Babycakes NYC

If it's vegan it's healthy, right?!? That's what I told myself as I bit into a carrot cake cupcake at Babycakes bakery in NYC a couple weeks ago. Skeptics would be surprised that desserts made from coconut oil, agave nectar, garbanzo flour, and spelt are actually very good and much more filling than those made from white flour and sugar at places like Magnolia Bakery and Sprinkles.

Owner and founder Erin McKenna, opened Babycakes in 2005 tapping into the cravings of those who need to eat wheat, gluten, dairy and sugar free or even stick to a Kosher diet. McKenna's sweet factory was named the Best Cupcakes in NYC by NY Magazine in 2006.

Babycakes' menu offers cupcakes, loaves, cookies, cookie sandwiches, crumb cakes, muffins, spelt tea cake, brownies, macaroons, scones, pies and more. Among my favorite menu options are the tiny sweets like the cupcake tops and frosting shots.

Babycakes is currently located at 248 Broome Street (between Orchard & Ludlow) in Manhattan but are planning to open a Los Angeles location soon. The LA location will be cool, near The Grove and will share a space with the denim design shop Earnest Sewn.

Morandi

The food at this rustic Italian trattoria is truly unique from the appetizers to dessert. I definitely recommend the Carciofi alla giudea (fried artichokes with lemon) for an appetizer, Zucca in scapece (savory pumpkin with pine nuts and raisins) as an antipasti, Tortelli di zucca (pumpkin ravioli with sage and butter) for the pasta dish and Branzino alla luciana (whole sea bass grilled in a lemon vinigrette) for the fish dish. Stick around for dessert because the Pere al forno (bosc pears roasted in red wine with robiola) is not to be missed. However I do suggest ordering a side of noci (similar to vanilla) gelato because I didn't like the robiola cheese very much. Another tasty and beautiful dessert was Crespelle (warm crepe with vanilla gelato and berries).

We went before seeing a Broadway show so we dined very early, but I would recommend making reservations for about 7:30 or 8pm, that's when the crowd really started picking up.

Check it out ASAP- it's already been written up in New York mag and more so hurry up! It's located at 211 Waverly Place.

Check it out on Spotlight: