DISH OF THE WEEK: Cinnamon Buns at CHURCH OF SWEDEN

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

There are too many hidden gems in this city. You could spend a lifetime searching and you’ll still only uncover a handful. Church of Sweden is just that. It’s a Swedish church that’s been in the middle of Midtown Manhattan since 1978. Thousands of people walk by it every day and have no idea that inside the library of the church is a tranquil little coffee counter. And they serve some wonderful pastries and super cheap sandwiches. All you have to do is ring the bell.

I had heard about this little oasis a while ago and it became a regular stop on the new Beyond Broadway tour for Urban Adventures. I have recently begun training to lead the tour and amazingly, it was my first visit to this clandestine food stop.

Nikki, the tour guide, had already picked out their homemade cinnamon buns for us to try. There are other pastries available and after trying these, I need to come back to try them all.

These might have been the best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever had. They were not dolled up with frosting or pumped up with cinnamon. Instead, they were soft. yeasty with just a garnish of crystallized sugar. The emphasis here was on the simplicity of the bread and the subtlety of cinnamon. If you’re expecting the cloyingly sweet and sticky buns you would get from Cinnabon, you’re in the wrong place.

And what’s even more amazing then discovering this hidden spot is learning that the cinnamon buns are just $2. This just might become your new favorite Midtown Lunch spot – regardless of your religion or ethnicity.