your weekly digestion of food news to consume...and chocolate pudding pastry bun!

Just when I feel myself breaking free of my bakery pastry addiction, they come along with something new that draws me back in. I found my legs walking me towards Neighbor Bakehouse uncontrollably one recent day with the power and smell of fresh baked goodness once I entered the doors. That and no real line for a change was pretty inviting. Since my eyes are on the lookout for new things I find them locking in on the chocolate pudding bun. Basically a donut with chocolate filling (see below). The pastry part here is somewhere between a croissant and cream puff. They've baked it so the outside is crusty, crispy dark brown but the inside is very light and filled to full with chocolate pudding. And it is pudding, I asked. The bread makes it seem light but the pudding pulls it back up and falls somewhere in between on the dessert heft line for me. Though I still enjoyed it, mostly because there is a lot of pudding to make this solid. Besides the dusting of powdered sugar on top there is also some crunch from what I believe are crushed cacao nibs, maybe. They had that dark chocolate kind of flavor and it helps add a little texture to it. It is slightly bigger than your standard jelly donut, though at $3.50 I do wish it was slightly cheaper too. Seems this is the standard bearer of prices these days for specialty pastries, but at least I like it better than Dynamo Donuts, which are smaller and run the same price. While I can't see making this your everyday morning bun, I do recommend it when you want something light, chocolatey, filling and a little different than what you'd get at a Happy Donuts. Just keep in mind these are not Happy Donut or even Dunkin' Donut prices either. 

• And speaking of...the first Dunkin' Donuts is finally arriving in the Bay Area! Ugh, in f***king Walnut Creek! That's a long way to go for a free AARP card donut!
• A vegan butcher shop opened in Berkeley, of course and People's Cafe, also in Berkeley has called it quits.
• Here's a look inside Mosu, another fine dining place most of us won't be able to afford or eat at.
• And here's a look inside Pagan Idol, a new tiki bar we may be able to afford to check out.
• Brasserie Saint James, a new brew pub (yawn) has also opened this week.
• Everyone seems to be going crazy over Wise Son's new bagel place.
• After a fire and a non-bargaining landlord, Liverpool Lil's has officially closed up shop.
• Wow, really?! A three and a half hour wait for ramen?!
• Gluten free, dairy free, blah, blah, blah. Well, it is the thing now.
• Poke bowls and sushi burritos are coming to the Castro! 
• And still another landlord not willing to bargain and looking for a payday, Bean There Cafe closes after 21 years.