Shauna Eats Sunnyside

One Fine Almond Croissant

there’s nothing that pleases B more than the perfect almond croissant.

in the past, i’d never been one to proactively pursue almond paste… something about the nutty fragrance hanging in the back of my throat always felt, i don’t know, sort of sterile. give me molar-invasive chocolatey caramel nougat fabulousness any day of the week, but one thing my unsophisticated american sweets-sensitized palate never pined for was almond paste.

ever since i’ve known him, B has frantically scoured the fresh-baked shelves of any bakery we set foot in. i’ve always been convinced he just likes pronouncing the word “cwah-soh-nt.” for months, he’s had a feeling about la marjolaine bakery & pastry… repeatedly making the hike up skillman, in densely humid weather, in attempts to sample this decadent french specialty. the fact that every time we’ve hit up la marj they’ve been fresh-out of almond croissants has only added to the treat’s lore in our household: an unfulfilled promise of delicately layered, crispy nut-infused pastry that, until recently, has remained elusive…

it wasn’t until our iced coffee challenge ‘08 that B (savoring the comfort of adidas slides) came face-to-face with a worthy recipient of his heavenly pastry pride in sunnyside, and i was finally able to experience the ecstasy that a well-constructed almond croissant is capable of invoking. BEHOLD: rampant crispy, toasted almonds, glistening streams of potently sweet almond paste, fresh cake-like bread with the right amount of oven-kissed flaky crackle. naturally paired with la marjolaine’s rich and creamy french roast - sweet jesus, we’re hooked…

(honorable mention to macchiato espresso bar on east 44th st in midtown for the tastiest choco-drizzled almond croissant we’ve recently laid lip on).

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la marjolaine french bakery
50-17 skillman ave (b/w 50th and 51st)
woodside, ny 11377
(718) 651-0495

macchiato espresso bar
141 east 44th st (b/w lexington and 3rd ave)
new york, ny 10017
(212) 867-6772