Triple treat.
Prune, walnut, and poppy get a lot of play in Hungarian cuisine; for this floden (square; $4) they combine forces in a robust multilayer pastry. The counterwoman couldn't enlighten me, but it's possible the name might simply mean "cake" and also apply, for example, to the poppy-seed square at Nita's European Bakery. The rugelach (below; $14 per pound), lovingly assembled with walnuts, raisins, and raspberry or apricot jelly, are wonderful off the shelf, and amazing if you have the good fortune to arrive when they're still warm.
On the Upper East Side, the owners operate a snug café. For a prix fixe dinner ($22.95), my cold cherry soup, cucumber salad with paprika and vinegar ($2 extra), stuffed peppers, and apricot-and-nut palacsinta, or crepe, each struck familiar but comforting notes. Though the entrée must be smaller, the prix fixe lunch is just $12.95, and simply stopping in for coffee and one of the many tempting pastries would run you even less.
Andre's
Bakery: 100-28 Queens Blvd. (south side, near 67th Rd.), Forest Hills, Queens
718-830-0266
www.andresbakery.com
Café: 1631 Second Ave. (84th-85th Sts.)
212-327-1105
I love your blog! :) Making me hungry. Merry Xmas! :D
Posted by: dengelina | December 25, 2007 at 01:04 PM