During the holiday break, I wandered over to La Guli Pastry Shop. Pleasantly taunted by the photos of sweets they’ve been putting up on their Facebook page, I couldn’t just be an on-looker, I had to taste.
When I walked in, the place was buzzing, and rightfully so, as it was holiday time. Marveling at their beautiful display of holiday cakes and cookies, I appreciated these items, but knew they’re only there temporarily, so instead, I focused on their classics such as the cookies and pastries. Here’s what caught my eye:
Sfogliatelle – The beautiful shape of these pastries drew me in immediately and I could tell they’d be crispy to the bite even just by looking at them. There were two sizes, including a medium and large, which was a good option, especially since I just ate a big-ish lunch and wanted a little taste of something sweet.
I ended up buying one and biting into it at the shop. Wow! The flakiness of that crust was magical and while you had to eat it with a napkin under your chin (it’s very crumbly), I just loved all the freshness and flavor found in each bite. The filling found in the middle was spectacular as well, consisting of sweet, creamy ricotta cheese with a distinct but not overpowering flavor of orange. If you adore a little hint of dessert that’s not overly sweet, this one’s for you.
Brutti e Buoni – Even though I didn’t end up buying these cookies, I was so delighted when I saw them, as they remind me of the time I spent at Tasty Tuscany. Brutti means ugly in Italian, which is meant to represent the irregular shape of these meringue cookies. But don’t be fooled by their looks, as these little treats are anything but brutti in your mouth.
Service and Cost:
In quintessential La Guli fashion, the service was pretty standard but not exemplary, which I’ve come to expect here.
Costs are moderate and my sfogliatelle set me back about $3, while the cookies range between $9-$14/pound. They have so many varieties, so go ahead, drop in, and explore!
3 Mmmms
La Guli Pastry Shop – 29-15 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.728.5612
N/Q Train to Ditmars (last stop)
laguli.com
Image by thechocolateswirl.comHere's another heads-up for Easter, Passover or any holiday or non-holiday of your liking. This one comes from one of my favorite Astoria-based businesses, The Chocolate Swirl, which produces homemade truffles, brownie pops, cakes, cupcakes and other confections. I adore this company for their thoughtful and creative presentation (they're not afraid of color and texture) and the decadent, rich and delicious flavor of their products. My ultimate favorite of theirs is the red velvet brownie pop (the moistest cake pop I've had to date) closely followed by the s'mores brownie pop, which is slightly more indulgent.
But for holiday themed sweets, check out their Spring collection, which includes:
Bunny Brownie Pops (they're super cute and would make a great gift for kids)
Springtime Easter Cupcakes
Chocolate Pretzel Nests (pictured above - a clever little treat worthy of a conversation starter)
Truffle Topiary (for Mother's Day)
Double Decker Brownies
Brownie Pop Flower Pot and more...
Intrigued? You can check out The Chocolate Swirl in person at Astoria Market on May 1st or you can learn about their goodies online. Enjoy and don't forget to lick your fingers.
The Chocolate Swirl
I arrived in the middle of the day to find the place nicely populated, with sporadic tables filled with people enjoying their sweets.
My eyes immediately settled on the pretty display case. Everything was intricately arranged and looked elegant - from cupcakes to tarts, cakes and cookies, it all looked inviting. After some deliberation, I came to a decision and chose the following goodies:
Apple/Hazelnut Tart - I'm a sucker for apple desserts and this one was also paired with one of my favorite nuts. Overall, this dessert was as delicious as it looked and my favorite aspect was the soft/crumbly topping made with hazelnuts. I liked that some of the hazelnuts remained chunky, indulging your mouth in some nice crunching action. The apple component was yummy too, tender and not overly sweet, just the way I like it.
Oatmeal Cherry Cookie - Since I've never had an Astor cookie, I just had to try one with dried cherries and oatmeal. Immediately I saw the harmony in this combination, as the slightly sour taste of the cherries complemented the earthiness of the granola. This treat was crunchy on the outside yet remained chewy on the inside - surely the sign of a good cookie.
Service and Cost:
I was served by a very friendly employee whose attitude was very sweet, just like the goods he was selling.
Both treats mentioned above amounted to $6.23 - not cheap but the quality outweighs the cost, I think.
3 Mmmms
Astor Bake Shop - 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria NY 11102
718.606.8439
www.astor-bakeshop.com
Happy Valentine's Day Astoria. I hope you're having a lovely day or a fantastically planned night with your loved ones (whoever that may be for you). In addition to my V-Day restaurant round-up, I also wanted to supply you with an impromptu mini round-up of V-Day desserts sold only today at your local Astorian bakeries.
Astor Bake Shop - A very sweet Valentine extravaganza has hit this awesome sweet shop, where you can get anything and everything from homemade chocolates, lollipops, cookies, chocolate mousse cake, tiramisu cake, raspberry marshmallows with Belgian chocolate casing and so much more. Prices range from $3.25 - $24.95. 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria. 718.606.8439
Artopolis - Never having a shortage of delicious Greek cookies, cakes and even savory specialties, Artopolis is ringing in V-Day with their 6 or 8 inch chocolate hearts and specialty gift baskets. Prices run between $5.50 for the hearts to $45 for a big love basket full of yummies. 23-18 31st Street, Astoria. 718.728.8484
Martha's Country Bakery - Known primarily for their cupcakes, they're having a special V-Day version that's strawberry flavored. If you're looking for variety, you can also choose their V-day chocolate mousse cakes or the decadently dipped chocolate strawberries. Prices range between $2.25 for the strawberries and $25/$30 for the cakes. 36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.545.9737
Frank's Bakery - If you're in the mood for traditional Italian cakes & pastries, try Frank's Bakery on 30th Avenue. Their V-Day offering includes heart shaped cakes with classic buttercream frosting, cupcakes and even fruit tarts. Cupcakes are priced at $2.25 while the cakes and the tarts range between $19.95 - $24.95. 36-02 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.726.7813
Terrizzi Pastry Shop - Just a few steps away fro Frank's, you've got Terrizzi, which is also on the traditional side and so, so delicious. This V-Day check out their chocolate mousse or red velvet hearts, cupcakes and even cute little petit fours. Prices range between $11.95 - $29.95 for the bigger items. 35-14 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.726.9698
They had a raffle going for a special holiday sampler, and naturally loving giveaways of all kinds, I entered. Well...fast forward two weeks - I open up an email from The Chocolate Swirl informing me that I won the raffle. How fun! It totally made my day, and I planned to pick up my winnings right before Thanksgiving. I wasn't necessarily going to eat them on Thanksgiving day, but I wanted to celebrate the holiday early by trying some of these yummies.
I picked my goods this past Wednesday and was excited to find:
A box of assorted truffles
A box of assorted brownie popsA mini pumpkin pound cake
Brownie Pops - "Amazing, delicious, delectable," don't do this dessert justice. I was simply amazed by how wonderful these were both in aesthetics and taste. They looked pretty and colorful, with a thin layer of chocolate frosting, further decked with sprinkles and graham cracker crumbs.
I received three different flavors including red velvet (our hands-down favorite!), s'mores, and chocolate chip. The red velvet was pure perfection, boasting the moistest interior I've ever tasted when it comes to red velvet cake. The white chocolate cream cheese frosting was also delectable - the right amount of sweet from the chocolate and just a little bit of tang from the cream cheese. We were delighted that we received two of these, and they certainly did not go to waste.
The other brownie pop that was well received was the s'mores, which was just as moist (if not moister) than the red velvet. It almost tasted fudgy, with mini marshmallows inside, and the whole thing dipped in milk chocolate and then covered in toasty graham crackers. Heaven on a stick.
If you're interested in checking out this awesome local business, visit their website or say hello to them at the next Astoria Market. And please tell them I sent ya.
