My Daily Indulgence

Some people need help getting out of bed in the morning. Coffee, cigarettes, foreplay … you name it, everyone has a ritual.

My problem isn’t so much getting out of bed (sleeping really isn’t my thing) but staying perky throughout the day. Now, while I don’t indulge my adrenal glands with an afternoon espresso, I do need a sugar fix.

Shockingly I have not done a list of my favorite dessert places in NYC yet, no time like the present!

So after being asked by a friend what places I go to eat dessert, I came up with a pretty good list.

1. I detest Magnolia Bakery cupcakes (sorry New York). The method of reaching over people, serving yourself, the ridiculous line filled with Carrie Bradshaw fans, and the I-need-to-brush-my-teeth feeling after one dip of a finger in the icing. Yick. BUT their Hummingbird Cake (which they sell by the slice) is the only version of the cake (I’ve seen) above the Mason-Dixon Line, and it’s a pretty good one at that. All you carrot cake fans may be converted. (401 Bleecker St., Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center, 200 Columbus Ave.)
   

   Compliments of DinnerCakes.com

2. Sweet Revenge is a cupcake bar. Literally, a bar. Here you can have your cocktails and your Cupcakes. Marlo, the owner, is gaining ground in the NYC food world with her signature Mohawk cupcakes and wine/beer pairings. Favorite flavors: Crimson and Cream and Sweet Revenge. (62 Carmine St.)
3. As much as I hate the French tourists, over-rated French Fries and constant go-go-go of Balthazar’s scene, I often indulged myself after a long day at school with their “Late Afternoon Menu” which includes some of my favorite things on the menu. To finish the meal I’d have their Warm Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Ice Cream. I know the middle isn’t cooked even close to where health code would permit, but all you do-gooders, keep your mouth shut and eat. Don’t ruin the one good thing about this place. That, and if you dine alone (as a lady) you get a free glass of bubbly. (80 Spring St.)
   
4. There’s nothing better than afternoon tea. In fact, that’s part of my dessert ritual when the temperature dips anything below 70 degrees. I should have been British! Alas, my ears and teeth are too small and straight respectively … but one thing I can enjoy is tea and the best Scones in the city at Alice’s Tea Cup. Remember the saying, “Don’t eat anything bigger than your head?” Well, I have a tiny head, and these scones are head-size, and I DO eat them. These scones are more like cake slices, the British would be appalled! Best bets are their Strawberry (or Raspberry) Chocolate Scones and whatever the daily special is. (102 W. 73rd, 156 E. 64th St., 220 E. 81st St.)
5. My favorite dessert of all time has to be Ice Cream. I could eat it for breakfast, late night, in bed, and in just about every country on this planet … considering I lived on packaged ice cream in remote China. But I’m a picky bitch, and only the best will do. As a Jersey Girl, Hoffman’s Ice Cream (holla, I know you know it, Jersey) IS home. I actually love the stuff so much I once had an ex-boyfriend bet me that if I worked there (I was basically there all the time anyways!) he would take me to Per Se … Thinking back on it I should have! But in New York, as I mentioned earlier this week, Grom is the best. Also the most expensive (according to The New York Times), but in my opinion, worth it. Best flavor, Cioccolato Extranoir, i.e. Extra Dark Chocolate. My second spot is Emack and Bolio, the (I hate to say this) Boston chain come New York. Again, freshest ingredients and a staff that knows me so well they slab on an extra scoop. (several locations for each)
6. For Pies and all Breakfast Desserts (biscuits!) the only place I love going is Bubby’s. I’m not a brunch person. Again, New York is going to hate me. Maybe it’s the chef in me that thinks about the over-worked, often cranky staff that’s serving the chef’s left-over Saturday night special scramble. I’m usually not this cynical, but instead of waiting in line with other cranky (and hungover) New Yorkers to pay $12 for an omelet, wouldn’t you rather be in bed with the one you love, or the guy you met last night at 4 am … ? Luckily for me Bubby’s is open 24/7 and serves breakfast most of the day as well. If you’re feeling sinful get their Banana Pancakes and THEN a slice of the Cherry Pie (my person favorite, especially during the summer). (120 Hudson St.)
7. City Bakery invented one of the most sought out foodie items for a New Yorker; the Pretzel Croissant. They also make some of the best desserts and breads in the city. Their off shoot, Bird Bath Bakery, in my hood makes the best Bourbon Apple Sauce Cake. I can’t begin to describe how incredibly intense this dessert is. They MUST soak, correction, allow the cake to BATHE in a buttery/bourbon mixture. Reminds me of North Carolina faster than I can eat it. They only make it during Bourbon season (which I wasn’t aware of). Come to think of it, maybe they ran out because I ate so many … (160 Prince St.)
8. This breakfast option will put all doughnuts to shame. El Quinto Pino’s housemade Ensaimadas are lard sweet rolls. Enough said right? Oh, and they’re covered in powdered sugar. Go West my friends and grab them with a coffee before 2 PM. (401 W. 24th St. nr. 9th Ave)

There are also two places that I’ve been meaning to try and will remort back about next week: Clinton St. Bakery and Pies and Thighs.