[Photo: Kathy Chan]

I am familiar with this Asian dessert, here accurately if unappealingly called a "sesame bean paste rice ball": black sesame paste stuffed in soft mochi, and served in a soup of fermented rice. The hot liquid sesame, thick and creamy, slowly drips out as you bite away the mochi. Immensely satisfying. But this particular version, served at Spicy & Tasty in Flushing was new for me.

Eggs! Egg whites, specifically. Swirled into the dessert soup in the same manner as hot and sour soup, among the grains of fermented rice. I associate egg whites with savory soups, never sweet ones, but this dessert grew on me. The restaurant service may have been surly, but I'd go back for this alone.

Spicy & Tasty

3907 Prince Street, Flushing NY 11354 (map)
718-359-1601‎