Bronx Tale: A Day of Sweetness in Morris Park
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 
For many, Arthur Avenue is the Italian mecca in the Bronx-
-affectionately known as the other (some say "true") Little Italy. However, as we recently discovered, it's not the only spot north of Manhattan for sweet Italian goodness. Enter Morris Park, " a roughly rectangular swath of the east Bronx...bordered on the south by Sacket Avenue, on the east by Eastchester Road, on the north by Neill Avenue and on the west by White Plains Road." Now, we'd heard that Morris Park was a good neighborhood for Italian bakeries, but once we saw that even the parking meters were decked out in the colors of the Italian flag (left), we knew it was true. Here's what we enjoyed in Morris Park, the other other Little Italy:
Conti's Pastry: Conti's Pastry shop has been churning out sweetness since 1921, and clearly they're doing something right. The smell upon entering this shop was incredible, and the rows of baked goods in the cases were beautifully arranged and appealing. Keeping it simple we opted for the (huge!) marble pound cake. The buttery cake, threaded with bittersweet chocolate, was a dreamy, light and decadent bite all at once. 786 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx; 718-239-9339. Online at contispastryshoppe.com.
Enrico's: Not far from Conti's, Enrico's Pastry Shop is perhaps a misnomer--while they do have a pastry case, the other items--breads, italian ices, take up a lot more space here. For some reason, the cookies weren't singing to us here--but the filled doughnuts, freshly frosted, were quite good, with no scrimping on the cream filling. 1057 Morris Park Ave., Bronx; (718) 823-7207.
Morrone Bakery: (Cakespy Note: Not to be confused with the late, much-loved Morrone Bakery of East Harlem--though it may be the same family?). They get points off for service (the employee seemed far more interested in text messaging than in talking about the origin of Italian tricolor cookies with us), but really, the attractively displayed and well-lit array of baked goods spoke for themselves. We settled on a cakey tricolor cookie and a few butter cookies. The butter cookies were nicely crumbly; the tricolor cake-cookie held its own--and was certainly a good-looking confection--but wasn't quite as good as the gussied-up version we picked up later the same day at How Sweet It Is in Manhattan. 1946 Williamsbridge Road; Bronx, NY 10461 (718) 828-8111; another location on Arthur Avenue.
How to get to Morris Park? We took the 5 train to the Morris Park stop. Check out more about the neighborhood here!
Reader Comments (35)
I am SO glad you posted this! My Italian uncle who passed away a few years ago grew up in this neighborhood. This sort of brings me just a little closer to him. :*) Maybe he got rainbow cookies here! Gosh those cannolis look soooooo good!
Oh yum. may I please come travel with you on one of your journeys. I will have to stave off sugar for a month ahead of time! You are so talented and such a flair for taste. I have to visit your blog AFTER lunch. Cheers
Lyns
Again Yum, Got your gorgeous stuff today! Don't know where else to thank you <3
Lyns
Not that I was getting much done to begin with, but the anginetti cookie has completely stopped me in my tracks.
Everything looks soooo yummy! Um, like, is Cakespy hiring new gumshoes any time soon--??
I always make the same mistake and check out your blog right before dinner...it completely ruins my appetite for "real" food...and I'm only focused on dessert :)
So many pastries, so little time!
Hi Jesse,
Are you reading my itinerary? I'm heading to the city for the weekend, if it doesn't rain. I hope/pray some of these delectable discoveries are open on Sundays. Sunday! of course they are silly me:) I'm going on a cookie madness cookie tour on Saturday around Times Square and now I know what culinary tour to take on Sunday. Thanks for doing the "footwork" I really appreciate it.
My daughter brought home those wonderful Rainbow Cookies last year and I created a Rainbow Cupcake based on the cookie...to say the least - they are meraviglioso!
My daughter brought home those wonderful Rainbow Cookies last year and I created a Rainbow Cupcake based on the cookie...to say the least - they are meraviglioso!
those cannoli looks DELICIOUS! i cant find any good cannoli in orange county. i had some really delicious ones in Boston a million years ago and I've been craving them since!
Kristin: Were they from Mike's Pastry?
OMG, Cakespy! I'm totally verklempt! I grew up on that little stretch of Morris Park Ave, and my mother was born there too! I am very familiar with all of the bakeries you highlighted. We always got our Sunday pastries from Conti's and I used to get Italian ices from Enrico's every day in the summer. I went to school with Enrico's son (also named Enrico).
What wonderful memories you've brought back to me! Thank you!
I wish we had that bakery here. Of course I would weigh 600 pounds, but it would be worth it. Beautiful pastries.
Ohhhhhh *makes big eyes*
I'm stuck on the marble cake. I want, I really want!
I want to take a bite on the cannolli. Ok, I want to take a bite on everything. Ok, not a bite, I'll eat the whole thing. I'm sad I know... The parkmeters are hillarious!
What a bakery!!
Well, I haven't had breakfast yet, and this is sending me over the edge. I went to Fordham University in the Bronx, so we would make regular trips to Arthur Avenue for pastry, etc. I've never been to Morris Park - this sounds like a great Saturday excursion!
Mmmmm. Good stuff.
Hey, I'm headed up to Seattle TODAY! yay! Can't wait to do Pike's and poke around some other places. Will look for some of your featured bakeries and will have my eye out for some Cakespy art :)
Fascinating post and delish photos!
Looks like I know where I am heading on my next day off...
wow everything looks so good. Good thing I don t live nearby :-)
Oh man this makes me miss New York.
Thank you for such a great post! I almost never venture into the other boroughs, which I know is a shame. But I think a little weekend excursion up to the Bronx is now in order. Thanks for the motivation!
Great great post Jessie. I feel like I've been there now...virtually!! Mouth-watering & delicious bakes...