Billy's Bakery

The other day my friend James took me to Billy's Bakery after we visited some galleries in Chelsea. Damn James! Now I will never be able to resist a giant slice of cake in the middle of the day next time I'm down there (which is often for an art history major).

The bakery is a slice of small town charm transported to the middle of New York. It feels like you've stepped into another world--a great world that smells like butter and frosting and cake batter! It's got a charming vintage feel, with floral wall paper and old signs hung on the yellow brick walls.

I ordered a slice of carrot cake before I noticed there was a cupcake version...whoops. It was a huge slice!

But so delicious. The cake was really moist and the frosting not overly sweet or cream cheese-y. They also sell these small bottles of local Ronnybrook milk in whole, skim, or chocolate. And it comes with a good deal: a slice + a bottle of milk for $6. The same goes for the cupcakes for $4.

James got a vanilla cupcake with buttermilk frosting. It was beautiful!

I like these cupcakes much better than Magnolia's (gasp!). Theirs are just way too sweet and buttery, and I can barely even finish a single one. Billy's cupcakes balance the sweetness well, with just the right amount of comfort but not to the point where you're regretting indulging after you take the first bite.

Next time I want to order a cake or some sweets for a birthday or another occaision, I'm definitely going to order from Billy's.

Billy's Bakery
184 Ninth Avenue (Chelsea)
&
75 Franklin Street (Tribeca)


Nosher

Providence Chocolates

Right before I came back to school my parents celebrated their 29th Wedding anniversary at Michael Cimarusti's two-star Michelin restaurant Providence. I've never been but my parents have and they rave about it--just a fantastic dining experience every time. They brought home a box of chocolates that were too beautiful not to share. My sister and I devoured them too fast for how pretty they were, but I managed to snap a few pictures first.

Even the box was beautiful:

And the 12 mini works of art:
The flavors were very unconventional and exciting. Some of my favorite chocolates are those with tea-infused ganache--flavors like jasmine, earl gray and darjeeling work so well with dark chocolate--but these pushed the boundaries a little bit more. My favorites were the chocolates that incorporated spices (we know this works from Mexican staples like molé), like the Dark Chocolate Baharat with cinnamon, pepper and chilies (bottom right corner) or the Milk Chocolate Coffee Urfa with Turkish urfa chili (bottom left corner). Some of the fruitier chocolates were interesting as well, even though they're not usually my preference--there was a Kalamansi (tropical lime) Mint White Chocolate (top row, second from left), and an Apricot Saffron White Chocolate (top left corner), both great combos.

I have to apologize for this post being merely mouthwatering eye-candy without any immediate satisfaction of being able to order it/going there to eat (Michelin star = $$$), but keep a look out for similar flavor combos next time you're fiending for chocolate.

NOSHER

Indulgences

Okay, I know this really fancy shmancy, especially for dorm life, but I can't get enough of truffle butter. It's not my fault! Blame my mom! But really, it's the best.

Today I cooked my eggs with truffle butter. I should probably be using it for more elaborate meals, but I went to Whole Foods yesterday and am still in that over-excited, fridge stuffed with lots of new goodies phase. I couldn't resist.


I bought small container yesterday manufactured by Wild Forest Farms and I like it a lot. They use white truffles and it cost $7, which for truffles seems like a bargain. It is certainly way cheaper than buying whole truffles, and when every bite is infused with truffle flavor, it doesn't seem to matter anyways. It's just so good. Wild Forest also sells a lot of other truffle based products on their website (linked above). Another kind that I have used in the past and is also widely available is D'Artagnan Black Truffle Butter, which also costs $7. If you use your butter wisely and sparingly, you can get a lot of use out of it and it will last quite a while--just dont forget to really indulge once and a while and spread it on your toast.

Nosher

Everything is Better with Salt

...especially chocolate.

The other day my dad went to Cheebo on Sunset for lunch, and saw a tiny sign for a chocolatier next door, with no window. Like any good dad with a chocolate-loving wife and daughter, he inquired and saw that it was open. I will update this post again once I have actually gone to the store, but this chocolate was too good to wait. Apparently the chocolate is manufactured on site. My dad walked right into the factory and watched as the chocolate was being made. There was a small display case, and after my dad tried one, he took some home to their hungry owners.

John Kelly Chocolates:All of the chocolates were good, but I was compelled to write about them because of the chocolates with salt on top. Every winter my mom sends me an entire box of peppermint bark and it lasts about two weeks between my roommate and I. Recently she switched from Williams Sonoma peppermint bark to Enstrom's (which also has amazing toffee by the way), and I find that it's a bit better because it has those perfect little kernels of sea salt dispersed amongst the peppermint chips on top. Well John Kelly seems to know this secret too, because a few of his chocolates had sea salt artfully sprinkled on top of the chocolate. All of these chocolates are truffle chocolates. My favorite one was the truffle chocolate with caramel and Hawaiian sea salt: Ever wonder why chocolate with nuts is so successful? its because of the salt! duh! So this is the gourmet version of the snickers flavor palette...but still far from it. The sea salt adds this bite that magically enhances the taste of the truffle. It's like all of your taste buds are being satisfied at once. Seriously--go to this place if you like chocolate at all. Still searching for some salty chocolates in New York...


Nosher