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by Madelyn Miller

HI! My name is Madelyn and I'm a chocoholic. Actually, I just came back from the "Chocolatier Cruise" on Cunard's Crown Jewel and after 7 days and three islands worth of chocolate, I still haven't gotten my fill. So I decided to find the best chocolate desserts in Dallas.

Choosing the best chocolate desserts is kind of like picking your favorite child. You love them all. So my criteria was based on an intense chocolate experience, creativity, taste and texture. Each of my choices offers an orgasmic wow on presentation and no matter how enormous leaves an insatiable craving for more.

Purists might take off points for whipped cream or fruit, but fantasies are very personal things.

Gershwin's ,8140 Walnut Hill Lane, 373-7171. Gershwin's chocolate sack is more than just an incredible dessert--it's an architectural wonder and theatrical experience. How do they make an actual bag out of chocolate? The word is that chocolate is poured into a plain brown sack and then swirled around until it completely coats the paper. When cool, the bag is torn away and voila! a chocolate container for luscious layers of cream cake, whipped cream, strawberries and kiwi in a pool of raspberry sauce.  Ceremonially presented, the waiter carves it open to reveal the most decadent dessert in town.

Large enough for four to share after dinner, the menu suggests it serves two. My fantasy would be to order it all for myself--after all, the chocolate bag includes 4 major food groups--fruit, milk, bread and chocolate. My companion and I made a valiant attack on it before our waiter offered to box it up for us. Very compassionate. 

SWEET TEMPTATIONS. 9090 Skillman suite 180-b. 503-6007. I'm not the only one who thinks Sweet Temptations has some of the best desserts in town. Chef Clare Van Loenen won first place in the Dallas "Godiva Liquor Cup," the ultimate dessert competition. Top chefs competed in eight cities nationwide. Her"Godiva's Temptation", (order 48 hours ahead, cake $32.50, slice $3.75) an extravagant blend of hazelnuts, almonds and macadamia nuts layered with creamy chocolate ganache and a toffee topping of golden caramel crunchy krokant (a thing almond brittle). Clare and her husband Hans opened Sweet Temptations three years ago after working at some of the most distinguished eateries in Dallas. The only problem with this divine dessert is it forces me to choose between it and my longtime favorite, their Flourless Chocolate Indulgence ($27.80 whole cake, $3.00 a slice) with layers of pecan, chocolate fudge, toffee and Kahlua cream. Other chocoholic choices include the Lake Highland Rock cake with layers of chocolate sponge soaked with rum alternated
with dense chocolate mousse and then topped with crunchy chocolate meringue.

You can eat at their bakery or take-out your favorites. If you know anyone who doesn't love chocolate, suggest the Lemon Flan ($3.50) or Brulee ($3.50).

-Updated 2-2 98-

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