Barbra Austin

We almost didn’t order dessert the other night at Bistrot Paul Bert.

My mother had remarkable restraint when it came to sweets. The woman could eat two tablespoons of ice cream and claim to be satisfied. I say “restraint” but I think she actually didn’t really like anything too rich. Or at least she pretended not to.

This cake was one of her favorite treats.

Granitas, like sorbets, appeal to dessert eaters who want to have their cake and eat it too. Made from nothing but fruit and sugar, they are naturally low-calorie sweets. But you know what tastes really good with many granitas? A big dollop of whipped cream.