“Sprinkly Guys” Doughnut by Johnny Doughnuts

Writing & Photography by Sandy Daenerys

A towering mouthwatering 10-foot doughnut wall where you can choose from 15 playful flavors including “Sugar Daddy” and “Sprinkly Guys”. An interactive macaron-decorating “Le Macaron Bar” using edible metallic paints, sugared crystals and watercolors. A create-your-own Cookie Dough Truffle Pop station customized to your palette’s desires. The world’s tiniest 11.5-inch tall food blogger and Instagram star doing a live fashion and food photo shoot. An unlimited supply of decadent and highly photogenic desserts and cocktails until your sweet tooth falls out and your selfie hands cramp up.

Inside Sweet Spot Fest 2019 at SOMArts Cultural Center. SoMa District, San Francisco, CA

What more can you ask for from this epic dessert festival in the most beloved foodie city by the bay?

This sold out event took place on Saturday March 30th from 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM at the SOMArts Cultural Center in San Francisco’s SoMa (South of Market area) District. SOMArts focuses on using the amazing ability of “art as a tool for social change” and holds special events and exhibitions throughout the year that supports their mission. Each ticket supports the mission to end hunger within the Bay Area community. A portion of the proceeds were donated to the SF-Marin Food Bank. Since 1987, this organization has launched successful models and innovative programs to nourish over 200k people per year within the San Francisco and Marin community.

10-foot Doughnut Wall by Johnny Doughnuts at Sweet Spot SF

All with a sweet tooth can now unite and share in their passion and appreciation for all things sugary. As you walk through the pretty backyard path to the entrance of the festival, you pass by some charming gardens with colorful flowers and lush plants. Once you get inside, the space is lit up in a bright pink hue, with hot pink and blue helium balloons; projectors of stars and upbeat tempo music fill the background. It’s a very full house with very excited and hungry fans, foodies and families, as well as a group of local Bay Area dessert vendors with friendly faces who are equally eager and optimistic to share their delightful culinary creations. There were also a variety of vegan and gluten-free options so there was something for everyone.

User-decorated macarons via Le Macarons Bar at the Food La La Booth

Feeling gluttonous? Not to worry. At Sweet Spot SF, with a special Unlimited Desserts and Drinks ticket, you get as many dessert courses as your heart desires. Stop by each booth to collect your dessert and/or drink; you can ask for multiple samples with no one to slap your hand here! Walk from booth to booth and fill your tummy with beautifully crafted cocktails and homemade desserts of your dreams. This is a great opportunity for vendors to increase their brand awareness, generate new fans by showcasing product samples and entice foodies from all over the Bay Area to stop by their brick and mortar shops or order from them via their online shops after the event.

Outside SOMArts Cultural Center. SoMa District, San Francisco.

From super fluffy and luscious melt-in-your-mouth decadent donuts to perfectly-made French macarons and traditional homemade pudding, from ice cream tacos freshly dipped in your favorite sweet sauce that’s made-to-order via a flash-freeze liquid nitrogen method to artisanal Balinese vegan ice cream made with exquisite ingredients like Ecuadorian raw cacao, Cyprus black salt flakes, rose salt and dragon fruit, your eyes and taste buds will not be disappointed by the food and photography opportunities that present themselves.

You get to fill your minimalist-looking hexagonal souvenir mason glass jar with unlimited tasty cocktails and mock-tails that are finely crated with Jack Daniels’ Tennessee Honey at the Jack Honey Bar; Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey include a blend of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and an unique honey liqueur of their own. Kombucha by Health-Ade and freshly roasted coffee by Roast Co Coffee were also available to pair with your treats.

Foodie Barbie on her fashion and food photo shoot at the Food La La Booth’s light box — Plastic Millennial on her fashion and food photo shoot at the Food La La Booth’s light box

Here are some much-deserved dessert highlights that my taste buds are still thinking about from the 2019 SweetSpotFest Dessert Festival:

Sprinkly Guys Doughnut by Johnny Doughnuts
Strawberry Basil Meringue by Choux
Bubbly Rose Kombucha by Health-Ade
Cheesecake Pudding & Chocolate Avocado and Coconut Cream Pudding by Yes Pudding
Vanilla Macaron with Raspberry Filling by Food La La
CINN-sational Cookie Dough Truffle by Out The Dough
Milk & Dark Chocolate-Dipped Vanilla Ice Cream Waffle Taco by Rocko’s Ice Cream Tacos
Chocolate Pot-De-Crème by Bi-Rite
Cardamom Ginger Rose Ice Cream by Kokolato
Cookie Monster Oreo Cookie Dough Sandwich by Doughp

If you wanted to take a break from satisfying your sweet cravings, one can partake in a variety of fun activities including decorating your own macarons at Food La La’s Macaron Decorating Bar, posing in front of a Photo Booth with amusing props and phrases, getting a custom Cookie Dough Truffle Pop made, finding the delightfully entertaining lad in the inflatable Unicorn costume, or taking “Sweet Snaps” that included well-lit food photography at key dessert booths with light boxes.

Balinese Vegan Ice Cream in Ecuadorian Raw Cacao by Kokolato

If you happened to pass my the Food La La Macarons Booth, you might have spotted the 11.5-inch tall Asian-American Foodie Barbie doll named London. She was the star and model of a cute and playful fashion and food photo shoot that took place inside their booth’s light box; you can check out her appearance in an upcoming blog post. All of these fanciful dessert-related activities added to the fun, sweet, whimsical and magical nature of the Sweet Spot SF Dessert Festival this year.