A Cake Bakes in Brooklyn: An Outer-Borough Version of Basbousa for Serious Eats

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When I was in college, I waited tables at a Middle Eastern restaurant on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. While the restaurant specialized in homemade falafel and pita bread pizzas, our secret weapon was really a simple semolina cake called basbousa.

Basbousa was basically our quick fix for any situation. Complaining customers received it as a pacifier. Friendly guests received it as a reward. Homeless people who were denied the use of our bathroom received a slice as consolation.

The cake's virtue is its simplicity: it's sort of like cornbread, only made with semolina. What really makes it shine, though, is that it's topped while still hot with a sweet glaze which oozes into every little nook and cranny of the porous cake. Finished off with a sprinkling of almonds on top, it makes the perfect complement to a strong Turkish coffee. For a recipe that tastes very similar to the Brooklyn version I remember, visit Serious Eats!

For the full post and recipe, visit Serious Eats!

Pastry Road Trip: A Bakery Twilight Zone Moment at Sweet Pea Bakery, Bozeman MT

A week or so ago, somewhere in the Midwest, I think I entered a bakery twilight zone. Let me tell you my story.

On my recent pastry road trip to Chicago, I had a route which included stopping in Bozeman, Montana on my way out, and Butte on my way back home. However, as fate would have it, I got behind schedule and ended up driving through Bozeman after business hours. Oh well, I figured--I'll visit bakeries in Bozeman another time.

The week went by and I had many delicious pastries along the way to and from Chicago.

On the day that I would be passing back through Montana, though, something unusual happened. I had fallen asleep with the TV on in the hotel room, and when I awoke in the morning, what should be on but a Food Network feature on the Sweet Pea Bakery in Bozeman and their amazing key lime torte.

I figured this was as close as I would ever get to receiving a sign from the heavens that I must visit this bakery. Forget Butte--I was going to Bozeman.

And so I did. And when I arrived, the staff was super friendly...and they knew who I was (I think this is how you know you're a big deal). I was able to talk cake with owners Carrie and Seth (who I had just seen on--gasp--TV!), and all I can say is that they are basically my new heroes. It's easy to see why they have been voted Bozeman's best bakery, like, every year since the earth began--just look at what's in their bakery case:

A gorgeous and decadent-looking chocolate torte;

A pretty-as-a-picture cheesecake;

a fruit tart that would make Carmen Miranda jealous;

and, of course, their famous Key Lime Torte.

How do pastries get so pretty? Well, owner Carrie studied graphic design in college, and it definitely comes through in the aesthetic of the impeccably decorated sweets.

Since I felt that it would travel well, I took one of their peanut butter and jelly bars (pictured top) with me--and it was definitely a good decision. The buttery, cookielike crust was perfectly complemented by a sweet and slightly tart jam, and the crumb topping added a lovely crunch and density. And though I know it might be sacrilege to mention savories here, I did get to sample their spanokopita too--and it was delightfully flaky and flavorful, and a perfect treat for the road.

So what would I call this experience? Bakery kismet, at its most delicious.

Drive to Bozeman and visit Sweet Pea Bakery now--they can be found at 2622 W. Main Street, Bozeman (406)586-8200; online at sweetpeabakery.net. If you can't visit, well then, at least keep updated via Twitter!

Pastry Road Trip: Peanut Butter Cookie from On The Rise, Bozeman MT

Sometimes you just need a cookie. And if you happen to be passing through Bozeman, Montana, On the Rise has got your back.

I knew from the moment I walked in to this place that it was a very special establishment indeed. Behind the small counter area there was a huge kitchen facility in which employees were creating breads and pastries--the whole placed smelled of flour, sugar, and butter. Wonderful.


But what to choose from their menu of generously sized, carb-heavy sweets? Perhaps the "totally oat" bar (a dense bar cookie with an oaty crumb topping)? Or the cardamom roll? Or the decadent cream cheese brownie?

In the end, simplicity reigned, and I selected the peanut butter cookie, which had a tempting cross-hatch pattern atop, and looked baked to perfection--not too toasty, but with a slightly crisp edge.

I loved this cookie. I felt like this was a breadmaker's approach to a peanut butter cookie-- leaned toward a more carb-y, floury sort of cookie, but it was nonetheless chewy without being too greasy or buttery, and the peanut butter taste was rich without being overpowering. Alone it might tend toward being a bit dry, but paired with a milky cafe au lait, it is perfection. This one is a true carb-lover's cookie.

On The Rise, 1007 W. Main St., Bozeman MT; online here.

Pastry Road Trip: Wisconsin-Style Black and White Cookies at Ella's Deli, Madison WI

When I recently passed through Madison, Wisconsin, I hadn't intended on stopping by Ella's Deli. Full disclosure? I didn't even know it existed.

But the moment I drove by and witnessed its awesomeness firsthand--there's a carousel outside, for crying out loud--wild horses couldn't have kept me away.

Advertised as Madison's "finest and first deli", this eatery serves up sandwiches and diner-style fare, but I zeroed right in on the bakery case. Their dessert menu is ice cream-heavy, with all sorts of delectable shakes, sundaes--including grilled pound cake sundaes. But something decidedly more modest intrigued me: the black and white cookie in their bakery case.

Now, this cookie may look like the New York-area style cookie, but it is actually quite different. Where the kind I grew up with in New Jersey were soft, cakey drop cookies with a fondant-type icing, Ella's version appears to be a rolled butter cookie, very dense and topped with a light vanilla and chocolate icing. But I am not stating this difference as a complaint: while it may not be the same type of black and white cookie as the ones in the NY metro area, it is certainly a delicious version. The cookie was crunchy on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside, and with the sweetness of the frosting on top, a completely decadent treat. After devouring it, I found that I didn't have an appetite for "real" lunch--and I didn't care.

Ella's Deli was a serendipitous find indeed, leading me not only to sing the praises of Madison, but also to lead to perhaps the most perplexing question of all: why don't more eateries have carousels outside? Surely we could all use a side of magic with our meal more often.

Ella's Deli, 2902 East Washington Ave., Madison, WI (608) 241-5291; online at ellasdeli.com.

Baker's Dozen: A Batch of Sweet Links!

From top left, clockwise: cookie dough pops by Handmade Cookie Co.; CakeSpy/Penguinbot tote; Bake and Destroy cupcake; button by Stevie Lynn jewelry.

Cookie dough pops: the most beautiful three words ever?

In Miami, there's a new (vegan) cupcake in town: Bunnie Cakes makes custom order vegan and gluten-free cupcakes to order in a great variety of flavors.

Oh. My. God. Penguinbot and CakeSpy collaborate, resulting in the sweetest tote and wrist bags ever! You can buy them at the newly revamped cakespyshop.com!

Special Delivery: San Francisco's Bike Basket Pies delivers their freshly baked wares via bicycle!

Bake & Destroy's Elvis Cupcakes: I've tasted them. Jealous? You should be. But don't be too sad, because there is a recipe.

Plastic fantastics: do you love these hand-cut acrylic cupcake buttons by Stevie Lynn Jewelry as much as I do?

Sweet Potato Spice Cake Doughnuts. Need I say more?

In Detroit, retro desserts reign, according to the Detroit News.

Oatmeal S'more Cookies? Yes, yes, yes.

Cheesecakes, delivered to your door.

Pink Cake Box is making cakes for a cause--if you're in the NJ area, enter their raffle to win one!

Amy Atlas outdoes herself with this gorgeous faux bois dessert table.

Have you seen CakeSpy buddy Bakerella's new site design? It's gorgeous!