream Cold Foam.  No Ice.  No Caramel Syrup.  Trenta. $5.45 or 150 Stars.

"Here's a savory-meets-sweet refreshing beverage certain to delight: our signature, super-smooth cold brew, sweetened with a touch of caramel and topped with a salted, rich cold foam."

The next time I ordered a cold brew, I was using my star rewards, which cost the same amount (150 stars) no matter the size.  So, uh, yeah, I got a Trenta, the biggest size available, and, honestly, totally ridiculous.  I felt silly holding it.  This thing had ... 320 mg of caffeine!  My plan was to drink some when I picked it up, but mostly save it for my morning cup (cold or warm) over the next 3 mornings.  I opted for no ice, so it wouldn't water down.

I also opted to try one of the "fancier" cold brew options, again, more expensive with dollars, but not with stars.  Why not have some fun with it?  Starbucks has two different topped versions, but I was able to rule out the "Cold Brew with Salted Honey Cold Foam" fairly easily as I just don't like the idea of honey and coffee together.

But I loved the idea of "salted cream cold foam", so went for that one.  I didn't want the extra caramel added that comes with it, though, so I had that left out.  The regular recipe for a grande is 4 pumps of syrup, for this size, it was 7.  I have a hard time considering that "a touch of caramel" as described!  With the caramel, this would also clock in  36 grams of sugar, which, for what looks like a pretty basic cold brew with just some topping, is far, far more than what I was looking for in the morning.   Also, I love the taste of the deep rich cold brew, and I didn't want it masked by the caramel.  I'm glad I made this decision.

The cold brew was again really just good.  Strong, smooth, not acidic, just, well, quality cold brew.  And the salted cream cold foam?  This was actually "Salted Vanilla Sweet Cream" according to the ingredients, not quite "salted, rich cold foam" as described.  It was *delicious*.  It was sweet, it was salty, it was thick, rich, cream.  For some reason, I was expecting a lighter foam, like the "cloud" they use in some of the newer drinks, not a thick cream.  I thought it would be lighter than whipped cream, and this was much heavier, more like the toppings on bubble tea drinks actually.  Which I adored.  Sweet and savory, and so so good.

This drink, as ordered, would be 340 calories, 21 grams of fat (even the grande is 230 cal / 14 grams fat), but some portion of the calories are the sugar from the caramel syrup.  Still, the fat and rest of it is definitely that decadent "foam", so, beware if you are wanting a lighter option.

I adored this, and would definitely get it again.  I do wish I could get the topping on the side though, so I could save the cold brew without the cream in it, to better utilize for several mornings.  And even to have some without, just deep rich dark cold brew, and only add in sweet decadent foam as I crave it.  But that is just me optimizing for maximum reward for my stars, and a drink to last me a couple days.  If I got a normal size, I'd still leave off the caramel syrup, but I'd get the "foam" if I were in the mood for a treat.

Original Review, 2013

Last week, I posted about the frappuccinos from Starbucks.  I've also reviewed other things a few other times.  But, it seems like time for an update on ... hot beverages!

Tall White Chocolate Mocha, Decaf, Soy, Whip.  $3.55.

Described as: "Espresso with white chocolate flavored sauce and steamed milk. Topped with sweetened whipped cream."

I've never really been a mocha drinker, much less a white chocolate mocha drinker, but I had a really delicious one from Sugar Cafe on a cold, blustery day, and had been craving one ever since.  So, I decided to try one at Starbucks.

It was very disappointing.  It didn't have any flavor at all.  I couldn't taste the espresso, and would have believed you if you told me it didn't have any in it.  I also didn't taste white chocolate, just some subtle sweetness.  Nor did I taste soy.  I have no idea how all the flavors cancelled each other out so dramatically, but they did.  The whipped cream on top was pretty standard.

It also was barely lukewarm.  Meh, meh, meh.  Would not get again.

Tall Tazo Vanilla Rooibos Tea Latte, skim, 1/2 sweet.  $2.95.

It as a cold, rainy day, and we were driving back from Tahoe.  I wanted something warm and comforting.  We stopped for gas, and there was a Starbucks next door, so I decided that even though I haven't really liked any of the coffee or espresso beverages at Starbucks, there must be something there that could cheer me up.

I scanned the menu, and saw tea lattes.  I hadn't ever noticed them before, as I don't generally order tea when I'm out (it just seems crazy to pay several dollars for a tea bag and water!), and the tea lattes were under the general tea section.  I haven't ever even had a tea latte before anywhere, but they seemed like a reasonable idea.  I figured it was basically just a really milky tea.  I sometimes like tea with a fair amount of milk, and this seemed like a way to add more milk and not cool down my drink.  Sounded good to me.

I didn't want caffeine, so went for the rooibos.  I was a bit surprised when he mentioned that it normally came with 3 pumps of syrup.  I was expecting just a tea bag and some steamed milk, not extra sweetness added.  I'm glad he mentioned this, as I decided to get it with only 1.5 pumps (his suggestion), and I can't imagine it being sweeter.  Seriously, why is everything so ridiculously sweet at Starbucks?  I like sweets, ok, I LOVE sweets, but the default version of everything there is just way, way too sweet!

When I looked the drink up at home later, I saw the description: "an infusion of rooibos, steamed milk, syrup, vanilla and cinnamon, topped with velvety foam."  Aha, yes, syrup.

Anyway.  I liked this drink far more than I expected to.  It reminded me of the milk teas I drank in Japan - sweet, milky, and totally comforting.  It really was exactly what I was in the mood for.  The tea itself was a decent enough rooibos, and it held up to the milk well.  It was sweet, almost too sweet, and the full 3 pumps would have likely been nasty.  I'd definitely consider getting one of these again, and I'd be sure to remember to ask for perhaps just a single pump!

[ Update: On a recent ski trip, again to Tahoe, my ski bus stopped at Starbucks.  I wanted a comforting warm drink, so again went for the Rooibos Tea Latte, since I know I don't love Starbucks coffee.  I remembered thinking it was too sweet, so I asked for half sweet.  It still wound up too sweet for me, and then I re-read my last review, and saw that I wanted it less sweet the next time.  Whoops.  I really need to learn to read my own reviews :)  Next time: 1 pump.  Or maybe unsweetened, and I can just add a little if necessary from the condiment station.  Also, price went up, $3.15 now. ]

Tall Iced Decaf Skim Caramel Macchiato. $3.55.

"Espresso combined with vanilla-flavored syrup, milk and caramel sauce over ice."

I need to stop taking recommendations.  I stopped in on a hot day, and the women taking my order raved about their new hazelnut macchiato (which I did have at a later time, and actually, it was quite good).  Why didn't I have it on this visit?  Well, she then told me she was out of hazelnut syrup, but that the caramel one was good too.  I remembered drinking the hot version of this back before I drank coffee, and thought they were crazy sweet ridiculous drinks.  But she said the cold one was perfect on a hot day.  Spoiler: it wasn't.

This was an incredibly boring drink.  Basically, a glass of skim milk, slightly bitter coffee flavored, with some thick caramel stuck to the bottom of the cup.  I guess there was vanilla syrup in there too, but I didn't taste it.  The only redeeming quality is that it wasn't overly sweet like most Starbucks drinks.  The caramel was tasty, but even when I tried to mix it in, I failed.  Serious meh.

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Grains of Truth

Snacks.  While I have met a few people who claim to not really snack, I am not one of them.  I'm definitely a snacker (to the point that co-workers regularly mention how I'm munching on something all day).  I love my snacks.

"The truth is, we all love to snack, so we created Grains of Truth, bite size whole grain clusters made with tasty all natural ingredients."

I was drawn to Grains of Truth by the hope of at least picking something a bit healthier than my standard snacking options.  They make whole grain snacks in several varieties, but, after trying one, I wasn't compelled to seek out others.  

Coconut Banana Whole Grain Snacks.

These are made from fairly simple ingredients: whole grain cereal, dried coconut, dried banana, sugar, salt, rice bran oil, and, randomly, rosemary extract.  Really not a scary ingredient list at all.

But ... wow, I really did not like these.  I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting.  I think something crunchy and like granola chunks.  Instead, they were more like cereal, with puffed wheat?  Not as crunchy as I wanted.  I also do like coconut and I do like banana, and these tasted very strongly of both coconut and banana, but I did not like the flavor at all.  Maybe it was the odd rosemary in there muddling things?

I loved the idea of these, since I do love munching on chunks of granola or cereal, but these just weren't for me. **.

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Maine Root Handcrafted Beverages

Fancy soda.  It is a thing.  I expect this in some locations, but, Maine?  Yup, Maine.  Home of Maine Root Beverages, a producer of fair trade certified, 100% organic sugar sweetened, sodas.  I wouldn't call them healthy, just, a touch fancy and more nicely packaged than most.  And of course, a touch pricier too. 

I haven't ever seen their beverages on the West coast, but, I encountered them a few times when visiting New England.  I remember having their classic root beer, and their ginger brew, but alas, I never took notes on those.  If you are looking for slightly fancy soda, they are an interesting choice.

Mandarin Orange Soda.

"The Deathstar is complete. We added our latest flavor after many requests for a third brother to our fruity flavored offerings. Here it is, Mandarin Orange! Light, drinkable and thirst quenching. Mmm."

This is easily the fanciest orange soda I've ever had.

It had a nice amount of fizz.  It felt a bit funny to be drinking orange soda out of a bottle, it seems far more fitting for a can :)

The mandarin flavor was quite nice, a more sophisticated version of orange soda.  But overall, I found it a bit too sweet.  ***+.

Pumpkin Pie Soda (Seasonal).

"It doesn’t have to be autumn to appreciate this delicious beverage. We’ve bottled the flavor of everyone’s favorite gourd-based dessert for your year-round enjoyment. You’ll be thankful you tried it."

I really had no idea what to expect from a "Pumpkin Pie Soda".  I got this during the height of pumpkin-flavored everything season, mostly out of the novelty.  Sure, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin muffins, etc all make sense, but pumpkin pie soda?

It was ... strange.  It didn't taste like pumpkin pie.  It seemed more like a mild root beer, but with different spices.  I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't get another.  A fried took one sip, made a horrible face, and didn't want anything to do with it.

I give them creativity points here, particularly for joining in on the pumpkin-spice all the things bandwagon, but I can't say this was a success.

**+.

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J. M. Rosen Cheesecake

Cheesecake.  A fairly common dessert, one that is generally pretty good, no matter the source.  One that has some unique styles, e.g. lighter Italian style with ricotta, decadent dense New York style, fluffy bouncy Japanese style, and more recently deeply caramelized Basque.  It can have a sour cream tang, a fruity topping, incorporate Asian flavors like matcha, or be seasonal with pumpkin.  A pretty diverse dessert, when you think of it.  I've definitely had my share of cheesecake over the years (you can read about them all here), and, although I don't do much cooking nor baking myself, cheesecake is actually something I learned to bake as a teenager, using my mom's no fail recipe (that uses a box of vanilla cake mix, part for the crust, part for the cheesecake itself).

Since it is so common, and so generally average, it takes a lot to impress me with a cheesecake.  Particularly a mass produced cheesecake.  But J.M. Rosen cheesecake did just that.

"Unlike any other desserts you will ever experience. While others say that about their own desserts, we don't. It's our customers who say those words and flock to our wholesale bakery to knock on the door and hope someone will answer to grant their wish for a whole cheesecake to take home. This is our inspiration and continued success. We've been a wholesale bakery for years, now anyone can order online. It's our pleasure to share these fantastic desserts known to Californian's for 35 years. Surprise your family with a new tradition this year, something special, order the best desserts available online."

J.M Rosen is a wholesale cheesecake distributor, based in Northern California.  So, sadly, you can't just walk in to one of their stores to order one, but, you will find them around the area, as they distribute to many restaurants (such as Joyride Pizza, where I had it).  J.M. Rosen is probably most known for their classic New York Cheesecake, a hefty, rich creation, but they also make a "Chocolate Fantasy" version with a layer of regular cheesecake, chocolate mousse, AND chocolate cake, all in a chocolate shell, a Neapolitan cheesecake with a layer of regular cheesecake, plus layer of strawberry mousse, and a chocolate cake layer (yes, just like the ice cream), and a mocha cappuccino variety (plus seasonal eggnog, cranberry, and pumpkin).  They also make a epic looking many layered carrot cake, and a chocolate fudge cake.

I've only tried two of their products, but I'd gladly try more.

Classic NY Cheesecake.

"The best "New York Style Cheesecake'' outside of NYC! Made by master baker J. M. Rosen right here in Northern CA. The same cake Frank Sinatra would order when he toured SF. Luscious, velvety textured cheesecake filling makes this the perfect meal time finish, celebration treat -- or anytime snack." -- Joyride Pizza

"Our "New York Style Cheesecake" is the best cheesecake recipe you can buy. This is the infamous New York Cheesecake with the original Shortbread crust New Yorkers flock to when they visit California. It's our Cheesecake. It's that good! This New York Cheesecake is filled with pounds of the most luscious, thick, dense, velvety textured cheesecake filling you have ever tried. It's dense texture is divine cheesecake lust so we've been told. The dramatic impact of the the robust size, thickness, and original flavor of this New York Cheesecake does not compare to any on the market. NO KIDDING. You don't need a topping but there's always variety in life. Once you try it, you decide how and when you like it, we mean LOVE IT. Honestly, Frank Sinatra ordered (this exact cheesecake from exact baker and company) when he would come to California!" -- J.M. Rosen

I started with the simple, basic, classic NY cheesecake.

Ok, so, this cheesecake gets some accolades.  This I knew.  And I've had very good cheesecake before.  I expected this to be good, but perhaps not quite as magical as everyone seems to think it is.

But, wow, this is very, very, very good cheesecake!  I was blown away by just how smooth and creamy and luxurious it was.  Shockingly smooth.  Shockingly creamy.  Absolutely incredible.  "Velvety" as they say.  The flavor was fairly, well, classic NY cheesecake, certainly cream cheese flavored, and sweet, and sorta vanilla (they use quality Nielson Massey vanilla), and just, well, simple and delicious.  There isn't much more I can say.  

The crust was also notable, not a dry, crumbly, cardboard like graham crust that I so loathe, but rather, a shortbread crust, sweet, just the right thickness, easy to cut through with a spoon but didn't break apart too easily.  The crust extended up the entire backside.

This is certainly one of the best classic cheesecakes I've ever had.  And yes, it is a hefty creation: the 6'' cheesecake weights 3-4 lbs (6-8 slices), and the 9" is 6-8 lbs, 16 slices, so, definitely not a light and fluffy and airy style, for sure.

****+ and I'd gladly get it again and again.

I got a slice for $9 at Joyride Pizza, you can purchase a full 6" cheesecake from J.M. Rosen directly for $79.95, or 9" for $119.95.

Snicker's Cheesecake.

"Guittard Chocolate shell, caramel, perfect shortbread crust, nuts and Snickers Bar chunks... this cake makes your mouth smile and your heart sing. Amazing quality, flavor, and mouthfeel. You'll definitely want to order more than one slice!" -- Joyride Pizza

"What do you get when you cross a Snickers Bar with our Secret Recipe Cheesecake Filling, Guittard Chocolate Shell, Caramel, Famous Shortbread Crust, Nuts and Chunks of a Snickers Candy Bar? Your looking at it! It tastes better than it looks. Certainly, enough to change anyone's mood from "bad" to "great". Bet you can't have just one piece. Try it now! When you wake up looking like Marilyn Monroe you know, it's authentic snickers and you ate too much cheesecake last night! Order while it's hot!" -- J.M. Rosen.

Next, I moved on to the Snicker's cheesecake.  

Here we had the same shortcake crust, along the bottom and the full backside.  Again, far superior to standard graham cracker crusts, sturdy but not too hard, sweet, not too crumbly.  A nice base.

The cheesecake itself was sweeter, I believe it was actually caramel cheesecake.  Still incredibly creamy, insanely smooth, but definitely sweeter, and richer, from the caramel flavor.  On top was a reasonably thick layer of nice quality dark chocolate ganache (Guittard), and little bits of chopped Snickers for a bit of crunch and additional caramel and peanut elements.  There was a thin inner layer as well with some chocolate, nuts, and maybe Snickers.  It definitely was true to the candy bar nature, even though these elements looked fairly minimal at first glance.

This was a slight letdown from the classic NY, but, if you are a Snicker's fan in general, you might really enjoy it.  And don't get me wrong: it was a good cheesecake, I just thought the extra embellishments detracted from the cheesecake goodness.  ***+.

I got a slice for $11 at Joyride Pizza, you can purchase the 6" for $89.95, or 9" for $109.95 from J.M Rosen.

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Cellarmaker House of Pizza San Francisco

Cellarmaker is a local brewing company, with brewery locations in Berkeley, Oakland (soon), and San Francisco.  The San Francisco outpost also houses their "House of Pizza", pizza restaurant, that slings Detroit style pies alongside their brews.  As a non-beer drinker, the brews side of the establishment isn't interesting to me, but, they do have quite a line up of interesting sounding selections, that change frequently, with plenty of sour beers and large format options, along with guest ciders and beers.  

My experience with Cellarmaker was on the food side of things only (surprise, surprise).  I did not dine-in, but rather, ordered for delivery.  Rather than ordering through a third-party (e.g. DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc), I ordered directly with the restaurant, hoping to support them more directly, and potentially save extra fees.  I wish I could report a good experience, but, alas, it was a bit of a disaster.

Ordering online on their website was easy - they use Toast for both delivery and pickup orders.  The menu was clear, yadda yadda.  Delivery is done via DoorDash silently in the background.  The delivery fee turned out to be higher than the one via DoorDash ordering directly, and menu prices weren't actually any lower. It turns out, it would have been cheaper to order on a third-party site, which surprised me.

Anyway, my order was immediately confirmed, and prepared quickly.  A delivery driver from DoorDash was assigned, and picked it up within 20 minutes.  I was given a reasonable delivery estimate.  But ... it then took 2.5 hours to get to me.  I'll spare you all the details, but, I could sorta follow along and saw the driver literally not move for a full hour, not far from the restaurant.  Since it wasn't an order directly through DoorDash, I couldn't contact their customer support.  After a full hour of no movement, I realized I could call the driver directly.  I did so.  He apologized, and told me the map was wrong.  I confirmed my address.  He said he had to go, hung up, but, at least started moving towards me.  I truly do not know what he was doing for a full hour, just sitting there, not moving, with a wrong map?  Another half an hour elapses, and he's finally in my neighborhood.  But then ... I watch him kinda circling around on the map.  For another 30 minutes.  It has now been 2 hours since he picked up my order.  I call again.  He apologizes again, and says he can't find it.  He repeats my correct address to me.  I give even more clear instructions with landmarks.  Another 25 minutes pass.  And then he shows up.

As you can imagine, this didn't bode well for my food.  2.5 hours post pickup.  The hot food was stone cold, the chilled food warm.  Likely not food safe.  I still risked it, and tried a few bites of each.  Not a smart decision on my part, as I woke up in the middle of the night with severe GI distress.  I spent the entire next day regretting those bites.  Sadness.

The delivery woes aren't Cellermaker's fault exactly, and I'd consider ordering from them again, although sadly not directly.  I'd like to actually try their pizza, they make some fun sounding creations like a Cubano pizza ...

Fried Calamari. $13.

"Buttermilk Marinated Water 2 Table Local Calamari, Onions, Micro Cilantro & Lemon. Served w/ a Remoulade Sauce."

"Dive into a world of crispy perfection with our tender calamari, marinated in rich buttermilk to ensure every bite is bursting with flavor. Each golden ring is delicately fried to achieve that irresistible crunch. And as if that weren't enough, we've paired it with a delectable remoulade sauce that adds a zesty, tangy kick. This dish will have you hooked from the first bite!"

A pizza joint, that partners with a local seafood company like Water 2 Table?  Yup!  On the night I ordered, they had two special appetizers, both seafood based, this, and a local halibut crudo.  Not your typical pizza joint options (nor brewery for that matter).

I'll start by saying it is a bit hard to give this a fair evaluation, given that it was literally stone cold when it arrived, 2+ hours post pickup, and, packaged alongside a cold cider and sparkling water.  

The calamari was nicely battered, and the coating was tasty, it reminded me a bit of onion rings, lightly flaky.  Good salt level.  I suspect it was crispy at some point.  The ring pieces were pretty chewy however, kinda the texture that makes people think they don't like calamari.  The tentacles were better, and also held more batter.  Decent distribution of rings and bodies.  As I had it, this was really just **+ though, *** once I reheated it, but, I think it may have been much better served at the restaurant.

I appreciated the lemon wedge to squeeze over it.  The remoulade however was not very flavorful.  No real zing to it.  No bits of caper.  Sorta seemed just like mayo.  Below average.  **+.

Panna Cotta. $10.

"Sweet Panna Cotta served with a Cherry or Strawberry Compote."

Panna cotta.  Oh yes.  Something near and dear to me, such that it has its own label on my blog.  I love a good panna cotta (or any style of pudding, really).  This is the only dessert that Cellarmaker offers, but, it is all I wanted anyway.  It had been a while since I had panna cotta!

The panna cotta was ... well, um, very cream forward?  I know panna cotta *is* cream after all, but, that was all I could taste here.  Lovely cream, but, just cream.  No hint of vanilla, no buttermilk tang, just, cream.  Sweetened cream.  To be fair, they don't advertise it as a vanilla bean or buttermilk panna cotta.  The description just says "sweet panna cotta".  So, it is what they say it is. The consistency was good, smooth, not grainy, thick set.  A skin on top that I actually liked.  Nice jiggle.  But ... besides cream, no flavor to it.  Nice execution, but no flavor, ***.

The panna cotta is available with either a cherry or strawberry compote topping, I opted for strawberry, which came on the side.  This was definitely needed to add some flavor to the dish.  That said, I didn't really love the compote.  It was sweet, but also a touch acidic, almost like a mostarda.  Nice soft hunks of berry though.  **.

I ended up topping mine with fresh strawberries and raspberries, plus some sprinkles, and a little coconut crumble, and enjoyed it far more that way.  **** in the end, with my additions.

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Perfect Bars

Update Review, 2023

I've raved about Perfect Bars for years now, but I just tried another flavor, and thus, an update review is in order!

Chocolate Hazelnut Crisp.

"Say hello to your new bestie: Chocolate Hazelnut Crisp! With its creamy blend of peanut butter, hazelnut butter, crunchy crisps, and dark chocolate chips, these protein bars are just what your life is missing. "

Chocolate + hazelnut can be a bit of a over-done pairing, and although I do like both chocolate and hazelnuts, I seem to be one of few people who doesn't adore Nutella, so I wasn't entirely sure about this flavor.  The idea of crisps inside my Perfect Bar drew me in however.

This was one of the more unique Perfect Bars, mostly due to the crunch from the crisps.  The base was otherwise much the same as others - lightly chocolately, reasonable peanut and hazelnut butter flavors, slightly crumbly texture, enjoyable.  The crisps give it little bits of crunch, like a Nestle Crunch bar almost.  It definitely helped make this feel a bit more like a candy bar than a reasonable healthy snack.

I enjoyed it quite a bit, particularly when I dunked it in whipped cream, and I'd get it again if I was in the mood for a reasonable candy bar replacement.  I still would like a stronger chocolate element though, like a coating, rather than integrated throughout.  ****.

Update Review, August 2022

I've long been a fan of Perfect Bar products, as you've seen in my original reviews.  While normally I'd jest at their lofty name, in this case, I do kinda endorse it.  The peanut butter based Perfect Bars in particular are about as perfect as any healthy nutrition bar is going to be.  Protip: cut into hunks, coat in chocolate, roll in cocoa nibs, and keep a stash of chocolate covered peanut butter protein bar bites in your fridge or freezer at all time.

Anyway, I've tried nearly the entire range of Perfect Bar bars, and clearly have my favorites.  This review however is for something new: the peanut butter cups!  I had to buy them the moment I saw them, because, that is basically what I was creating at home anyway.

Peanut Butter Cups

Oh Perfect Bar.  You did it.  You made the product I always pretend your bars actually are.  Peanut butter cups.  But, healthier peanut butter cups, with protein and superfoods of course.

The peanut butter cups come in 3 flavors (milk, dark, or mint chocolate), and, just like the bars, require refrigeration.

Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt.

"Indulge in you for a change. These better-for-you sweet snacks are crafted with clean ingredients like freshly ground organic peanut butter, honey, and 20+ organic superfoods then covered with rich fair-trade dark chocolate. With 7g of whole food protein in each 2-cup pack, get your sweet kick on the run and feel good from the inside out. This cup's for you."

I opened my pack with glee.  I did, however, slow down a bit once I saw the cups, as they made me laugh.  The shape was quasi familiar, but, not quite.  They were thinner than I expected, and, uh, kinda ugly?  And the cup was inverted from their common candy counterparts.  But I still dug in eagerly.

The dark chocolate shell was dominant, and it was reasonable dark quality.  I tend to use dark chocolate when I make my custom Perfect Bar chocolate coated bites, and I like the chocolate I choose more than this, but, this was better than average dark chocolate.  I loved the generous sprinkle of salt on top.

And inside, the peanut butter filling, much like the peanut butter flavored Perfect Bars themselves.  It was good, but, a bit hard to taste, as the chocolate was so dominant.

Overall these were good, although the chocolate to peanut butter ratio was a bit off for me.  It turns out, I just prefer to make my own with the peanut butter Perfect Bars, high quality dark chocolate I like, and, usually, cocoa nibs for crunch. They did inspire me to add a touch of fleur de sel next batch I make, the salt really does help the flavors pop!

***+.

Original Review, June 2021

Perfect Bar doesn't beat around the bush.  They believe that they make the best nutrition bars out there.  And thus, the self proclaimed brand name: "perfect".

I of course had my doubts, mostly because try as I might, I rarely end up liking protein bars, particularly those with delicious sounding names (show me a 'cinnamon roll' or 'birthday cake' bar that even comes close to the real thing ...), but also because Perfect Bars are also more ... complicated than most.  These aren't the kind of items you can just keep in your pantry, stash in your bag, etc, as refrigeration is mostly required.  I say "mostly required" because they are fine for a full week out of the fridge, but recommended storage is in the fridge (with a shelf life of nearly 9 months!), otherwise the oils will separate and quality will go down.  Because they use fresh real ingredients (they like to say the only preservative used is "cold").

Perfect Bars are also of course amazing for you, non-GMO, kosher, gluten-free, filled with protein and "expertly-hidden" super foods, and they only use complex carbs as sweeteners (organic honey or dates), yadda yadda.

I've watched the brand blossom over the past few years.  I remember when they first launched and carried only a small handful of flavors of bars, all fairly basic.  Now they have ... well, something for everyone.  Fruity, nutty, chocolatey, some even almost head in the "brownie" direction.

Perfect Bars now come in two sizes, regular full size bars and smaller "minis", plus bags of "bites", a children's line, and even ... peanut butter cups (!!!).  I've tried an extensive range of the offerings, and highly recommend.

Minis

Minis are only available in a reduced flavor set, basic nuts butters.  These are bite sized little treats.

Minis.

The minis are portioned at .74 ounces, about 100 calories, 4-5 grams of protein.  Little bites for a quick pre/post gym snack, but not a full meal.

Peanut Butter.

"Creamy organic peanut butter meets organic honey and 20 expertly-hidden whole foods."

I started with their original product, the simple peanut butter.

I had zero expectations for this.  Yes, I love peanut butter, but, nutrition bars usually don't live up to the taste I want, and the "expertly-hidden whole foods" scared me away when I looked at the wrapper and saw that in addition to peanut butter and honey, I had "dried whole food powders" that contained kale, flax seed, rose hip, orange, lemon, papaya, tomato, apple, alfalfa, celery, kelp, dulse, carrot, and spinach to look forward to.  How all those would *possibly* combine together and not 1) taste awful and 2) mask the peanut butter was beyond me.  And don't get me started on the rice protein, and slew of oils I had waiting for me (flax seed oil, sunflower seed oil, sesame seed oil, olive oil, and pumpkin seed oil).

And then I took a bite.

Well, huh.  This was one of the best nutrition bars I've ever had.

The texture was slightly crumbly, but still held up well.  Smooth.  The peanut butter flavor was basically all I tasted, along with a touch of sweetness from the complimentary honey.  It was ... good.  Like the inside of a peanut butter cup.  Or a peanut butter blossom cookie.

I wanted chocolate with it immediately though.  If they made this dipped in chocolate, or with chocolate chips, wow, it would be such a hit.  (Which, of course they realized, and added to the full size line up.  Keep reading ...).

I immediately made a note to take a box of them and dip them in chocolate, and eat them that way instead.

Peanut Butter Perfect Bar + melted dark chocolate + cocoa nibs.

Which of course I did.  I assure you, this is a winning move.  I now regularly take a box of minis, temper some dark chocolate, coat them in chocolate, and roll them in cocoa nibs, and then stash back in my freezer or fridge.  Amazing little bites of joy, that I get to feel good about eating, since, hey, protein!

When I'm less prepared, even pairing with a piece of chocolate works, but I find dunking in a thick chocolate ganache or hot fudge works best.  You can make a bunch at a time and freeze them too, like buckeye cookies.  Sure, not healthy little snacks anymore exactly, but really quite tasty.  I get these regularly.

****+.

Almond Butter.

"Why should peanut butter lovers have all the fun? We blend creamy almond butter with organic honey and 20 expertly-hidden whole foods to get the perfect combo of taste and nutrition. Get ready to take your almond love to a whole new level."

The almond butter version I tried next.  I'll admit that even though I loved the peanut butter one, I expected to hate this one.  I was done being skeptical of all the other ingredients, but, the primary one, almond butter, is not something I'm generally a fan of.

And then I tried this.

It too, was ... well, good.  The peanut butter one didn't have distinct bits of peanut in it, but this one did have bits of chopped almonds, which added texture and crunch that I really enjoyed.  The honey also seemed stronger, which tasted great with the almond, but, was a bit too strong for me, resulting in a bite that was sweeter than I really wanted.

Again, I wanted to just coat it in dark chocolate.  I didn't mind these bars, but I prefer the peanut butter.

***+.

Full Size Bars

The main product range is the full size bars, good for a snack, pre/post workout item, or perhaps a meal replacement.  Some of them are quite good for breakfast on the go ...

These come with bases made from the original peanut or almond butter, or more recently, also cashew.

Full Size Bars.

Full size bars mostly clock in around 15-20 grams of protein, and range around 250-350 calories, depending on the variety (cashew bars have lower protein).  I've tried many.

Peanut Butter Base

After the success of the peanut butter mini, I was ready to dive into the expanded product range, all formed around that basic base.

Carob Chip.

"You’ll love this blend of creamy organic peanut butter, rich and velvety carob chips, organic honey and 20 expertly–hidden whole foods."

Given the success of the basic peanut butter, and my desire to have chocolate inside, I was pretty excited to try the carob chip, even though carob < chocolate.

At first glance though, it looked much more like any standard nutrition bar, strangely shiny, strange texture.

And ... it tasted about as it looked.  Fairly bitter (carob? chia? flax?). Strangely sweet.  I was pretty confused by this, since, at least on paper, looked like it should be *exactly* the same as the peanut butter one, but with carob chips.

Anyway, the least successful bar for me.

Update Review: I tried another, and almost liked it.  But the sweetness level was just a bit strange for me.

Another Update Review: I again tried another, again almost liked it.  Peanut butter good, but just the wrong sweetness, and, eh, carob.  My mom did think it was chocolate though.

I wouldn't get this again, and they discontinued it anyway.

**+.

Fruit & Nut.

"Mix it Up. Creamy organic peanut butter meets organic honey mixed with plump raisins, crunchy walnuts and 20 expertly-hidden whole foods – with no chemicals, preservatives, or junk to ruin the awesomeness."

This bar was not a looker.  But, it was a taster!

I'm notoriously anti-raisin, as they are usually just hard chunks of meh inside my otherwise tasty products, but, they worked here, as they were soft and added a nice chew.  I was a bit disappointed to find that they were the only "fruit" though inside my "fruit & nut' bar.  Why wasn't this a "raisin & nut" bar?

Actually, it should have been a "raisin & walnut" bar, as there was also only one type of nut: walnuts (besides the peanut butter base).  Walnuts were a unique choice though, and I liked the crunch they added.

The base was the standard peanut butter and superfoods, great peanut flavor, again still a bit too sweet from the honey.

I liked this one more than plain peanut butter, as the raisins and walnuts both added good textural components, but, I'd greatly prefer basically any other dried fruit, and there are far more exciting nuts out there.  Cherry and pecan!  Apricot and macadamia!  Come on Perfect Bar, get more exciting :)

Still, my favorite so far ...

*****.

Coconut Peanut Butter.

"It's no secret our original Peanut Butter Perfect Bar is a crowd favorite, so we decided to take it up a notch and pair it with fresh coconut flakes for a taste that will rock your world. It's time we give our peanut butter lovers a reason to go coco-nuts."

"We’re a bit nutty around here, but this island-inspired recipe has us going completely coconuts! Kick off your shoes and enjoy this blend of creamy organic peanut butter, organic honey and real shredded coconut pieces."

Oh, this was good.  Very good.  I was highly skeptical of the coconut and peanut butter combination (both things I like, but, not a common combo).  But, they worked.

The base was the same peanut butter base that I've enjoyed plain, and the shredded coconut added some texture.

Like many of the bars though I found it a touch too sweet, and needed to mellow it out with some chocolate to dip it in.  Which, I have to say, was even more amazing.

Still not a light item though, 340 calories per bar, 21 grams of fat, 19 grams sugar, but it does have the 16 grams of protein and tons of great-for-you-stuff inside that you somehow don't taste at all (kale, flax seed, orange, lemon, papaya, tomato, apple, alfalfa, celery, kelp, carrots, spinach, dulse ...)

Overall a winner, and one I'll gladly have more of, particularly when I have some chocolate alongside.

****.

Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter with Sea Salt.

"This one is a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, and just the right amount of nutty! Our original Peanut Butter Perfect Bar recipe – creamy organic peanut butter, organic honey and 20+ nutrient-dense superfoods - receives a foodie-approved upgrade with the addition of Fair Trade Certified dark chocolate chips and a pinch of sea salt."

If there was any bar I was most eyeing, this was it.  Peanut butter base is the best base.  I always want chocolate with it.  And, dark chocolate?  Sea salt? Even better.

When I opened the bar, I was *thrilled*.  It looked exactly as I hoped, loaded with little chocolate chips.  This was a healthy item?  I could eat this giant pb cup in bar form guilt free?  Yes!

And, it was basically exactly as I expected.  Soft, crumbly, slightly-to-sweet pb base with good peanut butter flavor.  Lots of chips, although they were entirely on top and not distributed throughout.  The chips were dark chocolate, which is the chocolate I generally prefer, but actually, with peanut butter, I do like creamy milk chocolate a bit more.  The chocolate flavor also somehow didn't turn out as pronounced as I hoped and expected.  I also didn't really detect the sea salt.

That all said, it was still a good bar. I think I prefer to just have the classic plain peanut butter, and pair with my own creamy milk chocolate however.

****.

Cranberry Crunch.

"Sometimes, you just want to lighten up. And this is the Perfect Bar for that occasion. Creamy peanut butter meets organic honey blended with organic cranberries, naturally light crispy puffed rice and 20 expertly-hidden whole foods. 35% fewer calories—100% incredible."

This bar is the only one dramatically different from the rest of the product line.  It is designed as a lighter option, lightened up by adding puffed rice cereal, so it has less of the nut butter and protein mix.  It really is a lighter - even though the same dimensions, it weights 45g compared to the 71g standard bar.  Ok, I know they mean nutritionally, not literally talking about the weight. It is lesser in all these regards too: 220 calories, 12g fat, 14g sugar, 9g protein (compared with 330 calories, 18g fat, 19g sugar, 16g protein).

Anyway, the result?  Not successful for me.  But I kinda just don't like rice crispy puffs in my products (or anything like that, it reminded me of some Ben & Jerry's mix-ins that I wasn't thrilled with either).

Yes, the brown rice puffs add a crunch, but, its a strange kinda soggy/soft crunch.  I don't like it.  My second to least favorite bar, better only than the carob chip one I really disliked.  Like the carob bar, this one was also discontinued.

**+.

Chocolate Walnut Brownie.

"One bite of this plant-based bar and you’re off to brownie bliss! We crafted this whole foods nutrition bar with creamy organic peanut butter, sweet organic dates, crunchy walnut pieces, organic Fair Trade dark chocolate chips and 20 organic superfoods. With 10g of plant-based protein, this fudgy delight is a nutritious nosh and deletable treat all rolled into one!"

And then, I saved the best for last, it turns out.

Chocolate Walnut Brownie.  Sounds like one of those nutrition bars that has a tasty name, promises dessert, and instead still leaves you with protein bar meh.  Plus, dates?  Sorry, but I never like bars with dates.

And yet ... yup, another surprise enjoyment.

It was the most chocolate-forward of any of the bars, truly chocolatey, with chocolate integrated throughout the entire base, and in distinct chips.   I loved the crunch from the chips, and even more, from the pieces of walnut.  Did I taste dates?  Nope!  Nor did I taste the hemp protein, rice protein, chia powder, sunflower, flax seed, any of the whole foods powders (kale, flax, rose hip, orange, lemon, papaya, tomato, apple, alfalfa, celery, kelp, dulse, carrot, spinach).  But I tasted peanut butter and chocolate, and they were fantastic.

I'm surprised peanut butter isn't in the name of this one, as really, it was like a giant chocolate peanut butter brownie, with bits of chocolate chip and walnut in it.  Sure, the texture wasn't brownie, not cake-like, but it was still soft, the texture from the mix-ins was excellent, and most important to me, it was delicious.

I may or may not have had it for breakfast, and felt like such a rebel eating a brownie for breakfast, but I actually think I'd be satisfied with this as a dessert item too, which is truly saying something. 

Hands down winner in the "dessert" category.

****.

Pumpkin Pie.

"This seasonal-batch recipe talks the talk and walks the walk with a fall favorite like you’ve never tasted before. Our bar is crafted with freshly-ground organic peanut butter and honey, along with organic dried pumpkin and spices to make for a pairing that will have your taste buds craving this delicious pumpkin pie combo all year long."

Yes, even Perfect Bar jumped on the Pumpkin-Spice-All-The-Things bandwagon!  

So, first up.  If you are expecting strong pumpkin flavor, or traditional pumpkin spice flavors, this is not the product for you.  In fact, I had to do a double check to make sure I had opened the pumpkin bar ... as I just didn't taste it.  If you search for it, the pumpkin spicing is there, very mildly, on the finish, but otherwise ... I mostly tasted the signature peanut butter base (which, makes sense, peanut butter is still the first ingredient).

The bar was slightly sweet, had the same crumbly dense texture as others, and was pleasant, but, pumpkin forward it was not.  I appreciated the subtle light spicing as something different, but pumpkin and peanut butter aren't really a popular combo for a reason ...

***.

Almond Butter Base

Since the basic almond butter mini was decent enough, I explored the almond butter based product line too.

Maple Almond.

"Maple plus Almond Butter equals perfection, eh? Delish for breakfast, dessert and every meal in between, it’s the perfect bar for hiking adventures and cool-weather bonfires, or a great pick for your Sunday morning pancake fix. So much YES!"

I had high hopes for this one.  The plain almond butter one was almost great, and I adore maple, so, this sounded like the bar for me.  I hoped the maple would address the sweetness issues I had as well.

But ... I ended up not really caring for it.  Much like the plain almond butter, it had grit to it and bits of almond, so, lots of texture.  And it wasn't strangely sweet, although I didn't quite taste maple exactly.  Which sounds like I should have liked it, but instead it just tasted like almond butter to me, the kind of almond butter I never like.

Update: I tried one more just to be sure, but, yes, this is not the product for me.  I think my favorite of the almond based bars, but I just don't care for almond butter taste.  And guess what?  Discontinued!

**+.

Dark Chocolate Almond.

"This silky smooth criminal is made with creamy almond butter, organic honey and 20+ nutrient-dense superfoods. We blend that recipe with rich cocoa powder and vanilla, and topped with Fair Trade Certified dark chocolate chips."

If I wanted chocolate with my almond butter bar, this was the one for it.  The bar itself was much darker, as it had cocoa powder blended in, and then, actual chocolate chips, dark ones at that.

This was the first almond butter bar that didn't have a strange sweetness to it, I think all the chocolate helped balance it out.  But it was still an almond butter base, gritty, and, well, very almond butter forward, which at this point I have realized just isn't for me.

I did appreciate the real, plentiful, dark chocolate chips.  I expect that almond butter fans will enjoy this one quite a bit.

***.

Almond Coconut.

"The protein bar dating scene is full of nuts, so let us introduce you to the plant-based protein bar of your dreams. Organic almond butter blended with organic dates, dried cranberries, 20 organic superfoods and yummy shredded coconut make this a happily ever after for your taste buds!"

I was very surprised when I opened this.  Why was it dark?  Why did it have chunks of fruit?  I thought this was going to be just almond butter and shredded coconut, as it was called the "Almond Coconut" after all.

But instead, it was loaded with dates.  Dates are the primary ingredient.  I hate the taste of date.  The dark color came not only from the dates, but also from a bit of cocoa (totally unexpected) and cranberries.

I really disliked this one.  You guessed it.  Discontinued!

**.

Other

For those who don't want peanut butter or almond butter, there are far fewer choices, not a direction Perfect bar seems to have expanded much.

Blueberry Cashew.

"This bar is a dreamy blend of creamy cashew butter, almond butter, bursting blueberries and a hint of vanilla. We're beyond excited to add another nut butter to the family, and with real blueberries and vanilla, it's truly our most delectable bar yet!"

I have a strange relationship with cashews.  Every once in a while, I decide I love them.  But generally?  Strong dislike.  Particularly to cashew butter.

But hey, I'm always up to try things.

This however was not the bar for me.  Cashew and almond butter were not a match I liked, both fairly bitter.  If you *like* cashew and almond flavors though, they were both pronounced, the cashew stronger than the almond, but only slightly.

Blueberry is a good match though, and I did like the little dried blueberry bits.

Nice to try, don't want again.

**+.

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