Crumbs and Buns
A peek at some cookies and two Baked bakeries
One of the rituals that developed on my team at work was bringing in baked goods - for birthdays, work anniversaries, or because you just felt good. When we all started working from home, this became something I missed and kicked off a habit of looking to see what places were still open and treating myself once or twice a week to something tasty. I started posting things on Instagram (@clinejj), one thing led to another, and now I’m sending you emails. The internet is a marvelous place.
So! With that, I’d like to introduce you all to some of my favorite cookies this week (one of which you can order no matter your location), in addition to the weekly cinnamon roll tasting. Enjoy!
Red Gate Bakery
Red Gate Bakery opened in the East Village back in December, and I’ve been in love since my first visit. They have cakes, cookies, brownies, and breads (like banana or carrot), but the cookies are my favorite. Soft, chewy, and big, with a lovely variety of flavors to choose from.
From top left going clockwise (their descriptions, not mine):
Kitchen Sinker: an everything-kind-of cookie loaded with oats, coconut, chocolate, & potato chips
PB miso: perfectly sweet & savory, soft on the inside with crunchy demerara sugar on the outside
Cannibal: these tender, deeply caramelized cookies are studded with actual Oreos themselves
Choco-toffee: a little toffee added along with shards of bittersweet chocolate into this cookie
My favorites are definitely the cannibal and kitchen sinker.
Telegraphe Cafe
An old standby from my first job after I moved to NYC, Telegraphe was in the same building as our office (albeit outside and around the corner). I went frequently because they had a great half-sandwich/half-salad lunch combo, delicious chai lattes, one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve had (prosciutto/egg/cheese on a croissant), and cute little chocolate chip cookies. These cookies are a bit crunchy, a bit chewy, and oh-so-delicious when the staff warms them up.
Internet Cookies
Not the kind the EU has outlawed giving without consent, this is an honest-to-god cookie subscription over the internet. Every month, $20 is taken out of my Paypal and at some unknown date I receive 6-8 cookies of a new flavor and variety sent via USPS (as if you needed another reason to support them). Gaia Valdemarsdottir uses very unique ingredients, and sometimes I like them and sometimes I don’t. Either way, it’s always a surprise and an adventure. This month featured Anson Mills whole wheat, caraway, Tony’s Chocolonely 70% chocolate, toasted sesame sourdough baguette pieces and benne seeds. If you’re looking for some variety, definitely click that link and get you some cookies.
Back to the Bun Stuff
This week featured a visit to South Slope and Red Hook to visit Baked in Brooklyn, and Baked (which is also in Brooklyn). Don’t get them confused. I was also going to go to Ikea for the official tasting, but the line was too long so another time.
Baked in Brooklyn
If you live in NYC, you probably know this brand more for their pita chips available at every bodega, but Baked in Brooklyn also has an actual storefront bakery in South Slope across from Greenwood Cemetery. The cinnamon roll on the left was…not the greatest. Good dough, but not a lot of filling. The blueberry pop tart, however, did have an appropriate amount of filling but was just ok. Both were very large.
Baked
Baked, in Brooklyn, is a very cute stop in Red Hook that is apparently known for their cupcakes (I was not aware). They also have “NYC’s Best” cinnamon bun, but I can assure you it is false advertising. Their bun has some solid potential, with a decent dough and nice frosting, but the cinnamon filling has a very off-putting flavor. Also, it’s almost black and that makes me somewhat concerned. The pesto and prosciutto croissant, however, is 💯
That’s it!
Thanks for tuning into the second edition. Let me know what you think, I’m happy to give the people what they want. If you tried to send me anything after last week’s, I had an email issue and didn’t receive it so please try again. Also please share if you know someone who might like this, bun stuff is always more fun with friends. Stay tasty!