Cafe Lalo

201 West 83rd Street New York, NY 10024 (212) 496-6031 http://www.cafelalo.com/

Best known as the cafe where Meg Ryan was supposed to meet Tom Hanks in the movie, “You’ve Got Mail”, Cafe Lalo has fast gained popularity, attracting both locals and tourists into its European inspired, charming little cafe. Cafe Lalo is easy to find and is quite pretty, with its perfect location in one of the Upper West Side’s brownstone and tree-lined streets, pretty flowers lining its steps and the tall windows that allow the sun to brightly shine through and within the cafe interior.

Stepping inside though, you will immediately be overwhelmed with the number of cakes and pastries that they offer. More cakes than pastries, it seems that they have more than a hundred cakes in their coolers! Being that, it was quite difficult to actually choose what to try and it took me a while to decide. Finally, I tried the Tres Leches cake and the Capuccino Cheesecake. The Tres Leches had delicious buttery sponge cake moistened with milk and topped with lightly sweetened cream. A nice, simple dessert to satisfy a craving without overindulging. The Capuccino Cheesecake however, was quite ordinary compared to the sinfully luscious Junior’s Cheesecakes that I love.

The vast cake selection is consistent with Cafe Lalo’s menu, offering an array of themed breakfast sets (think Viennesse, Irish, Italian, Swiss, Morroccan and Parisian), eggs cooked in every way possible, salads, sandwiches, soups and beverages (alcoholic, coffee, teas, shakes, smoothies and juices). So many that they will not make it easy for you to choose. However, despite the choices, I cannot say that anything I have tried in the cafe (whether salad, smoothie, bread or cakes) got my attention or made me forget my name. On top of that, I find the food and desserts quite pricey for the taste as well as the portions ($7 for a small slice of cheesecake or a simple smoothie). Lastly, an important thing to note is that Cafe Lalo does not accept anything but cash, which I only found out as I was paying. No signs on the door or on the menu – something that may be quite inconvenient for customers who frequently use their debit or credit cards to pay.

On the positive side, Cafe Lalo has good service and a great selection that you will always find something you may be interested in trying out. Unfortunately, I believe it is the ambience that you pay for the most and which may not be something that is attractive or satisfying to most customers like me. Will I be back? Yes, I probably will, to have dessert and coffee once in a while and enjoy this lovely little place. And believe me - it will take a long, long time before I get to try even half of their cakes.

The Bread Factory Cafe

785 Lexington Avenue New York, NY (212) 355- 5729 http://www.breadfactorycafe.com/

Intrigued by this cafe chain (with locations on 7th and 9th Avenues), I passed by the one along Lexington Avenue, which was packed with people enjoying brunch. Seemingly like many other cafe or deli chains in Manhattan that offers pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and salads, what called my attention to The Bread Factory Cafe was their store window decked with delicious looking cakes and pastries. And I love delicious looking cakes and pastries!

Obviously a busy cafe, all tables were taken with people enjoying their meals and the friendly staff were efficiently taking orders from the line by the take out counter. The set-up, products and vibe were indeed very similar to the usual Manhattan cafe or deli chain, what I found different was the immense selection of Breads, Cakes, Pastries, Pies, Rolls and Tarts as well as traditional cakes like Babka and Hamantaschen.

I was so tempted to try out the cakes and pastries, but being “The Bread Factory” I opted to try bread instead and ordered the Semolina Loaf. A bit worried at first that the Semolina Loaf did not look like the usual ones that I knew of from Amy’s Bread and Orwasher’s, being covered in sesame seeds (that kind of reminded me of a hamburger bun) I was not sure that this would not be something I would enjoy.

Surprisingly though, it was moist and soft, slightly buttery with a tender texture and the nutty taste of semolina. I toasted some slices and had these with butter and then with my Orange Apricot Marmalade from Sarabeth’s, which I found pleasing. However, with the price of $4 per loaf, I cannot help myself but compare with Amy’s and Orwasher’s, bake shops that make bread that I am completely in love with - at the same price.

So what do I think of The Bread Factory Cafe? It is definitely an option if you want to have a wide selection of Breads, Cakes and Pastries and are in search of something quick and inexpensive. But when it comes to bread...I would highly recommend artisanal breads to satisfy, especially for those who are passionate about and take pleasure in having their bread.

Buttercup Bake Shop

East Side 973 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 350-4144. West Side 141 West 72nd Street New York, NY 10023 (212) 787-3800. www.buttercupbakeshop.com

Buttercup was the very first bake shop that I visited in New York because it was part of an article forwarded to me by a good friend on the best 15 cupcake places in NYC and, honestly, because it was the nearest bake shop from our apartment.

Nevertheless, Buttercup is a bake shop I still frequent even after trying other talked about places – Magnolia, Chikalicious, Crumbs... save for Two Little Red Hens and Billy’s, Buttercup is another favorite for wonderful cakes and cupcakes. I loved their goodies so much that I would walk through rain, the biting cold, harsh wind and snow (yes, even during snow storms) just to treat myself and friends to their lovely cupcakes and cakes.

Within the small space that they occupy along 2nd Avenue, Buttercup is a heaven for cupcake aficionados like me as this wonderful place whips up a wide array of freshly baked cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, pies, bundts, puddings, trifles, brownies and squares that don’t just look good but really taste good too.

My favorite cupcakes: Red Velvet (lovely with a hint of cocoa topped with cream cheese frosting), Lemon (made with fresh lemon juice and zest topped with lemon buttercream), Buttercup Golden (with Vanilla or Chocolate Icing), Hummingbird (fruity cake with bananas, pineapple and pecans topped with cream cheese icing), German Chocolate (with a coconut pecan filling), Lady Baltimore (almond-flavored white cake filled with coconut, candied cherries, cookie crumbs and almonds and frosted with meringue). Yes, I will admit that these are most of their cupcakes...I must say I like almost everything that they make. And by the way, they make these in layered cake versions too that are just as moist and luscious but with more layers of icing.

So what else is there to say about Buttercup? That owner Jennifer Appel (who was part of the team that created Magnolia Bakery) has created cake heaven through Buttercup. That it deserves praises it has received from New Yorkers, including celebrities such as Martha Stewart, amongst others. That it is indeed one of the best bake shops in Manhattan. That is definitely a must to visit this place to try out these delectable treats!

NOTE: All photos are from Buttercup Bake Shop's published photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/buttercupny

Glaser's Bakery

87th and 1st Avenue New York, NY (212) 289 -2562. www.glaserbakery.com

An institution within the Yorkville area, German-owned Glaser’s Bakery first opened its doors to sell freshly baked breads more than 100 years ago. Still at the same location today, Glaser’s now produces an assortment of baked products and is best known for making birthday cakes in a variety of designs, flavors and fillings.

The blue painted brick store front with simply decorated windows gives off an old fashioned bakery feel consistent with the interior. Stepping inside the dimly lit bake shop, you will immediately see layers of breads, cakes, pies, cupcakes, pastries and cookies. No tables, chairs or coffee counters, bright lights or brightly painted walls that are common to the usual bake shop or cafe, Glaser’s is straightforward - there to sell freshly baked goods without any fuss.

Albeit the no-nonsense feel within Glaser’s, it was still difficult to choose what pastries to try because there were a lot to choose from and everything looked good. I finally settled for a Pecan Swirl, and Almond Swirl and a mini Lemon Meringue Pie.

The Pecan Swirl was really scrumptious, moist and a bit sweet, sinfully buttery but definitely delicious. The Almond Swirl however was a bit too sweet, unbearably sweet that I could not finish it. Can you just imagine how sweet it was that I, a lover of almonds and certified a sweet tooth, could not finish it? The Lemon Meringue Pie looked promising, with a tall layer of marshmallow icing topping a creamy lemon filling on a firm pie crust. Unfortunately though, it was also a little too sweet, and disappointingly lacking the tart lemon taste I usually look for from lemon pastries.

It was to me that Glaser’s baked products are as simple and straightforward as their store. No frills and fancy settings, this is a place you may head to when you want a friendly neighborhood bake shop to quickly pacify your sweet cravings with their vast choice of breads, cakes and pastries. Though these may not be the best in Manhattan (the Pecan swirl is quite promising though) I have tried, they seem to have everything you may possibly crave for. There is a reason why Glaser’s has been around all this time...and it was definitely worth the visit!

CBK Cookies

337 East 81st Street New York, NY 10028 (212) 794-3383 http://www.cbkcookies.com/.

It was through NY Magazine’s Critic’s Pick list that I discovered CBK Cookies, which stands for the creator's name, Cynthia Bruce Kramer. Wanting to leave her career in the hotel business back in 1988, she started to bake cookies, making her own original recipes in a small kitchen with friends and family as her customers. Said to be her then well-loved creations were chocolate truffles, key limes, and mint juleps.

Today, CBK Cookies is no longer a little kitchen business but a famous NY bake shop at the Upper East Side that serves its customers by appointment only and whose clients include The Plaza, Tiffany's Lincoln Center and The American Museum of Natural History. It has also been mentioned as the "Butter Cream of the Crop" by New York Magazine (http://www.nymag.com/) and "A Martha Stewart's Dream" by Zagat (http://www.zagat.com/).

Current famous fancy Cookies are the Chocolate Chips, Almond Crescents, Pecan Sandies, Chocolate Truffles, Key Lime Flowers, Bittersweet Chocolate Pecan, Raspberry Linzer Hearts, which are baked from the freshest ingredients and come in a box ($25 per pound) or on a party tray ($42.50 per pound). CBK also creates Vanilla or Chocolate Cakes (priced at $75 for a single Layer Cake and $150 for a Double Layer Cake) and Cupcakes (prices start at $2 each for regular-sized ones and minis at $1.00 each, with minimum orders) delicately designed for special occasions, whether for Birthdays, Christmas, Weddings, Baptisms or Showers.

Before I realised its “By Appointment Only” policy, I tried to walk to CBK Cookies to sample some of its most famous products. And yes, I was disappointed that it was closed when I got there. Not to be dissuaded, I am writing about CBK as I have heard it to be one of the best palate pleasers of Manhattan. I am merely waiting for an opportunity and a reason to place an order and serve these supposedly wonderfully sumptuous cookies. I cannot wait to share how this experience will be and see if the price and exclusivity will all be worth it.

La Bergamote Patisserie

Chelsea 169 9th Avenue New York, NY, 10011, (212) 627-9010. Clinton 515 West 52nd. Street New York, Ny, 10019, (212) 586-2429. http://www.labergamotenyc.com/.

One of the bake shops that I have read a lot of good reviews about is La Bergamote Patisserie. Opened in 1998 by Executive Pastry Chef Stephane Willemin and Managing Director Romain Lamaze in Chelsea, they have now expanded and opened a new location at the Clinton area. What makes La Bergamote successful, according to their website, is their consistent product quality and use of fresh ingredients. According to customers, it is the consistently delicious food and heavenly pastries, the nice ambience and the good service by their friendly staff.

Dropping by to check La Bergamote at their Chelsea location, I was immediately greeted by an array of delicious-looking fruit pies and tarts. As I moved into the bake shop, there were more luscious and decadent looking miniature cakes (not your typical bake shop ones but more extravagant concoctions), colourful macaroons, and an assortment of freshly baked breads (brioches, croissants, baguettes and many more).

Again, trying not to overdo my orders, I opted to try a Raspberry Brioche and several small tarts and pastries – a Kiwi Fruit tart, a Chocolate & Hazelnut layered square and a mini Vanilla Cream Eclair. Not surprised, all turned out to be delicious little pastries! The Chocolate & Hazelnut layered square had a slightly bitter chocolate and bits of hazelnut that made each bite so sumptuous. The kiwi fruit tart had a crust that was firm but had a slightly buttery taste. The Vanilla Cream Eclair had a creamy filling embedded in a crusty pastry. The Raspberry Brioche was moist with a delightfully sweet and fruity topping.

These were wonderful little creations and I can imagine how the regular sized versions must taste like. Prices are a bit on the high side compared to other bake shops in the areas well as patisseries I have been to in NYC. But not exaggeratedly so. The miniature bite-sized pastries were $1.75 a piece and the brioche at $3.40. But I recommend that if you want a treat and want to enjoy delectable cakes, pies, pastries or viennioseries in a comfortable, casual (quiet was how I would describe the Chelsea location) atmosphere, then La Bergamote is the place to go.

Oh yes, and I have heard that they serve wonderful breakfast and coffee as well. Some recommendations are the Mushroom Tartine and Eggs Benedict. Of course, I have to try their Almond Croissant. I will definitely be back... this time for breakfast!

Billy's Bakery

Chelsea 184 9th Avenue (212) 647-9956. Tribeca 75 Franklin Street (212) 647-9958. http://www.billysbakerynyc.com/.

Billy’s Bakery was founded in 2003 by two friends from business school with the goal of providing “classic American baked goods in a warm, friendly atmosphere”. And such is the character of Billy’s, a brightly lit place that, indeed, reminds you of Grandma’s kitchen and where the delicious smell of fresh cakes and pastries from goodies baked on site greets you as soon as you step into the bake shop. Not to mention the friendly staff who make you feel right at home.

A wide variety of scrumptious and lovely looking cakes, cupcakes, pies and pastries adorn the chillers and behind, trays and counters of freshly baked wonderful little sweet things being prepared by the staff. I did my homework and asked friends, who very highly recommended Billy’s, to tell me what their favorites were but it was not easy to pick what I wanted to try from this charming place because everything looked so delightful!

There were layers of beautiful cakes such as Red Velvet and German Chocolate Cake, mouth watering pies such as Apple Crumb and Peanut Butter Chocolate, tempting pastries such as Hello Dollies (bars with graham crackers, chocolate chips, butterscotch, coconut and pecans) and Lemon Bars, creamy Banana Pudding, delectable mini Key Lime and Cherry Cheesecakes, and so many pretty little cupcakes.

I finally settled to trying a slice of Key Lime Pie (my favourite kind of pie), a slice of Pineapple Upside Down Cake and a Carrot Cupcake. Again, do not worry as I did not enjoy all of these in a single sitting. But mind you, I wanted to!

The Key Lime Pie had a thick, creamy lime filling that was slightly tangy and slightly sweet, and was complemented by the slightly buttery gingersnap crust. It was pleasing but I recommend Two Little Red Hen’s Key Lime Pie – really the best Key Lime Pie I have tried so far.

The Pineapple Upside Down cake was wonderfully moist and hinted of vanilla with bits of pineapple and cherries baked within  the cake, and on top, more pineapple and cherries caramelized with golden brown sugar. This one I loved and found very refreshing! A perfect summer cake!

And the Carrot cupcake, which had a creamy cream cheese icing on top and a soft and moist cake made of cinnamon, carrots, coconut, pineapple and pecans, was really wonderful! One of the best carrot cupcakes I have tried too!

If Two Little Red Hens is my cupcake heaven...Billy’s is my cakes and pies heaven! Every time I remember stepping into Billy’s and seeing all these beautiful, delectable freshly baked goodies, I cannot help but feel my mouth water. They definitely deserve receiving my first ever perfect rating. I still can’t forget the luscious looking cakes and pastries and I can’t wait to go back as my goal is to try each and every one of these.  Next on my list would be their “Famous” Chocolate Icebox Cake, the Banana Cream Pie and Caramel Pecan Cheesecake. Billy’s here I come!

Ceci-Cela Patisserie

55 Spring Street New York, NY 10012 (212)274-9179 http://www.cecicelanyc.com/.

I discovered Ceci-Cela Patisserie by reading through NY Magazine’s critic’s pick list of Bake Shops. Founded by pastry chef Laurent Dupal, who was trained at the prestigious Compagnons du Devoir du Tour de France, this charming little shop in SoHo has been creating the most delectable pastries using the best ingredients in the highest artisanal quality in New York for 15 years now. More recently, Chef Dupal has expanded his business into a full-range online wholesale operation where he will accommodate special requests and together with his staff, will make new creations just for you.

Chef Dupal’s core product line is known collectively as Viennoiserie, these Croissants, Pains Aux Chocolats, Chaussons Aux Pommes, Pains Aux Raisins, and Brioches are delicately made by using only 100% pure butter, the best flours and complimentary ingredients. To complement the Viennoiserie, Ceci-Cela also offers luscious cakes with an array of textures and flavor combinations that include Poire William, Fraisier, and Black Forest, as well as other traditional items such as Quiches, Flans and crumbly butter crust Tarts filled with delicious Crème Patissière, and topped with fresh sweet fruit such as raspberries, kiwi, and strawberries.






The very simple, nondescript store front of Ceci-Cela along Spring Street and the small, unfussy space inside are the complete opposites of the splendid quality of coffee, cakes and pastries that this little gem of a place serves. And despite the number of people who walked in the store to buy coffee and pastries while I was excitedly deciding what to try, the man at the counter was kind enough to entertain my quick questions on what the must-tries in the store were.

 After a tough decision, I settled for buying an Almond Chocolate Croissant (I was informed was the best seller, $3.75), a Caramelized Pear Tart ($5.25), a Financier ($3.00) and a cup of skim Cafe Mocha ($3.75).

The Cafe Mocha, had a creamy cocoa taste that I found delicious and being not too sweet, perfectly complemented my Almond Chocolate Croissant. A perfect combination of the two of my most favourite ingredients – chocolate and croissant- the Almond Chocolate Croissant had a generous amount of crunchy almond slivers on top and was flaky on the outside, while remaining perfectly soft and moist with a creamy chocolate filling inside. A lover of almond croissants, this is the best I have tried in and outside of New York.

The Caramelized Pear Tart had a delicate pastry that melts in your mouth topped with a moist pear slice slightly sweetened and spiced with cinnamon. While the Financier, an Almond flour-based tea cake topped fresh berries, was crusty on the outside and moist on the inside with surprising bits of almond to enhance your experience with each bite.

How did I find Ceci-Cela’s pastries? Scrumptious and definitely heavenly!!!

Though the store is simple and too small to eat at, reviews of Ceci-Cela having “exquisite concoctions” and “impossibly delicious pastries” do not exaggerate. With an array of mouth-watering cakes and pastries, you will surely find something that will suit what you’re craving for. Either for special occasions or to please your own palate, Ceci-Cela will not disappoint. I have found a new favorite!

Two Little Red Hens

1652 Second Avenue New York, NY 10028. (212) 452-0476. www.twolittleredhens.com.

To begin my journey, I came to an "American Bakery" called Two Little Red Hens, a place which had been highly recommended by girl friends who are fellow foodies and which, based on my research, had numerous positive reviews on thier cupcakes.

From the outside, it looked like a little country store beside the numerous establishments along a very busy Second Avenue. Inside, it looked like your neighborhood bakeshop, with small tables and chairs, shelves of coffee and chillers of freshly baked, pretty-looking cakes and pastries.

I was cheerfully greeted by the ladies behind the counter, but as friends have told me that the cupcakes were the best here, I did not waste any time an ordered a box of cupcakes to bring home – Red Velvet, Banana, Chocolate Marble and Vanilla Butter Cream. The average price for a cupcake would be around $2.75 for regular sized ones and around $1.75 for the mini cupcakes. Not bad, I thought, and definitely comparable to most bakeshops around the city.

I was not disappointed! I have tried a number of bakeshops in Manhattan since I arrived (Chikalicious, Crumbs, Magnolia and Buttercup included), and Two Little Red Hens had the moistest cupcakes (even after days in my refrigerator as I could not eat all at once, of course) and the creamiest icing with just the right amount of sweetness! It was definitely bliss with each bite! Since then, I have returned every other week to Two Little Red Hens and have excitedly tried the rest of the cupcakes - Carrot, Brooklyn Blackout (this is the best choice if you are dangerously craving for chocolate) and Vanilla with Chocolate Fudge. Again, these had consistent moistness to the cake and just the right amount of sweetness to the creamy icing. I had found my cupcake heaven!


But I did not stop there as I became mighty curious about their cakes, pies and pastries as well. This is after all, a search for the best local bake shops. So I tried their Chocolate Chip cookies, Lemon Bar, Banana and Carrot Slices (exactly like the cupcake version but these are cut like cakes), Vanilla Cake with Strawberry Cream filling, Chocolate Mousse Pie and the Key Lime Pie. Rest assured, I did not enjoy all of these in one sitting but did so over a number of weeks while making sure I continued with my weekly physical activities – we all know what happens when you enjoy these things TOO much.

Anyway, I can say that the pastries (though I have only tried a few) are not as heavenly as the cupcakes. Quite a bit ordinary actually and not something I would tell everyone about. I had another wonderful discovery though – the Chocolate Mousse Pie and the Key Lime Pie were to die for! The Chocolate Mousse Pie had a thin light, buttery crust, creamy mousse that had just the right amount of chocolate, and lightly sweetened whipped cream on top. The Key Lime Pie was the best I have ever tasted, with a nice graham crust and creamy, sweet with a nice little bite of sourness from the lime that tasted fresh. It was definitely unforgettable!

So what is my opinion of Two Little Red Hens? It is definitely one of the best local bakeshops in Manhattan, not only for their to-die-for pretty little cupcakes and their deliciously unforgettable pies, but also for the homey, little neighborhood feel of the place, their always cheerful ladies ready to take your order, and the variety of cakes and pastries you may indulge in. Yes, there is a line sometimes but they efficiently take your orders and normally do not take a lot of time packing them for you. And yes, it can get crowded since it is a small place so, I recommend buying to go. Just a tip too, the Key Lime Pie sells out easily, so Friday (the day they make these wonderful pies) is usually the best time to go.