Bite of Bellingham

First off, I apologize for not posting anything last week. For some reason, I was really tired and my work was really difficult. 

Now that that is behind us, let us start this week. To make up for last week, I went to the Bite of Bellingham, where local restaurants come together in a farmers market-like manor and give out "bites" or samples of food that they serve. Having a passion for baking and critiquing desserts, this was the perfect opportunity to try the local talent. I tried a total of seven different desserts and boy, did my stomach hurt after having one dessert after the other. 

Destination 1: Bellingham Flat Bread

Dessert: Gluten Free Red Velvet Cupcake

Critique: This was a very good cupcake. I really liked the frosting because it was cream cheese (I love cream cheese frosting) and it wasn't too sweet. The cake was good for being gluten free, but I found it to be grainy. 

Score: 4 out of 5

Destination 2: Alice's Pies 

Dessert: Mix Berry Pie

Critique: I did not really like this pie. I thought I could make it better. The crust and mix was not sweet enough for me. The crust was also not flaky enough. I thought that the whipped cream on top was too milky and not whipped enough. 

Score: 2 out of 5

Destination 3: Pure Bliss Dessert 

Dessert: Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcake

Critique: I was excited to try this cupcake because of two reasons, I have made this type of cupcake before, and this restaurant is one of the best bakeries in Bellingham. 

I came out disappointed. The chocolate cake was too bitter and the frosting was too sweet. You would think combining it together would even the two out, but the frosting was too sweet; it overpowered the whole cupcake. 

Score: 3 out of 5

Destination 4: Goat Mountain Pizza

Dessert: Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie

Critique: I know that this is not a bakery, but if you are going to be serving desserts at your restaurant, it should be just as good as the food you are serving. This cookie was BAD. I liked the idea of the sea salt because salt brings out flavor. This cookie was TOO salty. 

Score: 1 out of 5

Destination 5: The Table by Bellingham Pasta Co

Dessert: Chocolate Mousse 

Critique: This mousse was okay. It had a grainy texture at the beginning that then smoothed out while you ate it. My friend said she thought that they whipped it too much, but I do not know. If it did not have that grainy texture I would have been really pleased.

Score: 3 out of 5

Destination 6: The Mount Bakery Cafe

Dessert: Caramelized Lemon Custard Tartlet 

Critique: This restaurant is an other bakery that is one of the best bakeries in Bellingham. I have actually applied to work here, but God had other plans of me. 

The Lemon Custard was good, but the crust was too flaky. Together they didn't fit that well. There was one saving factor: the blueberry. When you took the bite with the blueberry, the juice of the fruit helped hold everything together. I wish the whole top was covered with blueberries. 

Score: 3 out of 5

Destination 7: Mrs. B's Pies

Dessert: Harvest Pumpkin Pie

Critique: By this time in my venture, I was going to die. I needed to eat something other then desserts, but I wasn't about to give up. 

First off, the lady (I am guessing Mrs. B) was really nice. I asked her what she suggested and she said it depends on what I like. She ended up suggesting the pumpkin pie. I was VERY pleased. The crusted was a crumbed gram cracker crust that had spices in it that really help balance the pumpkin. My friend gave me the taste of the raspberry pie, which was amazing and tangy. 

Score: 5 out of 5

Kirsten