Big Bowl Brings in the Big Guns (of Desserts)

Jessie Oloroso, an acclaimed local pastry chef (who worked with "Top Chef" Stephanie Izard at the now-shuttered Scylla) and owner of Black Dog Gelato (an boutique gourmet gelato, ice cream and sorbet company), can add one more accolade to her resume. She recently overhauled the dessert menu at the much-loved Asian chain Big Bowl, elevating the finale of a meal to the quality and authenticity the restaurant prides itself on. 

Now, after your fresh salmon pad Thai or green vegetable curry, you can indulge in such desserts as a spiced ginger cake with freshly grated ginger, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper topped with thin layers of housemade peanut butter and white chocolate mousse; chai creme brulee; or a banana-cashew egg roll served with a dark chocolate dipping sauce. Each dessert, which is priced at $3.95, is served in smaller portions so you can feel free to order more than one (not that that's ever stopped you). Oloroso is looking forward to incorporating seasonal ingredients as they become available, so look for a slew of strawberry desserts, for example, in early summer. 

There are four local Big Bowl locations: 6 E. Cedar Ave., 312-640-8888; 60 E. Ohio Ave., 312-951-1888; 215 Parkway Dr., Lincolnshire, 847-808-8880; and 1950 E. Higgins St., Schaumburg, 847-517-8881.