Now if you haven't been to Carrara's Pastries it is seriously the closest thing you will find to Italian baked good on the West Coast. It was exactly a year ago that I was in Sicily and so to be able to get a gelato or pastry fix close to home that sends me back to that magical vacation just makes me happy....not to mention the fact that they have incredible coffee. If I close my eyes really tight and sip coffee and eat cannolis there I can pretend I am back in Sicily, well maybe if I have earplugs in or an Italian language CD playing through my headset. 

So it was pretty exciting to be sitting in the restaurant, watching the show and getting to sample the baked good that were featured. We got to try the profiteroles that were incredible and truly just melted in your mouth. If you are unfamiliar with a profiterole it is similar to a cream puff. Hmmm buttery pastry and cream is always a win/win in my book. The pink is colored sugar, giving it a slightly crunchy exterior which compliments the creamy inside...makes my mouth water just typing about it. 

The next thing we got to try was a rum cake and  I seriously thought I had died and gone to heaven with that rum cake!! Love it!! It was light, decadent and had fresh berries inside. It was the perfect summer dessert!! I actually kind of wanted to bathe my entire body in it, but that would have been a little weird and kind of awkward...just sayin'...especially after the above chef stalker comment...but you get the picture that I was pretty friggin excited about this dessert!

Carrara's Pastries is owned and operated by two brothers from Tuscany, Damiano and Massimiliano Carrara. Their attention to detail, traditional recipes, authentic Italian desserts and quality of ingredients is truly remarkable. They opened their first location in Moorpark in 2011 and they now have a location in Agoura Hills as well. They not only feature baked goods and gelato they also serve breakfast, lunch and appetizers as well as coffee and wine. Yes, I know I could practically live here!!

For someone like me it is pretty much the way to my heart! They have an incredible mix of traditional favorites like cannolis and tiramisu and then they have other desserts which are a bit more modern and creative. The presentation is just downright impressive by the way!! However, you can't go wrong with anything you order here!