Shauna Eats Sunnyside

Ohhh, El Triangulo...

On the move this past Saturday morning and, rather predictably, we ventured across the Boulevard for some breakfast following a D&D run-in for iced light-n-sweets (note to the d-bags who stood ahead of us in line, whining tired hipsterisms and being rude to the cashiers - go back to Jersey and take your upturned-collar polo shirts with you).

B was feeling adventurous (and it’s his world, after all), so we meandered arbitrarily toward old faithful Mama’s Empanadas (great variety, but can get a bit fast-foody), then he changed his mind so we doubled back to the seventh wonder of Sunnyside, the tri-shaped El Triangulo Bakery, to try something new.

El Tri has a far more enviable dining set-up than half the eats in this ‘hood. Situated on the intersecting corner of Greenpoint and 47th Ave, windows on both sides lend for a glassed-in greenhouse feel. But, y’know, in a good way. Colombian relics, a flat-screen TV (showing Spanish soaps… *spoiler alert* dude just woke up from a coma), and colorful tile patterns adorn the blanco walls, adding to the well-lit, welcoming air. For the record, the bottled drink selection from the cooler is kinda weak, as B and I have stopped in many times in the past only to leave empty-handed, but this time we figured we’d quit our bitching and just hit up the food…

For comparison’s sake, we went with a guava sweet bread pastry and beef empanada (homemade, woohoo!). The counter ladies were sweet and attentive, never breaking from toothy grins even after I lurched outside to regurgitate an errant swig of coffee mid-order.

Eat-in foods are served in wee baskets. Cute. The beef empanada has a perfectly crisped shell - the freshest batches usually come out early. The beef within is shredded (unlike Mama’s) - another unforeseen bonus. Creamy (not chunky or mealy) potatoes, although the outer entity itself could be a bit bigger. Nonetheless, damn satisfying for a $1 snack. And look! Amazing, tangy homemade red sauce for dipping!!!

The guava pastry, B maintains, is the best yet. That’s in comparison to the heavy-hitters Chipichape (too bready), El Buen Sabor (not enough paste), and La Vienesa Bakery (too much paste). Round and slightly moist with glazed granules of sugar sprinkled on top, the soft and sweet dough complements a modest amount of guava paste; a balance that many bakers inevitably fuck up. Air pockets counter the potential density of the block, and also aid in the digestive process. Size is everything, and we like ‘em big. (And once again, can’t beat $1, these days).

It was the perfect amount of nibbling to accompany our D&D uppers, and solidified El Tri in the ol’ weekend rotation. Upon our return, the huevos and yuca desayunos appear worthy of further pursuit.

PS: Tri, please run these pansies out of town, pronto.

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El Triangulo Bakery
44-08 Greenpoint Avenue (b/w 44th and 45th sts)
Sunnyside, NY 11104
718-786-5919