DISH OF THE WEEK: Banana Cream Pie Cream Puff at CHIKALICIOUS DESSERT BAR

Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City

Of course I’ve been thinking about and connecting with my family and friends during these stressful last eight months. But I’ve also made a point to connect with some of my favorite restaurant owners.

Don and Chika at Chikalicious are more than just the owners of my favorite dessert spot, they’re also friends. I’ve known them for well over a decade since I started regularly visiting their incredible Japanese dessert bar. Every serious date I’ve ever had has been here. Of course, all my visiting family members. And even my three year old son has now been here multiple times.

So when we had a family day in Lower Manhattan recently, Chikalicious was a must for a check-in and, of course, dessert.

They have changed a bit now offering delivery and some limited outdoor seating. Business is not what it was, but they are holding on during this unimaginably difficult time.

I was super happy to be able to support them.

In this new world, there are some new options. In addition to their usual three course dessert tasting, they’re now offering a la carte pastries and a few specials from some of their previous endeavors.

One dessert I had never tried from them is their cream puff. The one my son and I shared was stuffed with decadent banana cream pie cream in addition to a layer of dreamy whipped cream. All of this creamy goodness is stuffed into Chika’s impeccable buttery crisp pastry.

I was not surprised by how good this was, but my son who is still making discoveries, couldn’t seem to believe the heavenly decadence he was consuming. Like all of us, he is hoping they stick around for a very long time. Price: $6