Popover Café is Poppin’ 11/10/2010
 Hello again! It’s been a little while since my last post, but have no fear! I have since chowed down on some serious NYC grub…all for the sake of the blog, of course. So let’s get back in the groove with my favorite meal in the known universe: BRUNCH.
I’ve been excited to check out Popover Café (86th & Amsterdam Ave.) since I moved up here in the summer. I’ve heard some great things from friends about their flakey, eggy popovers and some not so great things about the line that forms on Sunday afternoons. So when my mother stopped into the city to have some girl time (yay) at the 79th street flea market, we made sure to get to brunch early. Adam also met up with us for the brunch portion of our day, because, as I say every weekend here in NYC, who can resist brunch?! No one. That’s who. 2 Comments  Life has been a bit hectic in Savvyland, but never too hectic to stop in at my new favorite French pastry shop in Chelsea. Now, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m serious about my pastries… very serious. Don’t give me that rubbery, preservative-filled Starbucks excuse for a croissant, and don’t even think about the pre-packaged, mass-manufactured, cloyingly sweet thing you call a “danish”. No. Give me the real stuff and give it to me straight. If I’m gonna murder myself to tears at the gym all week, it better be for a damn good reason.
My friends, the monstrously large, expertly crafted, freshly baked almond croissant at Madeleine Patisserie is one damn good reason…  Yes, I realize the audacity of this statement. As a New Yorker, I’ve consumed my fair share of bagels- hard bagels, bland bagels, tiny bagels, pricey bagels…I assure you, it hasn’t been easy. My quest for a perfectly baked dough-ball has many a time lead to disappointment, rage and despair.
“Isn’t this place supposed to be bagel capital of the world?!” I would cry. It wasn’t till my 2nd year in the city that I discovered the Cave of Wonders that is Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Co... Crepes Galore At Artopolis Café 01/25/2010
 In a world of Egg McMuffins and defrosted breakfast burritos, it’s comforting to know a little shop on Amsterdam is doing breakfast right. Artopolis Café on 113th street is an adorable getaway from the morning rush, serving up all sorts of handmade crepes, pies and gelato.
I recently stopped in for a Saturday brunch, though the entirety of the Upper West Side beat me to it. The place was packed! The usual wait during brunching hours is anywhere from a half hour to an hour- so imagine my surprise when it only took 10 minutes to get a cozy table for two. Not that I minded waiting by the glass cases of expertly crafted cakes and chocolate dipped cookies… The Best Baklava At Poseidon Bakery 01/06/2010
 Poseidon pastry photo courtesy alwayshungryny.com Poseidon Bakery is my new favorite pastry shop. Hands down, case closed. Almonds, honey, spinach, feta, handmade Phyllo dough… I think I’m secretly Greek. I’d like to say I “discovered” this little shop- but after 87 years and 4 generations of established success, I finally poke my head in.
Poseidon Bakery is a true fixture of “old New York”- a realization of the classic American dream. It’s comforting to see shops like these flourish in a world of venti soy no-whip vanilla lattes and headset-bearing, superficially enthused employees. The owner and her family even live upstairs, making this den of Greek goodness an extension of their home. It’s also the only bakery in the United States that makes their Phyllo by hand. Impressed yet?... Antique Café Is Adorable 12/28/2009
 UPDATE 12/20/10: Unfortunately, the FIT branch of Antique Café hasn't been open all semester! I’ve never had a bad cup of coffee at Antique Café, located right on the FIT campus at 27th between 7th and 8th aves. It’s my go-to coffee shop before those brutal AM classes and a perfect detour while strolling around Chelsea. Though Antique café has a larger, more sleek shop on 26th and 6th, I personally love the cozy, familiar feeling that the 27th street shop exudes. The narrow café reminds me of an old house- perhaps someone’s den- with mismatched upholstered furniture, dark wood and quirky decorations throughout. Antique café is packed with both students and local residents during the semester, so the place is prone to long lines- but it’s worth it. They have a zillion delicious well-priced baked goods and their homemade croissants are perfection. I’ve relaxed there plenty of times on a comfy chair with my laptop (free WiFi) and found it to be a far better study environment than the school library. And although the café does serve lunch and dinner entrees, I’d steer clear- only because that’s where things start getting pricy. But if you’re in the neighborhood and need a yummy pick-me-up, the 27th street Antique Café is the place to go. Christmas Hangover? Amy's Bread. 12/26/2009
 photos: amysbread.com & cherrypatter.com. After hitting the Eggnog a bit too hard last night, you’re probably in need of some good ol’ carbohydrates to soak up that excess rum and get on with your day. Enter: Amy’s Bread. Founded in 1992 in a brightly painted shop in Hell’s Kitchen (9th between 46th & 47th), Amy’s Bread bakes up outstandingly tasty breads and pastries at terrifically affordable prices. And with locations in Chelsea Market and the West Village, nearly everyone can snatch up some hearty Potato Onion Dill bread or perfectly tangy Sourdough.
But don’t just come for the Challah (theirs makes a mean French Toast, by the way)- Amy’s Bread prepares everything from Orange Butter Cookies to gooey Cinnamon Raisin Twists. And such variety! The chefs seem to do no wrong as they concoct what they please each day…  photos courtesy of thewanderingeater @ flickr It’s hard not to fall in love with Bis.Co.Latte, the Hell’s Kitchen café that specializes in literally hundreds of hand-made biscotti. The narrow shop quietly occupies the corner of 47th and 10th ave and doesn’t particularly make a fuss about being there. No grand signs, no gaudy exterior- just the ridiculously amazing smell of fresh cookies from their in-house bakery.
Biscotti, Italian for “twice baked,” are oblong, crunchy little cookies that are perfect for dunking into whatever you please. And if you thought the Bis.Co.Latte biscotti were only almond flavored, think again. From Chocolate Chunk Orange Pecan to Marsala Wine with Black Pepper (yup!), this café shakes up tradition by concocting new and exotic flavors daily... Pastries Are My Thing 12/18/2009
 Hungarians do pastries right at Hungarian Pastry Shop on 111th and Amsterdam. The cozy shop boasts dozens of cakes, strudels, cookies and tarts, all baked from scratch in-house. And don’t let the name throw you off- they prepare everything from chocolate-filled French croissants to Turkish Baklava. There are also some delicious coffee concoctions, including “Viennese Coffee:” espresso, steamed milk, and whipped cream (yum). Aside from the worn wooden chairs and tables, the menu selection is scrawled on white wooden planks displayed about the storefront, adding to the rustic feel of the place...
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