Not Just Desserts

I have never gone to Not Just Desserts restaurant but I do go to the Jefferson School’s Farmers market on Saturdays from 8 am to 2 pm. Chef Kate is there with her yummy gluten free desserts. I love them We had two cinnamon rolls, so light and not too sweet and the lemon cake was really fluffy. It did not have a heavy lemon flavor. It has a spongey flaky texture and the lemon and the sweet did not over power one, while eating it. We tasted the brownies, so yummy. Chef Kate gets pretty busy at times. I waited til it slowed down a bit to talk with her about her ingredients. She has been in Hawaii a long time. I first met her at the KCC farmers’ market.

I try to only eat gluten free food and desserts, because of an autoimmune problem I am challenged with. I discovered Chef Kate in downtown a few years ago and ate some of her gluten free desserts that were very tasty. I didn’t go back for awhile as the downtown location was just inconvenient for me. I did discover her again at the Farmer’s Market at Jefferson School and bought her bread, cinnamon rolls and other goodies. I especially couldn’t believe that her cinnamon rolls where gluten free. They were so good and had texture unlike most gluten free products. She told me she was at HMSA on Keeamoku St. on Fridays, so I stop by as often as I can. I have tried many gluten free desserts, but hers on this island, so far are the best in my opinion. I kept trying to find out what she uses to make it taste so good and not dry and crumbly like most gluten free desserts are, but no luck getting her secret. She just said a variety of things and she is a European baker and has been doing this for awhile. She just needs to get a gluten free bakery going!!!

I ordered a strawberry shortcake for my son’s 4^th birthday. He was so excited when I brought it home, he wanted to eat the strawberries before we even got to the event location.
When we have cake in the house we usually have leftovers days later but this cake was so good that there was one piece left the next day when I got home from work so I had to eat it before anyone else could! I do not like cakes from the grocery stores because they have very little flavor and way too much sugar; but this cake was so sweet and delicious and it had no sugar! Total heaven! Perfection!

Obnoxious and rude. A driving hazzard on the road. Tailgating everyone and speeding. (We can only drive as fast as the car in front of us). Exemplifying poor representation of driving a company car. Consider public welfare.

Gluten free huge cinnamon roll with a generous amount of frosting. Amazing. Just amazing. Honestly fluffier and more moist than gluten-​containing cinnamon rolls I’ve had in the past. You won’t be disappointed!

Same as a past reviewer, rude ass woman on the phone. Just called to inquire about vegan desserts and was told «well, I have four customers waiting in line…» First, that’s probably as long as it would have taken to just tell me. Second, learn the phrase «can you hold please?» If you don’t want customers calling your business, don’t install a phone. And don’t worry, I won’t add another customer to your line.

My husband and I called this morning he asked at the speaker phone what was the vegan choices they had at the store today since they usually just have one or two, that’s a fair question to ask. Their answer was we have today bread pudding, «blah, blah, blah.»
What? So rude we end up not going. If you don’t want to work with people simply don’t. Costumers deserve respect.

Chef Kate and the Not Just Desserts team provided excellent catering for my wedding. They went above and beyond with service and selection. My guests were thrilled with the selection for those with allergies! I appreciate the time and effort Chef Kate spent with me leading up to the event — it was an amazing day!

This place is a blessing for those with food allergies and other health restrictions. The desserts are seriously top-​notch. You would never know it lacks all the unhealthy ingredients that are normally used in food.
For those who are vegan AND gluten-​free, this is your place! Chef Kate is seriously a baking genius and her desserts and meals are unbelievable. How can something so creamy and soft lack the usual wheat and dairy?
For special events, she’s made us incredible – and I mean incredible – cakes and entrees. Our guests are used to hating on vegan-​GF desserts and meals, but when they took one bite of her cakes and dishes, EVERYONE freaked out. FREAKED. OUT. We had seconds, then thirds, then fought over the last few crumbs. Then we went back and ordered more. Just trust me. Chef Kate is legit.
Parking: Parking is available at the Chinatown Municipal parking lot across the street, but we usually just call in an order for pick-​up curbside.
Timing: Because her food sells out fast, the doors may be shut earlier than expected. To avoid being really disappointed at the door, go as early as possible.
Unilocalers who’ve said the chef has no Aloha, just stay a little longer and see what happens, what you learn. Trust me, it’s worth it. You will be touched and inspired and so happy to know Chef Kate.

I love this place! Every town should have one. I’m allergic to foods with gluten, and I’m diabetic and trying to lose weight. They have many foods that are gluten free, sugar free, low carb, low calorie, and vegan! They taste so yummy, too. OMG. I’m in love. If one can be in love with a store, I’m in love. We went there the other day and I bought a whole container full of stuff-​cheesecake, torte, cupcakes, etc. and it was all only $ 20 and so delicious. I can’t believe I’ve lived here almost 2 years and just found them. I almost hate to tell you about it because I’m afraid it will get too busy and then they’ll run out of pastries before I can get to them :)

NO ALOHA. A very arrogant owner.
Came to the farmers market and was interested in her desserts. I had some questions about her specialty products because I was going to buy them for someone with health problems. As i asked her questions about the ingredients and other things she said, «This is why I won the Ilima Award and NOT you» I was shocked!
I love and support local businesses but this was so disappointing. No sense of Aloha and humility towards local consumers.

the deserts though are really good. Even though the name is cliché the food is anything but.
I used to work on King and Bethel so this restaurant is just across the street under our fire door. It was a soft soft opening that just a placard showed up on our daily lunch time walks and we got to see a wide variety of deserts, ohh la la.
Since we were so close, we talked to the owner and asked about catering for our non-​profit events. It was wonderfully refreshing to get a no nonsense answer. She (the chef) said ‘tell me your goal per head and how many people to feed and what your total budget is.’ Directly straight forward, her time was important and she knew the organization didn’t want to look foolish for something that they should have had prepared well. Very refreshing.
Seating is small. Don’t try to bring a good size group unless you call ahead for take out.
If you are going to try something different that is made super fresh in an upbeat fast setting– you are definitely in the right place. There is a menu board out front and they do slide out what is no longer in stock. There are always deserts that are just to die for and super rich.
Beef done different ways– roast beef or meat loaf it is all good. My coworkers love the meatloaf so much. I go for more of the meat meats and it is good for that too.
Price is super reasonable. There are good size portions and it is all tastey.
There is a pay parking lot in front of it– otherwise walk or street parking. Driving up nearby is cool to — paying and then going is super easy down the side streets.

Not just desserts is usually found as a food stand at the various farmer’s markets around town. They also have this storefront, albeit with limited operating hours. Even when they are open, when you drive by it is easy to miss or will seem closed, especially since there will not likely be anyone standing behind the counter when you get there.
Inside is a small seating area and a single display case with a handful of the desserts available on display. Rather than choosing from there though, it is definitely better to speak with Chef Kate, who is likely working in the kitchen when you show up. She will tell you of what is freshly available in the back and what might fit your tastes.
I ended up getting a slice of pumpkin ginger cake which was pretty good. It was soft and moist with a frosting that was not too overpowering. I also took home a sugarless (and flourless?) brownie which she stated was a healthier option at around 100cal a piece. This was decent as well.
Overall, I liked the personal touch that this shop provided. It may be a small operation that is still finding its way, but Chef Kate is very friendly and the desserts are above average.

My husband and I try to shop at the Farmers market at KCC every Saturday from 7−11am. That’s if we wake up early enough… but every time we go I ALWAYS… ALWAYS stop by this stand. There is so much to love about this lady, her homemade and freshly made baked goods. There is seriously so much goodness in this business. Let me explain:
At first glance it looks like an ordinary bake sale stand. Home made desserts. Not the perfectly sliced pieces and perfectly placed icing kind. But when you hear what this sweet lady has to say about her fresh ingredients and what kind of flavors and processing she throws together, you’ll give in. And you’ll be glad that you did! Everything I’ve tried thus far has been so… so tasty. On top of that, she uses fresh, non artificial ingredients.
My favorite recipe is the bread pudding. She usually has a few bread pudding varieties but the one I ordered had chocolate in it. She whipped it up with whip cream, tossed in chunks of her brownies, and threw in a strawberry.
Before whipping up that pretty concoction, she gave us free brownie pieces for the wait. Huge plus!
I have tried her other desserts here as well and she has everything from healthy fruit bars (intentionally made with little to no sugar so it tastes healthy) to the heavy thick decadent chocolate cake with whipped cream and all that bad goodness.
Bottomline: She is so sweet, prices are fair, baked goods are made with quality, love and deliciousness.

The worst. Ordered cakes on two occasions and they were dry with gritty frosting. The «desserts» were almost as bad as the rude owner, who acted like we were doing HER a favor by doing business with this place. Don’t waste your time!

This is my second visit to buy Kate’s amazingly delicious pastries at KCC Farmer’s Market! Tried her haupia bread pudding, chocolate tre leche cake with coconut, grapefruit scone, chocolate croissants, and flourless chocolate brownies. YUM! Everything is delicious and recommendable (is that a legitimate word?)! She even has gluten free wares. Absolute winner! Woo hoo!
William is learning the business and assits with packaging your order and collecting payment. He’s so polite and cute!

So many gluten-​free & sugar-​free entrees & desserts! Truffle brownies are always a great choice!
Chef Kate really outdoes herself with all of her gluten free and sugar free options. I have indulged in many of her desserts… oh, they melt in your mouth and definitely don’t taste gluten free, but they are! (she also makes some items with gluten, so if you are avoiding gluten, be sure to ask what is gluten free)
Let’s start the list of desserts I’ve tried (and 100% of the time enjoyed): Truffle brownies, chocolate cakes, lemon cake, pistachio cake, carrot cake, angel food cake, blueberry pie, peach cobbler, lemon meringue pie, chocolate pies with cherries or cherries and pistachios, chocolate pies (that taste like fudge) with pecans. Oh I’m starting to salivate for more of her treats as I write this! Last time I tried her chocolate bread pudding… I didn’t think I’d ever eat bread pudding again, but Kate can make it gluten free. :)
On the more breakfast-​y side of things, she makes delicious oatmeal/​berry bars, apple cinnamon muffins, banana muffins. I’ve tried a few of her gluten free scones, with interesting flavors such as lavender lemon, and mango, She has a few types of whole breads, like pumpkin or sweet pumpkin. I haven’t tried her chocolate bread yet.
Chef Kate has a spot at the KCC Farmer’s Market every Saturday. I’ve also eaten at her store, which is right around the corner from Murphy’s and O’Toole’s. She is open for lunch during the weekdays, although sometimes closed if she is catering offsite. I had her cater for an office luncheon… moist chicken breast, gluten free pasta with vegetables and pesto, brown rice with a really yummy cream sauce, salad… everyone devoured the food, and the truffle brownies we had with the lunch were gone in no time!
At her store, I’ve eaten lunches like gluten free meatloaf (with that yummy cream sauce) and brown rice, warm veggie quinoa, My husband enjoys the ribs, but they are a bit spicy for me. You can «cut» the spice by eating the kale slaw that comes with it. He likes the pork chops too.
I know she has even more lunch options, but you’ll have to go and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed… portions are large and of course, delicious! If you arrive and a line appears out the door, don’t worry, they are getting take out, which is usually served pretty quickly. Just look at the day’s menu on the board, and go inside and have a seat. Kate or her staff will be with you momentarily.
Thank you Chef Kate for bringing a smile back to my face with all of your gluten free sugar free foods and desserts! Being gluten free is fun and tolerable, now that I’ve found you!

I’ve gone to Not Just Desserts at the KCC farmers market at least 5 times now and each time I have NOT been disappointed with my selections.
My boyfriend says that I only go to the farmers market to get her desserts and he’s pretty right! I told him that it was a necessity for the desserts and the produce that I pick up are bonuses. Haha
Chef Kate’s speciality is NO SUGAR and she also makes gluten free items. SCORE for me!!! She uses honey, fruit or agave as sweeteners. She also makes her own taro flour for her chocolate cakes and chocolate bread (grain free, semi paleo friendly!), she makes her own chocolate since her family has a cacao farm and she doesn’t use rice flour or soy. OMG, I am in heaven! If you can’t tell by now, I’m paleo and don’t eat certain things since it messes with my body big time.
I overheard her speaking to another customer one day and she mentioned that she makes all these goodies bcs of her family and I just think it’s wonderful that she makes these healthy treats!
I’m so serious when I say that this is my go-​to place for any kind of dessert or baked goods.
Chef Kate changes things up at the market every week so I’ve had the pleasure of purchasing quite a bit of deliciousness from her over the last month. She’s even cut me off a couple of times. Haha
Yesterday I picked up her grain, gluten and sugar free key lime bar and that thing was awesome! I usually don’t like bars bcs they can be dry, crumbly or just bla. Hers was moist with enough tanginess from the limes and it was refreshing. I couldn’t stop eating it. Then I got a strawberry boston cream slice or is it strawberry shortcake? Whatever it was, it was beyond delicious! My first instinct was to just buy the whole cake but I told myself that I would just get a slice to try it out bcs what if I don’t like it? So I should have listened to my instincts bcs that thing was that good! I ate some yesterday and forced myself to save the rest for today. Today rolls around and I ate it for breakfast. Then I told my bf, «I’m going to order that strawberry cake for my birthday. I’ll let you have some too» haha
Some other favorites of mine: cherry chocolate cake or any of her chocolate cakes, pistachio cake, lilikoi cheesecake and her infamous truffle coconut flour brownies. She has some gluten free muffins and sometimes she has scones.
My bf eats wheat so he likes her cinnamon rolls.
Chef Kate’s desserts are not only good but even healthy since she uses quality, local and seasonal ingredients. Her pricing is so reasonable that it’s truly unbelievable! Her and her staff are always amazed at how much I buy and how fast I finish it all. I’ve been tempted to go to her shop for my treats but have held back on it. I like the variety at the market and the poor woman spends all night and day to make it. It truly is a labor of love and I for one am very grateful for her genius! Baking with non-​traditional flour is super hard work, it’s not only a science but an art form and she’s a true artist!
Check her out at the market or shop. I should stop by the shop since I’ve seen pictures of her lobster salad and that looks amazing.

I have a feeling that this place is a hit or miss depending on what you order. It was a miss for me today… I ordered the Taco Salad. Okay, I’m no taco salad snob but, this was just a handful of lettuce with a pile of ground beef mixed with like Tostitos Salsa. I mean… not even real salsa. And there was no cheese — no cheese!!! Slivers of tortilla strips tossed in — tasted more like those Hawaii Won Ton chips. And I’ve read others say the portions were huge but, um not really in this case. Paid $ 9 bucks for that and I wasn’t full nor was it good.
Now, their desserts looked incredible, but it sort of grosses me out that things are sitting on a counter, in an non-​air conditioned place, opened. Who knows what is flying around, and then people hover around the counter to pay for their food — what if someone is a spitter when they talk and spits into the desserts or sneeze, or… in fact, I watched as one of the customers who just finished their meal walk up to the counter to return their used fork and give back their eaten styrofoam container, and since no one was there, they just plopped it right on top of the tray of brownies. And mind you, the brownies are exposed with just a sheet of wax paper over. Eeeeewww gross. Given the sneezing and spitting and other possible scenarios and what I witnessed, I just couldn’t buy a dessert.
And my last gripe… there’s one guy who mans the counter and then goes in the back to prepare the food. If he’s in the back, you’re standing there waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting. It’s not good. Especially when we only have an hour lunch break.
Sorry Charlie… an unenthusiastic two stars only.

Really interesting location. It’s located on a small street across of Murphy’s Bar & Grill. I got the oreo brownie and the haupia bread pudding. The bread pudding was delicious!
I heard they also have a menu and serve food. I will have to come back for that next time. Just got desserts this time.