A few days ago I met with a friend at Amy's Bread on Bleecker Street. He'd wanted to know where to get a good slice of cake, and I answered without hesitation, "Amy's makes my favorite in Manhattan." He was a little surprised since it is known, as the shop name suggests, for the wonderful bread. Still, as the cake fanatic I am, he knew I wouldn't lead him astray.
He bought a huge slice of the Black and White Cake which is, in a word, amazing. Bittersweet, rich and almost fudgy, it's frosted with a perfect buttercream and is the chocolate cake I most long to bake. I've quietly inquired for the recipe, but they won't let go of her secrets. That said, I've made it a personal mission to crack the code.
But back to the beauty of that day's cakes...I tried the Coconut Cream this time and was not disappointed. The frosting was swooningly creamy, resonant with a slight tang and packed with flakes of sweet coconut. The cake itself was moist and tender, yet had a pleasant heftiness.
Other standouts are the Red Velvet Cake and the Lemon Mousseline Cake. Next on my list to try is the Monkey Cake, which is described as "a monkey's delight, with fresh bananas, pineapple, and toasted pecans...wrapped in cream cheese icing." Enough said.
The slices are huge, as evidenced that even I had leftovers, and many of their cakes are available as cupcakes for those who prefer a smaller bit of wonderful. Still, I say go for the slice every time. Even if you can't finish it in one sitting, there's nothing like knowing you can come home at the end of a long day to that kind of leftover.
Three stores in Manhattan: Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea Market,
and the Village
No comments:
Post a Comment