This Weeks Sweet Reviews

Always Hungry: Tabla Cart’s Kulfi Pop

Life with Food & Drink: Peoples Pops peach basil

Blondie & Brownie: Bouchon

Feast: The Best Ice Cream in NY

Life with Food & Drink: Green Apple gelato

Midtown Lunch: Junior's Cupcakes

Blondie & Brownie: Plum Crumble from Four and Twenty Blackbirds

Restaurant Girl: Simply Peeled - A Whole New Brand of Soft-Serve

Serious Eats: Peach Doughnuts at Doughnut Plant

Dessert for Dinner: Breakfast at Clinton Street Baking Co.

Dessert for Dinner: The Four Pastry Breakfast at Maialino

Foodista NYC: Kelvin Natural Slush Co. - Not Your 7-11 Slurpees

Ice Cream for Dinner: Grom, Shake Shack, Lulu & Mooky's.

Fork in the Road: Peels' Berry Crisp

We Heart Astoria: Favorite Astoria Sweets

Blue Smoke Bake Shop Opens

Via Fork in the Road.
















Blue Smoke Bake Shop
116 E 27th St.
(212) 447-6058

The restaurant has opened a bake shop right by its entrance and sweets will be available from 11:30AM-9PM seven days a week. The menu includes cake, cupcakes (in flavors like Boston cream, coconut cream, and double espresso), freshly baked bread, cookies, bars, and whole pies.

Update: Feast takes a closer look at the baked goods being offered.
And Serious Eats has an even closer look!

Beny's Delice Opens in Brooklyn

Via Fork in the Road.

Beny's Delice
903 Fulton Street
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
718-622-1400

Apparently this section of Clinton Hill was in need of a bakery.

Champs Vegan Bakery Opens in Williamsburg

Original photo can be found here.
















Via Free Williamsburg & The Discerning Brute.

Champs Vegan Bakery
176 Ainslie Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 599-2743

This vegan bakery soft-opened in early August and offers the standard choices of cookies, cupcakes, scones, brownies, whoopie pies, brownies, croissants and coffee. 85% of their ingredients are organic.

Review: La Dolce Via

La Dolce Via
12-58 150st
Whitestone, NY
(718) 747-3652

Items ordered: Cannoli dream cake, rainbow cookie cake, amaretto gelato

Rating out of 5:



I really wanted to like this place, mainly because its so darn cute inside. They have a pink vespa in one window and festively painted walls, but I wasn't impressed with what I tried. However, I'd be willing to come back to try more gelato flavors, because I don't think its fair to judge them based on one flavor, one time. Its their pastries I was really disappointed in.














The amaretto gelato was alright, I thought the flavor was pretty weak though and I got bored with it fast.














UGH. Looks pretty, doesn't it? I had no reason to think this wouldn't be delicious, which made the let down so much worse. It tastes nothing like cannoli cream, it tastes cream cheese based. I can eat cream cheese on bagels, but on nothing else, and in no other form. I understand people think I'm crazy, but no matter what other ingredients are added it always tastes like pure cream cheese. Cinnabon's icing is an exception, but I doubt there is any real cream cheese in there.














The rainbow cake also looked delicious, but didn't have much of an almond flavor and it had a strange aftertaste I couldn't quite place.

Maybe I went on an off day, but I couldn't even finish the two mini cakes I bought. Sad.

August Cannoli Crawl

What: NYC Food Crawl August Cannoli Crawl

When: Thursday, August 26th, 7-10PM

Where: RSVP on Facebook or email the organizers at rsvpfoodcrawl@gmail.com for the location

Cost: Free to attend, you pay for your food

From the Facebook event page:
For those among you fabulous food lovers who are new to crawling, here's ho...w we roll: a meetup location is announced a couple days before the crawl, and folks assemble there at the appointed time. We'll break out into groups of about 5 or 6 and route assignments are distributed. (Some folks know who they want to crawl with and some don't. It's all good- either way, you'll probably go home with new friends! If you don't have a group we help put y'all together.)

We generally suggest chucking in about $5-6 to a group money pot and appointing someone to be the team "captain" to handle orders for you.

If that's up your alley (and of course it is!), shoot me an RSVP via Facebook (or rsvpfoodcrawl@gmail.com)

And as always, feel free to send questions, comments, random declarations of love, etc. to nycfoodcrawl@gmail.com.

Free NYC Dessert Fest Ice Cream Meetup

What: Free NYC Dessert Fest Ice Cream

When: Sunday August 22nd, 11AM

Where: Max Brenner
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
212-388-0030

Cost: I think there is usually a $5 donation that goes towards fighting hunger, other than that your responsible for your ice cream purchases.

Other than Max Brenner, locations have yet to be specified, but the organizer is open to taking suggestions.

Strawberry’s Sports Grill Offers Cupcakes in Douglaston, Queens

Via Grub Street.

Strawberry’s Sports Grill
42–15 235th St.
Douglaston, NY
718-517-8787

Its true! Cupcakes are on the menu at Daryl Strawberry's newly opened sports grill and are selling for $4.95 a pop. The dessert menu also includes bourbon flavored pecan pie, deep fried Twinkies, banana pudding, chocolate fudge brownie sundae, and milk shakes.

The Lemon Ice King of Corona (kinda) Comes to The Rockaways

Via Grub Street.

Original photo can be found here.








The Irish Circle
101–19 Rockaway Beach Blvd.
Rockaway Park, NY
718-474-9002

The Irish Circle, a bar in the Rockaway section of Queens, has opened up an annex of the Corona Ice King and is selling 37 of the famous businesses following flavors:

Blueberry
Grape
Banana
Peach
Bubble Gum
Fruit Cocktail
Rum Raisin
Almond
Coffee
Mint
Lime
Apple
Licorice
Lemon
Chocolate
Cherry
Rainbow
Peanut Butter
Pina Colada
Pistachio
Coconut
Pineapple
Orange
Tangerine
Strawberry
Raspberry
Watermelon
Orange/Vanilla Swirl
Mint Chocolate Chip
Mango
Cotton Candy
Cantaloupe
Sugar Free Lemon
Sugar Free Chocolate
Sugar Free Cherry
Sugar Free Orange

Lots of Sweet Reviews

From the past three weeks, lots of yum.

Pies ‘N’ Thighs’ Molasses Cookie

BBQ Soft Serve Now at Milk Bar

Robicelli’s Alcohol Cupcakes

Artisanal Creamery in Queens

Melt Bakery

The best popsicle I ever ate- from La Newyorkina

Vanilla-almond soft serve from Kyotofu

Holey Cream surprises with a new star fro yo

Black sesame soft serve from Kyotofu

Sampling the Joyride Truck’s Fro-yo

We Ate at Pop-Tarts World in Times Square: 14 Creations

Icebox Cake at Billy's Bakery

Deliveries We Like: e.e. cookies

Raspberry Eclair at Financier

Gourmet Sweets & Restaurant in Queens

Chocolate-Stuffed Sourdough at Levain Bakery

Lemon-Raspberry Cake at Almondine Bakery

Brioche Gelato Sandwiches at Mia Dona
&
Mia Dona’s Gelato Sandwich Might Be the Best Take Away Dessert in the Area

Strawberry Panna Cotta at Bouchon Bakery

Chocolate Bread Pudding at Tate's Bake Shop

Van Leeuwen Has New Flavors

Looking For The Best Cholados in Queens

Gelato at Borne Confections

Battle of the Newfangled Popsicles: Popbar vs. People's Pops

Taste Testing Strawberry Ice Cream

Veniero’s

Sweet Melissa Patisserie - Oh How Sweet and Sinful...

Red Velvet with Raspberry Frosting at Made Fresh Daily

Bodega Frozen Treats

Vanilla Malted at Brooklyn Farmacy

East Village Shaved Ice Smackdown: TKettle vs. Just Sweet

Spot's Condensed Milk Ice Cream With Nata de Coco

Balthazar Bakery Now Serving Cupcakes

Via Grub Street, Cupcakes Take the Cake, and Lunch Studio.

Balthazar Bakery is now serving cupcakes! They cost $4.50 a pop.

Crumbs Opens in Brooklyn

Via Brooklyn Heights Blog.

The Crumbs at 109 Montague (between Henry and Hicks) is officially open.

Free Cupcakes and Vibrators this Week!

Via NYC The Blog.

What: In the Flesh Erotic Reading Series Summer Sex/Sex on the Beach Night

When: Thursday, August 19th, 8-10PM

Where: Happy Ending Lounge
302 Broome St.
NY, NY

Cost: FREE, 21+

4 waterproof vibes will be given away at the event, along with free Baked by Melissa cupcakes!

Armenian Bakery Brooklyn Bread House Opens

Via Sheepshead Bites.

Brooklyn Bread House
1718 Jerome Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

This newly opened Armenian bakery sells cookies, cakes, breads, nuts, dried fruit, regional candies and pickles. They are the only bakery in the area to offer lavash, a thin unleavened bread made by slapping the flattened dough against the hot walls of a wood oven. They also offer Italian and other regional baked goods, and in the future they hope to add BBQ, a salad bar, Turkish coffee and Armenian pizza.

Let's Make Cupcakes at Cupcake Kids Kitchen

Via Cupcakes Take the Cake.

What: Let's Make Cupcakes. Everyone loves cupcakes - come learn how to make our fall-favorite carrot cupcakes from scratch and decorate them to our hearts content.

When: Saturday, Sep 25th
10:45AM - 11:45AM: 2-4 yrs, with caregiver
9:30AM - 10:30AM: 5-8 yrs, drop off

Where: Cupcake Kids Kitchen
109 W 27th Street

Cost: $50 (for either class)

Enrollment is limited and spaces are likely to fill up fast, so sign up ASAP.

Cupcake Hatred Article from Slate

Via Cupcakes Take the Cake, Via Slate.

The article is titled "Against Cupcakes", and the ladies over at CTTC make the excellent point that all these articles do is make more business for these cupcake bakeries by giving them free publicity. They also provide some pro-cupcake articles. So in honor of yet another anti-cupcake piece, this is your excuse to go out and buy a cupcake!

Buy 1 Cupcake get 1 Free at Cream Bakery in Astoria

Via The Foodista.












Cream Bakery
31-78 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103
(718) 545 3800
Take the R/G Train to Steinway Street

The newly opened bakery is offering a buy one get one free cupcake offer good through August 31st 2010.

Ice Cream Festival

Via NYC Food Guy.

What: Ice Cream Festival

When: Sunday August 22, 12 - 4PM

Where: New Amsterdam Market
South Street, New York NY
(212) 766-8688

Cost: $20 for the ice cream tasting, $35 for both the ice cream and the tomato tasting. You will not receive a physical ticket, rather your name will appear on the list at the door of the event. You will need to provide your ID for admittance. You can buy your tickets here or by visiting the event website.

From the site:
On August 22nd we'll be hosting an ice cream fair at New Amsterdam Market! A total of six ice cream and sorbet makers will be there, including The Bent Spoon, Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream, Marlow & Daughters, Roberta's, Early Bird Cookery, and MilkMade Ice Cream. These artisans are committed to showcasing regional products and flavors. Each will create up to three unique ice creams and sorbets for the market that use only seasonal or responsibly sourced ingredients.
With so many great flavors, we know it might be hard to choose just one! This sampler will entitle you to a booklet of six tasting tickets, which you can redeem for miniature ice cream cones in the flavors of your choice.
Proceeds will benefit New Amsterdam Market.

Please join us for the Food Systems Network's celebration of the glorious TOMATO at New Amsterdam Market!
Taste and compare a dazzling array of dead ripe tomatoes at their peak of flavor, savor tomato dishes and virgin cocktail sips by tomato chefs, including FSNYC members Jorge Collazo (SchoolFood), Meg Grace (The Redhead), Mary Cleaver (The Cleaver Company), and others.
Proceeds benefit Food Systems Network New York City

AWIB Summer Ice Cream Tasting

What: Asian Women in Business's Summer Ice Cream Tasting

When: Wednesday, August 18th from 6PM-9PM (rain date August 19th)

Where: Ogilvy & Mather
Rooftop Terrace, 636 11th Avenue
New York, NY

Cost: $20 for members, $45 for non-members. You MUST register at the website and RSVP with your payment by August 17th. *No tickets will be sold at the door*

From the website:
On a warm summer evening, enjoy an expansive New York City view, feel the breeze from the Hudson River and watch the sun set while tasting premium ice cream paired with that perfect glass of sparkling wine. Featuring Asian-owned ice cream manufacturers, get a chance to cool off while experiencing a dozen unique flavors from Black Sesame to Kulfi Pistachio Cardamon. Absolutely the sweetest networking event you can attend, it even includes an extensive candy station. Hot dog sliders will also be served, compliments of So Dam Hot.

Apologies and Updates

First of all, I hope all you readers and stumblers out there are having a great summer. I do want to apologize for going MIA for the past two weeks, but I got bronchitis, followed by a summer cold. Knocked on my ass, I kinda lost the will to blog.

But I'm back now! And I'll be making some changes to how I write the blog. You may have already noticed the new look. I think its brighter and a bit easier to read. I also won't be covering as much news as I've attempted to over the last 10 months (I can't believe I've been writing for almost a year already!). I love keeping up with pastry related news, but its simply too much for one person to do with regularity. From now on I'll be focusing on generating original content with my reviews, discounts & freebies, events, and select openings (but not closings).

I'll also be breaking up THE Bakery Map into two, one map for Manhattan and one for the outer boroughs. The whole point of the maps was to be able to locate the bakery closest to where you are at any given moment, but they've become so bogged down with locations that I feel the load time makes them impractical.

If anyone is out there, thanks for reading :)

Half off at Kyotofu

Get $30 worth of dining & desserts at Kyotofu for $15 with this deal from Inbundles. Just 13 hours left to purchase of this posting, so hurry!

Expires 2/2/2011, purchase as many bundles as you want, dine in only, 1 bundle per table, 2 per tables of 4 or more.