Annie’s Organic cheddar cheesy smiles: Like many American kids, I grew up eating Kraft boxed mac and cheese, which I still find appealing today. In grad school, with my limited budget, I upgraded to Annie’s mac and cheese. My favorite is their Yummy Cheese flavor with bunny-shaped pasta. This cheese puff snack, made with organic cheddar, tastes just like their Mac and Cheese with a slightly creamier flavor than normal cheese puffs while still maintaining the sharp cheddar taste I love. Very yummy - would purchase again. 4.0/5.0
recommended organic wholefoods annies cheddar cheesy smiles 4.0
Golden Steamer Egg Yolk Bao: This is one of my favorites from Golden Steamer, which I liked so much that I purchased it twice (I haven't done that for any other bun, mostly because I wanted to try buns I hadn't had before every time I went). It is a steamed white bun filled with an egg custard, textured like a cross between pudding and paste. It is very simple yet delicious and costs only $0.90. The best of the dessert bao offerings at this hole-in-the-wall bakery in NYC's Chinatown. 4.0/5.0
recommended chinatown nyc dessert bread goldensteamer egg yolk bao 4.0
Balthazar Blueberry cheese danish: Purchased from Harney & Sons tea shop in SoHo, this blueberry cheese danish from Balthazar was a delicious sweet treat. Flaky pastry with sugar crystals surrounds a sweetened egg and cheese custard. Fresh blueberries at the center are bright and fresh. A nice dessert to eat alongside tea, or by itself. 4.0/5.0
recommended pastry nyc dessert balthazar blueberry cheese danish 4.0
Leonelli Focacceria e Pasticceria Cheesecake: New York, the city of cheesecakes, squeezes in another well-executed rendition at Leonelli Focacceria e Pasticceria, the bakery adjacent to former Lincoln’s chef’s namesake restaurant. A hockey-puck-sized cake is light and airy, not overly sweet yet still uniquely creamy. Topped with slightly tart but mostly sweet sliced strawberries, as well as halved pistachios. No one is asking for yet another cheesecake, but when it’s done well, it falls into place as if it always existed. 4.0/5.0
recommended cheesecake nyc strawberry dessert pistachio cake leonellifocacceriaepasticceria 4.0
Lesser Evil No cheese paleo puffs : Here’s a surprisingly good find at Whole Foods. Letter Evil now has a line of paleo-friendly snacks that contain no grains or cheese (and are thus gluten-free and vegan). While the beige-colored macaroni-shaped pieces look a bit like maggots, they have a consistency slightly crunchier than crunchy Cheetos and a mildly sharp cheese flavor that builds over time. Kind of like how the soy mac and cheese flavor of Amy’s frozen pasta is better than their normal cheese flavor, this snack has a dist... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended wholefoods cheese vegan lesserevil no paleo puffs 4.0 organic
Nong Shim Banana Kick Snack: Who would have thought that banana flavored puffs, airy and porous with a slight glaze and crispy texture, would be such a delicious snack? I'll admit that I purchased this bag from the narrow, never-ending aisles of Manhattan's HMart solely based on its cute packaging. Yet there was also a driving curiosity for what a sweet fruity version of a cheese puff might be. Texturally, they are far more interesting than Cheetos largely due to its crispy yet light consistency. Its flavor taste of ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended puffs hmart korean nongshim banana kick snack 4.0