Beard Papa's * * * * $$

Best sweets I've tried in the US, hands down. The creme puffs are worth killing for - I had 5 of them at 220 calories and 30% cholesterol a piece. A japanese friend suggested it to us because they originated in Osaka and only recently (1999-on) they started rolling out stores in the US. A test will convince you.

CeFiore + + + $ $

Where? Little Tokyo Plaza
Who? Sushu, Michellios, Andrew, Howie

Expensive frozen yoghurt seems to be the craze nowadays. I have to say that I do enjoy eating the sweet, delectable, creamy goodness here, but I absolutely refuse to pay $5 for something worth $0.50. The fact that CeFiore is associated with Todai explains a lot. My new business plan is to create a homemade yoghurt stand that will undercut CeFiore and Pinkberry by 50%. Oh right, wait, this is a food review blog. The place is very pretty - absolutely new, clean, bright, lots of glass and even has tv menus... and Vivien and Krystal work there too! Park in the plaza - where I just found out that they validate! Pay $5 up front and actually get it back when you leave.

Coldstone Creamery * * / + + + $

Where? Long Beach Village, Pasadena/South Lake
Who? Andrew and CLEO people, Sushu, Howie

Andrew's take: Absolutely excellent ice cream which is even better in a waffle bowl. Some may cringe at the thought of putting a whole brownie, fudge, and cherries in a bowl that compact. But if you don't mind eating 10,000 calories in one $5 sitting, then this is the place to go. Dine-in interior is sparse.

Themo's take: I'll have to disagree on this one. The ice cream is too thick and too buttery, and the various flavors are not very strong. The great thing is that you can mix various other stuff like nuts, fruits, syrups etc with your ice cream. But the taste is not that great. Gelato Paradiso is 10 times better!

Gelato Paradiso * * * * $

Who? Themos, Dora
Where? Hollywood
How much? $5

Simply put, the best ice-cream I had in a very very long time... I was just amazed to find such a place existed in LA. The flavors are stunningly real, they are even better than the real fruits orwhatever they make them out of. Well done!

Diddy Riese Cookies * * */+ + + $

Themo's Take: 3 cookies for $1. And they are heavenly good. Need I say anything else?

Andrew's Take: Nice waffle ice cream cones and awesome cookies for very cheap. But there are always, always lines... and never, never parking...

Who? Andrew, Shusan, Howie, Themo