Top 10 Dessert places in the city
I have a friend that dreams of being a pastry chef one day. If I could give her a list of top 10 places to go in the city for a good solid experience, where would you suggest? I want her to experience various angles to desserts / pastries.
Thanks in advance.
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10 Comments:
Do you mean to work or eat? She should try Payard (stellar French pastries) and City Bakery (American pastries) . For Jewish baked goods, Moishe's:
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7086998/new_york_ny/moishe_s_kosher_bake_shop_second_avenue.html
For bread, Balthazar, Granddaisy and Amy's Bread.
There are lots of other great places..curious to hear what others mention.
izzy's mama at 11:46AM on 11/13/08
Well, she wants to be a pastry chef as a career, but I would like her to eat at various places. So, the list would be for eating purposes.
Thank you for your suggestions.
sushiburger at 11:55AM on 11/13/08
Chikalicious, for the glam quotient.
The Treats Truck, because it's portable.
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory- flavor experimentation.
Almondine in DUMBO; Jacques Torres in DUMBO (because working with chocolate is crucial to pastry chefdom!)
eleeb at 12:21PM on 11/13/08
When Patisserie Claude reopens after renovation, your friend MUST try the pastries here. Croissants, pain au chocolat, fruit tartlets, unbelievable!!
The chocolate souffle at Daniel is ridiculous. I hope your friend can just go to try the souffle, because the rest of the food is very pricey.
Bouchon Bakery's vanilla custard and raspberry filled donut (only on weekends) is to DIE for. I also love their chocolate bouchon and nutter butter cookies.
Andre's up on the Upper East Side has some amazing cabbage strudel and other Hungarian pastries that are just swoon-worthy. I tried this poppyseed and walnut layered cake that was awesome. Also their cherry strudel.....
For cupcakes, your friend has got to try Sugar Sweet Sunshine. My faves there are the pistachio, yellow with white frosting, and the sassy red velvet. The puddings there are also the best in the city. Billy's Bakery does have a crazy banana cupcake, though.
If I think of anything else, I'll post again.
musicjess at 8:44PM on 11/13/08
Tailor or WD-50
Chikalicious / Chikalicious Dessert Bar
Jean-Georges
Gramercy Tavern
Le Bernardin
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Babbo or Otto
Momofuku Ssam Bar / Momofuku Bakery and Milk Bar
Donut Plant
City Bakery or Birdbath
Shake Shack
Il Laboratorio or Grom
Seconding Balthazar, Granddaisy (or Sullivan Street Bakery) and Amy's Bread for bread. Bouchon Bakery is also good but don't get the macarons when you're there, opt for his signature items like the TKO.
I prefer Kee's to Jacques Torres but they are quite different styles. I would also stop into La Maison du Chocolat for macarons and hot chocolate. Michel Cluizel also does nice hot chocolate.
For cupcakes, Sugar Sweet Sunshine is good. Maybe also Sweet Revenge or Tonnie's Minis? Or stop into Dean & Deluca and pick up some from Sage American Kitchen and Two Little Red Hens.
kathryn at 2:25AM on 11/14/08
Vera Tong's fabulous desserts @ Dovetail
petitesoeur at 6:50AM on 11/14/08
Cafe Lalo on the UWS
jrmanor at 12:38PM on 11/14/08
She should ideally a hit a range of places—from restaurants that plate over the top, artistic creations to holes in the wall where you can see bakers piping frosting onto cupcakes—to figure out what inspires her most.
Dessert bars: Kyotofu, Chikalicious, p*ong and Tailor.
Restaurants: I would second Gramercy Tavern, Dovetail and WD-50, and add Perry Street, Le Cirque and Hearth.
Bakeries (where you can often walk in and see baking in action, get treats still warm from the oven, and/or have a chance to chat with the proprietor): Amai, Batch, Sweet Revenge, Once Upon a Tart and Baked.
Specialty shops: Kee's chocolatier, Papabubble, Three Tarts, Lady M, and even a walk through Chelsea Market where she can peak into the kitchens of Amy's Bread, et al.
Sweet Freak at 10:49AM on 11/18/08
Are there any good German Bakeries left in Manhattan?
longisl at 5:18PM on 11/21/08
Don't forget Sullivan Street Bakery for great bread.
nuts2cast at 5:48PM on 11/21/08