Thursday, February 28, 2008
Posted By:
Jena Tesse Fox
Photo:
Jena Tesse Fox
Carrot Top Pastries
Before bakeries became integrated with corporate supermarkets, they were specialty shops that catered to their neighborhood's unique tastes. In Inwood, the Carrot Top Bakery conjures up those bakeries of yore, serving fresh homemade pastries, cakes and breads to kids and gourmands alike. The sugar is shamelessly pure and there are few unnatural ingredients to be found in any of the goodies on display. You haven't had pastries like these since Granny moved to Florida. Light breakfasts are available in the morning, and from inside the cozy interior, it’s easy to pretend you’re enjoying your pastry and coffee in some bakery by the Seine. Unfortunately, Carrot Top’s prices are more in line with Paris (or at least downtown) than Inwood. The exquisite fruit tarts with meringue toppings cost about $4, while a whole cake can cost almost $40. Yes, the pastries are delicious, and any local would have to travel pretty far downtown to find their equal, but one of the benefits of Inwood is the (comparative) cost efficiency. If the food weren't so damn good, no Inwoodite would be caught dead paying these prices.
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