Pastry Porn: You Know You Want It

This post may just be an excuse for what polite society calls “food porn” - or “pastry porn” to be more exact.

Why? Because we are officially in peak pastry. The foodie powers have declared it so, and you know the trend has hit maximum saturation when the New York Times T Magazine runs a cover story about it. That is the sure sign the decline is imminent, so grab the pastries while the grabbing is good.

First up: Mel the Bakery in Hudson. These are the kind of baked goods that make you momentarily believe in past lives, destiny, and butter as a love language. If these three photos look heavenly, trust me, these pastries are even more dangerous in person.

Back in NYC, the pastry map is crowded. I still have not dragged myself to Radio Bakery (though I have gratefully accepted offerings from friends who have achieved that pilgrimage). Bien Cuit bakes up divine sweets. Tall Poppy is doing brilliantly as well. And Aux Merveilleux de Fred continues to hold the title for best croissant in the city. Do not argue, just go.

Then there is Burrow, reached through the entranceway of an old office building on Jay Street in Dumbo. It is truly a hidden gem: French-meets-Japanese baking wizardry, operating with the baffling weekday only hours of a pastry speakeasy. If you manage to get in before they close (somewhere between 2 and 3pm, give or take planetary alignment) you will be rewarded.

So yes, travel to Mel. Get to Burrow. Get to Fred. Get to them all. Heck, I still need to get to Elbow, Lysée, and Thea. I have work to do! This era of peak pastry will not last forever, and soon we will be crowning the next obsession.

Peak popsicle?

Peak chocolate bar?

Peak pink peppermint?

Who knows? All I know is this is New York, so we are always peaking at something.