A Dessert Revolution

New dessert shops make Houston a much sweeter place: It's not just about cupcakes anymore

Despite the fact that ice cream parlors have been around for more than a century — offering that one, single, storied treat — some of us are still confounded when we hear of a new specialty dessert shop. Sure, cupcakeries have been around for a few years now, but these days we’ve got more unique options popping up like mushrooms all over Houston.

And truly they make sense. Specialty shops allow owners to concentrate on that one thing they love most. They can hone textures and flavors and processes, all to offer a more perfect treat.

I’m still hoping/waiting/praying for a pudding shop to open in these parts, but here are a few of our other recent (and semi-recent) dessert shop favorites to tide us over in the meantime.

The Bungalow Baker
Elizabeth Poirrier quit a successful career in pharmaceuticals to return to culinary school — and we’re sure glad she did. Now she’s the Bungalow Baker (in her Heights bungalow, of course), offering what we think are the best and most beautiful iced cookies in town. Order ‘em up for your next occasion — or just to have around.

Recently Elizabeth has started taking orders for cupcakes and sheet cakes, too.

Teacake Factory
Sugar Land is even sweeter now that we’ve found the Teacake Factory. Teacakes are a southern delicacy — neither a cake nor a cookie, but kind of a cake-like cookie. Heavy on the butter, light on the sweet, all delicious.

Traditional teacakes are plain or lemon-flavored, but the Teacake Factory offers several kicked-up varieties, including blueberry, butterscotch, coconut, red velvet and more.

Dolce Delights
We’re still enamored of the not-too-sweet treats at Midtown’s Dolce Delights: Gorgeous mini layer cakes filled with mousses and fruit purees, which give the cakes plenty of flavor and texture without a whole lot of sugary sweetness. They make for a lovely afternoon snack or ideal ending to a nice meal. (Dolce Delights also offers coffees, teas and a basic sandwich list.)

Nothing Bundt Cakes
Traditional cake lovers, here’s one for you. Stop by Nothing Bundt Cakes (at Post Oak/Westheimer) to check out the rainbow of beautifully cute cakes in various sizes. The mini-est is ideal for one to two people, while the maxi-est serves quite a crowd. Flavors range from chocolate, lemon, and red velvet to pecan-praline, cinnamon swirl and carrot.

Macaron by Patisse
As macarons enjoy their time in the spotlight, Houston welcomes Macaron by Patisse in the River Oaks Shopping Center on West Gray. Owner Sukaina Rajani is a self-taught baker, now crafting dozens of glorious flavors of macarons in her shop daily. Our favorite flavors so far are the lovely Blueberry Vanilla and life-altering Salted Caramel.

Order ‘em for a party, give as a gift, or just grab a box to have around.

Mighty Sweet Mini Pies
Open for little more than a month now, this family-run mini-pie shop in the Heights has carved out a niche and developed a following. The owners make hundreds of mini-pies from scratch a day, and while Pecan Pie is almost always on the list, the other four daily flavors rotate.

We’re always too slow to catch the Key Lime and Peanut Butter Chocolate, but heartily recommend the German Chocolate and Tangerine Chess.

Tiff’s Treats
Tiff’s Treats, an Austin-based biz, broke into the Houston market last year, tempting us with 10 daily types of fresh-baked cookies. The tiny storefront on the 59 feeder (near Weslayan) receives such a steady stream of traffic that they’ve opened additional spots in Midtown and the Med Center. Cookies are soft and chewy, and at 90 cents each, they won’t break your budget.

Candylicious
Houston’s ultimate sugar stop, Candylicious features a stunning array of colorful candies. The modern options are appealing, but the real reason to go is the retro stuff, throwbacks to the decades of old: rock candy, salt water taffy, pop rocks, swirl pops, orange slices, jelly beans, gum drops and more. It’s nostalgia unleashed. And don’t worry — there are plenty of chocolate options, too.

Did we miss your favorite? It happens — and we’re always looking for new places to try. Let us know your favorite specialty dessert shops in the comments section below.

You know you'll want more than one, so grab a box of 12 for $25 at Macaron by Patisse.

Sugar High Houston desserts and pastries April 2013 Macaron by Patisse

Photo by Ruthie Miller

You know you'll want more than one, so grab a box of 12 for $25 at Macaron by Patisse.

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Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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