Without the promise of sweets, mouths would never have the patience to stay open during dentist appointments or closed during beekeeping demonstrations. Keep mouths copacetic with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of desserts, bistro fare, and wine at The Desserterie in Midlothian.
The Desserterie doles out gourmet desserts built under the Europe-trained eye of pastry chef Pierre Tocco, and hearty menus boast meal-ready bistro fare and a full wine selection. The flourless espresso-chocolate cake lassos white-chocolate ganache and candied coffee beans in a dessert perfect for scarecrows afraid of eating grain-based cousins ($4.50), and slices of carrot cake interlace Grand Marnier–flavored cream-cheese icing with spongy foundations ($3.85). The fresh-fruit tart hosts a colorful pool party on its top deck, as strawberries, kiwis, and blueberries dip in a sea of triple-sec-flavored custard ($21 for 8" pie). Six different cupcakes unlock palate safes, using red velvet, german chocolate, and other recipes to open mouths instead of bobby pins and stethoscopes ($3.25 for one; $12 for four).
The Desserterie's inverted food pyramid puts desserts first, but the shop's bistro fare sates savory and vegetable flavor centers with soups, salads, and sandwiches. Chefs line fists with handheld cafe classics, such as chicken-salad wraps ($8.95), egg-salad wraps ($7.95), and roast-beef paninis ($8.95). Vegetarians uncover a treasure trove of meat-free eats, including the Desserterie's classic grilled cheese, which, like a Wisconsin fireworks factory, comes bursting with melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese ($7.95). Top off noshes with sips of white, red, or sweet wine from The Desserterie's simple wine list on the quaint outdoor patio ($5–$10/glass).
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