On Tuesday we were at Tamarind Tea Room, the casual sister restaurant to the more formal Tamarind next door. The dessert menu here is a mix of classic Indian desserts done elegantly, and American desserts like cheesecakes and soufflés. Avoid the American ones, not because they're bad, but because the Indian desserts are that much better. More

Payasam, a chilled vermicelli-based pudding with saffron and chopped caramelized almonds, is served in a deep bowl at Tamarind Tea Room. It's a fine departure from rice pudding (of which they also make a good version), each spoonful bearing a tangle of the thin, slippery, smooth noodles bathed in a thick sauce of milk and sugar. More

On the dessert menu at Junoon, the classic Indian ice cream Kulfi ($12) comes by the trio. More

Utterly light, the Greek Yoghurt Panna Cotta ($11) from Craft is dessert for someone who isn't exactly craving dessert. It's one of the newest menu creations from pastry chef Meredith Tomason, and quite a delicate one. More

This is not just cottage cheese, but clabbered cottage cheese. As in cottage cheese with a dangerously high proportion of thick, cultured cream (essentially crème fraîche) mixed right in to the cheese. Pair with ripe, sweet berries and you've got the ideal warm weather snack. The creation from San Francisco-based Cowgirl Creamery skims the line of guilty pleasure with those creamy, rich curds finishing on a tangy note. It's $10.99 a pound at Eataly and just as good eaten plain with a spoon, straight from the plastic container. More

Almost fifteen years after the cold war ended, Russia has become fodder for a theme restaurant, and a fine one at that. More

Flatiron-based Chocolat Moderne, a favorite among many chocolate aficionados, has always kept a low profile. You might have seen their chocolates in Dean & Deluca's and other specialty shops, but for the best experience, go straight to the source. More

Fruit and cheese are a time-honored combination; if it ain't broke, why fix it? The fig & cheese sandwich ($7) at Beecher's Handmade Cheese is just sweet enough to make itself interesting, but not so sweet you feel like you skipped the main course and went straight to dessert. More

A classic, but with a twist. Individual Indian Apple Pies are $6 apiece at City Bakery, and come with a cornmeal crust in place of a traditional crust. More

When talking about Vegetable Heroes in this city, it's hard to ignore Craft. The single-ingredient-centric, simply prepared fare includes a vegetable section on the menu as long, or longer, than most of the other categories. More