MondayLunchCrew

This is part two of my New York Recommendations series.

Afternoon Tea/Hot Chocolate/Pâtisserie

This category is one of the things I really miss living in NY. While there are your coffee shops and pâtisserie in the GTA, I’ve yet to find one on par with those in NY… I’m not even going to compare with Paris or Tokyo. So, I will try my very best to hit up some of these places in NY when I can. The only stop I wish I could still recommend was the NY branch of Toraya which I was lucky enough to experience before they closed.

• Fauchon. Recently closed. Maybe it’ll open again. Here’s hoping.
• Starbucks. Yes, I know, there’s a Starbucks just about everywhere. But while this is not special most locations are still great for a cup of coffee, a snack and if you can manage to get a seat, a place to rest and catch your breath. It helps that there’s one every couple of blocks.
• La Maison du Chocolat They’ve got a tea room in the back and will do take out for things like a hot chocolate if it’s busy. Just walk to the back of the store.
• Payard This is the classic upper east institution for ladies who lunch. Good looking cakes, pâtisserie and sandwiches. Quality is good and just about always a line for take out or sit in. A good sign wherever in the world you are. The front doors is a little intimidating when closed. You cannot get a good idea of what the place is like from the outside. Open the door, step in and discover for yourself.
• Financier Patisserie I first discovered this little gem on the way to lunch walking on stone street behind work WAY back. The sign for Patisserie literally caused me to stop in my track and double back. This was before it even opened. Let’s just say I was definitely one of their first customers. Luckily, their products were good I fully support buying from there. The bad part for me was that my move of office to Jersey City meant I couldn’t frequent this gem of a pâtisserie as much as I wanted to. And well, then there’s my move away… They have more than one location, and if you are downtown, I’d highly recommend stopping by for cakes and tea/coffee.
• Jamba Juice A Starbucks like experience for your own ‘personalized’ juice.
• The Tea Box Cafe On the weekends, there’s usually quite a queue of shoppers. But on the off hours, a very quiet Japanese tea location. Great tea menu and a nice selection of menu choices for tea.
• Lady M Cake Boutique Love the Mille Crêpes. Very stark and white space to show off the cakes. The boutique has a ‘wedding dress’ store feel from the outside. A nice little touch since it’s located near the wedding library. Service is not rushed and priced like a Tokyo setting. Nice calm place to sit and enjoy an afternoon tea.
• Vosges haute chocolat A very nice hot chocolate is served with a couple to choose from. Very friendly service and a bar to drink your chocolate and have a quick rest.
• Itoen I never did manage to have tea there. It seems to always be bad timing when I go. But a great place to buy tea leaves and bottled teas.
• Dylan’s Candy Bar A fun place to find all the candies from your childhood. Or at least mine. Used to go in to get my regular fix of nerds.
• The Chocolate Bar NYC Small shop, but full of fun selections of chocolate truffles in a variety of flavours. I like their simple Kraft paper box and the branding with a simple font.

Bread

• Balthazar best French style breads. A little piece of a french boulangerie this side of the Atlantic. The cramped spaces of the bread shop with the crowds even reminds me of the Parisian bread buying experience.

Ice Cream

• Sedutto – 212-879-9557 – 1498 1st Ave – Ice Cream Parlors. Delicious ice cream and delivery until 11pm! Awesome. Their Creamsicle is my favourite.
• Serendipity3 As famously seen in movies: Serendipity, One Fine Day . There’s usually a long wait, especially on the weekends, but it does move people quickly. When you get in, you’ll be treated to a huge sweet items. The frozen hot chocolate is famous, but I prefer a ice cream fix. Their selection is excellent and sized to share.

Updated 2007/06/21: New York Times article of ice cream places in NYC.

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