Back to Basics: Sweet X’s and O’s

Welcome to Back to Basics, where we classy ladies try to establish just how basic one can be in the Orlando area. Each month, we’ll be taking on a new theme, and we’ll be searching for the best in basic trends. We’ve all heard some of the most recent popular foodie trends: charcoal, galaxy and unicorn, as well as familiar classics such as pumpkin spice and peppermint. We hope we can inspire the rest of the Nonahood to embrace their inner basic.

The month of love is here! Check out some of these sweet snacks and hopefully you’ll fall in love with them just as much as we did!
-XOXO Nicole and Van

Place: Le Macaron Celebration
Order: Gingerbread Macaron, Matcha Tea Macaron, Colombian Coffee Macaron, Rose Macaroon, Basil White Chocolate Macaron, Lavender White Chocolate Macaroon
Final Review Nicole: Oui! Oui! Oui! Les macarons sont magnifiques! (Yes! Yes! Yes! The macarons are magnificent!) The texture of these French delicacies is literal perfection! A slight crunch of the hard exterior is followed by the soft and smooth texture of the inside cream. The Basil White Chocolate was nice with a light and sweet flavor. The Rose was so delicious! The perfume aftertaste was apparent, which I love! The Lavender White Chocolate was the perfect, delicate delight with a perfumey aftertaste. The Matcha Tea was tasty and light. What’s better than the French culture of love, a little romance and some perfectly light sweet treats? So what are you waiting for?! Grab your boo (or a friend) and treat yourself to this celebration in Celebration!
Final Review Vanessa: J’aime les macarons! (I love macarons!) How fitting that in the month that is socially dedicated to love, we stop at a store with sweet treats from a country where the language is one of the most romantic on the planet?
I love French macarons. How could you not? Between the color, texture, taste, and their petite size, it’s hard not to fall in love with the appeal of them. I definitely missed France while I was sitting here enjoying the macarons. The environment and look of Le Macaron is already enough to make you feel sweet, comfortable, and right at home. In my opinion, it’s a great place for a date night or fun afternoon out for coffee (I’m looking at you, boyfriends everywhere!).
Taste: 8/10
Aesthetic: 9/10
Environment: 9/10
Price: 5/10 (a bit on the expensive side)
Proximity to Nonahood: 5/10 (Celebration is a bit of a drive)

Place: Kilwin’s Creamery Celebration
Order: Double Dark Chocolate Fudge, Sea Salt Caramel Fudge
Final Review Nicole: If you’ve read any of our previous articles, you know my obsession with sea salt caramel. This fudge was good but way too sweet. I guess you could say I’m not the biggest fudge fan. I took like three bites and then called it quits.
Final Review Vanessa: Fudge is great! I love chocolate and the sweet richness of it, however, fudge can also be a bit overwhelming as far as how much I can handle in one sitting. After four or five bites, I felt I had enough of the sweetness for the day. Though it is definitely a great Valentine’s Day treat, I don’t think that I could eat too much of it at once – I feel like I’d go into a sugar coma. Kilwin’s has always been a sentimental place for me, as I spent most of my childhood living in Celebration, and this was a frequent ice cream stop for my family and me. Overall, I liked the fudge and the environment of Kilwins, I just need it in small doses.
Taste: 6/10
Aesthetic: 7/10
Environment: 7/10
Price: 6/10 (BOGO-$5.62 for 2 large chunks)
Proximity to Nonahood: 5/10 (Celebration is a bit of a drive)

Place: Vespr Coffeebar
Order: Godiva Chocolate Mocha
Final Review Vanessa: I tackled this mocha all on my own for this issue! I’ve been a chocolate fanatic for most of my life, and this mocha never disappoints (it’s one of my favorite things to order at Vespr, with almond milk instead of dairy). The mocha is rich and creamy with real chocolate (not the kind of fake syrup that some coffee chains rely on). It’s good both hot and iced, so whatever you feel for the warm Florida February, know that, served either way, it will taste just as good. I would drink a thousand of these. Easy.
Taste: 9/10
Aesthetic: 10/10
Environment: 7/10
Price: 6/10
Proximity to Nonahood: 6/10

Place: Cooper’s Hawk
Order: Vin Chocolat Noir Wine
Final Review Nicole: Chocolate and wine lovers rejoice! Are you feeling fancy? This red is a perfect dessert wine. It has aromas of cherry and raspberry intertwined with chocolate. This pairing creates a delicious, intriguing and mouthwatering combination. It tastes like chocolate covered cherries and raspberries. The palate is rich and sweet with ripe red fruit flavors and leads to a long chocolate and berry finish. It was so smooth, I felt like a million bucks drinking it. It pairs well with anything and everything chocolate, according to Cooper’s Hawk, which might be a little overkill on the chocolate for me. The wine was just enough! The Vin Chocolat Noir wine is class in a glass. I’d enjoy this in small doses over and over!
Taste: 9/10
Aesthetic: 8/10
Environment: 8/10
Price: 8/10
Proximity to Nonahood: 6/10

Place: Gideon’s Bakehouse
Order: Chocolate Chip Cookie and Cookies and Cream Cookie
Final Review Nicole: Holy crap, this is one killer cookie. No, seriously, this is diabetes in one bite. At first glance, this is just a giant out-of-control oreo and I’m not complaining. The cookies and cream overpowers the actual cookie and honestly, I forgot it was even there! At half a pound, taking more than one or two bites is difficult enough, but it’s no wonder Gideon’s is getting noticed and they sell out nearly everyday!
Final Review Vanessa: THESE COOKIES ARE HEAVEN! I see now why the line was out the door when we got here, and why there is a limit of only six cookies per customer! I have never tasted a cookie that is such a balance of biting into soft cookie dough, while also being the perfect salty treat. They are QUITE the hefty cookie as well, weighing in at half a pound! From the first bite, you are met with intense sweetness and just the right amount of salt from a light sprinkle of sea salt on top. I can totally see why this place was featured on the YouTube channel Insider Dessert – they combine a classic aesthetic appeal with an interesting market idea for cookies. The rest of East End Market is just as easily an aesthetic wonderland, with plenty of cute spots for photo opportunities and some savory snacks after you’ve satisfied your sweet tooth.
Taste: 10/10
Aesthetic: 10/10
Environment: 10/10
Price: 6/10
Proximity to Nonahood: 5/10

Place: The Naked Cupcake Food Truck
Order: Salted Caramel Cupcake and Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake
Final Review Nicole: I’m not normally one who wants her dessert craving fulfilled by a cupcake, but that Salted Caramel cupcake is to die for. The salted caramel cream filling breaks up a normally dry cupcake and keeps it moist. The topping of caramel drizzle and a sprinkle of sea salt made my mouth water. I’m a HUGE advocate for the salty/sweet combo and can honestly never have enough of it. The variety of flavors that The Naked Cupcake provides is great for all preferences and the best part is that you can create your own cupcake, too!
Final Review Vanessa: I had the pleasure of enjoying a Reese’s in cupcake form and it was 10 out of 10, DELISH! My sweet tooth and cravings have been satisfied!
Taste: 10/10
Aesthetic: 10/10
Environment: 10/10
Price: 7/10
Proximity to Nonahood: 10/10 (Food Truck=Mobile)