NYC Tastes

I love Sunday mornings at Patisserie Chanson.  This beautiful French bakery makes my favorite baked goods in the city, from their flaky Raspberry Croissants and Black Sesame Kougins to the creamy Eclairs and Chocolate Mille Feuilles. My current obsession is their seasonal Yuzu Bomboloni.  It's impossibly fluffy and light on the outside, rolled in sugar, then stuffed with a bright, citrusy yuzu cream that's so refreshing, I actually feel transported to a beautiful yuzu tree filled island.   Of course I'm actually just sitting across from Eataly, two blocks from my tiny apartment, but it's good to have island daydreams once in a while.  Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10010

Mother's Day is just around the corner, so here's a trifecta of delightful, delicious ideas from NYC Tastes for celebrating that special person this Sunday. Raspberry Croissants at Patisserie Chanson  These pink striped pastries from Chanson not only look gorgeous with those stunning pink hues, but they taste incredible too. Buttery and flaky on the outside, with ribbons of sweet raspberry woven through each layer and a chunk of creamy chocolate in the center. This is the perfect way to kick off a Mom filled morning. Ravines Winery Argetsinger Vineyard Dry Riesling   It's always nice to toast Mom on her special day and New York's Ravines Wine Cellar has a Riesling just perfect for the occasion.  This wine bursts with notes of white peach and sage with a lively acidity and a crisp, clean finish.  It's the perfect addition to some bubbly at brunch or as a lovely afternoon aperitif.  Isogud Preserved Flowers   Your Mom loves flowers and the...

Monday mornings are always the worst, but the final Monday morning of summer is just downright brutal.  I contemplated staying under the covers all day but I do have this thing called a job . So I dragged myself out of bed and headed to Patisserie Chanson in hopes of some Monday motivation. The aroma of fresh baked bread and coffee greeted me at the door; forcing my sleepy eyes open and luring me towards this flaky, sugar dusted Kougin Amann stuffed with tart Pistachio cream.  As I peeled apart each nutty, sweet layer I could feel my Monday blues start to melt away. Of course this positive energy I was feeling now might not last all day, so I grabbed a Lemon Yuzu tart for later, just to be sure :) Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street at Broadway New York, NY 10010

2017 was a very strange year in the world of food.  It started out incredibly boring, with fast casual restaurants and big Japanese chains taking over the city.  And has ended unsteady and downright disturbing, with allegations of sexual harassment exploding in what seems to be every facet of the food industry and country as a whole.  I honestly feel more uncertain as a person than I ever have before.  Which is probably why I've leaned towards comfort food this year with big bowls of ramen, spicy chili oil wontons and other hearty, homey dishes dominating much of my time dining out. Union Square Cafe reopened at the end of 2016 and has been my go-to place for spicy, carrot studded Candele Pasta while their sister cafe Daily Provisions actually took the spot for best new restaurant of 2017. This may seem like an odd choice but it had everything I needed this year; incredible crullers for breakfast, inventive sandwiches for lunch and a quiet, relaxing environment...

I've talked about the creamy eclairs and rhubarb studded  custard  from Patisserie Chanson but my favorite treat in the entire bakery is actually the Black Sesame Kouign Amann. Golden, flaky strands of pastry brushed with butter and sugar than stuffed full of sweet, nutty black sesame seeds.  It makes a satisfying little crackle when it's pulled apart and exposes those speckled pockets of goodness inside.  I love black sesame so these are absolutely perfect for me.  However their Kouign's are also available in plain, gianduja and rhubarb & thyme jam. Mornings are always delicious with Patisserie Chanson in the neighborhood. Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10010

Spring is in the air and what better way to celebrate than with a fresh fruity dessert from the exquisite Patisserie Chanson. This gorgeous new bakery just opened in the Flatiron district and serves up all sorts of wonderful french pastries from Chef Rory MacDonald.  There's row upon row of creamy eclairs in luscious flavors of  pistachio, blood orange and cafe au lait. Stunning Mont Blanc cakes topped with chestnut cream and bright lemon custard bars layered with fresh chopped rhubarb and berries. In addition to the pastries up front Patisserie Chanson also offers afternoon tea in the dining space in back with tea sandwiches, macarons and cakes.   A full dessert bar with a tasting menu is also coming in the next few months so be on the lookout for a LOT more excitement around this already amazing spot.  Patisserie Chanson 20 West 23rd Street at 5th Avenue New York, NY 10010