100 BEST ’13: Natural Fruit Flavors (Numbers 70-66)

For the fourth year in a row, I present the 100 most exciting dishes I’ve consumed during my food adventures around the five boroughs. Look for another five dishes every few days.

After every meal, I crave something sweet. It’s a human problem, no doubt. And while I certainly indulge in chocolate and caramel from time to time, I feel less guilty when I get my sugar cravings from fructose, aka fruit. Tart, juicy, and sweet, these five fruit infused dishes require no guilt.

NUMBER 70: CONCORD GRAPE PALETA at LA NEWYORKINA

Fany Gerson has been selling her paletas (Mexican popsicles) around food festivals and markets in NYC since 2010. These frozen blocks of ice contain unique seasonal flavors that are a far cry from the American creamsicle.  For instance, the concord grape paleta showcases the sweet and tart notes of the seasonal fruit. It’s a refreshing, full-flavored treat and when garnished with some bold chili flakes, it becomes a flavor fiesta. Price: $4

NUMBER 69: SMOOTHIE at YOUR HEALTHY KITCHEN

SADLY, YOUR HEALTHY KITCHEN IS NOW CLOSED.

Of course Your Healthy Kitchen opened around the corner from my old apartment once I vacated the premises. I wish this cozy little nook was around for me to explore their unique healthy and hearty tasting menu. When I was visiting the neighborhood again, I stopped in to try one of their smoothies. There’s no menu for the juices, but the proprietor will tell you what she has based on the season and will throw as much fruit (mango, watermelon, pineapple, etc.) and ice into a blender as possible. The result is a balanced smoothie that tastes like a frozen tropical fruit cup.

NUMBER 68: SOUR CREAM APPLE WALNUT PIE at LITTLE PIE COMPANY

Way before all of these hipster pie companies llike Four & Twenty Blackbirds and Baked started opening in Brooklyn, Little Pie Company was turning out classic and beautiful pies at their Hell’s Kitchen storefront. In business since 1985, their classic Sour Cream Walnut Apple Pie still reigns supreme. Loaded with butter, brown sugar, and apples, the pie is laced with sour cream to cut the sweetness and caramlized walnuts bring an extra layer of texture. The recipe hasn’t changed and for good reason. Price: $8/$23/$30

NUMBER 67: MANGO POMELO SAGO SOUP at INDESSERT

SADLY, INDESSERT IS NOW CLOSED.

Dessert is not usually the time we think about soup. But leave it to InDessert, a new spot in Chinatown, to change our minds. Their speciality is tong sui, a Cantonese dish that translates to “sugar water.” My favorite of their selections is the mango pomelo sago soup. Citrusy slivers of pomelo (a fruit similar to grapefruit) kiss the sweet and cold cream based soup that tastes strongly of mango and sugar. More mango flavor is revealed from fresh slices garnished on top. And tapioca-like sago pearls, giving the soup a chewy and fun texture, are present in every bite – I mean, every slurp. Price: $6.95

NUMBER 66: CARAMLIZED PINEAPPLE at HU KITCHEN