C'est le Brie

Best Dessert Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

Published on February 19, 2016April 3, 2025 by C'est le BrieLeave a comment

by Myles Katherine ❤

I’m obsessed with sugar. It’s bad. On every birthday, holiday or weekend day I treat myself to something extra sweet. As you’ll probably tell from the list, chocolate is my go-to. Plus, my birthday is on Valentine’s Day so it’s absolutely necessary and understandable to indulge in dessert. So, if you’re in the mood for a decadent treat, check out some of my favorite Portland dessert spots.

Petit Provence‘s ANYTHING – One of my favorite places to go in Portland if I have the travel bug and want to feel like I’m in Europe. The Brioche Banana French Toast is incredible, and they give you a free tart on your birthday (photo featured above)! They have multiple locations throughout Portland but the one on NE Alberta is my go-to. Their dessert case is beautiful and colorful and delicious. Fleur de Lis Bakery comes in a close second. I’m biased to this bakery because they are in my neighborhood and hello, convenience. But in my opinion, they have the most authentic tasting croissants this side of France.
Chocolate peanut butter pie from The Pie Spot – This is my I’ve-had-a-terrible-day-I-just-need-a-dang-chocolatey-treat dessert. Whenever I’m sad I need one of these or I can’t move on with my life. I like to take it home and warm it in my toaster oven. The chocolate and peanut butter combination is perfection.
Bourbon Ball from Papa Haydn – My boyfriend and I go here every so often for the Bourbon Ball because it’s enough for 2. It doesn’t look gigantic but it is so rich and filling. Plus, it has bourbon in it, and is there anything better than alcohol and chocolate? And if you don’t like chocolate, there are TONS of delicious options to choose from here. A lovely date night spot.
Cookie Monster Babycake from Petunia’s Pies & Pastries– This bakery is gluten free AND vegan. This cupcake is the best one I’ve ever had. EVER. ANYWHERE. So good. And sugary.
Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache Ice cream from Salt & Straw – In my opinion, the BEST ice cream in Portland, and possibly in the world. They rotate their flavors every month and use local ingredients. They pair up with restaurants around town to create completely unique flavors depending on the time of the year. I’ve been meaning to head down there this month to try their February flavors. They’ve paired up with a few chocolate shops around town to make flavors like Maple and Rose Chocolate and PB&J. CAN’T WAIT. The Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache is my go-to flavor but you really can’t go wrong. The Snickerdoodle is AMAZING too.
Chocolate lava cake from Pix Patisserie – Another fabulous date night spot. A wine bar AND dessert bar?! Count me in. The atmosphere is amazing. Everything I’ve had there is incredible. Macaroons, chocolates, cream puffs, etc. It’s like going to Paris without spending $1300 on a plane ticket. They also give free birthday desserts!
Alma Chocolate‘s Boozy Box – I make my boyfriend buy this for me every year for my birthday. These chocolates are the best in Portland (in my opinion, of course). They are intensely flavorful and rich. I’m a dark chocolate person, so I crave the bitterness and simplicity of a strong chocolate. The boozy box is filled with alcohol-infused chocolates. Their drinking chocolate is also incredible.
Saint Cupcake‘s Classic Vanilla Cupcake – In case you don’t like chocolate and want a simple, delicious basic cupcake, Saint Cupcake has you covered. I don’t typically enjoy simple cupcakes because I’m one to go for the cookie-dough-caramel-chocolate-coconut-peanut-butter all-in-one deals. But the vanilla cupcake with vanilla icing is everything you’d ever need in a cupcake. SO GOOD.
Pip’s Original Doughnuts & Chai – Made to order, these miniature doughnuts are a MUST every single time I’m in Portland. There is truly nothing better than a warm doughnut.
Blue Star Donuts Original Buttermilk – Yes. BETTER than Voodoo Doughnuts. Obviously, Voodoo Donuts is a nice tourist spot and fun to visit (I still go there for an ODB when I need oreos and peanut butter in my life). But Blue Star is where I go for quality and pure bliss.

Review: Why you should Try The World! (2016)

Published on February 19, 2016March 3, 2026 by C'est le Brie4 Comments

By Natalie Anne ❤

(As of 2026, please see our latest review for Try the World here – Try The World Snack Box Review: Is It Worth It + Coupon Code!)

Ever since moving into a studio apartment by myself in Washington, DC, I have felt lonelier than usual. I have resorted to writing letters and trying out new subscriptions that I have found on Pinterest which offer free deals for signing up. I first became intrigued by Try the World when I was able to get a Japan box (a $39.99 value) for free by subscribing to the company and thought why the hell not. I had the option to cancel after receiving my first box in the mail, but there is no way I could ever part with this magical box of love. I immediately told my sister about it and now we are devastatingly hooked on our subscriptions.

Try the World is a subscription box of treats that comes right to your door once every 2 months for $39.99. Every box comes with 7-8 food items from a particular country, all of which are unique and thoughtful and with a wide array of nutritional content. The flavors range from sweet and sugary to salty and zesty. They are also sure to throw in something starchy to tie it all together too! Every element offers something different but at the same time the box remains cohesive. Every colorful box offers a country guide too that tells you about the chef and food professionals they teamed up with and offer recipes and ideas to send you on your way to creating your own personal yet exotic culinary haven.

My Thailand box has certainly been one of favorites! Thailand has always been at the top of our travel bucket lists and being able to explore the flavors of the country made me want to go even worse. My box included a packet of organic Tom Yum soup ingredients, a bag of dried Jack Fruit (so delicious), Thai spicy flavor rice balls, red curry paste, Jasmine rice, coconut flower syrup, Chaidim tea, and sweet orange coconut crispy rolls.

I absolutely fell in love with the coconut flower syrup as it adds an extra bit of sweetness to any dessert or treat. My favorite use for it is to drizzle it on waffles or pancakes. I recently made Mickey Mouse waffles with dark chocolate morsels and topped them off with this coconut syrup and it melted in my mouth.

Best Brunch Restaurants in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia

Published on February 19, 2016February 10, 2026 by C'est le BrieLeave a comment

By Natalie Anne ❤

I moved to Northern Virginia less than a year ago, and in this short time, have brunched as much as possible. Luckily, in my neighborhood there are plenty of delicious restaurants that know how to brunch well. For my brunching experience, I almost exclusively order some combination of Eggs Benedict, my absolute favorite dish of all time. So if you really don’t like poached eggs topped with a creamy, delicious Hollandaise sauce blend, then this list may not be for you, unless of course I can change your mind.

Bayou Bakery

The first morning I woke up as an official Arlington resident, I walked down the street to check out the nearby bakery and cafe, Bayou Bakery. I was hoping for a trendy, fun experience with tasty food, and it definitely fulfilled my expectations. Their beignets are warm and rolled in a generous portion of powdered sugar. And if you want to try a bit of heaven catch a slice of their Quiche du Jour.

Fontaine Caffe and Creperie

Old Town Alexandria is the most idyllic location for brunching. The brick buildings and waterfront offer a pristine atmosphere to wake up and smell the coffee to. Fontaine’s had a bit of a wait when we arrived on a Sunday morning due to limited space, but their menu was worth it. Although it is a creperie, and I love crepes, I was dying to try their “Breakfast Bruschetta” on the menu. It is composed of brioche bread topped with two fried eggs, pancetta, tomato, and drizzled with a pesto aioli and olive oil. It was amazing to say the least.

Fuego

If indulging in a surplus of Mexican food and margaritas is your idea of a perfect brunch, then you absolutely have to try Fuego in Clarendon. It offers a three course brunch menu for a fixed price with everything from tacos, queso, guacamole, enchiladas, omelettes as well as savory desserts. Their portions are no joke so be ready to take some boxes home. I of course recommend the Mexican Benedict with Chorizo and Chipotle Hollandaise. Their Churros are an absolute must as well.

Del Ray Cafe

Del Ray in Alexandria is situated in a quaint two-story country house and emphasizes an organic farm to table experience. It feels like you’re eating at a neighbors house and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Myles and I were on our way out of town to our grandmother’s annual Christmas party and stopped here for a little detour. We split the Eggs Benedict on a Croissant and the French Toast topped with Strawberry and Rhubarb Compote. It’s always so hard for us to decide between savory and sweet, so we opted for both.

Fireworks Pizza

I wasn’t really expecting a pizza-focused restaurant to have the best brunch options, but I was gladly proved wrong by Fireworks Pizza. They have a smaller brunch menu, but I usually like this better so I don’t have to make so many decisions. I went one morning with a friend who was visiting for a weekend from New York. I texted her the brunch menu and when we saw the description of their Eggs Benedict served over Parmesan Polenta and topped with avocado, we knew we had to try it and we suggest you do too.

Best Burger Spots in Charlottesville, Va

Published on February 18, 2016April 1, 2025 by C'est le Brie2 Comments

By Natalie Anne ❤

Charlottesville is a thriving small city with a lovable historic downtown surrounded by breweries and vineyards. It boasts having a large number of restaurants per capita, and in this case, quality and quantity are very closely tied. Charlottesville is home to some of my favorite restaurants, most of which offer southern-style cuisine paralleled with welcoming atmospheres and an abundance of beer options. Not only is there a huge variety of awesome eateries but almost all of them use fresh ingredients and support local farms. Plus, if you’re not the biggest fan of beef like me, most of them offer poultry and veggie options. Below is a guide featuring some of the best burgers and fries in Charlottesville.

Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint

Featuring diverse flavors of burgers mixed with southern-style food, Jack Brown’s is completely affordable and certainly a unique experience. They have multiple locations across Virginia and the South, so if you’re in the area, try to find one near you. My favorite burger is the Greg Brady which is topped with macaroni & cheese and BBQ chips. Don’t forget to try their secret sauce with a side of their crinkle fries and if you’re looking to relax a little try one or more of their local beers on tap!

Citizen Burger Bar

Citizen burger offers tasty burgers and ingredients that are come from local farms. If you’re not in the mood for a burger, they also offer grilled cheeses, salads, appetizers, and sides that compliment the meal perfectly whether you are a type who likes fried pickles, beer battered onion rings or truffle fries with aioli. I personally can’t keep my paws off their addicting truffle fries and always make sure to order extra so I can box them up.

World of Beer

World of Beer offers hundreds of beer choices and a nice patio atmosphere on West Main Street. More importantly, their food hits the spot especially while you’re sampling a beer tray or drinking a pint of one of your favorite ales. Don’t miss either the giant traditional-style pretzel or their loaded tater tots with bacon and jalapenos.

The Best S’mores Cupcakes – Graham Cracker Cupcake with Marshmallow Fluff Frosting

Published on February 17, 2016March 3, 2026 by C'est le BrieLeave a comment

by Myles Katherine ❤

So these cupcakes are DELISH. I was in a pickle the other night because I needed a treat to bring to a party and I didn’t feel like going to the grocery store. I LOVE s’mores and I’ve always wanted to try to make s’mores cupcakes. I was in luck because my boyfriend and I had recently gone on a trip so I was able to pull together all of the ingredients! It was meant to be.

Chocolate-filled Graham Cracker Cupcakes

recipe makes 12 cupcakes
(derived from Baked Perfection)

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 15 whole crackers ground in processor)
1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole milk
4 hershey’s milk chocolate bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 12 standard muffin cups with paper liners.

Whisk graham crumbs, flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating to blend between additions. Beat in vanilla. Add graham-cracker mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with graham-cracker mixture. Fill cupcake liner’s 1/3 full, place two hershey squares in the middle of each cupcake, then cover with remaining batter. Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center come out clean, about 15 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to rack; cool completely.

Marshmallow Fluff Icing

(derived from Please Pass the Pie)

1 jar of marshmallow fluff
3/4 cup softened butter
Add powdered sugar (3/4 cup to 1 cup) and vanilla extract (1/2 to 1 tsp vanilla), to taste
Add small amounts of flour to thicken if desired