Back to Basics: Croissants

Making croissants has always seemed like a daunting task to me. Pounding butter into a square, freezing, folding, turning, head-spinning confusion, not to mention the seemingly endless waiting periods in between turning. But, I decided to finally just go for it. Go hard or go home, right? I figured if they failed, they'd still be nice....dinner rolls? In the end they came out beautifully! Buttery and flaky and all things croissants should taste like. I'll be honest....all I wanted was to snuggle and eat some warm croissants and jam and watch tv. 

Blackberry and Mango Cream Puffs (Pâte Choux)

Well...my personal summer resolution of posting at least once a week clearly went down the drain. Whooooops. I was able to bake quite a few times this summer, trying new things that I'd never tried before. But as a result, they all either failed entirely or came out looking butt u-g-l-y so I didn't even bother taking pictures (although I regret it now, they probably would have made for some funny posts!). 

Anywayssss, I did make cream puffs inspired by the plethora of fruit always waiting for me at home. I made these around early July but never got around to loading them onto my laptop and editing them. In any case, better late than never, right? Click in to see more pictures!

Restaurant Review - Ze Cafe

I have never been one for breakfast foods. I know,  I must be crazy. Brunch on the other hand gives me the best of both worlds; I can get the lunch-y dishes I prefer while my dining companion can get the breakfast foods that are probably more suited for the hour.

Ze Cafe is a beautiful cafe located in Midtown East serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea along with Saturday and Sunday brunches. The first thing you notice when you walk in is that the interior design is absolutely gorgeous. Assorted flowers and potted plants act as centerpieces for some of the larger tables but can be seen lining the wall as well. Apparently, the cafe is affiliated with a neighboring florist around the corner who provides them with floral arrangements. The center of the small, open room is occupied by a table holding various french pastries on glass cake stands. Large windows that make up the front of the cafe let in a flood of natural sunlight that illuminates the entire cafe.