I’m not sure exactly what role dark chocolate covered matzo played in the original Passover seder.  But if I ever had to flee somewhere, one of the things I would grab on my way out would be the nearest batch of good dark chocolate.   It travels pretty well, doesn’t need to be refrigerated and provides valuable calories for long treks in the desert.  Add in a little unleavened bread and you have a nutritious sandwich, chock full of antioxidants (ok maybe not that nutritious).

I do know that if the Israelites had access to a Jacques Torres they would have equipped themselves with all 3 kinds of chocolate covered matzo’s: dark, milk and peanut butter.

The small dark chocolate pack contains four, 3-inch square matzos and is a good deal for $5.00.  The Dark chocolate provides a nice snap when cracked open.  The matzo inside retains all of it’s crispness underneath the chocolate.

Dark chocolate covered peeps

If the historical connection between Passover and dark chocolate matzo is murky then the record on chocolate covered peeps and Easter is even more muddled.

Both Jacques Torres and Gristedes are selling dark chocolate covered Peeps  right now.  Surprisingly, the Torres Peep is the far better deal here given Christedes pricing of $0.99 for one, mylar-shrouded Peep vs. Torres 4-for $4.00, hand-dipped and gift-packaged version. Both use actual Peep brand flourencent-yellow colored marshmallow with Christedes selling a bird shaped Peep and Torres selling the rabbit shape.  Both coat the marshamallow with dark chocolate but as you might expect the Torres chocolate is far superior to the shelf-stable covering on the Christedes Peep.

The Christede’s Peep was not bad but the dark chocolate was just a bit sweet for my tastes, I checked in my local CVS to see if they could be had for cheaper there but they didn’t carry it.

Recommended: Dark chocolate covered matzo and Peeps from Jacques Torres

Jacques Torres has 3  locations in the New York City.  I visited the Upper West Side location at 285 Amsterdam Ave (73  St.).

Jacques Torres, Passover | 3 Comments »

In the flesh: an actual Bomboloni

Updated: Wednesday, March 24: Bombolini confirmed open!  After many false starts Bombolini, the highly anticipated Upper West Side Italian bombolini, gelato and specialty latte cafe is now open.

The super friendly staff of the Upper West Side store

After receiving just slightly less hype than the premiere for Avatar I was concerned that the opening of Bomboloni was going to be a let down.  But after being greeted by the super-friendly staff (in Italian)  and then immediately being offered a few free samples of gelato, I was won over.   During the day they had pistachio, raspberry jam and traditional (custard and powdered sugar) filled bombolonis but by the time we arrived at 9:00p.m. they only had traditional left.   We purchased two for $2.18 including tax, which is pretty reasonable.

Pick your bomboloni carefully: this one is half the size of the other...

The Bombolonis themselves were actually really good.   I know some people are concerned that these things are  just Krispy Kremes dressed in Italian suits.   In fact they are quite different and in my  opinion much better.   For one thing, the bombolonis are much less sweet and not quite as light and airy.  There was only a small amount of traditional filling in the two that I ate.    The dough reminded me a little of fresh baked challah bread, just a little bit sweet but almost bread like, a really fresh bread.   At $1.00 each this place is going to be mobbed this spring and summer.

There are some other interesting things on the menu that I didn’t try such as toasted marshmallow or dark chocolate raspberry latte.

Bombolonis are $1 each or 6 for $5.

Dessertbuzz prediction: a  huge Grom-like response on the Upper West Side.

Recommended: Traditional bomboloni, cioccolato gelato

This one hardly had any filing at all

Updated 9:00 a.m. Friday, March 19:

Last nigth at 10:00 p.m. I spoke to the man behind bombolini last night and due to Con Ed having to prioritze customers who lost service due to the storms last week, his appointments have been postponed.  He said he is dissapointed but that people having electricity is more important.  Definitely not opening this weekend.

Bombolini looks good and is just about ready but we are going to have to wait a bit longer

Just stopped by on the way home from work and there are about 12 workers laying tile,  doing stuff in the basement.  It looks like tomorrow for first open.   I suppose they could start making donuts tonight bit there seem to be a lot of stuff on the counters.

Thanks to Flo-Fab’s reminder, I grabbed my camera and headed down to Columbus Ave and 68th Street to check out Bombolini only to find a sign in the window that said “due to Con Ed issues we are delaying opening day until tomorrow”. Damn, I was in the mood for some deep-fried dessert.   Hopefully by the time you see this post I will have eaten, photographed and reviewed these guys.  Until then, here are some other great Bombolini’s from Dessert Truck Works and From David Burke Townhouse.

With filings like peanut butter cup, Gianduia (chocolate hazelnut), Apple Filled, Raspberry Jam and  Tahitian Vanilla I think there will be a flavor for every taste.

Bombolini or donut from David Burke Townhouse

Bombolini, David Burke Townhouse, Dessert Truck Works | 3 Comments »