Dessert Fantasy

Every first Sunday in November, Pacific Beach Hotel’s ballroom is filled with some of the best desserts Hawaii has to offer. And for only $ 25, you can sample them all and even get seconds and thirds if you desire. It’s all a part of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii’s annual Dessert Fantasy fundraiser, and it gets better and better every year. The event typically has over 50 restaurants and vendors who generously donate their desserts to this wonderful event.
A short list of participating businesses this year included: Kakaako Kitchen, Cake Connection, Pearl City HS Culinary Arts Program, Über Factory, Kakaako Kitchen, Nisshodo Candy Store, Dave and Buster’s, Hilton Hawaiian Village, and Chocolate on a Mission, Haleiwa Joe’s, Chocolate and Vanilla Bakery, The Pig & the Lady, Gros Bonnet Culinary Academy/​Hale Koa Hotel, Regal Bakery, Hokulani Bake Shop, and Bubbie’s.
In addition to the dessert sampling, there was also a silent auction (much mahalos to Dave F. for donating his beautiful photographs to the auction), face painting, a balloon man, and live entertainment.
And if you don’t get to try all of the desserts, or had a few favorites that you couldn’t get enough of, when the event is over, you can purchase a take out container and stuff as many remaining desserts in it as you can fit.
If you’ve got a big sweet tooth, mark your calendars for next year’s event which will be on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Pacific Beach Hotel ballroom.

What a great way to support a good cause (UCP) and satisfy your sweet tooth! I have been eyeing this event for a couple years and finally made it out. Walking in the doors, you are immediately overwhelmed with the amount of desserts. 10 tables with 4 – 6 samples on each table… that really adds up.
You really need a strategy going in… take a bite of each and if you really love it, eat the whole sample, if not, toss it. I know it seems like a waste but if you don’t stick to your one bite rule, your stomach will be complaining and you will not get to try everything. Also, start with the ice cream desserts. Even being on ice, they melt quickly and if you wait till the end to try the ice cream, you may be sampling soup. They also ran out of the bubbies pumpkin mochi and that was the best dessert!
I like that they have other things to do if you need a break from sampling. There was a silent auction, voting for the best desserts, vinegar challenge, And face painting fun for the kids.
Highlights from 2014: macarons from cakeworks and somewhere else, I can’t remember. Pumpkin mochi ice cream. Sacher torte, and laperts ice cream dessert.
Unfortunately: I was very surprised at the dessert quality. Many of the desserts were barely passable and I had no problem tossing them. In a room full of dessert expertise, I was expecting better flavor and more delicious options then there actually were. That is the reason for the three stars. The event was five stars but the dessert quality brought the stars down.

When you hear the words Dessert Fantasy… what do you think of?
For me… I picture myself being at the bottom of a swimming pool of delicious desserts and having to eat my way out… with two hollow legs and an empty stomach…
Well this event wasn’t exactly like this, but it’s close!
My family took me here for the first time and I enjoyed every minute of it… also it was to benefit Cerebral Palsy which is awesome as well… a two’fer!
The seating was limited, but people are pretty much grazing here the whole time anyway so it wasn’t a big deal. Large tables are set up throughout the ballroom with several booths set up at each. They have their desserts all nicely laid out and you walk up and enjoy! This is an all you can eat event… so it is very fun to try everything.
A pretty sizeable silent auction (with a lot of sweets on it) was towards the back of the ballroom. A lot of people were eyeing those treats.
The little ones wanted balloon animals and there was also a face painting booth. The line was really long, but there was a really good magician that made the line bearable.
An energetic dj made annoucements during the event and he encouraged people to fill out raffle tickets and flyers (provided) on your pick for favorite dessert.
There was a lot to choose from but here were some of my favorites…
Lappert’s Hawaii
They had probably the most labor intensive ‘in house’ dish. It was a roasted apple crème fraîche tart (and you got two of them) that was assembled in front of you. Once scooped out, it had to be caramel sauced and salted with lava salt. It took a little time to get this dessert, but it was good and not too sweet. Definitely an elevated dessert, but I think that’s why I liked it.
Agnus’ Portuguese Bake Shop
The brought a fryer and made warm Malasadas… yes this was my family’s favorite. Take a room full of locals, feed them sugar coated malasadas… and it’s pretty much over…
Ted’s Bakery
I had way too many of these… probably my favorite dessert. It was a mini chocolate almond macadamia nut tart. It reminded me of a really good bite sized pecan pie. Good crust on the outside, great filling inside.
Haleiwa Joe’s at Haiku
They made this coconut mouse in a chocolate tartlet that was very complicated and delicious. It had many components and the flavors went well together. The volunteer working the booth didn’t know what was in it, but I enjoyed going back again and again trying to figure out the ingredients.
Top of Waikiki
Their peanut butter pumpkin crunch was a nice surprise. The flavors went surprisingly well together… nice use of fall ingredients.
This event was a very good value at $ 25-​$ 30. I would encourage people who like dessert to try this out. It was fun, for a good cause, and definitely full of sweets!

This is the loooongest line I’ve EVER seen for this event! Yep. Out of the reception area, down the hallway, along the back wall… Long, but impressive. Each year that I’ve had the honor of attending this great event, I’ve noticed a steady increase in the number of folks who are coming out to support UCP! United Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy is a disorder that impairs a child’s control of movement and is very debilitating. Throughout the years I have donated to a number of charities and organizations that I considered to be in need. But I was drawn to this organization by my two BFF’s, Nat N. and John N. who give freely of their time and efforts to this cause, even with two young twin sons in tow! Not only is it so sad to witness a child living with this cruel disease, it is equally heartbreaking to see an adult who has it. I have no problem whatsoever supporting this worthy cause and the events they have throughout the year. Not only do they have the Dessert Fantasy, they also have the Rubber Ducky Race down the Ala Wai Canal and a tennis tournament too where you can sponsor a court! Fun events to donate to!
Now that I’ve gotten the word out about UCP, I can talk about the Dessert Fantasy… Imagine dying and going to dessert heaven! Haha, literally tables and tables of sweets and more sweets! Various restaurants, snack shops, hotels, etc. donate their finest confections for all to sample. There are candies, pies, cakes, ice cream, chocolates, you name it! Hot malasadas too, fresh from the fryer! Another one of the reasons I love going to this event too, is the silent auction. Along one wall in the Grand Ballroom of the Pacific Beach Hotel where the event is held, is several rows of items and services donated by various businesses and individuals for auction. Each item has a sign up sheet with a starting bid on it. You bid against others who may also want an item that catches your eye, only to be outbid by them! It’s a lot of fun to check back every fifteen minutes or so to see if you were indeed outbid! Haha, it’s up to you if you want to pursue an item. I’ve actually seen people literally stand nearby to «watch» their item! That’s the fun of it. I think my friend, Renee S. was pretty successful with her bidding this time! Congrats to you, Renee! Yes, all in fun for a great cause! Let’s all join together to help find a cure or at least an advancement in research to slow this debilitating disease. I’m already looking forward to next year’s event!

Man. I really wished I had found out about this event earlier. Tickets weren’t cheap at twenty five bucks a pop but they were for a wonderful organization so it was easier to shell out the money.
We arrived a bit late and realized that everything was already in full swing. Many tables were already out of desserts and were eating for more to come out. We sampled as many as we could but I noticed that the tables with the more impressive sounding desserts were empty already.
We didn’t waste any time and started to grab stuff off the tables and worked our way around the ballroom. Hokulani had empty platters and so did The Alley. I didn’t want to stand around to wait for more to come out so I figure I would skip those and come back later. Lapperts were there with their version of a s’more and I remember the exact dish at the Food and Wine festival so I was excited to be able to get another chance to eat it again. Gros Bonnet Culinary Academy had an impressive showpiece to go along with their beautifully plated dish of a green tea cake with an orange macaroon. Another winner for me was the yuzu sherbet. I went back to her like four times! It was light and sweet without being filling and it was especially great at that time since I was getting a bit sugared out.
As I was working through the tables, I noticed that there were some tables that just ran out of desserts already. It was barely an hour into the event and tables were empty! I really wish that those establishments came better prepared because I felt like I missed out on a lot of yummy things.
I really wanted to dish out a few bucks to get those salty snack bags because I really wanted something to counter all that sugar but I got too involved in the silent auction.
It was a wonderful event to help raise money and awareness to United Cerebral Palsy Association and I’m looking forward to the next one already!

Broke da mouth sorta event! Here is where you shall find a dessert buffet, where you can eat to your heart’s content for 3 full hours!!!
I thought I had a large stomach and that I could last for 3 hours, but I met my match here.
Friends and I arrived early to this event in 2011 so that we would not miss out even a minute’s time to eat and fill our tummies with goodness. As soon as the doors opened, we slowly and gracefully strolled in. We jumped at the first desserts table and grabbed one of everything in sight. We strolled to the second table and followed with the same procedure. After half an hour of stuffing our faces with brownies, cakes, cookies, chocolates, etc, I taped out. I fell into what some would call a sugar rush. It continued for about 5 months following this event. I did not want anything that was sweet for months after this event.
Not sure when I would come back, but you definitely get your money’s worth! The best part of this event is that majority of the cost is tax-​deductible as it is a charity event! Eat and donate? YES.

Dessert Fantasy was really fun! Went with some girl friends and we had a blast trying out everything. Unfortunately we got too full to try EVERYTHING, but we got to try a lot of different items and unique desserts. It was a nice event to try out places I’ve been meaning to and help a charity at the same time!
There was also hot coffee, tea, and water to help wash down the sweetness as well as a slient auction to browse while taking a break from the sugar.
My only problem with this is now there are some desserts that I’m addicted to! :D

Great event that will satisfy any sweet tooth. This event helps out The United Cerebral Palsy. It happens every year in November.
It was my first time and I took the lead of my dessert addict wife. We walked around all of the tables with plates in hand. Grabbed what caught our eye, sat, and ate. Then Repeated. I waved the white flag after the fourth round.
My favorite dessert from the event was from Ani’s Bake Shop. She offered an assortment of pies.
Other Likeables:
*Bubbies– Mochi Ice Cream
*The Alley-​Lemon Crunch Cake
*Hokulani Bake Shop-​Assorted Cupcakes
*Cake Connections Hawaii-​Lilikoi Cupcake
Other:
–Silient Auction
–Prize Giveaways
–Bathrooms are located outside of the ballroom
–Get your hand stamped if you want to return
–Remember to bring cash for parking and the to go box at the end
Unilocal 31 day challenge Catch-​up: ²¹⁄₃₁ Indulge your Sweet Tooth

If you’re a dessert addict like me you’re going to thank me for letting you know about this yearly fundraiser event. Not only do you get 2 HOURS of unlimited sampling of the most delectable desserts in Hawaii, but you’re helping a charitable cause at the same time.
To Sum It Up:
Who: The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii
What:
* Over 60 different restaurants, bakeries, ice cream parlors, chocolate confectioners, and candy shops offer an array of their best desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth.
* Live Entertainment
* Silent Auction
* Voting-People’s Favorite Dessert
* Door Prizes
Cost: $ 25
Where: I’m unsure if it always happens at Pacific Beach Hotel every year, 2490 Kalakaua Ave. Honolulu, HI 96 815
When: This year it happened on November 6
(I know NOVEMBER… your currently mad at me, with your fists held high, yelling out profanities, with a tear in your eye, wanting to recite that notorious poem, «Remember, Remember the 6^th of November!» –V for Vendetta. It was the 1^st time I attended this event so give me some slack. Well at least you got a heads up right!?)
This event has been happening almost as long as I’ve been alive and I’ve never heard about it! Until awesome fellow Unilocaler Thomos O. posted it on the Unilocal events page. Big thanks to you Thomos O.
Tips:
PACE YOURSELF!!! I attended this marvelous event with my friend and we went buck wild on the first table. Everything started to taste the same. Luckily, Cake Works was at the 1^st table and I got to eat those heavenly chocolate dipped caramel French macaroons.
* They offer complimentary water, tea, and coffee, but no milk (well they offer it for the coffee). As for me Milk makes desserts 10 times better.
* Look at the paper that they hand out to you in the front this shows you what businesses are there.
* Do a quick walk of the place so you know what you want to eat and grab what you want to eat.
* Some of the tables had the bakers or owners handing out the dessert, so it was great asking them what I was eating and how it was made. But most of the tables had volunteers who only knew the name of what they were serving.
* Don’t worry of getting judged because you’re surrounded with dessert addicts just like yourself.
* TAKE HOME BOX at the end of the event. It only cost a mere $ 5. Come on now, what a deal, one of those desserts offered at the event cost more.
I know my review doesn’t do this event a bit of justice so here are other links about this event.
A clip from KHON about the event:
Event Photos–
Pictures captured by Ed Morita from Non Stop Honolulu:
Pictures from island views website:
Some (hence the word some, there were so many ono’licious lick your finger desserts to choose from) of Kim’s Favorites:
1) Cake Works
–Chocolate Dipped Caramel French Macron
2) Cookie Corner
— Lilikoi Bar
3) Hokulani Bake Shop
— Mini Assortment of Cupcakes
4) Hawaiian Host
–Macadamia Chocolate Covered Nuts (I know their easily attainable but I love um)
5) Nisshodo
–Mochi
6) Agne’s Portuguese Bake Shop
–Freshly made on site Malassadas
7) Choco le’a
–Assortment of divine chocolates, truffles, and alcohol infused chocolates
8) The Alley at Aiea Bowl
— Lemon Crunch Cake
9) Regal Bakery
— Cake Doughnuts
10) Lappert’s Hawaii
— Yes, they were giving out ice cream at this event! Oh, Yes.
Remember to write it on your calender, Do some sit ups before the event, tell a couple of your friends, tell it to «Siri» on your iPhone 4s so she remind you days before, Siri can pull it out the location on your GPS, and give you more information about the event. If you’ve got a sweet tooth like me this event you surely can’t miss.