A mere glance will do you in. On every corner, there they are. In every cafe and restaurant , at all hours of the day their temptation never ceases. They expose themselves in full view of anyone who dares make eye contact; daily commuters, wandering tourists, weekend lollygaggers. They are shameless, and we are weak. No use fighting it, might as well give in.

Beneath clear glass domes they taunt, with their velvety chocolate frosting or custard filling just begging to be devoured alongside a café con leche.

Whether you’re attempting to crawl back home after an enormous menu del día or are on the hunt for the first meal of the day, they do not care. They pay absolutely no mind to your calorie-counting, low-carb, no-sugar, salad-eating ways.

They are shameless, and we are weak. No use fighting it, might as well give in.

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In the Gràcia neighborhood one mid-week afternoon, we salivated over the selection of cakes and pies at A Casa Portuguesa. Coconut cake with a custard filling pleased, a balanced maracuya meringue pie with reminded me of Hawaii’s Liliko’i pies back home, cheesecake with chocolate and berries comforted.

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On another occasion, we wandered into the flamingo-print walls, charming mismatched chairs and china bruncherie of Ugot. From what I recall, a quick coffee before returning to the flat to work was the original intent, or in my British companion’s case, a cup of tea.

We sauntered up to the counter, admired the decor and nearly stayed true to our original plan, until our eyes made contact with those orbs of heaven that gazed longingly at us from beneath their glass cake covers. Give in we did, regret we did not.

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