Queensyard Cheescake: This cheesecake comes from the neighboring cafe of British restaurant Queensyard in the new Hudson Yards mall. It's deceptively simple, with an egg-custard-like cheesecake topped with a handful of fresh berries, all encased in a slightly spiced crust. Its simplicity belies its top notch execution, particularly the biscuit base that crumbles under just the right amount of pressure. A strong recommend. 4.0/5.0
recommended pastry hudsonyards nyc cake queensyard cheescake 4.0
Tatte blueberry muffin: Moist pastry, fresh blueberries, nuts (walnuts?). Topped with sugar crystals. Good size, sweet treat. 3.5/5.0
tatte bakery pastry muffin blueberry berries recommended 3.5
Vif Babka: Heated until the chocolate glistens, this slice of babka was more toast than cake but otherwise had a nice spiced flavor. Portion size is just right for it to be a rich but not too heavy breakfast. Purchased at a small cafe / wine shop in the Fremont district of Seattle, there they offer brunch on weekends and small pastries throughout the week. 3.0/5.0
seattle pastry chocolate vif babka 3.0
Vive la Tarte Zatar and Orange Blossom Croissant: I really wish I had taken a better photograph, but you'll just have to believe this was a supremely good croissant even if the photo doesn't do it justice. The orange blossom paste filling was fragrantly floral and just sweet enough, while the zatar and sesame seasoning on the exterior gave it a uniquely savory-sweet combination. The texture of the croissant was the flakiest I've had, while the interior was very soft and just a tad stretchy, without being overly buttery or rich. It was a ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
exceptional croissants pastry sanfrancisco vivelatarte zatar orange blossom croissant 4.0
Wunderground Orange cardamon poppy loaf: I love the fragrant floral flavor of cardamon and found this slice of orange cardamon poppy cake to be a near perfect companion to the mushroom-based lattes at Wunderground cafe. Dusted with powdered sugar on both side, the slice was just sweet enough and had a fantastic texture from the poppy seeds spread throughout. A segment of orange tops the entire cake off. Surprisingly substantial and entirely delicious. 4.0/5.0
recommended pastry seattle wunderground orange cardamon poppy loaf 4.0