Sweet Tarts
Tarts can have buttery or cookie-like crusts, and custard, fruit or nut fillings.
* Campanile: At lunch, pastry chef-owner Nancy Silverton makes a free-form “rustic” tart of wonderfully buttery pastry topped with strawberry-rhubarb compote and crisp streusel. The generous portion is served warm with creme frai^che. $6.50. Campanile, 624 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 938-1447.
* Chez Mimi: When you bite into Chez Mimi’s lemon tart, you taste the buttery biscuit-like crust, then a creamy lemon filling made from eggs, creme frai^che and plenty of lemon rind. It’s not too sweet and not too filling. $5. Chez Mimi, 246 26th St., Santa Monica, (310) 393-0558.
* Orso: In a lovely garden under a canopy of leaves, you can enjoy a delicate apple fig tart with a sweet pastry crust holding almond cream, a layer of black fig puree and finally thinly sliced Golden Delicious apples. It comes warm with caramel sauce and whipped creme frai^che. $7. Orso, 8706 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (310) 274-7144.
* Julienne: This charming spot offers a rhubarb meringue tart made from Grandma Jilly’s secret recipe. It’s a flaky crust covered with lemon-scented stewed rhubarb and light golden meringue. Individual rhubarb meringue tart, $4.95; large tart, $30. Julienne, 2649 Mission St., San Marino, (626) 441-2299.
* Troquet: At this sophisticated Orange County bistro, pastry chefs Jane Thoma and Shelly Register serve rich chocolate pine-nut tart (made to order). The crust (vanilla bean short pastry) is topped with a rich, dense filling of Valhrona chocolate and toasted pine nuts; it’s served with caramelized bananas, whipped cream and homemade chocolate sorbet. $7.50. Troquet, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, (714) 708-6865.
* Lilly’s French Cafe & Wine Bar: Pretend you’re in Paris at this Venice bistro full of French charm. Order the delicate individual tarte minute: a thin pastry crust with apple slices and homemade caramel sauce. It’s served warm with vanilla ice cream. $6. Lilly’s French Cafe & Wine Bar, 1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, (310) 314-0004.