Emily Luchetti, pastry chef and lucky author of such books as A Passion for Desserts and A Passion for Ice Cream, is having an ice cream sandwich creation contest. It got me to thinking about the possibilities… all the wild, wonderful, over-the-top possibilities. No wonder she wrote a book about it.
Since I don’t really bake, I drew inspiration from my favorite New York and San Francisco cookies and ice cream. The more I thought about it, the harder it became to pick just the right combination. But I think I have some winners. In order from most refined to the most ridiculous, here are my 11 submissions to the contest:
• Il Laboratorio del Gelato lavender gelato sandwiched between two light, airy sugar cookies.
• Ruby & Violette champagne strawberry chocolate chip cookies sandwiching tangerine sorbet.
• Jacques Torres double chocolate chip cookies sandwiching raspberry sorbet.
• Tarallucci e Vino pignolli cookies with vanilla rum gelato and a swirl of caramel.
• Two macadamia and white chocolate chip cookies, sandwiching Grom gianduja ice cream.
• Salted caramel ice cream from Bi-Rite Creamery in between two thin, crisp ginger snaps.
• This Chick Bakes vegan ginger molasses cookies with rum raisin ice cream.
• Bi-Rite Creamery roasted banana ice cream with a spoonful of Nutella, sandwiched between snickerdoodles.
• Chocolate peanut butter chip cookies sandwiching Bi-Rite malted vanilla with peanut brittle and milk chocolate pieces ice cream (hurt me).
• A chocolate chip whopper—either the walnut chocolate chip cookie from Levain or the wheatgerm chocolate chip cookie from Specialty’s—with the middle scooped out, an oversized dollop of toasted walnut gelato dropped in, and then the cookie bit placed on top again, like a dainty little chapeau.
• Momofuku compost cookies (pretzels, chips, coffee grinds, toffee bits, chocolate chips) sandwiching Ben & Jerry’s triple caramel chunk ice cream, dipped and frozen in chocolate.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
September Tour: Giant palmiers, fleur du lait gelato and a double shot of chocolate
The residential eighth and seventeenth arrondisements get bad raps for being stuffy and boring. But right where the two neighborhoods meet is a sensational oasis of sweetness that’s pretty exciting, if you ask me.
Case in point: a small gem of a salon de thé/bakery/chocolatier, La Petite Rose, is just a couple doors down from one of the dozen + city locations of the famed patisserie Lenotre (11 & 15, blvd de Courcelles, respectively). This modest spot currently has beautiful fresh fruit tartlettes (apricot, raspberry, apple). Or you can save your pastry appetite for a millefeuille at Lenotre and leave La Petite Rose with a pretty pink and brown box of chocolate bonbons for later.
Once you cross the boulevard to rue de Levis, you enter the 17th arrondisement—and a long stretch of sweet possibilities.
At the tip of the street (6, rue de Levis), the charming Beaux Arts façade of Le Moulin de la Vierge will beckon you inside the pocket-sized bakery that packs in all of the classics: individual baba au rhums, tartlette aux noix and the palmiers the size of your head.
There are only twelve gelato and sorbet flavors at Pozzetto (21, rue de Levis), but still, you’ll have a hard time deciding. How could you not with options like fleur de lait, gianduja, peach and melon?
Personally, it’s all but impossible to walk by an Arnaud Delmontel (23, rue de Levis) and not get something. I devil dog dare you to look in the window and skip one of his bright and shiny fondant-frosted cakes or lemon-raspberry financiers.
Once you leave rue de Levis and go a little further into the 17th, you’ll be rewarded with a double shot of chocolate. The sustainable, artisinal chocolate salon, Puerto Cacao (53, rue de Tocqueville) offers multi-course chocolate indulgences (a pot of hot cocoa to wash down that chocolate-drenched tartine?). Or you can pop across the street where La Petite Chocolatière supplements its chocolate bonbons with freshly made macarons.
Case in point: a small gem of a salon de thé/bakery/chocolatier, La Petite Rose, is just a couple doors down from one of the dozen + city locations of the famed patisserie Lenotre (11 & 15, blvd de Courcelles, respectively). This modest spot currently has beautiful fresh fruit tartlettes (apricot, raspberry, apple). Or you can save your pastry appetite for a millefeuille at Lenotre and leave La Petite Rose with a pretty pink and brown box of chocolate bonbons for later.
Once you cross the boulevard to rue de Levis, you enter the 17th arrondisement—and a long stretch of sweet possibilities.
At the tip of the street (6, rue de Levis), the charming Beaux Arts façade of Le Moulin de la Vierge will beckon you inside the pocket-sized bakery that packs in all of the classics: individual baba au rhums, tartlette aux noix and the palmiers the size of your head.
There are only twelve gelato and sorbet flavors at Pozzetto (21, rue de Levis), but still, you’ll have a hard time deciding. How could you not with options like fleur de lait, gianduja, peach and melon?
Personally, it’s all but impossible to walk by an Arnaud Delmontel (23, rue de Levis) and not get something. I devil dog dare you to look in the window and skip one of his bright and shiny fondant-frosted cakes or lemon-raspberry financiers.
Once you leave rue de Levis and go a little further into the 17th, you’ll be rewarded with a double shot of chocolate. The sustainable, artisinal chocolate salon, Puerto Cacao (53, rue de Tocqueville) offers multi-course chocolate indulgences (a pot of hot cocoa to wash down that chocolate-drenched tartine?). Or you can pop across the street where La Petite Chocolatière supplements its chocolate bonbons with freshly made macarons.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
And the angels sang
There I was, walking down rue du Cherche-Midi, ogling all the shoes in the shop windows.
When I saw the window of Polaine, bathed in the autumn sunlight.
It was as if the clouds had parted from the heavens above to shine light on the most beautiful brioche and tartlettes in the city.
8, rue du Cherche-Midi
6eme
When I saw the window of Polaine, bathed in the autumn sunlight.
It was as if the clouds had parted from the heavens above to shine light on the most beautiful brioche and tartlettes in the city.
8, rue du Cherche-Midi
6eme
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Dreamy pastries
La Patisserie des Reves really is the stuff you dream about.
Philippe Conticini’s new patisserie opened while I was in New York (eating cookies), and it’s rich, gorgeous, inviting, exquisite and inspiring—it’s Willy Wonka meets Cartier, and surely going to become the city’s next sweet addiction (or at least mine).
The cakes are magic, and, under the glass domes, it’s as fun picking the perfect treat as it is window shopping in Place Vendome.
Some are classics, like the lemon meringue, apple crumble and tarte tatin.
Some are clearly the work of a pastry master—they are divine inspiration. The chocolate éclairs and Saint-Honoré are like none other you’ll find in the city.
There are also viennoiseries—chausson aux pommes, brioche, financiers—for more modest pleasures.
With exquisite cakes like these, Pierre Hermé, watch your back!
93 rue de Bac
7eme
Philippe Conticini’s new patisserie opened while I was in New York (eating cookies), and it’s rich, gorgeous, inviting, exquisite and inspiring—it’s Willy Wonka meets Cartier, and surely going to become the city’s next sweet addiction (or at least mine).
The cakes are magic, and, under the glass domes, it’s as fun picking the perfect treat as it is window shopping in Place Vendome.
Some are classics, like the lemon meringue, apple crumble and tarte tatin.
Some are clearly the work of a pastry master—they are divine inspiration. The chocolate éclairs and Saint-Honoré are like none other you’ll find in the city.
There are also viennoiseries—chausson aux pommes, brioche, financiers—for more modest pleasures.
With exquisite cakes like these, Pierre Hermé, watch your back!
93 rue de Bac
7eme
Friday, September 18, 2009
A warm one for the road
If there is anything better than a chocolate chip cookie, it is a warm chocolate chip cookie. This is something Jacques Torres knows.
On my final day of New York City binging (until December, that is), I wanted to follow up my Momofuku, Max Brenner and Dishes cookie sampling with a classic. So I went to Mr. Chocolate.
The plate of giant chocolate chunk cookies looked perfect. But perfection was realized with the warming griddle, on which a half dozen cookies were waiting to go. Genius.
Big, buttery, sweet and veeery chocolaty. It was clear the rest of the cookie was there just as the vehicle for eating melty chunks of dark chocolate.
I love New York.
On my final day of New York City binging (until December, that is), I wanted to follow up my Momofuku, Max Brenner and Dishes cookie sampling with a classic. So I went to Mr. Chocolate.
The plate of giant chocolate chunk cookies looked perfect. But perfection was realized with the warming griddle, on which a half dozen cookies were waiting to go. Genius.
Big, buttery, sweet and veeery chocolaty. It was clear the rest of the cookie was there just as the vehicle for eating melty chunks of dark chocolate.
I love New York.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
I went in for the brownies
I mean, how could I pass them up after seeing this sign on the door of City Girl Café?
But I surprised myself; I didn’t get a “homemad” Valrhona brownie, even though they looked so fudgy and decadent and insanely delicious.
Because I saw the peanut butter balls.
Peanut butter balls?? “They’re like peanut butter cups, only more delectable,” the thoughtful barista told me. Sold. I plunked down my $2.50 for this seemingly small morsel of thick, gritty peanut butter covered in dark chocolate and bits of peanut. It was the snack that kept on giving: bite after bite of rich, savory, stick-to-your-molars chocolaty goodness.
Next time, I have to try the in-demand brownies. But the peanut butter balls will be hard to pass up.
63 Thompson Street b/w Spring and Broome
212.343.0110
But I surprised myself; I didn’t get a “homemad” Valrhona brownie, even though they looked so fudgy and decadent and insanely delicious.
Because I saw the peanut butter balls.
Peanut butter balls?? “They’re like peanut butter cups, only more delectable,” the thoughtful barista told me. Sold. I plunked down my $2.50 for this seemingly small morsel of thick, gritty peanut butter covered in dark chocolate and bits of peanut. It was the snack that kept on giving: bite after bite of rich, savory, stick-to-your-molars chocolaty goodness.
Next time, I have to try the in-demand brownies. But the peanut butter balls will be hard to pass up.
63 Thompson Street b/w Spring and Broome
212.343.0110
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Late night ice cream
How is it that I lived four blocks from Sundaes and Cones and didn’t develop a nasty little ice cream habit? This stuff is otherworldly.
I debated a lot between the lychee and black cherry and pondered the sesame. I skipped the tiramisu and hazelnut, and I sampled the banana ice cream. It was incredible. But finally, I opted for a scoop of strawberry. It just looked so creamy and whipped to perfection, with big chunks of strawberries hiding inside. Otherworldly.
I debated a lot between the lychee and black cherry and pondered the sesame. I skipped the tiramisu and hazelnut, and I sampled the banana ice cream. It was incredible. But finally, I opted for a scoop of strawberry. It just looked so creamy and whipped to perfection, with big chunks of strawberries hiding inside. Otherworldly.
Friday, September 11, 2009
I heart NY, too
I don’t know which is cuter: this darling mobile truck named Pearl, or the driver named Max.
Yet another mobile concept, this one feels really fresh and fun. Amee and I were too stuffed from lunch at Balthazar and dessert from Baked by Melissa, so we didn’t sample the ice cream and candy treats from around the world.
But everything about Hearts Challenger is too cute to pass up a second time.
Yet another mobile concept, this one feels really fresh and fun. Amee and I were too stuffed from lunch at Balthazar and dessert from Baked by Melissa, so we didn’t sample the ice cream and candy treats from around the world.
But everything about Hearts Challenger is too cute to pass up a second time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)