#68 – GRASSHOPPER DESSERT at TIPSY PARSON

For the third year in a row, I’m going to attempt to eat every single item on Time Out New York’s annual 100 Best Dishes list. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100. Let the gluttony continue…

Like most young American children, when I was little my two favorite ice cream flavors were cookies and cream and mint chocolate chip. But times have changed and while I am still a sucker for an Oreo sundae, I’m a bit more particular when it comes to the green one.

I still like Mint Ice Cream, but I’ve grown overly sensitive to the artificial flavor. My world most likely changed when I first tasted the Mint Gelato at Otto and was amazed that ice cream could taste like an actual herb. Mint is a leaf? Who knew? I thought it was a tube of toothpaste!!

Tipsy Parson is a bright Southern-influenced restaurant in Chelsea named after a liquor-laced trifle. It’s been around for a handful of years and I was frankly surprised (pleasantly) that it was still lively on a Tuesday evening. I took a seat at the bar and looked past the shrimp and grits, the catfish, and the fried green tomatoes, to find the dessert I wanted. Normally, I would pick their namesake dessert, but at the bottom of the list was the Grasshopper.

It arrived in a mason jar layered with chocolate mousse, whipped cream, and glowing green mousse. It almost looked radioactive. But I channeled my 10 year old self and braved the dessert.

For some reason, a bowl of crumbly chocolate streusel was served on the side. Not sure why the crunchy, salty chocolate bits were not already mixed in for optimal texture. Separating the top two layers was a fudge-like chocolate cookie that had some nice hints of salt. The dueling mousses were creamy and sweet. They played off each other nicely, but I did find that the green stuff left my mouth feeling a little too fresh.

I understand that this dessert is a throwback to a creme de menthe cocktail which is notoriously green, but the addicting combination couldn’t get me past the color and the artificial mint flavor. No doubt I would have eaten every last spoonful if this were 1988, but my palate is a bit more discerning nowadays.

Would Tipsy Parson’s Grasshopper Dessert make my Top 100? Maybe if I were making the list at age 11. It’s still mighty tasty with some well-thought out combinations but the slime green started to make my stomach churn. 7 out of 10.