Okay, so let me set the scene:…read more
We're waiting to order at the counter. Meanwhile, an adorable grandma is struggling to find change to pay for her shot of espresso. Hubby gallantly steps in and offers to cover the tab. The friendly staff pooh-poohs him: "Oh no, don't worry. Dona Elsa will pay when she comes in for her coffee tomorrow." I ADORED witnessing that and instantly fell in serious like. Love, I reasoned, would only happen if the baked goods were as enchanting as this first impression...
At any rate, hubby, kid and I were here primarily for some Egg Tarts. 'Cause I can no longer get on the 1 & 9 without detouring in either Newark, Elizabeth, and now, Kearny for some of these custardy, flaky cups of goodness. We grabbed a couple Regular and couple Chocolate. Yes, Chocolate!!! Just based on appearance, these look like any other Egg Tart, but then you take a bite and realize there's a thin layer of melty chocolate on the bottom. Woa. Pinch me! Seriously though, these are delicious, boasting an ultra-flaky crust and rich custard. Look for the ones nestled in brown cupcake wrappers. As for the Regular Egg Tarts, they were good too, but the Chocolate ones stole my heart.
We also got two small, rustic round loaves of Broa, aka the Cornbread that reviewers rave about; one classic and one with chorizo. The former was dense, faintly sweet, and crusty, while the latter was packed with thin slices of savory, crisped sausage. Some of the most uniquely delicious bread I've eaten in a long time. I don't think it's made with only cornmeal, but rather, some sort of mix that includes wheat flour... All I can say is that with a generous slather of butter, we were in carb heaven. Freezes well, too.
Fwiw, hubby got a shot of espresso and was into it. And he is a coffee snob. Big time.
Bottom line: That enchanting first impression absolutely evolved to love. This little cafe cum bakeshop is clearly a popular neighborhood hub, which gets me every time. And the Egg Tarts are quality. In fact, I'd venture to say their flaky crust, in particular, could compete with Teixeira. Yeah, that's right. Plus, I need more of that Broa in my life. Lots more. Ultimately, this has that intangible special something that may just make it a regular stop for me.