dessert | Page 5 of 6 | Mass Food & Wine

Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Parsnip Gelato and Candied Bacon

After starting with a Crisp Goat Cheese and Cream of Corn Teaser with Basil Jello and Freeze Dried Crisp Kernels as the first course before diving into the second course of Sweet Sour and Salty Tuna & Smokey Brined Pork Tenderloin the third and final course would need to be rich, but small, to cleanse the Worcester Foodies’ palate.

To accomplish this at Ceres Bistro, Chef Bill Nemeroff, opted for another duet with Sour Cream Coffee Cake, often a suitable choice for breakfast, with a parsnip ice cream topped with a piece of candied bacon. Although the moist and spongy Sour Cream Coffee Cake seemed to be the center of the desert, it was merely there to accompany the parsnip ice cream. Parsnip flavored gel at, on it’s own, is a tough sell, but it’s refreshing flavor was subtle, cleansing and interacted perfectly with the cream and sugar of the gelato base. While one can do no wrong with bacon, the candied effect seemed to be a bit much for the ensemble. The crisp crusted candied brown sugar glaze was a bit too salty both the coffee cake, but would have fared perfectly with matched with the gelato alone.

To wash this course down, a brandy and port flip was created. Both port and brandy are recognized for being the perfect after-dinner drinks, but the craft elegance of this cocktail lay with the way that the raw egg yolk interacted with the body of the port and sublet flavor of the brandy. The perfect end to three diverse courses from Ceres Bistro.

Over the past few years, frozen yogurt has become a hot commodity in major cities around the country! With national franchises like Pinkberry, Red Mango and Yolato popping up all over the country, consumers are warming up to this delicious frozen treat so it was just a matter of time before it made its appearance in Worcester. And the consumer following has been cult-like within the short few weeks it’s been introduced.

WooBerry Frozen Yogurt, the brainchild of Ted Domville opened on Highland Street, across from Sole Proprietor, late August to rave reviews and big crowds. The day WorcesterScene visited, the line was 25 to 35 people deep the entire time we were there. Groups of college-aged kids, retired couples and young families all anxiously waited their turn to make a selection from the enormous and every-changing chalkboard menu of toppings and daily frozen yogurt flavors.

TheBrainChildBehindWooBerry — The Brain Child, Ted Domville, Behind WooBerry Frozen Yogurt

The concept is simple: choose your yogurt flavor from one of the four “made-daily”, kosher and gluten-free featured flavors, then choose as many toppings as you want. The first topping is $.75 and the next ones are $.50. At WooBerry, there is always one free topping every day and jimmies (or “sprinkles” for non New Englanders) are always free. Choosing your topping will not be easy as there are as many as 60 different choices ranging from traditional strawberries, blueberries, peaches, peanut butter cups, nuts, chocolate chips to interesting choices like Dr. Gonzo’s Gummy Bites! WooBerry sources many of its ingredients locally, and believe it or not, makes all its whip cream by hand.

WooBerry has a relaxed yet contemporary feel and it is exactly what Domville wanted. He searched in and around Worcester for the right location, looking for a space where he could create a comfortable, neighborhood shop. When he found the space on Highland Street, he transformed it with brightly colored walls and exposed brick. Choose to sit up front at a table with friends, or hangout in the back on a couch and relax. WooBerry has wi-fi to help you extend your stay.

The staff at WooBerry goes through an extensive 2-day training regiment where they learn all about yogurt and where they are encouraged to try all the flavors and toppings. Want a cup of coffee or a sandwich instead? “Sorry,” says Domville, “We are focused on being the best yogurt shop in the region. There are plenty of great places to eat or have coffee, so enjoy them and when you want yogurt, come back to WooBerry,” he says.

So try WooBerry Frozen Yogurt on Highland Street. We are sure you will love it!