Comments (13) Best Dessert Date - 2009
Dessert Thali at Poppy
The boozy first kiss is a time-honored tradition—inhibitions down, libido up, body loose, eyelids already at half-mast. But if you don't drink or smoke, how're you going to lurch into first contact without fear of choking? Get high on sugar first. Dana Cree's $15 dessert thali at Poppy is ideal for easing pre-mack jitters. A large tray arrives at your table loaded up with one of Cree's main desserts (say, her warm orange-rhubarb shortcake or the, haha, hot date cake), plus a scoop of ice cream (mango lassi, sassafras, neapolitan) and a host of bite-sized things, including candied nuts, fruit gelées, chocolate truffles, and an exquisite nutter-butter square with a crackly caramel topping. There's enough conversation material on the tray to guarantee 15 minutes free of awkward silences while your pupils dilate and your pulse quickens. Though the room's too well-lit for launching into any seduction at the table, you can take your date on a tour of the gardens out back afterward. Hedging your bets with a couple of bourbon sours on the side wouldn't hurt, either. —Jonathan Kauffman
