The best biscotti in all of NYC (as sampled by me thus far) is tied between Court Pastry Shop (since 1948, Sicilian) and an Italian bakery in Astoria on 30th Ave. But we were here yesterday for Italian ice! Two dollars for a small. You can't beat it. Can you believe this is a small? Can you tell I'm pretty excited about this fact? They had my favorite flavor -- cremolata -- which is almond with real almonds in it. They call it custard, but it was cremolata alright. Just amazing!

Court Pastry Shop
298 Court Street
Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
718.875.4820

Did you know there was a Hot Chocolate Festival going on at City Bakery? I didn't either, until just now. I would be eager to try tomorrow's Earl Grey Hot Chocolate, and this "pull apart pastry" which looks an awful lot like Monkey Bread!!! Aren't you glad you read this? Me too!

And I thought there was a lull this month.

Here's what I would like to know. What are the various prices on a small (12 ounce) cappuccino in and around Midtown. Now that I would find useful. I think I will just have to compile a list myself. Excuse my while I do some research.

Okay, here is my list, starting with my favorites on down to ones I haven't tried yet. Note: all prices are before sales tax.

Macchiato Espresso Bar

141 E 44th Street (Lex & 3rd)
New York, NY
Midtown East

212.867.6772
small cappuccino $3.15

Pain Quotidien
Bryant Park
70 W 40th Street (btwn 5th & 6th Avenues)
New York
Midtown West
212.354.5224
small cappuccino $3.69

Pret a Manger
1410 Broadway @ 39th Street
New York
Garment District
646.572.0490
small cappuccino $2.79
BEST VALUE!

Macaron Cafe
161 W 36th Street (btwn Broadway & 7th Avenues)
New York
Garment District
646.573.5048
small cappuccino $3.75

Amish Market
240 E 45th St (2nd & 3rd Avenues)
New York
Midtown East
212.370.1761
small cappuccino $3.25

Joe The Art of Coffee
Graybar Passage
Midtown East
Grand Central Terminal
New York
212.661.8580
small cappuccino $4.00

'wichcraft
Bryant Park kiosk
11 west 40th street @ 6th avenue
New York
Garment District
small cappuccino $2.95*
Read about Coffee Happy Hour on Midtown Lunch!

Zest Cafe
1441 Broadway (40th & 41st Streets)
New York
Garment District/Times Square
646.572.0490
small cappuccino $3.00*

Europa Cafe
1412 Broadway (39th & 40th Streets)
New York
Garment District
212.398.9822
small cappuccino $3.25*



*Haven't tried these yet.
**FYI, a small cappuccino at Starbucks is $3.20





This post is featured on Midtown Lunch for December 12, 2008

In the beginning, there was whole milk. But now, at Tafu, a Japanese tea cafe on 51st and Lex, there are options. Much to my delight, you can get your Matcha Iced Latte custom made-to-order. My preferred mix: matcha with skim milk and a much reduced amount of sugar to preserve that extra-chalky matcha deliciousness.



Tafu
Double Tree Metropolitan Hotel
569 Lexington Ave (entrance on 51st St)
New York
212.980.1310

The Bluedog on W25th St and 6th Ave, packed as usual at lunchtime.


Come at an off-hour to grab one of the 5 or so tables: try 11am or 3pm.
You won't want to sit during the lunch rush, because the line
fills every nook and cranny of the small space. There is also
a lot of yelling from the staff to "shut the door, the AC is on!"
Yes, an off-hour is best to enjoy Bluedog.


The Bluedog takes the Hostess Cupcake in a gourmet direction.
The pricetag: $3.50 per cupcake.

The Bluedog Coffeebar & Bakery on W25th Street is a small catering company with a tasty revolving menu. The ingredients are always fresh and healthy, with plenty of vegetarian options. Last week I tried a small salad of miniature baked falafels, couscous, chick peas, and cucumbers (small: $5.95, large: $7.95, served with mesclun, garlic toast, olives, and feta). Delicious! This week I tried the tortellini salad with veggies and a mint dressing. Also delicious, but this time I got an unfortunately small portion. I can personally vouch for the iced coffee, which is always consistent. It is a super-caffeinated and full-bodied Iced Americano. The price for a small: $2.50. I would say that it is my favorite Iced Americano in the city. The staff gets a little cranky, but (mainly) when it's crowded. My advice, go on an off-hour.


Bluedog Coffeebar & Bakery
101 W25th Street (at 6th Avenue)
New York
212.229.9222
no Website

The sandwiches are all pre-made.
For a long time, I thought the numbers were the prices
and had sticker shock over the $16 sandwich.
But no, the numbers coordinate with the menu. See below.

The Menu! Click image to enlarge.


Insanely plump cupcakes for $3.50 a piece.
They certainly do not stint on the icing either.
Pictured above, the Reese's Pieces Cupcake with peanut butter icing.


Oreo Cookie Cupcake


Red Velvet Chocolate Ganache Cupcake

The Sugar Cafe is a long narrow sunlit space on Allen Street. Excuse the
faraway shot, but I was already subway-bound when I noticed it.

I always like the looks of this place and never remember quite where it is. Note to self:

• Take the F/V to 2nd Avenue
• Exit at 1st Avenue & Houston Street
• Cross Allen Street
• Try an iced cappuccino and a sugary treat

Meet me for coffee! The place is open 24/7, so we can go anytime.


Sugar Cafe
200 Allen Street (at Houston Street)
Lower East Side
New York
212.260.1122

Macchiato on 44th

There are certain things that make me so happy on a hot day. Like a delicious iced coffee. A nice rich tasting one, with skim milk. I decided to visit my favorite cappuccino place today, Macchiato Espresso Bar near Grand Central, and sample their iced brew. I am pleased to say that they never dissappoint! In my opinion, they make the best cappuccino* in the city, and one of my top 2 favorite** iced coffees. You must make this place your everyday haunt. The decor is delightful.

Macchiato Espresso Bar

141 E 44th Street (Lex & 3rd)
New York, NY

212.867.6772

*Wait until you see the pattern the barista makes in the foam. It is a work of art. Like a good Guinness. Hmm. I've made that coffee/Guinness comparison before.

**My other favorite is a small Belgian-inspired chain in the City called L'Abeille. Their small iced is only $1.35. I still find that hard to believe.

I rediscovered this delightful outdoor spot just south of Gramercy Park the other day. Meet me for coffee! We could sit outside at that cute little table by the window. Or inside if it's raining. Inside is very spacious and charming with a fireplace and plenty of tables. I can't even believe this place exists. 71 Irving Place Coffee & Tea Bar has every hot or cold coffee beverage you could want, plus light food options, sandwiches, panini, and of course, tempting desserts. I would like an iced cappuccino and that outside table. See you there.


71 Irving Place Coffee & Tea Bar
71 Irving Place (between 18th & 19th Streets)
212.995.5252

The Frappe is almost like a good Guinness.
2/3 foam when it arrives at your table.
And look at the beautiful cascade.

There is a mysteriously good coffee drink served up in every cafe in Astoria. One sip and you will say goodbye to Starbuck's forever and start embracing local color again (which you should do anyway, sip or no sip, in my humble opinion...) The drink is called a frappe (pron. frappay). Take the N or W to Queens and get off at Broadway or 30th Avenue where the Greek cafes are most plentiful. Just walk the neighborhood a little and you will see many people enjoying these drinks.

Order your frappe with milk or without, with sugar or without. The coffee beverage is made with a special kind of Nescafe instant coffee which you can buy at Titan Foods or Mediterranean Foods, should you want to continue the coffee fun at home. The ingredients (instant coffee, water, milk optional, ice, sugar optional) are mixed together in a milkshake machine or a blender. My husband and I started drinking these last summer, became obsessed, and then started making them at home with a martini shaker. They are quite caffeinated and as it turns out, much more enjoyable when someone else makes them. This year I think I will save my coffee treat for the cafes, and enjoy a leisurely chat n' sip outdoors with my hubby.

You can buy a can of Nescafe Classic at nearby Titan Foods
and make Frappes at home.

Or just leave it to the experts.

Meet me for coffee (I say that a lot), this time in the neighborhood! Champion Coffee in Greenpoint, which opened this past May, has a lovely outdoor patio in the back, complete with lots of greenery. Greenery! In Brooklyn!! (A little starved for some trees of late, I am.) The patio is a hidden gem.

We just found this lovely spot last weekend, and sampled the menu. I can strongly recommend the Iced Americano (I had mine with soy milk) and the madeleine. At $2 and 55 cents, respectively, the prices are quite nice. Both were delicious, made more so by the lovely surroundings. For winter, try the cozy tables in back and a cappucino. There is no name on the place; so look for the funny sandwich board out front. Okay, now I want to go get an Iced Americano. See you there!


Champion Coffee
1108 Manhattan Avenue (between Clay & Dupont)
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
718.383.5195
open 7-7, 7 days, that's nice



Hidden Gems is a new featured regular column for the blog. gee
To see more findings, click here.

At last, I have discovered a coffee meeting place that can be uniquely mine. When I say, "Meet me for coffee!" I now have a place that will intrigue and delight my coffee-co-conspirators. Koryodang in Koreatown (32nd St between 5th and Broadway right near Macy's Herald Square) is a hidden gem, that is if there are hidden gems in NYC, which, again, there aren't. Why do I like it? The atmosphere! The menu! They have bubble tea and cappuccino, great chairs, rocks on the floor, pretty white globe lamps and plants in the entryway, Korean pastries filled with interesting bean pastes, and that hustle-bustle atmosphere I love. It is my new signature coffee meeting place. Koryodang. Think of me when you go there. I invented it.

Koryodang, 31 W32nd St, 212.967.9661
pictured at right: chestnut buns