Subverting guest expectations through surprise ingredients and unconventional twists

Fostering a coffee culture around community, conversation and connection

Recipe courtesy of Michael Boyer
Sponsor: Ghirardelli

How to ring in the new year with culinary flair and keep it going all yearlong

A case study in how high-impact ingredients can transform any dish

Tap into morning flavor favorites for signature evening desserts

Hildee’s Dine-Inn | Wimberley, Texas

Frida Southwest | Oklahoma City

Yogurt Mill | Based in Modesto, Calif.

Boulangerie Christophe | Washington, D.C.

Taco John’s | Based in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Solstice | Locations in Newtown, Pa., and Irvine, Calif.

National Mango Board + Tesse Restaurant

Banana Cream Napoleon with warm caramel, phyllo, banana filling and vanilla whipped cream

Strawberry ice cream and cream cheese mousse with fresh berries and almond cookie crumbles in an edible chocolate bowl, with tableside sauces

Chia-Lime Pudding with black sesame-coriander granola, passionfruit curd and macerated raspberries

Cinnamon Roll with a dollop of cream cheese icing

Graham cracker crust filled with Key lime custard and topped with sweet whipped cream and lime zest

White Chocolate Amaretto Cheesecake on an almond-graham crust

Passionfruit-lemongrass curd and pandan crumble with dehydrated Thai basil meringue and coconut-mascarpone mousse, served with passionfruit-lemongrass sorbet, coconut jellies, pandan tapioca pearls and passionfruit leather

Toffee torte, bourbon anglaise, spiced pecans and housemade vanilla whipped cream

Cedar plank-smoked brownie, milk chocolate bar, marshmallows, graham cracker, Grand Marnier-infused chocolate ganache and vanilla bean ice cream

Crème brûlée ice cream with chocolate wafer clusters and Havana Club rum

Dessert innovations leveraging the flavors and formats consumers yearn for today

The Eastern Med ingredient with a long reach

Peanut Butter Pie with peanut butter cookies, chocolate ganache and banana meringue.

Marionberry Pie Shake: Vanilla ice cream, marionberry blackberries and pie crust.

Build-your-own Dessert Waffle with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter sauce, mini peanut butter cups, Kinder bar pieces and whipped cream.

Ube Milk Toast: ube and housemade ube ice cream with “crunchy milk” on baked brioche.

Cast Iron Cornbread with honey butter.

Chocolate-Coffee Cannoli with white chocolate ganache, coconut crunch, yuzu curd and chocolate ice cream.

Baked Goat Cheese: goat cheese and blueberry-lavender jam in a phyllo shell, served with candied walnuts and citrus gel.

Exploring the versatility of the avocado, this Sweet Avocado Surrender Sundae stars avocado-mango ice cream, Mexican hot chocolate sauce and chocolate-chipotle avocado doughnut holes.

Ousia offers its Donut Pikilia: Housemade sampler of Halva Mousse with hazelnut chocolate, Mastiha Yogurt Mousse with pistachio glaze, and Spiced Apple

In Indian mash-ups, subtle moves show up as a gentle touch, an easing in of flavor. The result is significant, offering delicious flavor discovery

When it comes to sundaes, chefs are upping the flavor and textural ante, choosing intriguing combinations and pulling in on-trend ingredients.

CarneVino Italian Steakhouse offers a Chocolate & Peanut Butter Torte with peanut brittle and salted peanut butter caramel

Cinnaholic's Cookie Monster - Cinnamon roll, cream cheese frosting, homemade cookie dough, chocolate sauce