Cream Bakery is Kaput - Is it True?

I had dinner with Meg and Charlene today, and we talked about our upcoming QueensSwap project (more on that soon).  Breaking bread with these ladies is always enjoyable and fruitful since they're well connected to our nabe - Charlene, a more recent Astorian. 

Through our conversation, Meg tipped off an interesting piece of news that I thought you might find useful.  She mentioned that the still infantile, Cream Bakery on Steinway Street has closed.  Some of you may be surprised and some may have downright expected it, but this little cupcakery is reported to be no longer functioning.  I'll try to investigate about its possible future and the full story, but in the meantime, if you're in the mood for cupcakes you can still get some pretty damn great ones here:

Martha's Country Bakery - With any and every flavor you can imagine from your classic vanilla to red velvet, oreo and more, you can satisfy virtually any type of serious cupcake fiend.  36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.545.9737

Astor Bake Shop - It's no secret that this relative newbie has been producing solid, gourmet sweets, and I think it's safe to say they'll stay a while.  Their cupcakes come in a big and mini size and flavors vary between double chocolate, coconut and red velvet.  12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria NY 11102.  718.606.8439

Terrizzi Pasticceria - Terrizzi veers on the side of traditional, and you know what they say..."if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  I agree and think they have a great thing going.  Their cupcakes are moist, the size is just perfect (not too large but not a mini) and flavors vary between pistachio, peanut butter, double chocolate, oreo, vanilla and more.  35-14 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103.  718.726.9698

Martha's Country Bakery - Great for Birthdays!

My cousin Eva turned 33 this past weekend--and we had an impromptu celebration for her. Remembering a Red Velvet cake that I once ate at her house, I thought that it'd be a good birthday treat in her honor.

Dan went to no other than Martha's Country Bakery to pick up Eva's cake. It was a small 5 inch Red Velvet layer beauty, which looked simply divine. Even though there wasn't much surface area to write on, Martha's was creative and stuck a plastic "Happy Birthday" sign into the cake, writing Eva's name on top. I thought that was a neat approach! A cherry filo dough pastry was also bought for non-cream cheese frosting eaters (aka Dan).

The Cake:
Besides its pretty exterior, this cake was one of the best Red Velvet desserts I've ever had. I think that the dough really spoke for itself, as it was light, airy and super moist--it would've been good even without the frosting. But don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the frosting as well--and so did everyone else. The creamy, velvety mousse embellished the cake and made it more luxurious. Eva's girls devoured it with pleasure--just look at little Camryn above enjoying her "Happy Cake," as Matt referred to it.

Cherry Pastry:
I had to sample this delicacy as well and wasn't disappointed. Martha's excellence lies in using good quality ingredients and this pastry was no exception. The cherry filling was flavorful and included slightly sour cherries instead of overly sweet/syrupy ones. The dough was perfectly flaky and delicious, my only complaint was that there was too much powdered sugar on top--so I brushed it off.

Price:
While the cakes and pastries aren't cheap, they are worth the price. The small cake and the pastry that I described above set us back about $15--not too bad for a birthday celebration.

Martha's Country Bakery - 36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.545.9737

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.marthascountrybakery.com

Martha's Country Bakery - Always a Sweetie

I adore Martha's Country Bakery on Ditmars Blvd! It's always the place that I hit up first when I need to bring something sweet to a friend's house. Almost always are people impressed with the cupcakes, cookies and the delicious fruit pies.

One of my recent visits was just for fun and I wanted to treat myself to a new flavor of their famous cupcakes. The black and white called my name and I was especially looking forward to eating all of that scrumptious frosting. It was damn good--and the cherry on top too! The dough was moist but not heavy and I'd definitely recommend this flavor along with my other favorite, the M&M's. I encourage you to include the black and white in your next Martha's cupcake variety purchase.

Pies and cookies are also yummy and I recently brought over a large blueberry/apple/cherry pie to a friend's place for Sunday Night Football. The crust was fantastic and definitely had some citrus in it--I love how Martha's uses lemon in both their pies and cupcakes! The filling had large chunks of fruit in it and didn't feel like that artificial glob that's sometimes used in store bought pies. Martha's blueberry/apple/cherry pie was a big hit with my friends, especially because it pleased people with different tastes.

In terms of cookies, I got an assortment of large ones and brought them to another friend's place last Saturday. These went fast and there were many praises about their richness and softness. My favorite was the chocolate-chocolate-chip, followed by the M&M's as a close second.

Prices aren't cheap but you get what you pay for--fabulosity!

Martha's Country Bakery - 36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.545.9737

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.marthascountrybakery.com

Turkey Day in Astoria

Are you staying in the nabe for Thanksgiving? Although some restaurants will be closed, there are plenty that will remain open for business--and are offering impressive Thanksgiving specials. Feast your eyes on these filling Thanksgiving offers...

Seva - Give your Thanksgiving some Indian flare. Enjoy a three-course feast for just $14. The food is fantastic and you'll get way more than what you pay for. Here's a sampling of Thursday's meal - Turkey Tikka Masala, Cranberry Saffron Rice, Cashew Pumpkin Halwa. And remember, you can bring your own booze--this joint is BYOB.
30-07 34th street, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.626.4440

Mojave - Enjoy Mojave's Mexican Thanksgiving for $29.95. You'll get a complimentary cocktail along with a three-course meal. Here's a preview - Butternut Squash Bisque, Cider-brined Hudson Valley Turkey, Pumpkin Cheesecake.
22-36 31st St, Astoria, NY 11105, 718.545.4100

Samba Grill - Celebrate Thanksgiving Brazilian-style, where meat is always the main event. Samba is offering a $25.95 prix-fixe, where you'll enjoy an oven-roasted turkey along with other cuts of meat and an all-you-can-eat buffet. A glass of sangria is included and reservations are strongly suggested.
29-17 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105. 718.777.9477

Zenon Taverna - Zenon never fails to deliver a delicious and affordable meal. For $21.95 they're offering a three-course meal including the following scrumptious-sounding options: Cream of Turkey Soup, Roasted Turkey with Stuffing and Sweet Potatoes as well as Pumpkin Pie and Coffee.
34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106. 718.956.0133

Cavo - Always ringing in the festivities in style, Cavo is offering a four-course Thanksgiving prix-fixe for $45. A sampling of their luxurious menu includes: Veloute of Green Split Peas Braised Short Ribs of Beef, Osso-Buco of Turkey Leg Braised With Orzo Tomatoes and Herbs, Caramel Sweet Potatoes, Fig and Honey Cheesecake.
42-18 31st Ave, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.1001

And don't forget about Thanksgiving dessert...

Martha's Country Bakery - Bring home Martha's old-fashioned lattice fruit pie. They come in a multitude of flavors such as apple, cherry, blueberry, pumpkin, pecan, cranberry walnut and more. Pies range between $12-$14.
36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.545.9737

La Guli Pastry Shop - Another wonderful sweet shop with Italian flare, you can get pies as well as "Happy Thanksgiving" sugar cookies. Pie flavors vary and include: cherry, blueberry, apple, pumpkin, coconut custard, sweet potato and even mince pie! Prices range between $10-$26.50.
29-15 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105 718.728.5612

Happy Thanksgiving Astoria!

Enjoy Outdoor Seating at Martha's Bakery

Martha's Bakery just keeps evolving and that makes me so happy. Just the other day when I was walking by, I saw that they added outdoor seating--and plenty of it. The outdoor area offers wait service just like the inside seating, which was added less than a year ago. It must be working out quite well and I'm not surprised, for Martha's offers more than just your standard bakery experience--it provides a cozy, homey atmosphere that makes people want to linger. What's next? A new location? There's a sister store already in Forest Hills but we'll see what emerges next. Keep up the good work Martha's!

Martha's Country Bakery - 36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
718.545.9737
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.marthascountrybakery.com

Martha's Country Bakery - Homestyle Baking at its Best

Martha's Country Bakery - 36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.545.9737

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.marthascountrybakery.com

One of my favorite bakeries in Astoria, Martha's always put me in a good mood. And just like I wanted to show off Trattoria L'Incontro to my aunt and uncle, I wanted to do the same with Martha's. They appreciated it for its goodness and we stuck around to indulge in a couple of confections.

Atmosphere:

I love Martha's for its atmosphere as much as I love it for its baked goods. The country theme is definitely conveyed even before you walk in--the awning has maroon stripes and the window display showcases gorgeous lattice fruit pies, tarts, cupcakes and fruit breads. The inside is even more charming with whimsical decorations such as a big vintage clock and country-style furniture in warm yellows, reds and browns. Simply put, it's a lovely place to linger and enjoy a sinful treat. And linger, you can, as Martha's boasts a seating area of approximately 8-10 small tables. Not many bakeries in the area (and in general) can say the same--it's usually a grab-and-go type of situation.

The Treats:

I've had Martha's on a number of occasions but most of the things we sampled last Friday were new to me.

Vanilla Buttercream Cupcake with M&M's: I'm a sucker for Martha's cupcakes and have tried most varieties--my favorite one being the red velvet. I haven't tried this simple vanilla buttercream variation with M&M's and after devouring half of it in barely a couple of minutes, I think I'd call it my new favorite. The inside was beautifully moist and the buttercream tasted like it should--soft, sugary with hints of vanilla and lemon. The M&M's provided that choco fix, which I so often crave and overall, I'd say that this is a nice choice for b-days (for both adults and kids).

Hazelnut Gelato: Dan ordered this and it actually consisted of one scoop of hazelnut and one scoop of cappuccino gelato. I didn't taste the latter so I'll only talk about the hazelnut. Being that Nutella is one of my favorite desserts in the whole world, I naturally adore hazelnut gelato. This one was creamy and rich and had that home-churned feel. I kept taking spoonfuls from Dan's bowl and decided that I'm definitely going to get it next time.

Chocolate Cannoli: This was my least favorite dessert because it just didn't stand a chance next to La Guli's cannoli. The ricotta filling tasted waxy and the crust wasn't flaky enough. While I love chocolate, I think there was too much of it here--in the filling, around the dough and there were even chocolate chips inside. I'd skip the cannoli next time around.

Service and Cost:

Because we were sitting at a table, we had a waitress bring out our order. She was really nice and unobtrusive but she chimed in a the right moments. For example, when we were trying to figure out who sang a song playing in the background, she came to the rescue.

I'd say that for the quality of goods you're getting here, Martha's treats are priced fairly but to the naked eye they could seem expensive. Cupcakes are $1.75 each, cannolis are $2.75 and a scoop of gelato is a whopping $3.75. You pay for the greatness.

3 Mmmms