Not Just Desserts

Was curious about the Saturday Jefferson Elementary Farmers Market so stopped by today. Free parking in the school lot (enter from Kapahulu before Kuhio). 8 am to 2 pm (or sold out).Not Just Desserts is run by Chef Kate Wagner, a very personable and friendly lady who introduced herself (French trained baker) and asked for my name as well. She had two tables of items and a cooler in back. Everything is covered and there are no labels, so you need to ask what is what. She said her breads have no sugar (sounds so European!). I tried the scallion pastry (super ono), lemon poppyseed cake (really enjoyable), brownie (good chocolate flavor without being too sweet), and got a chocolate pecan pie to share. Definitely going back!

I've gone to Not Just Desserts at the KCC farmers market at least 5 times now and each time I have NOT been disappointed with my selections.My boyfriend says that I only go to the farmers market to get her desserts and he's pretty right! I told him that it was a necessity for the desserts and the produce that I pick up are bonuses. HahaChef Kate's speciality is NO SUGAR and she also makes gluten free items. SCORE for me!!! She uses honey, fruit or agave as sweeteners. She also makes her own taro flour for her chocolate cakes and chocolate bread (grain free, semi paleo friendly!), she makes her own chocolate since her family has a cacao farm and she doesn't use rice flour or soy. OMG, I am in heaven! If you can't tell by now, I'm paleo and don't eat certain things since it messes with my body big time.I overheard her speaking to another customer one day and she mentioned that she makes all these goodies bcs of her family and I just think it's wonderful that she makes these healthy treats!I'm so serious when I say that this is my go-to place for any kind of dessert or baked goods.Chef Kate changes things up at the market every week so I've had the pleasure of purchasing quite a bit of deliciousness from her over the last month. She's even cut me off a couple of times. HahaYesterday I picked up her grain, gluten and sugar free key lime bar and that thing was awesome! I usually don't like bars bcs they can be dry, crumbly or just bla. Hers was moist with enough tanginess from the limes and it was refreshing. I couldn't stop eating it. Then I got a strawberry boston cream slice or is it strawberry shortcake? Whatever it was, it was beyond delicious! My first instinct was to just buy the whole cake but I told myself that I would just get a slice to try it out bcs what if I don't like it? So I should have listened to my instincts bcs that thing was that good! I ate some yesterday and forced myself to save the rest for today. Today rolls around and I ate it for breakfast. Then I told my bf, "I'm going to order that strawberry cake for my birthday. I'll let you have some too" hahaSome other favorites of mine: cherry chocolate cake or any of her chocolate cakes, pistachio cake, lilikoi cheesecake and her infamous truffle coconut flour brownies. She has some gluten free muffins and sometimes she has scones.My bf eats wheat so he likes her cinnamon rolls.Chef Kate's desserts are not only good but even healthy since she uses quality, local and seasonal ingredients. Her pricing is so reasonable that it's truly unbelievable! Her and her staff are always amazed at how much I buy and how fast I finish it all. I've been tempted to go to her shop for my treats but have held back on it. I like the variety at the market and the poor woman spends all night and day to make it. It truly is a labor of love and I for one am very grateful for her genius! Baking with non-traditional flour is super hard work, it's not only a science but an art form and she's a true artist!Check her out at the market or shop. I should stop by the shop since I've seen pictures of her lobster salad and that looks amazing.

I pass by this hole in a wall once in a while, but never bothered to try it because there are usually no to a few people sitting inside, but after reading the reviews of you yelpers, I decided to give it a try, and yes, I agree that this place serves above average food. I noticed that the reason why nobody is sitting in the place is because we noticed a lot of people ordered take out instead. Roasted salmon w/Quinoa Rice - 4 stars - for $10, I got a nice piece of salmon that they say they roast because they try to make their food healthy. Although the fish was a little too cooked, it was fresh and what I liked is that it was served on Quinoa rice instead of your regular white or wheat rice. The Quinoa is something I have never had, and it was something different to me, so I rated the plate above average. It came with a heaping serving assorted greens, which was mixed very nicely with their lemon vinaigrette which was very refreshing and tasty - not too strong or weak. Pesto pasta - 4 stars - I don't know what type of pasta it was, but it wasn't your regular spaghetti noodles with their pesto sauce and sun dried tomatoes. For $8, my friend who ordered it (and I had a taste to rate it) said it was the best pesto pasta she has ever tasted. I agree with her because it was not oily like some restaurants, and blended very well with the pasta. Chocolate cake with marsh mellows and M&Ms - 3 stars - Order one dessert for $3, or 2 for $5. The cake was a little dry. The mixture is good, but I didn't care for it as much as the bread pudding. Blueberry bread pudding - 4 stars - The blueberry bread pudding is awesome! Although I got a corner piece when I asked for a middle piece, the inner part was soft and flavorful. The corner, though, was a bit chewy, which I was disappointed with because I usually like my bread puddings nice and soft. I think I would have given it a 5 star if he had given me the middle as I had asked. They ask if you want whipped cream with it, and will also warm it up for you if you eat it there. Service - 4 stars - As we walked in, we were greeted by the cook. They only serve what's on the menu board outside of the restaurant. The desserts except for the bread pudding are out on a table, Although there didn't seemed to be any water (but I didn't ask either), we were asked how we were doing twice. As we ordered we were also asked how we would like our food made (e.g. if my friend wanted more cheese in her pesto, if I wanted whipped cream with my dessert, etc.). They accommodated our requests and also greeted us goodbye as we left. In all, this is a very warm, quaint and more than average type of plate lunch to eat healthy (or unhealthy by blowing it by eating their dessert) for a reasonable price. They mentioned that they make a lot of their foods to accommodate for vegetarians and people who don't like gluten in their food. Also, the price on their menu is already tax included, which makes it nice.

Not just desserts is usually found as a food stand at the various farmer's markets around town. They also have this storefront, albeit with limited operating hours. Even when they are open, when you drive by it is easy to miss or will seem closed, especially since there will not likely be anyone standing behind the counter when you get there.Inside is a small seating area and a single display case with a handful of the desserts available on display. Rather than choosing from there though, it is definitely better to speak with Chef Kate, who is likely working in the kitchen when you show up. She will tell you of what is freshly available in the back and what might fit your tastes.I ended up getting a slice of pumpkin ginger cake which was pretty good. It was soft and moist with a frosting that was not too overpowering. I also took home a sugarless (and flourless?) brownie which she stated was a healthier option at around 100cal a piece. This was decent as well.Overall, I liked the personal touch that this shop provided. It may be a small operation that is still finding its way, but Chef Kate is very friendly and the desserts are above average.

My mind has been blown and that is a good thing. I HEART Not Just Desserts!!!(Que DJ, rock band and electric guitar solo )I went to Not Just Desserts today for a lunch meeting and after reading through the quick tips on my Yelp app, I ordered the spinach and artichoke pasta with chicken for $8. It was delicious and the portions were huge! (Que twenty foot high electrified letters and hot half-naked male dancers)I only managed to eat half my plate. Chef Kate walked us through her selection of desserts and I got the haupia bread pudding for $4. I will admit that I am a dessert whore but bread pudding has never been my favorite dish. Served warm and topped with freshly made whipped cream, the haupia bread pudding was freakin' AMAZEBALLS! It had a light texture and each bite was full of sweet coconut flavor. I feel like JLo!!!(Que sparks, fireworks and fan breeze to make hair waaaay sexy)So if you're ready to hit an off the beaten path, hole-in-the-wall cafe that has zero fancy but all the kick you in the pantsy flavor?! Then meet me at Not Just Desserts for a rockstar worthy meal! We're not worthy! We're not worthy! We're not worthy!Yelp 365 Challenge: #90/365 (The Music Video)

I have a feeling that this place is a hit or miss depending on what you order. It was a miss for me today... I ordered the Taco Salad. Okay, I'm no taco salad snob but, this was just a handful of lettuce with a pile of ground beef mixed with like Tostitos Salsa. I mean... not even real salsa. And there was no cheese - no cheese?!?!?! Slivers of tortilla strips tossed in - tasted more like those Hawaii Won Ton chips. And I've read others say the portions were huge but, um not really in this case. Paid $9 bucks for that and I wasn't full nor was it good. Now, their desserts looked incredible, but it sort of grosses me out that things are sitting on a counter, in an non-air conditioned place, opened. Who knows what is flying around, and then people hover around the counter to pay for their food - what if someone is a spitter when they talk and spits into the desserts or sneeze, or... in fact, I watched as one of the customers who just finished their meal walk up to the counter to return their used fork and give back their eaten styrofoam container, and since no one was there, they just plopped it right on top of the tray of brownies. And mind you, the brownies are exposed with just a sheet of wax paper over. Eeeeewww gross. Given the sneezing and spitting and other possible scenarios and what I witnessed, I just couldn't buy a dessert. And my last gripe...there's one guy who mans the counter and then goes in the back to prepare the food. If he's in the back, you're standing there waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting. It's not good. Especially when we only have an hour lunch break. Sorry Charlie...an unenthusiastic two stars only.

I ordered a strawberry shortcake for my son's 4th birthday. He was so excited when I brought it home, he wanted to eat the strawberries before we even got to the event location. When we have cake in the house we usually have leftovers days later but this cake was so good that there was one piece left the next day when I got home from work so I had to eat it before anyone else could! I do not like cakes from the grocery stores because they have very little flavor and way too much sugar; but this cake was so sweet and delicious and it had no sugar! Total heaven! Perfection!

4.1 stars.We had a very pleasant experience here recently. Because of the raving yelp reviews, we decided to come here for dinner to try something new. This place is primarily popular with the downtown lunch crowd, however they are open until 7pm, so we thought why not treat ourselves to Friday night dinner and gain an evening perspective of this new joint.The place was easy to find and on the Ewa end of Marin Lane. We were the only ones there. As we entered we were greeted warmly and noticed trays of desserts cooling off on the dinning room tables. Everything looked incredible! The female chef (sorry, forgot her name!) said the desserts were for Saturday's KCC Farmer's Market. However, she offered them to us if we didn't feel like the available lemon cake, chocolate pecan tart and chocolate cake. Whoa! Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Ambiance: 3 stars. Service: 4 stars.We ordered from the outdoor menu. About 50% of her offerings were out and she explained that she had a busy and successful day. Good for her! I ordered the Wild Sockeye Salmon with brown rice and local greens (4 stars). My friend ordered the Spinach & Artichoke pasta with local greens (4.5 stars). Both were cooked to order and took about 10 minutes. In the meantime we went over to a liquor store and brought us back some beer. The salad dressing was to die for and easily a 5 star asset! For dessert we had the Lemon Cake and the Big Island Chocolate Pecan Tart. The lemon cake was nice and moist with intense lemon flavor, especially in the glaze: 3.5 stars. The Big Island chocolate pecan tart was more like fudge; rich, delicious and the chocolate was deep and powerful and really amazing: 4.5 stars.Overall a very pleasant home style hole-in-the-wall establishment that we foresee returning very soon. Apparently, the chef is originally from the Big Island whose family owns a cocoa farm and she has an array of restaurant experience that expands to New York City. Impressive! *Tip: Bring your own biocompostable plate lunch container as she uses Styrofoam for the entrees and plastic clam shells for the desserts. Do your part to protect the aina! Otherwise a perfect prize at amazing prices. Bon appétit!Tally:Ambiance: 3 starsService: 4 starsWild Salmon: 4 starsSpinach & Artichoke Pasta: 4.5 starsSalad dressing: 5 stars!3+4+4+4.5+5= 20.5/5= 4.1 stars.#Yelp 365: 061/365

Bread pudding may be one of my favorite desserts, and Chef Kate's is one of the best. I've been buying them from her stand at the KCC Farmer's market for a while now but it was my first time coming to her store downtown. I had already eaten lunch so unfortunately I couldn't try out of the meals other yelpers rave about but hopefully soon. The store was quaint, nothing fancy, but there was enough seating for about 20 people. There were a few people eating lunch when I came in. Kate came right out, all smiles and asked me what I wanted. There was only haupia bread pudding and to be honest I'm not a huge haupia fan so I was a little hesitant and I think she saw that because she got a fork and gave me a small bite. Yum! The haupia was definitely present, but not in a way that was overpowering. I like her bread pudding because its not too sweet (she uses agave instead of sugar) and has a nice fluffiness to it, even on the corner pieces. Every bite is like a soft custard soaked piece of bread. It tastes even better when you warm it up. They also last for a few days if you put it in the fridge. She has a 4-5 different kinds that are always rotating when she is at KCC because she sells more of them . She has chocolate, banana, blueberry, strawberry, oreo, and others. When I told her I always go to KCC rather than her store she gave me a stamp card and told me she would stamp it if I brought it to KCC. One of the things I LOVE about her is that when she's at KCC, no matter how crowded it is, will let you choose which piece you want..I also have tried her cinnamon rolls at KCC and they are just as good as the bread pudding. Flaky with a sweet glaze on top. Its hard to stop once you start unraveling it, because its so good. I held myself back from eating the last couple of inches so I could warm it up and wow, if you like cinnamon rolls, definitely try Kates. The prices are not bad. $4 - breadpudding $7 for 2. $3 for cinnamon rolls. The prices at the store and at KCC are the same which is really nice of her. She also has a number of other cakes/breads/cookies/fruit bars/brownies at KCC

Not Just Desserts? What a peculiar name. From my experience this name is quite misleading. Calling this place Not Just Desserts is like calling Pokemon, "Not Just Pikachu". We clearly Pokemon is much more than just Pikachu. You have Charmander, Squirtle, Brock, Ash, Misty, and many many more. Outside this eatery is a nice hand drawn sign with the daily specials- all that sound so tasty. Once you walk in you see a whole table full of desserts. Cakes, pastries, and pies greet you at the door. We take a seat in this little dining room and the chef de cuisine comes out and takes our order. She is a friendly personable woman who is dedicated to her profession. A coworker and I had lunch at this fine establishment and we had the Spinach and Artichoke Pasta and Roast Pork Loin.The Spinach and Artichoke Pasta was fantastic! Huge portion and it was well-seasoned. The corkscrew pasta held onto the sauce very well and it wasn't too rich, making it a nice hearty lunch. The greens with dressing is a nice touch, adding a nice healthful alternative to a heavy mac salad side.http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/-zC33SnmBINxr-jGIfjEig?select=U7yNwY9Tup040nNGfEI3AQMy coworker got the Pork Loin with Brown Rice. I love any restaurant that allows for the brown rice option. Its a nice texture and I hear its healthier than white rice. The pork loin was moist and tasty. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/-zC33SnmBINxr-jGIfjEig?select=Q2LHcdy0GKeZCfdUEslxwwOverall, Not Just Desserts is a great lunch choice for the downtown crowd and they have a frequent eater card too! I will most def be coming back!