Cakewalk in Penn Station, NYC

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8554049149798699784.post-77699608508690037602008-02-07T09:53:00.000-08:002008-02-07T20:02:07.007-08:00Cakewalk in Penn Station, NYC<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 26, 139); "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/2249047252_719cba55b1.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Au Bon Pain, Penn Station" /></span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">New York City's</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> Pennsylvania Station</span> is lovingly referred to as "the home of the dashing commuter", and anyone who's had the pleasure of visiting during rush hour will know this to be a very apt description. It's certainly not for the feint of heart--slow down here and you're likely to get knocked over by suit-and-sneaker clad commuters barreling on by to the 5:23 to Ronkonkoma. Luckily, we know exactly what will give you the strength to deal with the jostling crowds--sweet, sugary pastries. While you won't find Payard here, there are a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">lot</span> of ways to obtain a good old-fashioned (and at moments, a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">little</span> bit trashy) sugar jolt at Penn Station; here are our favorite ways to do so:<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Cakespy Note:</span> Pennsylvania Station (and thus, all of the below purveyors of sweets listed below) is located on 34th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues in Manhattan; there are two main levels, the "Upper" level housing New Jersey Transit, and the Lower Level housing the Long Island Railroad. Locations are noted in the below Cakewalk as being on the Upper or Lower level.</span><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2076/2249043356_66d01dbab2_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2076/2249043356_66d01dbab2_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Au Bon Pain: </span>Yes, they are a chain, with locations around the country, but we have never been disappointed by their crunchy shortbread cookies or crumb cake, which has just the right degree of buttery saltiness to satisfy the palate. Just don't look at the nutrition information which they insist on posting visibly in the cafe--you don't need to do that to yourself. Just enjoy your sweets. On our most recent visit, the Creme de Fleur pastries (title photo) were divine. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lower level, LIRR; online at <a href="http://www.aubonpain.com/" target="_blank">aubonpain.com</a>.</span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Auntie Anne's Pretzels:</span> There's a sign by this little pretzel kiosk that says "Snack like you mean it" and this isn't hard when you have cinnamon-sugar dusted pretzels or pretzel bites to keep you company on your long (or short, we're not particular) train ride. Also, we can't help but feel a nostalgia when we go here--it reminds us of being sixteen and getting pretzels and lemonade at the mall in New Jersey. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Upper Level, NJ Transit; online at <a href="http://www.auntieannes.com/" target="_blank">auntieannes.com</a>.</span><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/2249073608_1aa41e93aa_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/2249073608_1aa41e93aa_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Don Pepi Deli: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">Although we think their pizza across the hall is better than their deli sandwiches, they do have</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="">y</span>ogurt muffins and cookies that will make your commute a whole lot happier at this location. What we like about the yogurt muffins is that they seem to maintain a nice moisture and freshness, while not being as heavy as some of their counterparts; the cookies are of that big, crunchy deli variety that never fail to bring us a smile. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Upper Level, NJ Transit.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2079/2249059400_5a30e8b02b_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2079/2249059400_5a30e8b02b_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Dunkin' Donuts:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> Clearly the commuters need caffeine to keep on dashing, </span>and Dunkin Donuts is available for that need--there are several locations and kiosks throughout Penn Station on both levels. As we've mentioned before, they don't have the best quality donuts we've ever tasted...but there's just something so perfect about them anyway. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Various locations on both the Upper and Lower Levels; online at <a href="http://www.dunkindonuts.com/" target="_blank">dunkindonuts.com</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2266/2248255423_3d5ebda288_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2266/2248255423_3d5ebda288_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">EuroPan Cafe:</span> We'd never tried this spot before, but found their sweets to be a pleasant surprise, with a nice array of carbohydrate-laden treats. Most of the pastries are from various wholesalers, but they do have our favorite type of deli crumb cake, and a nice array of cookies, cakes, cupcakes and several more Frenchie-type pastries. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lower Level, LIRR.</span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Hot & Crusty:</span> It always smells and looks good in here, but if we are to be completely honest, we've found that a lot of their pastries look better than they taste--the Black and White cookies in particular. However, they do have a very decent crumb cake, and other cookies (sprinkle-topped and M&M varieties) are quite good. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lower Level, LIRR; online at <a href="http://www.hotandcrusty.com/" target="_blank">hotandcrusty.com</a>.</span><div><br /></div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2248275469_63e88c6b44_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Krispy Kreme: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">In all honesty we'd choose </span></span>Dunkin' Donuts every time over Krispy Kreme, but we're taking this one for the team because we know there are Krispy Kreme die-hards out there (although if you're one of them, can you please explain what the attraction is?). We will admit that the holiday special donuts they bring out (Heart-shaped Valentine's Day donuts were on display when we went) are awfully cute. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Upper Level, NJ Transit; online at <a href="http://www.krispykreme.com/" target="_blank">krispykreme.com</a>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2248260731_e303a1efd8_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2248260731_e303a1efd8_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div> </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Le Bon Cafe</span>: Mostly average sweets of the caliber that you'd get at a typical NYC deli--rich and satisfying, but not necessarily subtle or unique. Nonetheless, they fulfill that need that you sometimes have for something sweet and familiar. However, they do get bonus points for having a novelty we have not seen before: Black and White Rice Krispie Treats--a very nice variation on two classics! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lower Level, LIRR.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2248264405_7b34404d31_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2248264405_7b34404d31_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sedutto Cafe:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Sedutto is a good spot to pick up some Jersey-shore style soft-serve before your commute. What we love best </span></span>here though is the cones, which are chocolate-dipped and coated with various types of sprinkles and nuts, which add a nice texture to the cone, and lend a certain "happy" factor to the overall experience. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Various locations on both Upper and Lower Levels; online at <a href="http://www.seduttosicecream.com/" target="_blank">seduttosicecream.com</a>.</span><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2249065020_a14ea8c5f0_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2249065020_a14ea8c5f0_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zaro's Bread Basket:</span> Zaro's Bread Basket may have a monopoly over the train station business (they have multiple locations in both Penn and Grand Central Stations) but all things considered, they do a pretty good job: solid black and white cookies, cakes, and unique cone shaped cupcakes have kept us going through many a ride down to the Jersey Shore on the train. We don't love their "regular" cupcakes <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">as</span> much as their cakes, but of course we welcome you to choose your own adventure. They're our top pick in terms of good-looking bakery cases, with colorful and ogle-worthy displays. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Various locations on both Upper and Lower Levels; online at <a href="http://www.zaro.com/" target="_blank">zaro.com</a>.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2248285067_d7a7fbd2f5_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Penn Station Signage" /></span> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cakespy/2249074388/" title="Penn Station Departures by cakespy, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2140/2249074388_b381db1c3b_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Penn Station Departures" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Have we missed your favorite commuter sweet spot? Let us know!</span><br /><br /><div><script type="text/javascript">addthis_url='<data:post.url/>'; addthis_title='<data:post.title/>'; addthis_pub='cakespy';</script><script src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/addthis_widget.php?v=12" type="text/javascript"></script></div><br /><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8554049149798699784-7769960850869003760?l=www.cakespy.com'/></div>Cakespyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11540351035366591645noreply@blogger.com32