Pie and more pie!

Recently, I visited four and twenty blackbirds a pie shop in the Park Slope/ Sunset Park area of Brooklyn. They sell mostly pies!  They all had interesting names and tastes. I settled on the salted caramel apple pie. It was so good I almost wanted to get another one but thought better of it. Instead I bought one for my sister and a grapefruit custard for me to share with my coworker later.

The salted caramel apple seems to be the most popular pie there and for very good reason. The shop is a decent size with a one oven kitchen right behind the counter. Old tin line the walls and 50’s music was playing in the background. Two sisters own the shop and make the pies from scratch daily. They vary the pies seasonally, trying to make the best use of seasonal local ingredients. The crust of the pies I tasted were flaky and buttery. You can tell they used real butter and not lard or oil. The apples were cooked perfectly and it was not too sweet as the caramel would imply. They sprinkled the crust with a little salt and brown sugar which blended well and was not at all overpowering.

The grapefruit custard pie was such an interesting title that I had to try it. I split it with a friend who dared to try it with me. Before I tasted it I was trying to figure out how the citrus and custard would work and the result is…. Fantastically well. It had the taste of fresh pink grapefruit and a creamy custard. I can’t say enough about it and can’t wait till I get back in the area to get some more. Sorry, I didn’t get a chance to take a pic of it- still new to this whole blogging thing and I must get better at making sure I take pics of things! Next time.

Christmas at Bryant Park

Every year during the Christmas season, Bryant Park in Manhattan is transformed into a magical Christmas city. They erect little “custom designed jewel-box shops”, a 2 story enclosed restaurant, a large Christmas tree and in the center of it all a FREE open air skating rink. The little shops sell things like all natural hair and body products, handmade jewelry, gourmet chocolates, teas, boutique clothing and a variety of foods. It’s a good way to spend a day in the city. I spent the day with my sister, Makeda and my friend, Denese.

Shea Moisture Shop at Bryant Park

We browsed shops- We got some fantastic body products at Shea Moisture!

Skating rink @Bryant Park

People watched at the skating ring which was a little crowded but still had enough room to skate due to it being the weekend and the weather being warm. I didn’t skate this time around -I had to shop! There was a big Christmas tree ( I didn’t get a good picture) overlooking the rink.

Shops at Bryant Park

Max Brenner Chocolates

This shop sells chocolate in a syringe ?!? Not sure how that works but they are well-known for their chocolate and I have eaten at their restaurant in union square before. Needless to say I didn’t try the syringe but saw a couple of people walking around with them. Couldn’t get passed the idea of it. I stopped by the wafels and dinges shop instead for a wafel with gingerbread topping and a little nutella- yummy! It was so good. They are usually in food trucks around the city during the summer so it was a nice surprise to see they had set up a “shop” at Bryant park.

The shops have a european market flair. There are tree-lined alleys and little seating areas  where you can sit and take in the scene while sipping your hot chocolate. You almost forget you are in the middle of Manhattan until you look up and see the tops of the surrounding high-rise buildings.

Christmas hasn’t even come yet but I feel like the season is winding down already. Every year I always feel like there isn’t enough time to see and do everything but every year I try. – more posts to come!