4 minute read
ULTIMATE SPLURGE
food highlight ULTIMATE SPLURGE
AN ICE CREAM CHALLENGE YOU WON’T BELIEVE
BY NORA HESTON TARTE / D DAN HOOD
$45
At I Live For Dessert in Tracy, there is a long list of ice creams, milkshakes, smoothies, and other desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth. But one menu item stands out from the rest. The Ultimate Splurge is an over-sized dessert with a built in food challenge for those who think they can complete it. Spoiler alert: no one has yet.
The monster mountain of ice cream includes 15 scoops of ice cream (flavors chosen at random), six huge cookies, six organic cherries, six gigantic marshmallows, ¼-cup of sprinkles, ¼-cup of chocolate syrup, and three bananas. “Everything is big,” Owner Connie Welshonse says. While most come in and share the creation with a group of people—or at least two— there is an opportunity to take it on yourself and be crowned the first winner of the Ultimate Splurge Challenge. If you down the whole thing in 20 minutes without losing it—you know what we mean—you’ll get a $15 gift card and a shop shirt, plus bragging rights. Connie has a couple of tips for going the distance, including coming in with an empty stomach and not letting the ice cream hit your back teeth, which can cause an ice cream headache. Some food challenge extraordinaries say further preparation can help—try stretching your stomach out the week before taking on the challenge by eating salad.
Whether you’re taking the challenge or simply want to enjoy this oneof-a-kind dessert with a couple of friends, you do get to make a couple of choices. Choose between chocolate or peanut butter cookies and opt for limited ingredient ice creams to meet certain diet restrictions.
I LIVE FOR DESSERT
807 N. Central Ave.,Tracy (209) 222-4737 ILiveForDessert.com
5 best
5BEST APHRODISIAC FOODS
BY DEIRDRE CARLSON Do certain foods put you in an amorous mood? Aphrodisiacs, named after the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, are foods said to spike your sexual desire. Food science researchers have looked for connections that show certain foods lead to an increase in desire. While not necessarily the key to spicing up your love life, certain foods do have ‘feel good’ compounds, such as capsaicin in chili peppers that enhance bodily sensations or antioxidants in fruits like cherries, pomegranates, figs, and strawberries that improve your blood flow. Others, like oysters, asparagus, and figs simply resemble our more intimate body parts. There are plenty of local favorite dishes featuring aphrodisiac foods, so why not indulge?
TOWN HOUSE RESTAURANT Market Value
1ARTICHOKE AT GARLIC BROTHERS 6629 EMBARCADERO DR., STOCKTON, (209) 474-6585 Looking out at the Delta at the waterfront Garlic Brothers may be dreamy enough a setting to strike a match but try catching the sunset while dining on their Pleasure Point pizza featuring thin crust, tomato basil sauce, mozzarella cheese, artichoke hearts, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and feta cheese to really light the fire. $17.50
2ASPARAGUS AT MIDGLEY’S PUBLIC HOUSE 296 LINCOLN CENTER, STOCKTON, (209) 474-7700 Start your meal off on the right foot at Midgely’s Public House by doing yourself (and your date) a favor and order the Asparagus Cigars, which feature fresh asparagus and cream cheese wrapped in an egg roll wrapper and served with a sweet chili sauce. $13
3OYSTERS AT TOWN HOUSE RESTAURANT AT WINE & ROSES 2505 W. TURNER RD., LODI, (209) 334-6988 It is hard to beat the beautiful gardens and scenery while dining outdoors at Towne House Restaurant at Wine & Roses where you will find the amazing Beausoleil Oysters, an Atlantic oyster from Canada in which the name translated means “Beautiful Sun.” They are served with pickled walnut mignonette and local Meyer lemon. MARKET PRICE.
4SPICY CHILI PEPPERS AT M SUSHI BISTRO 212 S. SCHOOL ST., LODI, (209) 400-7505 Get cozy with your sweetie over a sushi dinner. At M Sushi Bistro order the Inferno specialty roll featuring spicy tuna, panko shrimp, and cucumber on the inside, topped with seven spice tuna, avocado, spicy sauce, teriyaki sauce, tempura flakes, and habaneroinfused masago. $14
5STRAWBERRIES AT MEZZO 3499 BROOKSIDE RD., STE. A, STOCKTON, (209) 473-7300 It does not get more romantic than a Strawberry Whipped Cream Napoleon with decadent chocolate sauce found at Mezzo, featuring layers of flaky French pastry and perfect strawberry whipped cream to create this delicious dish $12
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Take-Out Specials! Serving 4
Fish & Chips Special
Deep-fried Pacific Cod, french fries, a pint of coleslaw. Half loaf of fresh sourdough bread & a cup of tartar sauce.
Serves 4 $37
Clam Chowder Special
2 quarts of clam chowder, half loaf of fresh sourdough bread & fresh garden salad with your choice of dressing.
Serves 4 $36
