GOOD TASTES.

CREAM PUFF HEAVEN IN HOLLYWOOD

Beard Papa hardly connotes sweets or, more specifically, cream puffs, but that's the name and logo (reminiscent of Santa Claus) for the Japanese pastry chain (Muginoho Inc. is the parent company) with more than 200 stores in Japan and 250 worldwide. The first U.S. store, delivering the company's signature cream puffs, opened in Manhattan in March 2004.

In October, the first California location, a Beard Papa Sweets Cafe franchise, opened in Hollywood (at the Hollywood & Highland complex), and cream puffs have been flying out the door ever since - some 3,000 daily on the weekends.

The vanilla- and chocolate-filled cream puffs, about 2 1/2 to 3 inches each in diameter, we sampled were delicious. Unlike the softer exterior that most Americans are familiar with, these had a very appealing, slightly crispy texture. Apparently, according to the menu literature, it's due to a two-layer shell (the inner shell consisting of choux pastry and the outer shell of pie crust). The thick filling, made fresh every few hours, consists of a whipped cream and custard mixture. Vanilla is always available, with other flavors - chocolate, strawberry, caramel, coffee, etc. - rotating every five to seven days. The cream puffs are filled after ordering - and the tops are sprinkled with powdered sugar. Although it's recommended you indulge in the cream puffs immediately, they can be refrigerated and consumed within 24 hours, says Joe Lung, the California franchisee. He plans to open another location in the Puente Hills Mall just before Christmas.

Vanilla custard-filled cream puffs are $1.50 each, other flavors $1.65 each. Six puffs are $8.50 (vanilla), $9.50 (other flavors); and a dozen pieces $17 (vanilla), $19 (other flavors). The shop also offers eclairs, topped with chocolate, for $1.85 each, and fondant au chocolat (like a warm chocolate cake, but we didn't care for the flavor) for $2 each.

Stick to the cream puffs and eclairs. You won't be sorry.

For information or the flavor of the day, call [phone].

- Natalie Haughton

BELGIAN CHOCOLATE ORNAMENTS

Recently at Costco, we spotted a box of two foil-wrapped Belgian Milk Chocolate Ornaments - one gold and one red. Each ball, with a gold loop, really looks like an ornament and could be hung on a tree, although it's a little heavy. Each ornament is filled with five mini milk-chocolate presents or boxes.

Made by Chocolates a la Carte in Valencia under its Signature Chocolates by Rena label, each 16-ounce box of two ornaments is $9.99 at Costco. We loved this novelty chocolate presentation - and the chocolate tasted good, too. Keep this in mind for a great holiday hostess gift or stocking stuffer.

- N.H.

GLACEED APRICOTS

If you know some folks who adore apricots, here's a gift that's bound to win their praises. It's a box with the Trader Joe's label containing plump, glaceed (lightly candied) whole Australian apricots, each half dipped in dark chocolate. As an apricot devotee, I found them decadent and delicious. It's hard to stop at just one or two. Two pieces contain 150 calories and 2.5 grams total fat and 34 grams carbohydrate. Each 10-ounce box is $8.99 at Trader Joe's.

- N.H.

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(1) no caption (cream puffs)

(2) no caption (Beard Papa)

(3) no caption (Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Glaceed Apricots)

(4) no caption (Belgian Milk Chocolate Ornaments)