DISH OF THE WEEK: Mille Crêpes at LADY M CAKE BOUTIQUE

Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City

Up until now, if I heard the name Lady M, I’d think of a Shakespearean villainess trying to wash the blood off her hands. Now I also think about a sleek cake shop and their iconic delicacies.

We visited the new Lady M in Midtown right across from Bryant Park, although an Upper East Side location has existed since 2004. I’m sort of amazed I had never encountered these cakes before. There seems to be a cult following and many claim it to be the best cakes in the city. I might just have to agree.

With its white walls and modern decor, it’s clear something special is happening here. A glass display case revealed the colorful repertoire, ranging from green tea mousse cakes, strawberry shortcakes, and chocolate cakes. The least colorful was their original mille crêpe, but it’s what put them on the map and so it’s what we ordered as first-timers.

This cake/crêpe hybrid is based on a classic French dessert that means “thousand layers.” Here they settle for about 20 layers of light, delicate crêpe pastry that are cemented together with decadent whipped cream and composed beautifully. The top layer is then slightly caramelized to give a textured crown. I appreciated the restrained sweetness and the elegant lightness of the cake. It made me seriously contemplate a second order.

Unlike the plans of that beguiling Scottish Lady, the only conspiracies happening here are to change the way we think of cakes. And I think even Shakespeare would condone that.