Kiki Bakery Baked Lucky Pudding: This Japanese-style cheesecake combines a milky pudding base, with a caramelized bottom, with a cheesecake top. Denser than expected, the cake nonetheless has a light eggy flavor. The combination of moist pudding with cake should combine the best of both worlds in theory, but here the pudding outshines the cake, which eats a bit dry. Purchased at a small Asian bakery called Kiki’s, with its own black cat mascot (a nod to the Ghibli film). 3.0/5.0
seattle cheesecake pudding kikibakery baked lucky 3.0
Nezu No Pan Lemon Poppy Seed Bread: The other flavored bread that I received from the bakery Nezu No Pan, located close to Nezu Station in Tokyo, is a lemon poppy seed loaf. It's pleasantly acidic, with a lemon flavor that's both sweet and sharp but not overly so, as the flavor is mellowed out by the pillowy, chewy bread. The texture somehow combines the best of mochi-like chewiness with the moist, soft consistency of freshly baked bread. A standout combination – the flavor alone is definitely one of the best lemon breads I... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional tokyo nezu bread bakery baked nezunopan lemon poppy seed 4.5
Snikkidy Organic Mac N' Cheese Baked Puffs: Formed by two moms who wanted snacks they felt good giving their kids, Snikiddy is extremely on brand for the Park Slope Food Coop. The cheese puffs are organic, contain no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils, and no GMO ingredients. Upon first taste, they seemed pretty bland to be honest, with a very light cheese flavor that tasted like health food. After a few more pieces, the cheese factor slightly cumulated to the point that it was vaguely reminiscent of mac and cheese, but... (read more) 3.0/5.0
parkslopefoodcoop snikkidy organic mac n' cheese baked puffs 3.0
Lava Cookies Chocolate Chip Lava Cookie: These massive cookies (about 4" in diameter and 3/4" thick) are available at pastrami shop Harry and Ida's in the East Village. Each cookie costs a little under $6 each and are large enough to be easily shared. I'm not one to purchase a cookie in a bake shop, as I generally prefer other pastries and breads, but I can easily say this is one of the top cookies I've had in my life. On the interior is a molten chocolate filling whose consistency just holds together, while the cookie itself is... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional baked nyc harryandidas lavacookies chocolate chip lava cookie 4.5
Lundberg White cheddar & jalapeño baked grain bites: I know Lundbergh from their rice crackers, but this is the first time I’ve seen a snack from them that’s shelved outside of the health food aisle. Baked puffed “grain bites” have a bit of heat but largely taste imbalanced, with a white cheddar flavor that doesn’t quite mix with the brown rice taste. Crispy snack is reminiscent of chicharrones, but lighter and of course without meat. 2.5/5.0
organic lundberg white cheddar jalapeño baked grain bites 2.5
Bao Tea House Lava Bao: Baked buns with a crumbly, buttery coating similar in texture to pineapple buns, filled with an egg coconut custard. The stark black color comes from bamboo charcoal. Bao is fluffy and yielding. A not-too-sweet dessert for those who love coconut. Comes in a box containing two buns. 3.5/5.0
recommended nyc dessert coconut custard baked baoteahouse lava bao 3.5