Tropical Desserts

If you’re longing for a sweet taste of the tropics, here are a few possibilities: * Mako: Chef-owner Mako Tanaka makes a macadamia nut tart with a thin layer of caramel and a topping of banana ice cream. His coconut rice pudding (both steamed and roasted sticky rice, cooked in coconut milk) is covered with passion fruit, mangoes and papayas. (Macadamia nut tart, $7.50; coconut rice pudding, $7.50.) Mako, 225 S. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 288-8338.

* Porto’s Bakery: This popular Cuban bakery makes a mango mousse cake decorated with a whole mango and tons of berries. The guava cheese strudel contains a thick layer of cream cheese and guava paste. (Mango mousse cake, $21, whole; $1.90, individual. Guava cheese strudel, 50 cents, slice.) Porto’s Bakery, 315 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, (818) 956-5996.

* Cafe Tropical: The guava and cheese pie involves homemade filo, cream cheese and a guava spread that takes hours to prepare. It’s wonderful with a Cuban cafe con leche . (Guava and cheese pie, $5.50, whole; $1.50, slice.) Cafe Tropical, 2900 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, (323) 661-8391.

* Frances Bakery: Pastry chef Minoru Shintadari makes a pie of roasted macadamia nuts and caramel between two crumbling cookie crusts. His fruit mousse cake is filled with a light, airy mousse (mango or passion) between layers of sponge cake, sealed by an apricot glaze. (Macadamia nut pie, small, $14.50; large, $19.50. Mouse cake, $24.50; slice, $2.65.) Frances Bakery, 404 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles, (213) 680-4899.

* Tlapazola Grill: Mamey tastes like papaya crossed with mango. Here it flavors a classic white cake, and the frosting is simply milk and mamey cooked to a sweet, pink paste. (Mamey cake, $30, medium; $40, large; $5.75, slice.) Tlapazola Grill, 11676 Gateway Blvd., West L.A., (310) 477-1577.

* Pshaw’s Bistro: The “home-style” desserts at Philip Shaw’s charming French soul-food bistro include an individual coconut pie, full of custard sprinkled with pineapple and of coconut, and his signature pineapple cake: layers of yellow sponge cake, pastry cream, chunks of pineapple topped with chantilly cream and fresh berries. (Coconut pie, $6; pineapple cake, $5.) Pshaw’s Bistro, 6099 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, (323) 871-2546.