Weekend Reading: Ice Cream + Donuts Edition

Vanilla + Thai iced tea in a waffle cone at Oddfellows Ice Cream Co.

Vanilla + Thai iced tea in a waffle cone at Oddfellows Ice Cream Co.

Reviving Friday links because I've spotted a ton of coverage on two of my favorite things: ice cream + doughnuts. I've been making my rounds to the many scoops shops that have popped up over the last year (see here and above) and still have plenty more on my summer bucket list, including Davey's in the East Village and A.B. Biagi for what sounds to be the most amazing ice cream sandwich known to man. Here's to a season of happy, sugar-fueled ice cream hunting!

Tasting Table's 13 favorite scoops include the funky (but delicious) concoctions at Oddfellows Ice Cream Co. and Bklyn Larder's dreamy fior di latte gelato.

There's a similar round-up over at Refinery 29 — they're also loving the newly-opened Morgenstern's Finest Ice Cream (try the lemon-vanilla and red-raspberry sorbet together, trust me) and the always-satisfying Salty Pimp at Big Gay Ice Cream.

If you're looking for more than just a cone, Brooklyn Mag looks at five over-the-top sundaes that will satisfy all your sugar cravings.

It's National Doughnut Day, so amNY had staff choose their favorite fried and glazed treats. My picks: the honey-glazed at Donut Pub and café au lait at Dough.

Finally, Parade's got 13 pieces of little-known facts about the confection from yes, a doughnut book.

Weekend Reading

San Francisco's Chinatown

Spring at long last! With the days growing longer and some warm weather finally ahead of us, I'm excited to crawl out of my polar vortex hibernation and start ticking off restaurants from the long to-try list that's been building up all winter.

Hope everyone gets to enjoy some sun this weekend — have a great one!

The NY Post rings in the start of spring with a round-up of buzzy new dishes, including the latest from pastry wizard Dominique Ansel: the cookie shot. 

Another place to check out as the weather warms up and the hike to Hell's Kitchen feels less like a trek through the tundra? Gotham West Market, one of the many sprawling spots fueling the food hall revolution. (Don't miss the shio ramen at Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop!) 

There's a boozy boba shop in Los Angeles, shaking up drinks like Heineken-infused green tea and a soju margarita with lychee jelly.

Speaking of the West Coast, check out artist Wendy MacNaughton's illustrated documentary on San Francisco's Chinatown and its unique — sadly, vanishing — culture.  

Finally, my local doughnut shop was profiled by the NY Times this week by fellow NYDN alum Rachel Wharton. Like most places in New York, the beloved neighborhood spot has quite the fascinating story.

Weekend Reading + A Look at Leske's

Chocolate cake at Leske's Bakery

This week on Eater, Robert Sietsema shared his favorite eats in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. One of his picks was Leske's Bakery, a 51-year-old sweets shop doling out everything from jelly doughnuts to traditional Danish kringles (a flaky pastry filled with ground almonds and raisins) and that decadent chocolate cake you see above. I took these photos for the Daily News when Leske's opened a Park Slope outpost early last year. That location has since shuttered, but you can still find the pastries at their original shop — if you're a fan of old-school sweets (not to mention super affordable prices), you won't be disappointed.

A few more Friday links, the some extra snaps from Leske's:

NPR's Planet Money crunched a ton of numbers and came up with the price of pizza in 237 U.S. neighborhoods, including the ones in Manhattan.

Check out FIrst We Feast's second annual nacho battle which pits home cook DJ DIeselboy against four of NYC's top chefs. Which cheesy platter will reign supreme?

Potataffle... Rice Krispancake... BuzzFeed rounds up 23 comfort food mash-ups that were meant to be. I have my eye on those banana split eclairs.

Finally, the Wall Street Journal gives us a glimpse into the daily life of sushi maestro — and Jiro Dreams of Sushi apprentice — Daisuke Nakazawa.

Have a good one!

Kringle at Leske's Bakery

Doughnuts at Leske's Bakery

Cookie case at Leske's Bakery

Leske's Bakery, 7612 FIfth Ave. between 76th and 77th Sts., Brooklyn (718-680-2323)

Weekend Reading

Soy milk dashi ramen at Mamezen

And here we thought — with temperatures hitting the 40s and all — that the end of winter was finally in sight. But the weather gods don't seem to agree and they plan on hitting the East Coast with yet another round of chilly weather next week. On the bright (albeit cold) side, that means it's still prime hot pot season, which makes my friend Elyse's handy guide to Japanese shabu shabu all the more useful.

Stay warm out there!

"Something appealingly unexceptional can provide a great deal of pleasure." That's Grub Street on Junior's iconic cheesecake. News broke this week that the Brooklyn standby is selling its flagship building to... a condo developer.

Time magazine picks the Kit Kat as the most influential candy bar of all time. Do you agree? (Japan seems to.)

Ever wonder what happens at the end of a restaurant shift? Edible Manhattan pops into Louro after-hours.

If you haven't already, check out the Piglet, Food52's annual cookbook face-off. The latest installment, written by Cherry Bombe EIC Kerry Diamond (she also co-owns Seersucker and Nightingale 9 restaurants), is fun and more importantly, pro-cupcake.

Finally, That Food Cray put together a list of her must-try Kyoto eats. I also loved the soy milk doughnuts at Nishiki Market and the soy milk dashi ramen at Mamezen (above). Sense a theme? Find more Japan photos here.

Snapshots: Chicago 2013

Doughnuts, pizza and a restaurant that swears by "Cheese, Wine & Swine." Chicago, you know a way to a girl's heart.