Dominique Ansel Bakery

What we love…

• No longer the new kid on the block, Dominique Ansel has been confirmed as New York City's hottest pastry chef, and still turning out some of the most inspired baked goods in the city. If you haven't met the Cronut yet, you're in for a real treat—a cross between a doughnut and a croissant that's filled around it's inner ring with sweet pastry cream. This thing is crazy good, and has New Yorkers lining up around the block at least 3 hours before the shop even opens.
• Although this beautiful bakery has only been around since 2012, it's owner, and head pastry chef have been getting rave reviews. Ansel grew up in Paris and after moving stateside took up residence at Restaurant Daniel as the Executive Pastry Chef—so clearly he knows his way around a cooling rack.
• Before that he worked at the famous Parisian pastry house Fauchon, opening boutiques all over the world. He clearly learned a thing or two about setting up an enticing store because Dominique Ansel is one of the most refreshingly designed bakeries in New York. The large space seems to sparkles with white and glass contrasting nicely with his signature orange packaging.
• This place isn't just razzel dazzel and slick packaging, the pastry is delicate, flaky, buttery perfection—like a tiny piece of Paris in SoHo. 
• Show up for lunch and feast on a ham and cheese croissants, just leave enough room for their famous Dominique Ansel Bakery DKA. The acronym DKA stands for 'Dominique Kouign Amann', Ansel's version of a French pastry that is a cross between a cake and a puff pasty, with layers of butter and sugar folded into the dough.
• As good as the DKA is (and it is good), the rest of the baked goods on the menu are just as delicious. The Frozen S'mores are ridiculously good, they consist of a rich but chewy, vanilla ice cream  (similar to Turkish dondurma), wrapped in cookie, covered in marshmallow. The S'mores are roasted on apple wood skewers by a blow torch as you order, giving them that hot off the fire crispiness. Hands down this might be one of the most complex desserts you have ever had, all for $7. 
• The glass enclosed kitchen in the back allows you to see where your treats are being made, and it's not unheard of to see Ansel himself with his hands in the mixing bowl.

TIPS

• On a nice day don't miss the quiet enclosed garden in the back with intimate seating.
• We loved their gourmet packaged treats like Mini Me's flavored meringues and Spicy Caramel Popcorn which would make a delightful little hostess gifts.