Eating New York - Cronuts at Dominique Ansel Bakery

As I mentioned here I was in New York for two weeks, I'm back on the Jozi Cool as of  this past Sunday. Of course after the craze and my craving (see here), I couldn't be in New York and stop in at Dominique's for the real deal, he patented the name CRONUT and for a quick pose of course!

Dominique and I

After a full week and a half in New York, promising to be in SoHo (South of Houston said HOUSE TON) by 6 am, finally Thithi (of teeteeiswithme) and I made it to SoHo. An hour and a half waiting on line, we finally made it to the counter to order.  I ordered my allocated two per customer cronuts along with ten made to order madeleines and the magic souffle. Welcome to pastry heaven and sugar rush central, oh yeah we ordered coffee to go with it all too.

Madeleines and the magic souffle

This month (September 2013) is the Fig Mascarpone Cronut month. The Cronut is layers of laminated dough (almost flaky croissant like pastry) proofed, shaped, fried and rolled in sugar like a donut with a sublime filling. I'm am using the word sublime objectively. The fig mascarpone filling is a texture combination of a cream, meets a creme anglaise that holds ever so well in the cronut.

The September mascarpone with a fig preserve swirl filling, is light, creamy & perfectly sweet. At first bite you get the slightly crisp exterior, a glazed sugary lip then the layers of flaky pastry and finally a creamy balanced not overly sweet mascarpone cream and a fig preserve kick. It's truly to adults what a finger in a jam donut is to kids.

Merci  beaucoup Dominique!

What is the magic souffle you ask? I'm dedicating a whole post to Dominique's latest, watch this space.

Photography by Thithi Nteta of teeteeiswithme

Today's Craving - I want a Cronut!

I follow Dominique Ansel on Instagram and twitter, he also happens to be the owner of my favourite bakery Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo New York. It will remain on my NY must eats list (see NY Must Eats list here) and of course I love his made to order madeleines, see my post on heaven in Dominique Ansel here. About a month ago Dominique started Instagramming the Cronut which peaked my interest. I thought I'd share a few pictures of Dominique's Cronuts, to share in the craving.

The Cronut must be the perfect breakfast pastry decadent and sinful treat paired with a cuppa or so I imagine. What is a Cronut? It's half Croissant and half Donut. Layers of flaky croissant pastry deep fried ala doughnut and filled with a "custard" cream topped with a glaze. It reminds me of my favourite doughnut, the boston creme only better. I'll call it the Boston Creme's sexy second cousin.

Rose Vanilla Cronut

Undressed Cronut

Lemon Maple Cronut cross section

@Tastyones (Woolworths' Taste Magazine twitter handle) tweeted that Jason Bakery in Cape Town has made a couple of Cronuts this morning. Can a Jozi bakery get on it though?! or I may need to get Cronuts flown in from Jason Bakery, can you spell O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D

This pastry even has a movement cronut.org Home of the Cronutophiles, I kid you not. All I'm saying is give me a cronut so I know it's real!

Heaven in Dominique Ansel Bakery

There's this little bakery in Soho that offers little pieces of heaven. Dominique Ansel Bakery is sweet goodness in a store even for those who are gluten intolerant, the have pavlovas and flourless chocolate cake.

Madeleines are made to order, warm with a hint of lemon and sprinkling of powdered sugar.

The salted caramel eclair is perfect with a sprinkling of salt

 

I juist had to take something away for later, more madeleines and a box of macaroons. Earl Grey, Raspberry Balsamic, Pistachio, Vanilla and Chocolate mocha macaroons.

 

I always take a piece of heaven to go!

Dominique Ansel Bakery

189 Spring street, Soho, NY