Krisch's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlour

Krisch's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlour in Massapequa was one of my favorite dessert places. Their homemade food In addition to dessert, breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served. The waitstaff is extremely friendly, the

I ordered "Nikko's Cookie Monster" which was a sundae consisting of a whopping scoop of ice cream (flavor of my choice), one topping, homemade whipped cream, and of course a cherry, all on top of a freshly baked cookie.

I choice a flavor I've never heard of, fluffernutter. I've had fluffernutter sandwiches, but never ice cream. It was amazing. As my topping, I had a banana which was great, too. The cookie was fresh and delicious. Truthfully, I could not finish the sundae because it was so filling.

  

Some other dessert options are pecan pie (my friend got the last slice)

and colossal cupcakes that look delicious. 

Website:
http://www.krischs.com/

© Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag

Riesterer's Bake Shoppe

Riesterer's Bake Shoppe has a lot to offer. Wedding cakes? Check. Gingerbread houses? Check. Cupcakes? Check. If that's not enough, they also make dog treats! I was in the mood for something small, so I chose cookies.

I ordered chocolate thumbprint cookies that had peppermint chunks on them, rainbow cookies, and sandwich cookies with a jelly filling. My favorite was the thumbprint cookies. The rainbow cookies were unpleasant. As for the sandwich cookies, they were pretty good. 















I did not try the café, food which is located in the back of the bakery. The café can be easily accessed from the back entrance, which has direct availability from the back parking lot.  















Website:
http://www.riesterers.com/

© Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag

Witches Brew

Photo taken by Colin Harris 

A late night trip to Witches Brew can be fun. Just be prepared to wait. On my trip, I was seated by the host immediately. Being served by the waitress was another story. It appeared as if only one waitress was working and there was a large crowd she had to serve.

 

The creative menu, made from cut outs word and combined.

Slightly hard to read, which is why there is also a booklet given with the food options.

If you go to the Witches Brew, you should go for the variety of hot beverages and atmosphere. I learned from a note on the menu that the restaurant does not make their own baked goods, but gets them from a nearby bakery. 

I ordered a  slice of Devil's Food Cake and a soft pretzel with a side of mustard. Unfortunately, I was unable to ask the waitress where the pretzel came from, but it was delicious. I liked it more than my cake, which tasted ok.

Note: Food is not expensive. I say go to Witches Brew! 

There is no website for this location, however I was able to find this:

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/201/1043671/restaurant/Long-Island/Witches-Brew-West-Hempstead

© Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag

The Cheesecake Factory

After eating a nutritious dinner, my roommate, Sadie Dossett and I went to The Cheesecake Factory in Westbury, NY. There are currently 160 locations in the United States. People who are familiar with The Cheesecake Factory are aware of their high price, yet large portions. Since we theoretically did not eat a full meal, our wallets were safe. I say theoretically, because The Cheesecake Factory nicely displays the amount of calories per dish. I know the calorie count is extremely high for every item, however, how accurate is the calorie count? That is just something to ponder.

I ordered one of the seasonal cheese flavors: Peppermint bark cheescake. The chocolate crust was just the right consistency, and not overlypowering. Then, the cheescake was fresh and amazing. However, I supect the peppermint bark was just chunks of pepperment stick. The peppermint part was dispersed throughout my mountains of whipped cream and sprinkled onto the cheesecake. I also ordered a class of skim milk. Overall, it was delicious.

Sadie Dossett ordered a slice of

White Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Cheesecake.

"I got it because I wanted to be reminded of home, but it tasted like cheap imitation. I don’t think cheesecake is a Hawaiian food, but I was hoping macadamian nuts would make it feel like that." She reported to me that the nuts were stale. Oy.



Website:

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/

© Photographs Taken by Avra Hammerschlag

CHILL'N Frozen Yogurt

The frozen yogurt trend continues. All over New York I have seen new, trendy, frozen yogurt places open. CHILL'N is simply another yogurt place.

CHILL'N has two locations:   Mineola and Lake Grove (located in the Smith Haven Mall). I ate at the Mineola location, which is self-serve. CHILL'N offers 14 flavors and many toppings. 

Some healthy toppings which are displayed  neatly include, chopped strawberries and pineapple and whole black berries. No need to fret if you like chocolate chips, peanut butter cups, or similar toppings; those are there too.

I only chose one flavor: Cinnamon Bun. For my toppings I selected cookie dough bits, brownie dough bits, rainbow cookies, and strawberries. The yogurt tasted just like a cinnamon bun and the toppings were all fresh and tasty, making my creation great.

After I finished assembling my yogurt creation, I paid for it by weight.

CHILL'N was nothing special, but it satisfied my sweet tooth craving.

Website:

http://chillnfrozenyogurt.com/

© Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag

Hildebrandt's Restaurant

 Hildebrandt's Restaurant was opened in 1927 and has since seen 4 owners. I met Bryan Acosta, the most recent owner on my trip to Hildebrandt's.

If you've seen Hildebrandt's on the tv show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network, you'll know they make ice cream. Words cannot explain how delicious the ice cream is. My scoop of mint chip had the right level of mint and the cookies n' cream had the right crunch and sweetness; all while being served in a classic sundae dish.

Besides having individual scoops of ice cream (selecting from their 10+ flavors) there are sundae options such as "Pineapple Temptation" sundae. And you can't forget the banana splits!

Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KUv5M1K93g


Website:
http://www.hildebrandtsrestaurant.com/

© Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag

The Cupcake Corner

The Cupcake Corner

The next dessert adventure I went on, was with two of my friends to another cupcake bakery called The Cupcake Corner. I was able to park conveniently park behind the bakery, which is located in Franklin Square. Besides having a cute name, there were some unique cupcakes available. One of them was a breakfast themed cupcake. The french toast cake was topped was maple flavored frosting, with a few bacon pieces on top. Since I do not eat bacon, I did not try it.

My cupcake choice was a vanilla cake with cotton candy icing. The icing was not overly sweet.

I wanted to confirm a theory I had about baking. When I interviewed Lisa Romero, head chef, I asked her if she uses love as her secret ingredient. Instead of confirming or denying, she answered, "Doesn't everyone?"
One piece of advice I have is to not go on a Friday or Saturday, the two busiest days.

Website:
http://www.thecupcakecornergc.com/

© Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag

The Lite Choice

Located in the Woodbury Village Shopping Center
7921 Jericho Tpke

If I told you there was a frozen dessert that's healthy, yet amazing would you believe me? Come on, dessert AND healthy in the same sentence?








I visited "The Lite Choice" in Woodbury, one of the four locations in Long Island. The Lite Choice is a dessert establishment whose owners do not identify their  product as ice cream.
When speaking to one of the two location owners, Sharon Mendelsohn, I asked her what differentiates this dessert from ice cream
and frozen yogurt.

Her response:


"We're different in that our flavors are organic and the milk is hormone free."

The establishment was extremely clean, the wall decorations were fun, each song playing over the speakers was enjoyable. When I asked if working in a frozen dessert store brought out her inner child, Mendelsohn said "As a whole, it [the establishment] is a happy place." I'd say the other customers consuming deliciousness there would agree. Their reactions to their individual dessert were positive, and being able to sit down and chat is a plus.

Good luck picking a flavor. Besides having the workers have the ability to make over 80 flavors on the spot means that you can almost have anything you're craving. You're probably thinking, "How on earth can someone make this on the spot?" Let me explain how it happens. There are soft serve ice cream flavors ready to be dispensed, along with your bases: vanilla and chocolate. If you decide to create your own flavor, you can select your 'insert' and the server pumps it into vanilla or chocolate. Next, the mixture is placed into a blender type utility and after a brief moment of combining, you have your new flavor.

What did I decide on? I chose chocolate mint (chocolate being the base) in a cup. Nowadays, there are alternative cone flavors. Goodbye sugar cones. Since I cannot eat anything neatly, having a dessert on a cone is always disastrous. I was able to have a pretzel cone placed on top of my dessert.

Just as I told Mendelsohn, I could not find any flaws.  Next time you're out with your friends, go there.

Website:
http://www.thelitechoice.com/

© Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag

Johnny Rockets

I enjoy eating at both locations and I usually get the same dishes. They’re either a grilled cheese, or a burger (I always get their perfect French fries as a side). The best part of the meal is the milkshake. Since I always get the same Oreo milkshake (the best milkshake ever), I decided to break the routine. Today I went with my roommate Sadie to the Garden City location and I ordered a chocolate banana milkshake. Every sip rotated between tasting like chocolate shake, and banana. I was not a fan. 

Sadie ordered the ‘chocolate strawberry kiss’ milkshake. “It tastes like they made a strawberry milkshake and squirted chocolate syrup in it. The chocolate is too overpowering.” She regretfully stated “I should’ve gotten a plain strawberry milkshake, but the greatest part is the whipped cream.”

Yes. Sadly, the best part of both milkshakes was the canned whipped cream.

From now on, I shall stick to my usual Oreo milkshake.

About: Johnny Rockets is a 50’s themed restaurant chain. There are two locations I’m familiar with: a sit down restaurant in Hicksville, and one situated in the food court in Roosevelt field mall, in Garden City.


Website: 
http://www.johnnyrockets.com/home.html

©Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag

Cupcake Contessa

"Not all cupcakes are created equal."- co-owner, Fran Azzariti

Hillside Avenue is home to many restaurants, boutiques, chain stores, and other establishments. One place that is truly worth visiting is the Cupcake Contessa, a privately owned Cupcake bakery. 

  On September 13, I had my first experience eating cupcakes from the CC, referred to me by a family friend.

 I went to the CC with my nine year old friend, who changed her cupcake choice a few times, because of the positively overwhelming cupcake options. The cupcake presentation is neat. Since the cupcakes are baked on location daily, the cases are kept well stocked.   

 The bakery has over 20 cupcake flavors, one flavor revolving around the "Samoa" Girl Scout cookie.

 The employee who served me happened to be Rosie Bikales, one of the three owners.  Prior to establishing the Cupcake Contessa with two of her accountant friends (Fran Azzariti and Laura Andreacchi), Bikales was a social worker. When asked what inspired the trio to open the bakery she responded, "My partners and I wanted to open a business and be our own bosses."

 

Additional Details:
Cupcakes cost $2.50
Other baked goods such as cake-pops, whoopie pies, and macaroons.
Unfortunately, customers are unable to sit inside and snack, but the store is prepared with to-go containers.


©Photographs taken by Avra Hammerschlag