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…

Humbly nestled between shops on 23rd btwn 7th and 6th aves, Madeleine gives off no air of pretension or grandeur. Rather, its delicate awning, large windows and rustic brick walls quietly beckon the curious observer to enter the shop. If that won’t do it, try your will power against the ridiculous smell of freshly baked croissants for a full avenue.

Happily, the inside of Madeleine is far more like a lived-in den than a restaurant. Large, upholstered chairs, dining tables, rugs and couches fill the cozy space, with a glass counter at the storefront. Baskets of flakey croissants and tarts line the walls (though they go fast!), while their famous Madeleine cookies and French macarons are piled high in the display case.

Armed with a good book and an empty stomach, I debated for an irregularly long time if I should choose the original, almond, chocolate, or almond-chocolate croissant with a cup of coffee… or did I want the peach tart… or the brioche roll… or perhaps the champagne flavored macarons … this would be difficult…

I eventually settled on the almond croissant, only to learn they just sold out (mind you, it was only 9am). I began to hold back my welling tears, but I then heard the seven most beautiful words ever uttered by man:

“Wait! A fresh batch just came out.”

Wide eyed, I watched intently as the barista moved a gigantic, piping-hot almond croissant from the baking sheet to my ceramic plate. I think I peed a little.

Though I was expecting a fluffy, classic croissant like their “original,” the almond selection was a whole different situation. Dense, thick and quite intimidating, this thing was for the no-nonsense, mighty hungry pastry lover only. The sugar on the outside seemed to have caramelized during the baking process, giving the entire croissant a mildly sweet crunch. The dough was buttery, crunchy at the edges, but flakey and soft toward the middle… and once you get to the middle, there’s no going back. A sweet, textured almond filling occupied the center, but didn't overwhelm the croissant's flavor.

One fantastic cup of coffee, the best croissant in Chelsea (and possibly Manhattan), and a cozy place to read cost me only $6 – what most people shell out for one of those syrupy venti mocha-choca-no-whip-lattes. So ditch the franchise and patronize a family-owned shop that relies on your business to thrive. In return, they'll give you the most "it-was-so-worth-it" week at the gym a pastry lover could ask for.