A Slice of Sicily in San Pablo

Who would have thought that you could savor authentic Sicilian chocolate in the San Francisco suburb of San Pablo? Yet that is what La Strada serves in its Chocolate Fondant.

While their tiramisu and other desserts are made on site, this local neighborhood restaurant, according to our server, imports this three-layered chocolate cake (along with its Tartufo di Cioccolato) directly from Sicily. And that is a good thing for people like me who desire a deep dark chocolate cake that is not overly sweet, made in good European tradition.

While many American chocolate layered cakes are covered with a too-sweet chocolate frosting, the Chocolate Fondant is covered with a beautifully bittersweet chocolate ganache. A rich subtly-sweet chocolate cream complements the layers of cake, which surprisingly are moist and full of rich chocolate flavor, which are almost good enough to stand solo as a dessert itself. The cake is rimmed with chocolate flakes and drizzled lightly with a bittersweet chocolate sauce. The taste of good dark chocolate pops with each bite. No sweet saccharin here – only the real stuff.

While others in my dinner party thoroughly enjoyed the Tartufo di Ciococolato, I definitely preferred the cake over this traditional Italian ice cream dessert. Filled with zabaglione cream, covered with chocolate gelato, hazelnuts, and cocoa powder, and accented with raspberry sauce, the Tartufo had too much going on for my taste palate and lacked the dark chocolate pop I crave.

While the vegan Fettuccine ai Carciofi was very good, with its artichoke hearts, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic, the dessert is what made the meal.

Overall assessment: 4.5 cacao beans (out of 5)
Enjoy your pasta but save room for the Chocolate Fondant – a rich dark bittersweet delight, as Sicily is deliciously served up in San Pablo.
(review date: 2009_11-10)