Kat's 9 Lives

I tried a bunch of their different flavors but they were all just okay.  The only flavor that really popped was durian.  Beware, this is only for people who know what durian tastes like and enjoys it like I do.  For the little piglet I wanted to choose a color that will not take away from the cute little piggy, so I settled for the Taro.  This was just okay and a little light in taro taste for my liking.
All in all the flavors were just okay but the cuteness is UNDENIABLE! Great for photos! Needless to say we took a bunch of selfies and played with the little piggies and monkey for a while.  O=D It;s definitely worth a visit, but not a place I'd frequent unless I see another cute design that I must take pics of.  The service was friendly and I left a nice tip for her services.
Eiswelt Gelato
9605 Bolsa Ave
Westminster, CA 92683 
(657) 245-3141

Right across from the L'84° Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba is Dario's Gelateria Italiana.  They were offering a special flavor.  What else but Tartufo!!

What happened to the good ole days where a kid can go into a local candy shop to pick up some treats?    
Well times have changed a little bit as B. Candy is not the same candy store our parents grew up with, no it is much more colorful and vibrant than before!
Even before you enter through the doors, there are colorful and decorative treats showcased outside.  It's almost like you are in a candy wonderland!
They offer a wide variety of treats that you would not find anywhere else.
The first thing that drew my gaze was the vast treats featuring Angry Birds! Who hasn't played that fun game! =D
I just had to pick up a few treats and was so torn on which ones to buy or just to pick up some toys... for myself! When I open the treats, I will be making the bird tossing noise when I eat them O=).
They even have a section dedicated to some fun bacon treats! I was very tempted to get the bacon and eggs headset in honor of my love for bacon.
Not only do they offer candy, they have a wide selection of gelato to choose from.  I really enjoyed the unique flavors that they offered.  My favorite was the chocolate covered potato chips and caramel! Sure, it may sound weird at first but it really works.  It's the perfect blend of savory and sweet with a crisp twist!
B. Candy is not a place just for the kids as adults have a lot to look forward too.
For that evening they served up a Cake Batter Martini for the crowd to enjoy.  Whoo! I might need a driver after a few of these.
The sprinkles around the rim just adds the mystical wonderland touch and it really tastes like cake batter, with a kick.
Don't worry they have non-alcoholic drinks for those who would like to wet their lips with a sweet and refreshing drink.  They offered a nice rootbeer float that I just couldn't resist! First I tried it with the normal vanilla gelato and it really hit the spot.
After the first cup, I wished I thought of using some of their unique gelato flavors! They were sweet enough to offer another cup and I had to have it with the chocolate covered potato chips with caramel! Now that really hit the spot with the tasty crispy texture.  It's a must!
I love their counter with the decorative ice cream cone and cupcake seats.  It is great and fun to grab a seat at the counter and a drink or snack!
They are available to hold small parties, which is a great treat for the family.
There are many cute baked goods in the case that are so vibrantly decorated.
They have a nice assortment of cupcakes to try as well.  All their cupcakes were eye catching and looked great.
My favorite was the peanut butter cupcake.  They were moist and just the right amount of sweetness.
Everyone there was super friendly and helpful.  You can feel the joy they have for the store and the great products they offer.
On your way out, don't forget to check out the vast amount of candy they offer on the wall by weight.  They even have a column of sugar free candy for those who need to watch their sugar levels, which I thought was great.
For me, I was glad to see that they offered a wide variety of flavors for the gummies.  I particularly liked that they had watermelon as one of the flavors.
Everything in the store is beautifully decorated and eye catching.  It's a great place to go crazy and enjoy different treats.  If you are a sugar addict, this will be your heaven!
B. Candy
3100 East Coast Hwy 
Newport Beach, CA 92625
(949) 675-3910

On my last trip to Italy, I made it my goal to find the best gelato that Italy (Italia) has to offer.  The first trip I ever took to Italy, I couldn't find any good gelato in Venice but that was 4 years ago.  Maybe I didn't look too hard to find them but since I was going to be in Italy for some long, the goals have changed and I am a different foodie now.  Back then I never even picked up a camera and hated that Ms. Lin made me take pictures.  How times have changed, huh?  It's rare that I am ever without a camera and good food nowadays =).
I tried to do some research before I left for my trip as well as follow up research when I had free wi-fi.  Everyone highly recommended Grom and I had to stop by to see what all the fuss is about.  There's one location on the main street of Corso Buenos Aires.
We passed by on our way to the Duomo but headed straight for the church.  Instead of taking public transportation to the tourist site, we walked all the way there and it took quite a while before reaching the destination.  Stopping by at Grom was the best reward for a full day of sight-seeing.
Even though it wasn't dinner time nor should it have been a busy time, but there was a line out the door for Grom throughout the day.  No like the present, right?  We decided to line up since it looked like they were always going to be busy when we walk by.  The line moves pretty smoothly and just think that it will be worth it at the end.  Tons of people who love gelato are squeezing inside, but the treat is its own reward.
There wasn't too much of a language barrier and they were willing to help.  It's best if you know what flavors you might like as there were tons of choices. They have all the flavors listed outside the door for patrons to look over before ordering.  All their gelatos are stored individually in metal containers, which a bit different from the normal presentation.
Maybe this time I wasn't greedy enough as I only go the smaller cone.  It's the same price for having your gelato in a cup or a cone, so why not have it on a nice cone.  Ever since my first trip to Venice, years back, I was a bit shy to try new gelato places.  Looking back, I wish I got a few cones to enjoy all the seasonal flavors.
I chose the Nocciola with Tonda Gentile Hazelnuts and the Caramello al Sale, which was caramel and Himalayan pink salt.  The salted caramel was a tad too sweet for me but still a nice texture.  I thought the real winner was their special type of hazelnuts used for the nocciola.  The rich flavors came emanating through the velvety texture of the gelato.  It's definitely not your ordinary hazelnut gelato.  I know that they have locations in NYC and in So Cal now, but I wonder if it can compare to the flavors of Italy (Italia).
They had some tasty Biscotti di Battifollo in the jars by the gelato bar that looked very inviting and tasty.  They were only .30 € per piece.  I grabbed one for my cone.  The biscotti turned out to be really tasty, but I am not willing to line up again for an extra snack.  Next time I will be sure to by some extra just in case I like it and won't have to stand in line.  Instead of a biscotti, it really tasted like a shortbread cookie.
All in all, I really enjoyed the gelato at Grom.  It left a lasting impression in my mind.  I don't know if I really liked Milan (Milano), Italy (Italia) because there were a lot of ups and downs, but Grom's gelato helped a ton.  Maybe I will have to trek out to Malibu for some.  After looking at the pictures and thinking about Italy, I am getting hungry! Ciao =D
Grom
Corso Buenos Aires, 13 - 20124
Milano - Ph. +39 02.20520104