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Sweet Tooth

All Things Creamy Baskin-Robbins--Some traditions were meant to be broken--and to prove it, BR has long surpassed its original claim of 31 flavors. Open daily till 10pm. Locations in Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Aptos and Freedom. Double Rainbow--Besides ice cream in every flavor of the spectrum, this downtown cafe has cappuccino and baked goods. Open Sun.-Thu. till 10pm; Sat.-Sun. till 11pm. 1123 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (831/423-3231) Fosters Old Fashion Freeze--What becomes a legend most? The classic chocolate-dipped, soft-serve ice cream cone. Weekdays till 11pm, weekends till midnight. 229 Laurel St., Santa Cruz (831/426-2311) Gelato Bar at Riva Fish House--The destination for authentic gelato, with a killer espresso bean flavor. Flexible hours, usually closes around 9-9:30pm. 500 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz (831/429-1223) Marianne's Ice Cream--With more than 30 years in the ice cream biz, this Ocean Street fixture boasts 71 flavors. If the numbers don't convince you, the flavors will. Open Sun.-Thu. till 11pm, Fri.-Sat. till midnight. 1020 Ocean St., Santa Cruz (831/458-1447) Polar Bear Ice Cream--Shakes, sundaes and scoops of inventive flavors like Mexican chocolate and Burgundy cherry. Full espresso bar. Open Mon.-Fri. till 9:30pm; Sat.-Sun. till 10:30pm. 1224 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (831/425-5188) Saturn Cafe--Everyone has a favorite Saturn desert; some swear by the Turkish coffee mudpie, but the Chocolate Madness sends us into orbit. Open daily till midnight; Fri.-Sat. till 1am. 1230 Mission St., Santa Cruz (831/429-8505) Yogurt Delite--Frozen yogurt flavors with a mind-boggling universe of topping choices. Open till 10pm, Sat. till 10:30pm. 1306 Mission St., Santa Cruz (831/429-6400) House of the Rising Dough The Buttery--The place for that traditional birthday/anniversary/wedding/bar mitzvah cake--and they also make a great macaroon. 702 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (831/458-3020) The Crepe Place--Tucked discreetly onto the back of the menu is the real reason for the popularity of the Crepe Place: the one, the only Tunisian donut. 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (831/429-6994) Emily's Good Things to Eat--The sign over the door that reads "Relax: You Have Plenty of Time" helps prepare one for the prodigious array of fresh baked treats in Emily's pastry cases. 1129 Mission St., Santa Cruz (831/429-9866) The Farm Bakery--Fresh fruit tarts are among the Farm's impressive pastry repertoire. 6790 Soquel Dr., Aptos (831/684-0266) Kelly's French Pastry--Pastries, morning buns, cookies, custards, tarts, chocolate eclairs, cupcakes, cakes. In the courtyard, 1547 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (831/423-9059) Gayle's Bakery--Fresh ingredients are the royalty at this European-style bakery. 504 Bay Ave., Capitola (831/462-1200) India Joze--The presentation of the legendary India Joze dessert tray is a local rite of passage not to be missed. 1001 Center St., Santa Cruz (831/427-3554) Noah's Bagels--Fuggeddabout the bagels, get the babka. Comes in the two required flavors, chocolate and cinnamon. 1411 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (831/454-9555) Pacific Cookie Company--The classic hot-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookie is accompanied by a few tried-and-true variations on the theme. 1203 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (831/429-6905) Candy-Colored Clowns Buckhart's Candies--Preservative-free, old-fashioned chocolate, fudge and toffee. 2-1231 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz (831/475-1286) Chocolate at Shoppers Corner--The thoughtful folks at Shoppers have devoted an entire section to fine imported and domestic chocolate bars. 622 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (831/423-1398) MacKenzie's Kandy Kitchen--This family-owned establishment has the Midas touch when it comes to chocolate. 1492 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz (831/425-1492) Marini's Downtown--Marini's has been selling candy on the Boardwalk for 83 years; the downtown location has the same famous salt water taffy, creamy chocolates and caramel apples. 1308 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz (831/423-3299) Richard Donnelly Fine Chocolates--Call first, and you may catch the master in his kitchen, crafting his gourmet chocolate bars. 1511 Mission St., Santa Cruz (831/458-4214) See's Candies--Some things never change. See's still has the same white-smocked, smiling ladies behind the counter, proffering a free chocolate sample with every purchase. King's Plaza Shopping Center, Capitola (831/475-4410) Truffles at Nelson & Plumlee's--Yes, it's a florist; but the glass case next to the flower counter contains an imaginative selection of sinfully rich chocolate truffles. 235 Cathcart St., Santa Cruz (831/458-1118) [ Santa Cruz | MetroActive Central | Archives ]