My Anonymous Blog

Pierre Hermé, Paris - Best Croissants & Chocolate Cookies

Let's face it: I'm obsessed with Pierre Hermé.  It's almost always the first place I run to shortly after arriving in Paris.  Even before I sit down for a glass of juice, and definitely before a brief nap to stave off jet-lag, I'm running down the street to the nearest location to grab pastries for the next morning -  almond, chocolate and plain croissants.  And of course one pain au chocolat for the walk back.  Their shops are sleek and their staff are friendly and knowledgeable about all of the dashing treats displayed in practically perfect rows across shelves and refrigerated counter units.  

While I believe that Ladurée has a slight edge up on the appearance and color palettes of their finer pastries and macaroons, where Pierre Hermé wins hands down are in its selection of crisp cookies in smart containers that line the shelves of all locations as you walk in the door.  My favorite of these cookies are the salty little chocolate cookies (sablés au chocolat).  They look innocent enough, and actually one of my close friends likened their appearance to cat poop, which I couldn't disagree with more.  Actually, these unassuming little dark brown cookies pack the most powerful dark chocolatey punch of any sweet treat I've ever put into my mouth.  And for those of you who are aware of the vast number of desserts I eat on a regular basis, that is literally a mouthful.  I can't stop eating them.  Actually, I'm eating them right now as I'm typing.  At 14 euros a pop, these are not cheap cookies, but if there was ever a time to indulge in baked goods in Paris, this is it.

**One word of warning - the cookies come in two flavors - strictly chocolate (the ones I eat), and a new variety that has cherry bits strewn throughout.  These are not recommended, and the only difference in packaging is that the cherry ones have a small red sticker on the top of the container.  You've been warned; I've made this mistake twice before by hastily reaching without checking carefully!**

Perhaps the best news about these cookies is that there is a recipe available that closely matches that of Pierre Hermé's.  It was adapted by a master baker in America named Dorie Greenspan, who worked alongside Pierre Hermé and helped work out recipes for his cookbooks.  She has since gone on to become a cookbook star of her own, releasing BAKING: FROM MY HOME TO YOURS, a true baking bible that is filled not only with old standards that have been pushed into modern times with careful tweaking, but also a good number of new recipes such as World Peace Cookies, her very own knockoff of Pierre Hermé's masterful sablés au chocolat.  If you're truly not wanting to fork over the cash for these little chocolate gems, buy her cookbook and make them and many other inspiring creations of Dorie's yourself.

Now, on the subject of price, and I know nearly everything in Paris, and particularly at a high end shop such as Pierre Hermé, can be on the steep side, one of the best values in town can be found right in this very pastry shop ... look no further than their croissants!  Thanks to French laws that have capped the prices of certain staple foods (only in France would a chocolate croissant be considered a necessity), Pierre Hermé's stash of the most incredibly delicious and gorgeously fashioned breakfast (or anytime, really) can be yours for a mere €1.50!  Have a field day and try one or four of everything!!

Pierre Hermé gets an A+ for their crunchy chocolate cookies and for their impeccably crafted selection of affordably priced breakfast pastries.

Pierre Hermé *
72, rue Bonaparte,
75006 Paris
France

Phone: 43 54 47 77
Hours: Everyday 10AM - 7PM; Saturdays open until 7:30PM

* This is my favorite location, as it's the most convenient to get to, very compact and has everything, but there are three total shops in Paris, and also some in Tokyo, so check their website for the one nearest you.  Some shops might not carry croissants, so call ahead to inquire before you go!

Ladurée, Paris - Best Palmier

Paris has two pastry shops I adore: Pierre Hermé, who I write about all the time and obsess over their little salty chocolate cookies and incomparable pastries, and Ladurée, who offers arguably the prettiest lineup of baked goods found anywhere in the world, let alone just in Paris. 

While their macaroons are delicious and perhaps the place to buy them at in Paris, for me it's the beautifully presented palmier that win me over most.  Innumerable layers of perfectly folded puff pastry are baked into one of the most melt-in-your-mouth delicious snacks I've ever eaten.  They are crisp at first bite, yet so loaded with butter that the crunchy, caramelized exterior quickly gives way and becomes an incomparably sweet, creamy experience that bursts apart and leads to uncontrollable eating. 

Once you try the palmier, you'll be hooked for life. No kidding!

Ladurée has four locations around Paris, so check out their website for the one nearest you.  If you have a chance, visit their original location in the 8th and enjoy tea and pastries while sitting in the stunningly appointed space that has served pastry-popping Parisians since 1862, making it the first public tearoom in Paris.

Ladurée gets an A for providing exquisitely crafted pastries in sparkling Parisian settings.  (There are also shops in London, Monaco, Switzerland ... and now Tokyo - they recently opened their first shop in the Ginza district to enthusiastic Japanese who are waiting over 5 hours just to get in the door!)

Ladurée Royale (original location)
16, rue Royale
75008 Paris
France

Phone: 01 42 60 21 79
Hours: Monday to Saturday 8:30AM - 7PM; Sunday 10AM - 7PM

Bouchon, Venezia & Palazzo - Las Vegas

One of my favorite hotels in Las Vegas is Venezia, the second addition added onto The Venetian that opened in 2004.

The detail put into the marble floors, the gas lamps lining the hallways, the spectacular check-in area and the secluded courtyard filled with water spewing fountains and jacuzzis are just a few of the touches that keep me coming back.

This time we stayed in Palazzo, and I know I raved about it in my first posting, but now that Palazzo has had time to sink in a bit, I can safely say that, until there is a major renovation, I wouldn't stay there again and will instead stick with Venezia on my next trip to Vegas. Palazzo was a little bit on the sterile side, lacking the themed details of Venetian and Venezia, but also lacking any of the charm that they have as well, replacing beautifully designed interiors with monotonous walkways that displayed little character and reminded me of a high end mall in Connecticut or Westchester. There just wasn't anything special about it, and I know they are trying to keep up with Wynn, but the difference there is that Wynn has a defined look, even though it isn't themed, that is clearly Wynn, whereas Palazzo plays it entirely safe -- there are no flashy mosaics on the floors, fancy draperies, moody lighting ... it's just sort of ... there. And then there's the muzak that blares throughout the elevators and hallways of Palazzo -- what were they thinking?! It's beyond dreadful and only highlights the fact that Venetian's newest creation has no personality! The real kicker is that the rooms at Palazzo are actually nice, but formatted almost exactly the same as Venezia's. One perk about the whole resort is having access (for a price!) to The Canyon Ranch Spa, one of the nicest gyms and spas I've ever been to. The equipment is so advanced it almost works out for you, and the spa provides a wonderfully intimate spot to relax in the sauna, steam room and hot tub sans clothing with lots of other guys. Why is the line between spa and bathhouse so remarkably fine, and which one came first? The line is so blurred that Mandalay Bay threw in the towel, so to speak, and named their spa Bathhouse!

But back to Venezia. As I said, we didn't stay here this time around, but we had to return for breakfast at Bouchon one morning. Simply put, Thomas Keller's restaurant inside Venezia serves up the best breakfast in Las Vegas. Waffles, French toast, crunchy fries, thick cut bacon -- all of the standards are represented here in stellar forms, but the real star of Bouchon are its pastries, and I challenge anyone to find a better croissant in the United States. Be sure to stop by the Bouchon Bakery near The Venetian casino floor, where you can sample even more of their pastries, such as the perfect pain au chocolat.

Bouchon gets an A- for their outstanding breakfast and an A for their consistently perfect pastries.

Bouchon
Located inside Venezia
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Hours: open daily for breakfast 7AM - 11AM; midday oyster bar 3PM - 1-:30PM; dinner 5PM - 10:30PM; brunch Sat & Sun 8AM - 2PM
Phone: 702-414-6200 (reservations aren't accepted for breakfast, but are recommended for dinner)

Bouchon Bakery
Located inside The Venetian off the casino floor and next to the theatre
Hours: Open everyday 6AM - 9PM
Phone: 702-414-6203

Jean Phillipe - Bellagio - Las Vegas

Just past the Bellagio Conservatory and on the right, there is the most incredible Willy Wonka-esque white and dark chocolate fountain that, starting from a high ceiling, spills in glistening streams over several glass levels and draws people into the incredible Jean-Phillipe Patisserie. I'm sort of addicted to this place and can't really tell you what to get in particular, but only that I haven't had anything here that wasn't delicious. The sandwiches are quite tasty, and be sure to get them heated up and to grab a seat along the hallway outside of Jean-Phillipe and to the right along the walls while they're being heated. There are also pretty decent croissants, muffins, cookies and a decadent selection of miniature pastries that include raspberry tarts, chocolate cakes and strawberry cheesecakes. Each one is so beautifully crafted that I almost hate to stick a fork in and start eating them ... almost. This is one of our favorite lunch stops when we stay at Bellagio, and one thing we love to do is to choose several pastries (like the ones above!), head up to the room (don't forget forks or you'll be eating with your fingers; we've done this before...) and sit in front of the window watching the fountains and sipping wine. It makes for a perfect night in Vegas.

Jean-Philippe Patisserie
Located inside Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109

Hours: Sun - Thu 7AM - 11PM; Fri - Sat 7AM - 12AM
Phone: 702-693-7111

****

We're back in New York and hosted a brunch for ten this afternoon. Everything turned out great, although I learned a lesson about making buttermilk pancakes for ten: Never make buttermilk pancakes for ten! I should have started earlier and held them hot in the oven at 200F, but I tried to whip out a bunch as everyone was sitting down and I ended up switching to waffles, but the batter wasn't made for waffles and they were a bit tough. Oh well ... everything else was good. Matthew made a wonderful egg casserole with spinach, parmesan and gruyere and I made cranberry coffee cake from the recipe I recently acquired in Savannah. One of the guests even brought Ella a bone; she was so happy!

Milk and Cookies Bakery, New York (revisited)

My favorite neighborhood bakery, Milk and Cookies, was sold several months ago to new owners. I was a bit worried, seeing as I visit there several times a week, most often after spending 30 minutes on the elliptical at New York Sports Club. My fears regarding the new owner turned out to be justified, especially when I discovered that the size of the brownies and cookies had shrunk a bit and -- *GASP* -- the prices went from around a dollar a cookie to $1.65, and the brownies shot up to nearly 4 bucks!! Unbelievable. To make matters worse, they switched from a rather pleasant country-like feel to a sterile and garishly lit store that is brighter than most Blockbuster videos, which practically blinds me every time I step foot inside of one to check out the used movies for sale. The one upside is that Milk and Cookies has, as far as I can tell, retained the same delectable recipes as before, even though the cookies are smaller and cost over half as much as they used to.

Another sore point, and this one stung deeply, is that we used to be able to buy a five pound tub of whatever cookie dough we wanted from them. We would call up and order it from them 24 hours in advance and then we'd either eat most of the cookie dough over a disgustingly short period of time or we'd stick it in the freezer for future baking. It was great for parties, spontaneous gatherings, late night cravings ... we loved it. And best of all, the entire tub was only 20 bucks!! You couldn't beat that. But now, with the new owner making all sorts of odd changes, the 5 pound tub of cookie dough has gone extinct and has been replaced with a tiny tub of preformed cookie balls that costs more than the 5 pound tub. Horrible, horrible, I'm telling you!

Milk and Cookies was my favorite bakery, and it still could be ... but I worry about their long-term survival given the stark new look of the store, smaller cookies (!!) and drastically increased prices. I'm all for a price increase, but come on!

Milk and Cookies Bakery
19 Commerce Street
New York, NY 10014

Phone: 212-243-1640
Open: Everyday 11AM - 10PM

Fat Witch Brownies

Located in the Chelsea Market, Fat Witch makes the best brownie in town - no easy feat considering the competition. I buy one nearly every time I pass through, and I buy at least two on weekdays after 5pm, when all unwrapped brownies are half price. Try the Caramel and Walnut Witches and don't forget to grab a sample before you leave. They limit samples to one per customer, but I always manage to snatch at least three while the sometimes militant employees are distracted. Good luck...

Abraxas - Amsterdam

How appropriate that the photo of the brownie that fucked me up on Sunday is blurry. I was so entirely gone that Matthew ordered me to stay in the hotel room and not email or call anyone. Want a brownie like no other? Head down a narrow (and at night totally creepy) alleyway to ultra-spacy Amsterdam coffeeshop Abraxas and grab a prepackaged mind trip perfect for your hotel room or the plane ride home.

ABRAXAS
Jonge Roelensteeg 12- 14
1012 PL Amsterdam, Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 6255763

Pierre Herme

Pierre Herme makes the best pastries in the entire world...particularly the almond (pictured) and chocolate croissants. I eat one nearly every single day I'm here. Delicious!!!!

Milk and Cookies Bakery

Rare is the sweet I can pass up. As long as it isn’t black licorice or flavored with coffee of any kind, I’m game for having a bite, a slice, a piece … or depending on how good it is just give me the whole damn thing. I’ve been known to devour entire Oreo ice cream cakes one sliver at a time over the course of a single guilt-ridden afternoon. I’ll carefully remove the cake from my crowded freezer, unwrap it, cut a tiny little pathetic excuse of a piece for myself, wrap it back up, balance it back in the freezer, eat the piece quickly, walk around the house and pretend to water a plant or two and then head back into the kitchen to repeat said process over and over again until there is nothing left. I’m a dessert whore.

And so, when Milk and Cookies Bakery opened next to my gym a little over a year ago, I knew there’d be trouble. Since trying their perfectly chewy chocolate chip cookie and crunchy oatmeal scotchies, I haven’t been able to stop visiting there after almost every workout…and on occasion before and after every workout. I’m getting huge. It’s a problem…but I can’t stop. I don’t want to stop eating bite after bite of warm, chocolatey, crunchy, chewy, delectable goodness found in each and every cookie that pops out of their constantly baking ovens.

Don’t feel like leaving your house on a rainy, snowy, cloudy or just plain ol’ lazy day? No problem – Milk and Cookies will bake and deliver a dozen cookies of any kind in 30 minutes or less. Take a look at some of what they have on their menu and design your own dozen.

The staff can be a little on the grouchy side, particularly one chunky Asian chick that grumbles and growls each time a customer walks through the door. My partner and I have labeled her the Cookie Bitch, but one bite of her cookies (she seems to be particularly adept at baking the cookies to a near perfect combination of soft insides and crunchy edges) and you’ll forgive any lapse in good service and might even start tossing your loose coins into her tip jar. It will happen; they’re that good.

Not to miss cookies: Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Scotchies, Double Chocolate, Chocolate Mint

Excellent non-cookie items: There aren’t many – cookies are their thing and you’re best sticking to those, although they do make a delightfully fudgy and moist brownie that’s worth checking out.

Best deal in town: The FIVE POUND tub of cookie dough – any kind you’d like ordered a day in advance – for only $20! Makes about 70 cookies, provided you don’t eat the dough by the spoonfuls as I do, and is perfect for parties. Make sure to ask for baking instructions before leaving the store for your type of dough, as the time varies and for some reason they don’t include that anywhere on the container.

Milk and Cookies Bakery
19 Commerce Street
(between 7th Avenue and Bedford)
New York, NY 10014
MAP IT

Telephone: 212-243-1640
Email: info@milkandcookiesbakery.com
Website: www.MilkandCookiesBakery.com

Hours: Sun, Tue, Wed, Thur 12-10pm; Fri, Sat 12-11pm

Sprinkles Cupcakes

Oprah was right – these are the most amazing cupcakes in the world. She proclaimed them so on her show recently after Barbra Streisand sent her a box of them and the little bakery that makes these addictive, delectable gems hasn’t been the same since. While Babs didn’t send me any, after ten days in L.A. and 27 – yes, 27 (!!) cupcakes later, I can tell you all there is to know about these moist, delicious, sweet-but-not-too-sweet creations found at Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills. They open at 9am and, if possible, get there early (especially Friday – Sunday) because there will be a line. At times the line is 30 minutes long and filled with the most unusual assortment of eccentric old ladies with tiny dogs peeking out of their purses, impossibly thin starlets who don’t get to cut in line, lots of Oprah loving tourists and big Hollywood stars who DO get to cut to the front.

Bring your cameras.

Get there early.

Once inside the tiny store on Santa Monica Boulevard, you’ll be confronted with some choices – ten choices to be exact, as they only make a select number of flavors each day. There are five standard flavors that can be found seven days a week: black & white, dark chocolate, red velvet, vanilla and vanilla milk chocolate. To compliment those, there are an assortment of other flavors found only on select days throughout the week. Some, like milk chocolate and strawberry, appear two or three times a week, while flavors such as orange and ginger lemon are made only once a week, making them both rare and sought after – get there when they open if you expect to grab a chai latte cupcake before they’re sold out! Check out their baking SCHEDULE.

The staff is an exceptionally friendly, smiley and scrawny bunch of Beverly Hills girls who either have the fastest metabolisms known to mankind, never touch the cupcakes to their lips or spend their private moments purging. To be fair, I did see one fat girl pop out briefly from the swinging kitchen doors during one visit, carrying a huge tray of freshly iced pumpkin cupcakes and squinting as if seeing daylight for the first time in weeks. She was probably written up for making a public appearance shortly thereafter … welcome to skinny … I mean sunny California!

My favorite cupcake? Dark chocolate. Soft cake, creamy icing, rich chocolate taste, melt in your mouth de-li-cious…

Just remember: Get there early.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
9635 Little Santa Monica Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90210
MAP IT

Phone: 310-274-8765

Hours: Monday - Saturday 9am - 7pm & Sunday 10am - 6pm