Mah Ze Dahr Gingersnap cookie: Overall, this cookie would have been just fine had it not been for the sugar coating, which made it too sweet. While the texture was certainly better than storebought, it had the same underlying flavor of decent ginger snaps, which is not to say it was bad, but not particularly interesting beyond what you would expect. 3.0/5.0
nyc dessert mahzedahr gingersnap cookie 3.0Mah Ze Dahr Banana Bread: Mah Ze Dahr is a small bakery in Greenwich Village with pastries carefully organized on wooden boards and raised platters, somehow conveying both abundance (through its variety of baked goods) and scarcity (there are <10 of each). This banana bread was served in a sizable disc, like an enlarged, leveled-off muffin top, or an especially thick cookie. Unfortunately, while banana bread is one of my favorites, I found it to be a bit on the dry side, and the sugar coating on top made it far too... (read more) 2.0/5.0
desserts bakery nyc mahzedahrbakery banana bread 2.0T-Swirl Crepe Creme brulee crepe: One of the mini-crepes available at T-Swirl, the creme brulee is filled with a custard-like creme filling and bruleed to order. The crepe was satisfyingly eggy and slightly chewy, while the creme brulee was a rich treat. The best part to me was the crepe, and I would have preferred slightly less filling, but overall this snack was a good value. 3.5/5.0
recommended dessert nyc tswirlcrepe creme brulee crepe 3.5Moge Tee Cheese Rose Oolong Tea with Boba: I passed by Moge Tee on Christmas evening and was surprised to find a bubble tea shop open at 10pm. They were out of their normal milk teas, so I got one of these cheese-foam options, which seems to be growing in popularity at bubble tea shops more generally. The rose oolong tea, at a quarter sweetness, had a pleasantly floral flavor that still tasted strongly of oolong tea, and the boba had a quality springiness without being overly soft. I think the cheese flavor didn't work consuming t... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended boba bubbletea manhattan nyc mogetee cheese rose oolong tea 3.5Leonelli Focacceria E Pasticceria Pumpkin ricotta cheesecake: An accomplished dessert sandwich with a crispy base, smooth and creamy ricotta and pumpkin cheesecake, and toasted marshmallow (my favorite part). Memorable seasonal dessert from Flatiron-based pastry shop. 4.0/5.0
recommended dessert nyc pastry marshmallow leonellifocacceriaepasticceria pumpkin ricotta cheesecake 4.0Leonelli Focacceria E Pasticceria Eggnog Mousse: Decorated eggnog mousse coated with a spiced red icing, a ribbon of white chocolate, and topped with a pompom, all sitting on a short biscuit base. Impressively executed. Overall a bit rich but fine if sharing. Hiding inside is a caramel colored filling tasting of nutmeg. 3.5/5.0
recommended eggnog mousse 3.5 nyc leonellifocacceriaepasticceria