Posts Tagged ‘Pierre’s’

Sweet Dreams Are Made of These: Where to Order Your Holiday Desserts

Bakeries, restaurants and chocolatiers are encouraging you to leave the dessert creation to them during this unusual holiday season. Many ship nationwide, some require in-store pick-up, and others will deliver to your home.

Chocolatiers and Bakeries

Sugar Plum’s

Decidedly different, Sugar Plum’s Breakable Chocolate Christmas Wreath Gift Set (complete with mallet) is sure to bring a smile and maybe a surge of passion. This wreath has nothing to do with pine needles; it’s 12 ounces of decadent milk chocolate carefully molded into a gorgeous wreath shape as imagined by these Pennsylvania chocolatiers. Designed for sharing, the wreath breaks into specifically engineered pieces. Depending on the energy of your bubble, you may want to order several of these.

andSons

If there are true chocoholics in your household, you’ll be happy that second-generation LA chocolatier andSons ships everywhere.  Kriss Harvey knows her stuff. She was formerly executive pastry chef for the inventive The Bazaar by José Andrés.  Joy is the name of the game with andSons’ Holiday Joy Chocolate Boxes. Filled with hand-crafted bonbons, the box is seasonal all the way with an assortment of Eggnog, Spiced cinnamon caramel, Fresh Mint & Berry, and Marzipan & Saffron goodies along with signatures such as Speculoos Cookie, Pop Rock Praline, Passionfruit Caramel and 64% Dark Madagascar. The box itself is a keepsake, designed by pop artist Angela Chrusciaki Blehm. Supersize your dessert box with a Holiday Joy Gift Collection, adding holiday delights such as Eggnog Snowmen, Chocolate-coated Nuts and Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Cranberries.

La Monarca Bakery

La Monarca Bakery has been a staple in Los Angeles for almost 15 years. Started by two Stanford graduates who grew up in Monterrey, Mexico, La Monarca brings the sweet flavors of Mexico anywhere in the world. For the holidays, order their scratch-made orejitas, wedding cookies and cinnamon cookies, all made without trans fats or preservatives.

BakeMeAWish

Have you totally forgotten to order dessert (or just don’t feel like baking)? No worries – there’s BakeMeAWish.com to the rescue. This NYC gourmet company guarantees overnight delivery of a toothsome variety of holiday desserts that are as festive as they are delicious. You can order jumbo and mini holiday cupcakes, the playful and adorable Santa’s Bag filled with holiday cookies and chocolates, a tin of Candy Cane or Snowman cookies (also adorable) or a sinful Chocolate Peppermint Bundt cake. Can’t decide? Order a tower of fruit and sweets to combine with a mix of cookies and cakes. You’ll also be doing a good deed — 5% of all purchases will be set aside to benefit small businesses affected by COVID through the Bake Me A Wish! Business Empowerment Fund.

Seven Sisters Scones

From artisanal bakery Seven Sisters Scones, you can order a selection of savory and sweet scones in creative flavors like Fig and Goat Cheese and the holiday-spirited Strawberry Champagne. Started by Hala Yassine, one of seven sisters (with two brothers), the Georgia bakery spices it up for the holidays with “naughty” and “nice” boxes.  The boozy, “naughty” assortment has a dozen mini or large scones in Eggnog, Chocolate Kahlúa, Pomegranate Martini and Orange Mimosa flavors. The “nice” box veers to the classic with twelve Coffee Cake, Maple Pumpkin, Cranberry Orange, and Gingerbread versions.

Bread Basket

Bread Basket has curated seven sweets and bread baskets for the holidays. Mixing craft breads, brioche buns, cookies, holiday loaf cakes and other treats, baskets include the best of NYC artisan bakeries Pain d’Avignon, Padoca Bakery, Grandaisy Bakery, Amy’s Bread, Orwashers, Eli’s Bread, New Yorker Bagel and more. Think orange olive cake with a seeded sourdough bread, or Black & White cookies with “everything bagel” seeded twists, for example. Since Europe is out of reach this year, the European Basket fills in with Roman pizza Bianca, a classic baguette, Swiss Health breakfast bread and Swedish butter cookies.

Cotton Blues Cheesecakes

Move over, New York, you’ve got serious competition. Cotton Blues Cheesecakes hail from Mississippi and are as droolworthy as they come. These handcrafted cakes, created from an original recipe by Executive Pasty Chef Shaun Davis at Cotton Blues restaurant in Hattiesburg, call themselves “Mississippi Made-New York Approved.” As a New Yorker who loves cheesecake, I agree. Their strawberry cheesecake is a real knockout.

Piedaho Pie

Paris-trained baker Rebecca Bloom’s Piedaho Pies are handmade as well but this time at a family-owned bakery in Hailey, Idaho. Local ingredients are finessed to create seasonal specialties like Cherry Bourbon Crumb, Salted Caramel Apple, Ginger Pear and Chai Apple pies. You’ll likely be craving more than one pie but that’s not a problem –you can sign up for Piedaho’s Pie Club to be treated again and again. Pre-baked and flash-frozen in a vacuum-sealed pouch, these pies spark conversation and comfort.

Daddy Ray’s Famous Gingerbread

A favorite since 1983, shipping from Fort Worth, Texas, Daddy Ray’s Famous Gingerbread Bundt cakes are a thing of beauty. Lovingly baked and decorated by three generations of the Elledge family, the cakes are not only moist and delicious with a perfect balance of ginger and spice, they also add a festive touch to any gathering. You can order gingerly, pun intended, with a small cake, but you’ll probably regret not having ordered the larger version. Plan ahead to freeze some for after the holidays.

Paris Baguette

At Paris Baguette whimsical decorations like snowflakes, Santa Claus, polar bears, snowmen and Christmas Bears find their way onto Santa’s Chimney Chocolate Chiffon Cake , Rudolph the Red-Nosed Chocolate Cake, Frosty’s Chocolate Chalet Cake and the Stargazing Santa Chocolate Cake. Capturing memories of beautiful snowfalls, the Merry Berry Choco Crunch Cake is a winner with soft-cream snow drifts and berries on top.

Sully & Vanilla

Sully & Vanilla, a NYC-based women-owned bakery, has cornered the market on fun holiday treats. How can you not be obsessed with Santa hat flamingo cookies or Red and Greens, a holiday take on traditional NYC Black and White cookies?  Customizing cake pops, cake cones and decorated cakes is the bakery’s M.O.

FLOUR SHOP

FLOUR SHOP is the creative playground for cake mastermind Amirah Kassem. With color and whimsy as her inspiration, Kassem mixes rainbows, glitter and unicorns for cake magic. At FLOUR SHOP, you’ll find glitter counters showcasing the most popular treats including cakeballs and the six-layer explosion cake. Be sure to look around the website for some holiday cheer.

Milk Bar

Chef Christina Tosi’s Milk Bar puts a peppermint spin on holiday desserts. If you love peppermint bark, you’ll love Milk Bar’s Peppermint Bark Cake with layers of crunchy cocoa crumbs, chocolate fudge, peppermint frosting and crushed candy cane bits. The same decadence is available in bite-sized Peppermint Bark Truffles rolled in red and chocolate sprinkles and minty sand. Peppermint Pretzel Snaps are a sweet-and-savory combination of pretzels, peppermint, caramel and chocolate atop a chocolate wafer, dipped in white chocolate peppermint bark. Pick-up and on-demand delivery in five cities or shipping nationwide.

Baked by Melissa

Cupcake lovers will thank Melissa instead of Santa for the Baked by Melissa collections featuring bite-sized cupcakes with festive flavors like Chocolate Babka, Jelly Doughnut, Caramel Hot Cocoa, Candy Cane and Cookie Blizzard. Gluten-free assortments, too. Pick- up in multiple locations and nationwide shipping.

Restaurants and Tearooms

Angelina

Renowned Paris tearoom and pastry house, Angelina, brings the taste of the century-old patisserie to its first US location in Manhattan. With takeout and delivery of its iconic hot chocolate, powdered or beautifully bottled for transport, and a special Bûche de Noël edition of their Mont Blanc pastry, Angelina gives you  another way to bring Europe home this season. You can pretend you’re dining next to Coco Chanel and Marcel Proust, two of Angelina’s famous patrons, while enjoying sweets like caramels, jams and chocolates.

L’Avenue at Saks

Another Paris sensation, L’Avenue at Saks is the go-to for elaborate desserts by legendary Pierre Herme. If you’ve been to Paris, you’ve likely tried his famous macarons that come in a glorious rainbow of colors and tastes. You can go a step further by ordering L’Avenue’s famous Ispahan with a rose macaron biscuit base and rose petal cream, raspberries and lychees; or the Tarte Orpheo made with shortbread pastry, dark chocolate ganache and toasted hazelnuts. Available in-store or with delivery via Caviar.

Jean-Georges

Two Jean-Georges’ restaurants offer pick-up or in-city delivery of their most elaborate desserts. Order the cute-as-a-button Chef Karen’s Cookie Box, an assortment of gingerbread cookies, chocolate caramel brownies, pecan puffs and brown-butter chocolate chip cookies from ABC KitchenJean-Georges’ eponymous restaurant has the only-at-Christmas Bûche de Noël  decked out with dried cranberries, Sicilian pistachios and orange confit in organic bourbon vanilla cream, all set inside a dark chocolate mousse and devil’s food cake. For New Year’s, the restaurant’s passionfruit almond cake is paired with a half bottle of Billecart Salmon Brut Rose for a decadent finish to any meal.

Pierre’s

If you happen to be on Long Island, Pierre’s in Bridgehampton offers a sinful array of Bûche de Noël for Christmas. Offered in two sizes, you can choose chocolate made with chocolate mousse and layers of chocolate almond dacquoise, milk chocolate with crunchy French meringue coated with a milk chocolate glaze, or the very French Vosgienne which adds fresh raspberries and whipped cream to layers of chocolate sponge cake. Specifically created to capture the holiday season, the chestnut Bûche de Noël has chestnut and vanilla rum mousseline, layers of ladyfinger sponge cake and a dark chocolate glaze while the Snow Man is a pretty confection of Grand-Marnier chocolate mousse with orange candied strips and layers of Alsatian winter spice sponge cake, coated with French meringue. Order online and pick up at Pierre’s in Bridgehampton or Pierre’s Market in Sagaponack.

Izzy’s

The Boozy Cakes from Izzy’s steakhouse in San Francisco are certain to strike a happy chord. Seven cakes, inspired by Izzy’s signature cocktails and full of (premium) spirit, will help you toast to Christmas, New Year’s, or maybe to just getting through another lockdown. Flavors include Triple Layer Chocolate Cognac made with chocolate genoise and dark chocolate ganache, Lemon Drop Cake boozed up with vodka, Spiked Red Velvet with Kahlúa and Baileys cream-cheese frosting, and Grandma’s Carrot Cake with Grand Marnier cream-cheese frosting. Preparing for Dry January?  There are “virgin” versions as well.

Kern’s Kitchen

Kern’s Kitchen can lay claim to being the sole producer of Kentucky’s famous Derby-Pie®. For more than 60 years Louisville’s Kern family has held the secret recipe to this confection. All they’ll disclose is that the pie has chocolate chips and walnut pieces. You’ll have to scope out the rest of the ingredients on your own as you tuck into a slice of history.

Fall Getaway from NYC: The Hamptons – Where to Eat

Fall is gorgeous in the Hamptons and the drive (without the summer rush) can be as little as an hour and a half. Here are some dining choices to whet your appetite.

noahs greenportNoah’s, Greenport – Noah Schwartz has brought his farm-to-table expertise from his days in Sonoma County.  Here, adding sea-to-table expertise to his repertoire, and a sophisticated knowledge of wine pairings, he brings the North Fork’s best and freshest to the table in this airy waterfront restaurant.  If you’re visiting from the Southern part of the island, you can take a ferry from Sag Harbor to Shelter Island, and a second ferry to Greenport.  You’ll feel like you’ve taken a vacation for the day. Be sure to try whatever crudo is on the menu, any shellfish (as fresh as you’ll ever have it), the BBQ duck on polenta, and filet mignon sliders. Try some local wines like Coffee Pot, which can be ordered in 3 ounce or 6 ounce pours. http://www.chefnoahs.com

Fresh FoodsFresh Hampton, Bridgehampton – It’s so wonderful that someone finally came up with a menu that lets you graze through a menu of the freshest of the fresh.  The name of this restaurant, helmed by Chef Todd Jacobs, tells you what to expect: everything fresh, local, and seasonal. Most of the ingredients come from the restaurant’s own garden, supplemented by produce from neighboring farms in Sag Harbor.  You can try a small portion of skate, steak, or chicken, or arrange a full medley of veggie dishes and skip the proteins entirely. All are delicious. The vibe is casual and buzzy. No reservations mean a democratic, but sometimes lengthy wait for seats.  It’s worth it. http://www.freshhamptons.com

Bay Kitchen BarBay Kitchen Bar, East Hampton – You couldn’t ask for a more picturesque setting than at this open-air restaurant, seemingly set at the end of the world.  All seats have an oceanview of Three Mile Harbor from the blue-and-white dining room and bar. Come early for sunset and join the group at the bar and then move to a table for a seafood feast. Recommended are the dishes featuring local catch, like the super-fresh ceviches and crudo. Try the tastings of each. The lobster roll simply dressed with mayo on a roll is a worthy exception – only Maine lobster should ever be in a lobster roll anyhow.  Cocktails are well thought out. Served perfectly chilled in a metal cup filled to the brim with ice, the blackberry julep adds a Long Island twist to this Southern fave with macerated blackberries, a touch of mint, and agave. Desserts are scrumptious – if you can only order one, try the strawberry shortcake made Hamptons-style with strawberry rhubarb compote. http://baykitchenbar.com

The Lobster RollThe Lobster Roll, Baiting Hollow — And while on he subject of lobster rolls, I suggest you head North to The Lobster Roll in Baiting Hollow for the finest the area can offer.  The slightly more refined twin of Lunch in Amagansett, the restaurant doesn’t take reservations but it’s worth the wait. Begin your meal with creamy lobster bisque, add a palate cleanser of cole slaw, and finish with the piece de resistance, a lobster roll filled with fresh lobster and crunchy celery bits. A nice selection of North Fork wines is offered which you can also enjoy at the tasting room next door. Finish with a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie – there’s even a sugarless version. Pure heaven. http://www.lobsterroll.com

DelmonicoDelmonico’s, Southampton — For a meat fix that perfectly accompanies a starter of raw Montauk oysters and Peconic little necks, the sister restaurants to Manhattan’s downtown legend is the place to go.  Easy to reach from the Southampton train station, the restaurant sits in a tasteful house surrounded by lush gardens. Enjoy a trio of oysters drizzled with a tart mignonette sauce to start. Go for steakhouse perfection with a Caesar salad, the signature Delmonico steak, served sliced with grilled onions and a side of creamed spinach. The Southampton sibling adds a few special Long Island touches like seared scallops with corn pudding. The wine list is extensive so ask the sommelier for the best pairing.  Dessert is a no-brainer: the dish created by the restaurant, Baked Alaska. http://www.delmonicosrestaurantgroup.com/southampton/

Race Lane, East HamptonRace Lane in East Hampton welcomes you into its casual environment, a combination of tables, a bar, and even a sunken fireplace area for drinks and appetizers. Seafood preparations are glorious. Grilled branzino exemplifies the best of the Hamptons, served with a side of rich lobster mac ‘n cheese.  Scallop crudo, drizzled with yuzu, is refreshing and delicious in its simplicity, as are the Montauk pearl oysters served with a blood orange granita.  http://www.racelanerestaurant.com

Sen in Sag HarborSen, Sag Harbor – Sen in Sag Harbor takes no reservations but you can spend your wait time watching the nightly passegiata or walking the small town yourself. Friendly service, masterfully prepared sushi and Japanese selections are the attraction. Start with a plate of lightly salted, blistered shishito peppers, grown locally, a more interesting opener than the usual edamame. Follow this by a miso-glazed cod, also locally caught, and a selection of creative maki. If soft-shelled crab is on the menu, try it in any roll offered. A lovely selection of sakes is offered including a cold, unpasteurized Masumi. http://www.senrestaurant.com

Pierre’s in BridgehamptonPierre’s, Bridgehampton — Pierre’s in Bridgehampton is a casual but refined French bistro with a lively, in-the-know feel. The menu gives carnivores and non-seafood eaters something to cheer about, too, with duck, pastas, and a cheesy Alsatian tarte flambé. Try to meet charming host Pierre Weber if you can. Be sure to look around the room, as this is a favorite haunt by both “out there” and undercover celebs. http://www.pierresbridgehampton.com

Bell and AnchorBell and Anchor, Sag Harbor — I know I’m sounding a bit redundant when it comes to seafood recommendations, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Bell and Anchor, sister restaurant to Sag Harbor’s wonderful Beacon and Southampton’s Red Bar. The nautical dining room is the setting for a lively evening of seafood dining. Clams, lobster, calamari, pretty much every kind of seafood is on the menu and it’s all delicious. http://www.bellandanchor.com/#oysters-to-start

Crow’s NestCrow’s Nest, Montauk – Another restaurant with a no-reservations policy, Crow’s Nest actually makes your waiting time a desirable experience. You can sit by the beachside bar and watch the sunset while eating oysters on the half, washed down with a specialty cocktail like a watermelon cooler or a gin concoction aptly named the Summer Rental. If it’s chilly, there’s a fire pit to cozy around. The dining room has lovely views of the harbor and a small, handwritten menu of dishes ranging from pasta with sea urchin and chilis, to locally caught striped bass and Montauk fluke crudo. The busy restaurant manages to keep a very cheerful tone with a rustic, yet polished feel.  To avoid the wait, arrive by 7:15, especially on a weekend when everyone seems to want to be in Montauk. http://crowsnestmtk.com

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