Overthrill, Pt. 2
Led Zeppole | 328 East 14th St. (bet. 2nd & 1st Aves.) | 212.228.2807
SO THERE I WAS at Artichoke Pizza, feeling full and foolish that I had eaten not one but two delicious slices—one each of the popular Crab and their stellar, signature Artichoke—and disappointed that I had left little room for the sweet things at their sister dessert shoppe, Led Zeppole, next door. I had planned to enjoy the food from both, but since I overindulged on 'za, I decided I would have to wait until my next visit to PHUDE blog about Led Zeppole's pastries.
Led Zeppole was only located two short doors east of Artichoke, so I figured I would at least stop by and pick up some cream puffs (recommended by Brendan, my pizza server). Twelve quick steps and I was there.
The place was, like it's sibling, decorated with various cutesy curiosities.
If you can't decide which of the appetizing items on the chalkboard to order, Helen, my server this day, can be most helpful in assisting (and kind as well, as she let my try a most delicious Peanut Butter & Jell Ice, as I informed her that not only was in National Peanut Month, but National Peanut Butter Day as well!). Th display of the gorgeous pastries may make it difficult to select just one item, though.
I, against any doctor's blessing, having had to oversized slices of pizza, decided not to order something to go, but to order a cream puff to enjoy there, having been told that they would fry the zeppole dough—and stuff it with their homemade sweet cream—to order. Sorry, docs, but I'm glad I made this call...!
Zeppole dough, with its perfect meausures of sugar and egg content, produce something aromatically, texturally, and palatably wonderful once it is deep fried. Th inside becomes nice, light and airy, while the outside develops an almost crunchy shell from the cooked sugar. The extra powdered sugar melts and glazes the dough when it comes in contact with the hot, not-too-oily exterior. The inside dough was not overly flavored by the sugar, just enough vanilla to let the flavors on the outside shine.
The cream (oh, boy!) almost pudding-like; sweet, rich, thick—but not heavy—creamy, tasty, a wining compliment to the fried dough, and a moist way to assist in swallowing bit mouthfuls of that cooked dough down one's grateful gullet.
Suffice it to say, that was the last item I ate for the day, and it was only 2:30 in the afternoon. So I implore the owners of Led Zeppole, who also own the remarkable This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef and Artichoke Basilles Pizza, to consider making their next restaurant creation a sald place. If anyone could convince me to eat more veggies—and not just sandwiched between bread and pastrami—it would be you guys...! ;)
Bun Apple Tea!
.kac.
Led Zeppole | 328 East 14th St. (bet. 2nd & 1st Aves.) | 212.228.2807
