DISH OF THE WEEK in New York: Cannoli at BEST SICILY BOTTEGA

If you didn’t know Best Sicily Bottega was there, you would most certainly miss it. This authentic Sicilian café is nestled in the heart of the Financial District on a dark street just off Wall Street where scaffolding is almost as common as suits.

This place is a total gem – giving a feel of Sicily more than just about anything in Little Italy. I stopped by mostly to gawk but had to taste something.

While the pastries and sandwiches are on full display alongside tins of olive oil and dried pasta, I noticed a jar of empty cannoli shells above the counter and knew right away the thing to order.

Now I have not officially launched a “Best Cannoli on NYC” search but perhaps this is the best place to start. The only problem is I think the search might start where it ends. That’s because I may have indeed found the best cannoli in the city.

As expected, one of the cashiers grabbed an empty cannolo shell and disappeared in the back to pipe the filling to order.

It arrived in my hand utterly perfect. The cold sweet tangy cream contrasted the super light and crisp shell. Hints of ricotta and sweet cream lingered. The best touch was instead of chocolate chips or pistachios, a slice of candied orange garnished both sides of the specimen.

I couldn’t get over how perfect this cannoli was. The other Italian bakeries that make cannoli around the city should come down here to get a taste of what it’s supposed to taste like – it will save them a trip to Sicily. That is if they can find this place.