Lamazou, La Delice & Bouchon Bakery - Friday's Eats

Today started off very, very well. As you know, I've spent the last month commuting to Weschester (and Princeton, NJ yesterday) for work. That comes out to just over 3 hours in commuting a day...ridiculous, cause I did was hired to work in the MANHATTAN office.

Photo shot outside the Goldman Sachs office in Princeton, NJ. Snow!! 4pm, Thursday afternoon.

Not the tri-state area. Oh well. Complaining gets you nowhere, so we shall dance on to the fun stuff! I woke up at the delicious hour of 8am (two hours later than usual cause there was no need for Metro North rides today!!!) and set off to our 42nd & Madison office - a gorgeous building, if I may remark. I took care of morning work, but really, my mind was focused on one subject since last night's dinner: what's for lunch? I browsed endless blogs, adding to my never ending mental list, and finally. I decided.

LAMAZOU. Lynn first told me about this tiny sandwich and cheese shop when we first met last Sunday. She even took me in for a quick peek, introduced me to the owners, a kind elderly couple with genuine love for their work.

A few Google searches will show you that I'm not the only one who feels this way. I came in around 1pm this afternoon, stomach ready for the EATS. hehe. Selecting from the myriad of tempting options proved to be rather difficult - I wish I could have a bite of every sandwich! But after narrowing it down to the smoked salmon with lemon dressing, capers, onions, and cornichons and the chicken salad, cheddar, and sundried tomatoes. I decided on the chicken salad, just cause chicken + cheddar combo sounded amazing.

I ordered a half size (just $5!) which turned out to be a very big half, surely the whole size would suffice for lunch and dinner (or lunch and breakfast, however you prefer ;) There are nine bread options, but I went with the cibatta per the owner's recommendation. I'd suggest you do the same and seek out the advice of the owners.

Stunning, isn't it?! Creamy pepper chicken salad speckled with celery and tiny bits of roasted red pepper is luxuriously spooned over the top and bottom Balthlazar ciabatta bread, a layer of chopped sundried tomatoes, and sliced cheddar round it out.

And OH! The cheddar, I know you'd just love it! You really would. The layers of thinly sliced cheddar must stand at least three fourths of an inch high, and my dear, how they were sliced! So thin that the words 'paper thin' would do no justification. It was glorious! To bite it all at once, and get a bit of everything, is truly an orgasmic experience. The crusty ciabatta, sharp cheddar sinking into the seemingly endless depths of savoury chicken, just the right kick of pepper, only cut by a sharp sweet hit of sundried tomatoes. You must give it a try. I'll be back for sure - even tomorrow maybe!

I was in such a good mood after purchasing the sandwich that I thought to stop in at the Italian bakery next door to purchase a few biscotti for a dessert. I've been on a biscotti kick for the last few weeks and find myself craving them at least once a day, hehe. I walked into the empty bakery, staffed by the owner and two employees. The scent inside the bakery was sheer heaven, but visually, the products looked less appealing. I took out my point-and-shoot to grab a quick photo of the biscotti. Instantly I heard a loud voice from across the room, "STOP TAKING PHOTOS!! HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF I CAME IN YOUR HOME, INVADED YOUR PRIVACY AND TOOK PICURES???!!!" Shit, I was literally shaking. My face was bright red. And I felt like crying. The bakery was deathly quiet when I entered and all of a sudden it filled with a booming angry voice directed at me. I didn't know what to do but apologize over and over again and offer to delete the photos. The only thing I wanted to do at that instant was run out and never return. But at the same time I felt guilty. So I bought some biscotti in hopes of winning back favour of the owner...even though I didn't feel like I did anything wrong...

Sigh. I took the biscotti back to the office with me, but I could not bring myself to eat it. I was embarrassed. And angry. And everything not good. Was I in the wrong? Was the yelling necessary? If he had just kindly asked, or quietly asked, heck, just any normal tone of voice, I'd feel more guilty than mad. But man, he was screaming at the top of his lungs. The experience alone spoiled my appetite for the biscotti. Here they lay. Pathetic and unwanted. From left to right: pecan, chocolate hazelnut, walnut, and marbled chocolate. I don't think I'll be eating any of them today...maybe tomorrow. Maybe never. But one thing's for sure, unless they are mind-blowingly awesome, I won't be returning. (note: just ate the marbled chocolate biscotti. It's of the softer breed, a turnoff. I like biscotti extra crunchy and strong enough to hold up for dunking. This failed. Chocolate flavour was at the right balancing degree between too rich and just enough to notice, but it's sweeter than the norm.)

Outside the Time Warner Center, 4pm Friday

I shoved the biscotti underneath my office desk and spent the next few hours tying up audit work for the client. The work itself if pretty straightforward, if not tedious, but I'm grateful I for opportunity to work with nice people. In the end, I feel as if the people you work with matter more than the actual work itself. Around 3:30pm, my senior stopped by and told me I could leave for the weekend if I was done! Can you imagine that?! I was so delighted, I blasted out of the office, straight into the snow, up the D train and to the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle.

I did some shopping at Whole Foods, browsed a few clothing stores before heading upstairs to eye the new Illy display of espresso cups. I wish I could move this to my apartment! hehe...though I doubt it would fit!

Up another level at the Bouchon Bakery, I decided that a Friday treat was in order (after all, I've never been released this early!!!). The lines at the bakery counter was totally nutso, and I waited for a good 15 minutes before placing my order. The staff however, was extremely efficient despite the holiday crowds, they were a very smooth crew.

Pastry selections, from left to right: cream cheese danish with orange marmalade, pesto croissant, chocolate bouchon, and a fruit cake loaf. I never ceased to be amazed by the delicious options in this city. Everyday is a new surprise. You wake up in crazy wonderful city and never know what will happen. I feel I can appreciate this more after my last two years of boredom in terms of human interaction in Claremont, California (minus summers and winters in Hawaii). Without a car in SoCal you can do absolutely nothing. NOTHING. And in a school as small as Claremont McKenna and even Pomona (where I took half my classes) you run into the same people at least a dozen times a day. And nothing new ever happened. A place of no change. Some like it that way, and I respect their view. But it's not for me. I hope boredom will never come here, because the minute that happens I have to move...so far we are on a good track :)

Whoops!
Sorry about the tangent, didn't see that coming!
heheh.


This was what I had in mind: the Chocolate Bouchon. I'm sure you've heard of it? Maybe here? Here? or even here? I feel like I am the only person on earth who has never had this bouchon. Mmmm. A reliable recipe here for you!

It's just the right size for a single diner. A dark afternoon bite of sheer chocolately indulgence. It's to be eaten perched over the second floor railing of the Time Warner Center, looking our the glass windows, watching the snow fall and Christmas lights flash though a rainbow of colours. This way, you taste the richness of a fallen soufflé gone a million times more intense, chocolate chip studded innards and crisp crust, dusted with the faintest bit of powdered sugar. To eat alone is divine.

To eat alone, at least for me, usually means I end up eating more than I usually would. Teehee. I have absolutely no restraint when it comes to bakeries, especially during the pre-dinner witching hour. It's terrible. And wonderful at the same time. I went back to the bakery counter and claimed the second to last Nutter Butter. Fate? Perhaps! I was astounded by the sheer weight of this cookie as it was handed to me over the counter. This was not a cookie. This was a meal! But I ate it all anyways. You can always count on me ;) The Nutter Butter was as delectable as everyone proclaims. No lies. Two hearty oat studded peanut butter cookies sandwiching a blissfully smooth filling of whipped peanut butter. The cookies tasted genuine, real and honest. Those are the type of cookies I love. Most importantly, the twist of salt and crunch of chopped peanuts was a key player in saving the cookies from venturing to the sweet side. And when I said hearty, I'm not kidding. This darling is HEAVY. Like super duper. Stomach did not feel so happy afterwards, but tongue? Ah, yes, the tongue was very content.

Right after tucking away the last bite of Nutter Butter, crumbs littering my dress, I felt an urgent NEED. A CRAVING for...DIET PEPSI. This is not the first time something like this has happened to me. I don't drink soda on often, but once in a while (every two months I suppose?), I eat the right/wrong combination of things and the right/wrong time, and then, all of a sudden nothing will do but SODA. I'll take Coke or Pepsi. I don't discriminate. But I do prefer diet over regular when it comes to the darker sodas. That's just how I work.

So I waited in line at the Dean & Deluca cafe nestled in Borders, right around the corner. While in line, I took to eyeing the many pastry options...

...knishes from Yonah Schimmel, Sullivan Street Pizzas, brownies & magic bars from Betsy's Place, and lemon bars & cheesecakes from Mother Fortune.

...$5 for a cupcake? Geebezus. Even though Two Little Red Hens bakes quality cupcakes, you'll never catch me forking over $5 for one!

I was nearly lured in by a slice of blueberry or apple crumb cake from Sweet Sam's, and almost surrendered to fanciful whims...

But alas, all I wanted was a Diet Pepsi. Sooo delicious! ;)

Hope you have a good weekend!

Lamazou
370 Third Ave.
NY, NY 10016
(212) 532 - 2009

La Delice Pastry Shop
372 3rd Ave
NY, NY 10016
(212) 532-4409

Bouchon Bakery
10 Columbus Circle
nr. 59th St., third flr.
(212)823-9366