When I first moved to town, I wanted to explore as much as possible. My interests were and are varied so I started with dessert! I was looking for patisseries or a close equivalent. Extraordinary Desserts owned by Karen Krasne, sounded interesting. At the time there was a location at 2929 Fifth Avenue in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood. This was it’s flagship location in 1989, but it has since closed. I loved that location because it was intimate and cozy.
I had a pot of tea and a fruit tart with vanilla pastry cream, served with a generous portion of a mixed berry coulis and creme anglaise. We also sampled the Flourless Chocolate Cake which they describe as: “A decadent mixture of chocolate and marzipan finished with chocolate ganache & fresh fruit.” It looked great and tasted great too.
The location at 1430 Union Street in Little Italy was opened in 2004 and remains it’s most popular Here are my honest opinions; the positive and not so positive. It’s usually crowded at all hours of operation, especially on the weekends. The display looked quite appetizing; The selection of desserts, cookies, cakes and pastries are varied and fresh. Upon entering, the refrigerated showcases catch the eye; from the left to the right with a throughway to the seated areas in the center. The space has high ceilings with exposed metal gurders giving it a modern converted warehouse feel.
There has also been an expansion of the menu to include a host of savory items to compliment the desserts on offer at both locations. There are savory Boards or Plates such as the Cranberry Pistachio Brie Torta Plate a “homemade Brie torta layered with goat cheese, cream cheese, carmelized pistachios and cranberries.” They also have
Charcuterie and Farmers Market Vegetable plates.There is a selection of coffee, teas, jams, jellies, honey, and books; including the owner’s own “Extraordinary Cakes: Recipes for Bold and Sophisticated Desserts.” The only real downside to the location in Little Italy is that it’s usually crowded, especially on the weekends. Upon arrival at peak hours you have to write down your order on a little card and hand it off. But what if you want to dine in? It can be confusing especially if it’s your first visit. Patrons jockey for position in front of the refrigerated display cases to get a peek at which delectables look temping that day. It is still a place I go back to, but I have noticed that the quality of the food on offer has declined a bit. There is too much attention paid to the finishing touches, the flowers, flourishes and edible baubles, but not enough to the balance of flavors and textures. I had the Banana Creme Pie individual dessert that looked awesome, but there was too much whipped cream and not enough banana flavor. In the end I had a mouthful of whipped cream, chocolate curls and at the very last, a hint of banana. Some of my favorite desserts are the Ivoire Royale Cake described as “An exquisite torte made of layers of vanilla bean soaked pound cakes and creamy white chocolate mousse. Each mouthful bursts with fresh raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries.”Their words not mine.
The Blood Orange Ricotta Cake, “sweet, tangy and very refreshing”. Juicy raspberries along with cranberries and blood orange whipped cream and the Pavlovas “ Crisp meringue shells filled with flavored creams or fruit curds and topped with fresh fruit.
The pandemic has brought its changes. Ordering takeout or delivery is a safe bet. As of this writing there is indoor seating at both locations, but be sure to call first for the most up to date information.
Extraordinary Dessertsis a great choice for the everyday or for special occasions like birthdays, Mothers day, or a celebratory brunch with the girls. If you live here and have not eaten here, or if you are able to visit San Diego in the future be sure to stop by Extraordinary Desserts you won’t be disappointed.