There are certain ingredients that come up very often on this blog. Mushrooms are impossible for me to resist and I almost always include a dish from all of my Thai meals in the city.
But this is the first time where sweet potatoes have played the starring role two weeks in a row.
Last week, I was really taken by the simplicity of the roasted sweet potato from a Korean stall at Union Square Holiday Market. Now, just a few blocks south, I had an absolutely mind-blowing pastry from one of the hottest new bakeries in the city. And you can probably guess what the main ingredient was.
I was sort of amazed there was no line when I arrived at Hani’s (pronounced honey’s) on a Saturday morning. This brand new bakery, from Serbian-Indian bakers who worked at places like Gramercy Tavern and Untitled, has received a fair amount of buzz. Perhaps I just picked a morning cold enough that the East Village locals were still sleeping in.
This was good news for me as I had limited time to grab something and go. Everything piqued my interest from the Malted Cinnamon Bun to the Brown Butter Carrot Cake. But I was most drawn to the Sweet Potato Spinach Loaf because it sounded lighter (healthy?) and on the savory side. I got a lot more than I bargained for.
This handheld loaf (which happened to be gluten free) was so light and airy with a hint of sweetness. Topping the bread was some sort of spinach filled frosting or butter. It had a deep peppery vegetable flavor, but not overly so. Perhaps this was a spinach artichoke concoction of sorts. It balanced the sweet and spiced sweet potato bread.
I should have inquired more about the ingredients and method, but I was hoping for a quick grab and go. With something this good, I wish I had sat down to really contemplate it. And I may not have the chance again since I also believe this is a seasonal pastry that may not be on the menu at all times.
My recommendation is to get over to Hani’s as soon as possible before the crowds commence and before the sweet potatoes become a thing of last season. Price: $6
| HANI’S BAKERY |
| 67 Cooper Square (between East 7th Street and St. Marks Place), East Village |
| hanisnyc.com |
