Gluten Free and Vegan Friends...Behold the Astor Bake Shop's Cupcakes

Image by The Astor Bake Shop

As my circle of foodie friends expands, I have grown conscious and appreciative of people's special dietary requirements.  That's why I try to take note of food establishments in the nabe that cater to these, such as when they offer a special veggie menu (Ornella for example), vegan or gluten-free items.  Specifically talking about the latter, I was excited when I saw that one of my favorite bakeries in Astoria, The Astor Bake Shop has now added vegan chocolate cupcakes to their menu.  You can see how delicious and fudgy they look (above).  There's also a vegan snickerdoodle I spied on the menu that sounds interesting.

In terms of gluten free goodies, they've been featuring these for quite a while now and if that's a part of your dietary repertoire, you can enjoy their mini flourless chocolate cupcakes, almond macaroons and a chocolate fudge cake.  Yum...you can never tire of chocolate.

Stop by also for their delicious iced coffee, a sea salt lemonade or a gingerade too while you're at it.

Astor Bake Shop - 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria NY 11102

718.606.8439

www.astor-bakeshop.com

Meet Jenna Short of Shortbread NYC

I had the distinct pleasure to meet and interview a young, talented baker and owner of Shorbread NYC, Jenna Short.  Inspired by Jenna's passion for whimsical, quality baked goods, I visited her in her Upper West Side studio yesterday where she not only showed me where all the magic happens but she gave me a glimpse into the inner workings of a true baking genius. 

About Shortbread NYC:
Jenna started Shortbread about 3 years ago as a natural extension of her beloved hobby, baking.  As a young woman with special dietary needs (she's allergic to dairy), she was on a mission to produce great tasting baked goods, using only the best (and the most natural) ingredients but also making them special-diet friendly.  Focusing on gluten free, vegan, dairy free, Kosher, or sugar free goods (if needed), Shortbread does a great job of suiting challenging palettes.

But the best part about Shortbread is the creativity and the care that Jenna pours into each and every treat.  "There's a real power...an energy in the hands," Jenna says, meaning that the meticulous dedication she puts into each cookie, shortbread, cupcake or what have you really makes a difference in taste.  "You can taste when something has been made in a mass produced bakery and when it's prepared just for you by an individual." I agree and think that she's right to keep her business small and focused. 

The Goodies:
I was awed by the eclectic and oh so colorful platter of goodies that Jenna laid out for me, representing a sampling of her sweet menu.  Although I wanted to taste each and every thing, it wasn't humanly possible, so I ended up taking a lot of it home and sharing with Dan and also with my co-workers, Nancy and Leann.

Here are the highlights of what I tried and the items that stood out to me:

Chocolate-Dipped Hazelnut Shortbread - This was hands-down my favorite item. I'm a sucker for good shortbread and have made it a couple of times in my kitchen.  Jenna's version hit it out of the park, as the dough had an airy crunch to it.  Substituting whole wheat flour and Earth Balance butter for full fat ingredients, it tasted light and earthy.  I also loved the amazing vegan chocolate and chopped hazelnuts, drizzled on one side of the cookie.  To die for!

Blueberry Cheesecake Truffle Lollipops - Wow! Doesn't that title just say it all? These bite sized balls of goodness incorporate a rich and tangy fruit/cream cheese filling that's coated in a thin blanket of white chocolate.  I loved how the chocolate rounded out the blueberry flavor with a hint of creaminess and silkiness.

Pacman and Cassette Tape Cupcakes - Jenna made these in honor of her birthday this past weekend that had an 80's theme.  I loved how fun and whimsical the cupcakes looked--their colorful sugar decals just made you smile.  And underneath the endearing decor lay really moist and light-as-air red velvet and vanilla cupcakes.  I enjoyed both flavors and appreciated their size, which was somewhere between a mini and a full sized cupcake. It was just right.

Gluten Free Chocolate Caramel Coconut Fleur de Sel Bites - These were little vegan brownie bites that were oh so rich and juxtaposed sweet and salty flavors.  The topping was gooey and salty from the caramel and fleur de sel and the actual brownie bite was as chocolatey as it gets.  What a great combination for both sweet and savory lovers alike!

To watch my interview with Jenna click here. She answers more questions about her company and her amazing creations.  You'll really get a feel for her fun personality and her uncompromising drive for her business.  Enjoy!

For more information about Shorbread NYC, check out their website.  Feel free to peruse the menu and shop. You won't regret it.

24 Wine Bar Makes Exciting Changes

24 Wine Bar, the low-key, comfortable lounge on the residential 24th Avenue has  exciting changes taking place.  For starters, they're opening earlier on weekends starting at 6 p.m.  Weekday hours are from Monday - Friday from 6 p.m. - 4 a.m.  They also offer free wifi, which is pretty sweet.

Here are some new items on their menu:

Press coffees, French roast, Colombian Supremo
Herbal teas
Vegan brownies and muffins

A brunch with a Latin twist might be in the stars soon. I'll let you know as soon as the details get ironed out.  Stay tuned...

24 - 25-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
347.777.6164
N/W Train to Astoria Blvd