Literally meaning ‘pick me up’ in Italian, tiramisu is the perfect end to a perfect meal. FQ has found the best in the big city:
The Engine Room, Birkenhead
This North Shore haven has a seasonal take on Tiramisu. Chocolate hazelnut pudding is layered with espresso, ice cream and praline. To top it off? Italian meringue. Served in a delicate coffee cup.
Oko Dessert Kitchen, Aotea Square
The T”MISU is a dessert work of art in Oko Dessert Kitchen’s glass cabinet. Marsala mascarpone zabaglione (a sweet kind of custard) is combined with chocolate chunk and finished with feuilletine.
Farina, City Centre
In the same Italian family as Toto’s (and their metre-long pizza), Farina serves Italian street food with soul. The Farina tiramisu features Kahlua, espresso and smooth mascarpone cream.
Frasers, Mt Eden
Frasers’ home-baked tiramisu uses as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. Kapiti’s award-winning mascarpone is layered between savoiardi and is lightly soaked in an espresso brandy mix. Simple yet seductive.
Baduzzi, Wynyard Quarter
If you feel like being bad, Baduzzi’s Baileys infused tiramisu is served in a biscuit basket with a soft chocolate cream and sprinkled meringue. It’s big enough for two, too.
The Refreshment Room, Titirangi
Located in the Waitakere Ranges, The Refreshment Room serves tiramisu with caramel ice cream. The rustic Italian restaurant folds Amaretto and espresso through zabaglione and sprinkles it with praline.
Giapo, Queen Street
For Giapo, the tiramisu flavour represents an Italian heritage. It has recreated the same texture and flavour of the favoured dessert in ice cream form. Light coffee and mascarpone ice cream is layered with ladyfingers dipped in more coffee and marsala wine, with zabaglione running through.
Coco’s Cantina, Karangahape Road
The tiramisu at Coco’s Cantina has flavoursome style and a little bit of K’ Road quirk. This rustic Italian hotspot is so delicious it’s fit for a photoshoot. So fit in fact, Fashion Quarterly‘s photoshoot here with Coco’s Cantina’s statement red-checked tablecloths, is still one of editor Sally-Ann Mullin’s favourites.
