Pretzel Croissant
by Cristy-Lucie Alvarado
January 31st, 2008
CITY BAKERY
3 W 18th St
(5th & 6th Ave)
212-366-1414
$$
I’m always on the lookout for the perfect croissant. It doesn’t matter whether I’m craving something savory or something sweet, if I see a croissant with potential, I give it a whirl. Those buttery bundles of flakey goodness never disappoint. So I finally came across the infamous pretzel croissant from City Bakery. Turns out, I’m obsessed. It looks like a croissant, feels like a croissant, but tastes like a pretzel — a buttery, flakey, tender little pretzel with the right amount of salt in every bite. The outer shell is crisp and buttery and when you sink your teeth into it, you’ll be pleased to find a soft fluffy inside with dainty brown pretzel-like specs. Adorned with a light sprinkling of sesame seeds, there’s a delicate crunch as you gnaw away at this heavenly treat.
Posted in American , Bread , Breakfast , Snack , Union Square
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Hot Chocolate
by Celia Cheng
December 17th, 2007
CITY BAKERY
3 W 18th St
(5th & 6th Ave)
212-366-1414
$$
City Bakery’s hot chocolate is the standard to which New Yorkers hold this true winter craving. Since the chill kicked in, I’ve been going every day to get my fix of this classic. “A shot” — four ounces — of this rich, thick and dreamy chocolate drink is just the right size to satiate my craving — temporarily, that is — and keep me coming back for more.
Posted in American , Drinks , Union Square
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Mochi Ice Cream
by Celia Cheng
November 15th, 2007
BUBBIES
Bierkraft
191 5th Ave
(5th & 6th Ave)
Park Slope, Brooklyn
718-230-7600
$
Also sold at Whole Foods stores in New York
I grew up eating Bubbies ice cream in Honolulu (on University Avenue, next to Varsity Theater) and I always loved it. And it seems that mainlanders feel the same way as Bubbies has made its way across the Pacific Ocean, selling products to top restaurants and markets throughout the mainland. Their mochi ice cream has become rather ubiquitous in gourmet food stores in the City. Mochi ice cream, a modern Japanese desset, is an ice-cream-filled rice cake. I’m currently hooked on the guava. It’s light, delicate and flavorful, and the pink mochi skin is soft, thin and chewy. Even when extremely frozen, I can’t help but eagerly pop them in my mouth. Never too hard to bite into, they are a treat I don’t tire of.
Posted in Dessert , Japanese , LES , Park Slope , Sweets , UES , Union Square , UWS
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Speculoos Cookies
by Celia Cheng
September 19th, 2007
LE PAIN QUOTIDIEN
100 Grand St
(Mercer & Greene St)
212-625-9009
more locations
$$
The Belgian bakery-café chain Le Pain Quotidien seems to be continuously opening new stores around the globe, with thirteen locations in New York City alone. In my book, LPQ’s speculoos cookies — Belgian spice cookies — are reason enough for world domination. I love these smooth, flat cookies with sliced almonds because the subtle hint of cinnamon and fresh lemon linger on your palate long after the cookies are gone. The texture of the cookie is hard but refined as it’s made with pastry flour. Each bite starts with a light, crisp crunch, and ends with your hand reaching for another.
Posted in Belgian , Chelsea , Cookies , Midtown West , SoHo , Sweets , UES , Union Square , UWS , West Village
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Salad Meal
by Celia Cheng
August 29th, 2007
MAOZ VEGETARIAN
38 Union Square East
(16th & 17th St)
(212) 260-1988
$
The Dutch falafel fast food chain, Maoz, has started to expand worldwide, opening stores in London, Paris, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid and New York! The concept is pretty simple: you can get variations of the falafel sandwich or salad and add as many toppings (and condiments) as you like from the open salad bar. For a chain, the produce at Maoz is incredibly fresh. There’s cucumber dill salad, fried broccoli and cauliflower, pickled baby eggplant, tomato onion salad, carrots and more. The “meals” include a drink and some come with Belgian fries. I like the salad meal, which includes a salad box (falafel on a bed of shredded lettuce, fried eggplant and hummus) and a drink — I love their fresh orange juice! Each time I visit Maoz, I am blown away by what a good deal it is at less than $10 for this more than copious, very healthy and delicious meal.
Posted in Middle Eastern , Salad , Union Square , Vegetables
