Duet Bakery Boutique in Brooklyn, NY

When I immigrated to America from Panama with my parents and older brother we settled in Brooklyn, New York.  I grew up there from the time I was two years old.  We first lived in the Brownsville section.  After eight years living in Brooklyn my family moved to the Flatbush section.  I lived in Flatbush until the age of 19 when we moved to East Flatbush.  I moved away from New York City in 1991.  I have so many fond memories of living in Brooklyn.  

One of the things that I do miss about Brooklyn is the food.  OMG!  You can always find great places to eat and bakeries for the best baked goods.  This particular post features Duet Bakery Boutique in Brooklyn.  Duet continues to receive fantastic reviews from the media and customers.  If you live in New York City or planning to visit be sure to stop by Duet Bakery Boutique in Brooklyn and say hello to Chef Diana Rodov.   

Duet Bakery Boutique located at 6181 Strickland Ave., Brooklyn, New York.

Duet Bakery Boutiques has become one of the most sought after bakeries for wedding festivities and other special occasions.

 If the menu doesn't make your mouth then nothing will.

This menu is like having Paris in Brooklyn.

Here are photos of some of their specialty cakes

 

Duet Bakery also has a blog.  Click Here or click on the blog logo.

Duet Bakery Boutique on You Tube

If you gain weight from becoming addicted to Duet Bakery goods please remember not to blame Collar City Brownstone.......(smile)

The Fresh Market - French Baguettes and Crostinis

This afternoon after treating myself to a spa number two pedicure I headed off to one of my favorite grocery stores, The Fresh Market.

 This is a photo of my local The Fresh Market grocery store.  The market opened up in 2010 and has been a big hit ever since.  I went to The Fresh Market today to get sugar.  While there, I decided to purchase one of their French Baguettes.  Since reading Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas last week I have been itching to try a French Baguette.  I don't live in Paris or New York City, but The Fresh Market baguettes are baked fresh daily and is supposed to be an original French recipe.

I could not wait until I got home to try it.  I got into my car and broke of a piece.  First let me just say that I could smell the baguette.  My car smelled of freshly baked bread.  That was a huge plus.  The French baguette was baked to a golden brown so it looked pretty nd very appetizing.  When I bit into it the outside of the baguette was crusty and the inside was soft and chewy.  That is exactly what a French baguette is supposed to be like.  I loved the taste and the texture.

   After enjoying the first piece that I broke off and preceeded to break off two more pieces and ate them.

Baguette are meant to be eaten on the same day they are baked.  If not it is advised to freeze it until you are ready to finish it off.  I think that what I will do is make crostini tomorrow out of whatever is leftover from today. 

Below are photos of an assortment of crostini's made with different toppings.  Since I am strictly vegan now the ones with cheese are no longer an option for me but if you are vegetarian you can certainly enjoy them all.  

 Brie, honey and cracked pepper crostini

 Avocado crostini

 Asparagus crostini

Fig crostini

Fire roasted pepper crostini

 Italian cucumber crostini

 Mushroom ragout crostini

 Pizza crostini

 Radish and butter crostini

Spinach, pesto and tomato crostini

 Strawberry and feta cheese crostini

 Poached egg crostini served with arugula salad.

For the recipes just Google the names of each one and you will get an assortment of them to your hearts delight.

Make My Cake - A Bakery in Harlem New York

I am curently reading a book titled Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas.  I usually do not mention anything about a book that I am reading until I am finished reading it.   However, I am making an exception with this book because of all the lively descriptions of sweets throughout the book.  The author has a special fondness for dark chocolate.  It is really diffcult not to become hungry for chocolate, macaroons, pies, cakes and other pastries reading this book.


I am currently on chapter five of Paris My Sweet and having a delightful time reading this book.


This particular post is focusing on a bakery, not in Paris, but in Harlem New York called Make My Cake.  Amy Thomas writes very highly of this bakery.  I am delighted to see on their website that online mail order shopping will be available soon.  YAY!!!  Make My Cake specializes in pies, cakes, cupcakes and cheesecakes.

 Red velvet and butter cake with cream cheese frosting from Make My Cake.

 Sweet potato cheese cake from Make My Cake.

Vintage metal lunchbox from Make My Cake

 All pictures above are from the Make My Cake website.

   Front cover of the book Paris My Sweet by Amy Thomas.

 Writer Amy Thomas

Miss Thomas has a blog of her own called Sweet Freak.