The Parisians Wouldn’t Approve

After studying abroad in London and traveling to Paris for one of our weekend trips, the crew and I have had our fair share of croissants. We all know how much butter and flakiness it takes to create such a magical treat. Therefore, the newest dessert trend at Union Fare was exactly what we needed. We waltzed into this large, modern food hall with our noses up high in preparation to compare the authentic buttery goodness to America’s take on croissants. What we realized is that it truly isn’t right to make this comparison because Union Fare croissants would never even be allowed to step foot in Paris, or Europe for that matter. These sweet treats were stuffed, topped, and made into Red Velvet, Birthday Cake, Matcha, Cookies & Cream, and Crème Brûlée. What truly amazed me about these Americanized croissants is that although they were all stuffed with a thick and delicious filling, the pastry still managed to be light and crispy!! I was in bliss while eating the Birthday Cake and Red Velvet. They were surprisingly not too sweet even though the birthday cake had a funfetti filling and the red velvet a cream cheese icing filling. I wish I could try every one of these beautiful pieces of decadence. Although the Parisians wouldn’t approve, this American is very pleased with Union Fare’s newest food trend. Happy eating, everyone!

Stuffed Nutella French Toast

Ah it has been too long since I’ve had a proper New York brunch. Today was the perfect day to celebrate our good friend, Celene’s birthday. With the hopeful fall air and overcast atmosphere, we were all ready to sit down in Baker & Co’s cozy restaurant and indulge in some delicious food. The walls of this Italian restaurant were completely lined with old fashioned bottles, including Pellegrino and another drink I wasn’t sophisticated enough to recognize. I especially loved the hipster-like feel of the room with its bright teal walls and wooden furniture. But at last, onto the food!! I went back to my traditional ways of splitting sweet and savory…one being the Lump Crab Meat Eggs Benedict with crushed avocado and potato gratin. And most importantly, the Nutella French Toast with seasonal fruit and a vanilla pastry cream. Normally restaurants seem to either over or under apply Nutella, but not this one. The perfect amount of chocolate hazelnut spread was stuffed between two pieces of thick and fluffy bread. The outside was slightly crispy and the berries added freshness to balance out the indulgent dish. I think I was most impressed with the fact that the amount of syrup I put on top of the french toast did not cause the bread to become soggy. Instead, it absorbed the sweet liquid just enough to keep its spongy texture while offering that added bit of richness I can’t get enough of. Thank you, Celene, both for being born today and for choosing such a great spot. Happy eating, everyone!

The Killa Vanilla

Everyone in New York has heard of Black Tap; the hour long waits to get in, the ridiculously big milkshakes, and unfortunately, the underwhelming feeling after consumption of these milkshakes. Although this restaurant has been on my list, it’s always been low priority. Don’t get me wrong, I know I would still enjoy these decked out shakes, but I would much rather eat one without having to wait in mile long lines and feel cheated by another expensive NY restaurant. So as you may be guessing, my patience granted me the pleasure of a new shop, Buns Bar!! I would compare these two restaurants to each other except for the fact that Buns Bar gives you more milkshake and less trouble for the same price. Plus, the waiter might add a shot of rum to the top of your shake if you’re lucky 😉 These giant glasses of decadence are, as I like to say, “doing the most,” but in the best way possible. Allow me to explain my Killa Vanilla shake: the maybe-20 oz glass filled with my vanilla milkshake was topped with a large piece of vanilla cake and covered in a thick layer of icing. On top of the icing were all kinds of fun treats, including your favorite childhood cereal, marshmallows, and sprinkles. This whole concoction was topped with a heaping dollop of fresh whipped cream. Let me tell you, if you are looking for an incredibly fun and unnecessary dessert, you need to check this place out. Happy eating, everyone!