Blueberries

Blueberries lend their sweet, subtle flavor to a host of treats.

* La Cachette: A winning tart here has a layer of blueberries, a rich custard and then another layer of blueberries. It’s served warm with vanilla ice cream and black currant coulis. (Blueberry and black currant tart, $10.) La Cachette, 10506 Santa Monica Blvd., Century City, (310) 470-4992.

* Julienne: There’s a regular tart of shredded coconut studded with blueberries; the blueberries pop in your mouth. But you’ll have to special-order other desserts such as lemon curd-blueberry tart, lemon curd-blueberry bread pudding (made with Julienne’s own French bread), banana-blueberry brown betty or blueberry-raspberry bread pudding with berry coulis. (Blueberry desserts, $4.95.) Julienne, 2649 Mission St., San Marino, (626) 441-2299.

* 2087 An American Bistro: This place serves a big, old-fashioned blueberry pie with a classic flaky crust, topped with whipped cream or homemade vanilla ice cream. Word to the wise: This pie is only available in August. (Blueberry pie, $6.50.) 2087 An American Bistro, 2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, (805) 374-2087.

* Europane: At breakfast, have a blueberry brioche filled with luscious pastry cream or a piece of apple-blueberry streusel cake. At lunch or dinner, have the blueberry brown butter tart or a puff pastry tart made with blueberries, almond cream and either nectarines, plums or peaches. (Blueberry brioche, $2.50; apple-blueberry streusel, $2.50; blueberry tart $3.75; puff pastry tarts, $3.50.) Europane, 950 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 577-1828.

* Linq: Pastry chef Jan Purdy creates an individual tart of puff pastry, frangipani and blueberries. It comes with a sauce made from egg yolks, lemon juice and a little butter and sugar. (Blueberry tart, $6.50.) Linq, 8338 W. 3rd St., West Hollywood, (323) 655-4555.

* Golden Truffle: Alan Greeley’s blueberry creations include a deep purple blueberry granita, so light you won’t even know you had dessert, and the “blueberry cloud”--fried puff pastry dusted with lime-scented sugar with a center of crushed fresh blueberries. Both desserts will be available during August and September. (Blueberry granita, $5; blueberry cloud, $6.) Golden Truffle, 1767 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, (949) 645-9858.