Take A BITE Out Of Sheepshead: Four Spots For Dessert That Are Worth The Trip
Looking to satisfy that craving for sweets? There will be more than a few options with The BITE 2015: Sheepshead coming up on Thursday, May 28, where more than 20 restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and markets will be serving up 50-plus dishes that showcase the wide variety of cuisines available in the area. Here are a four participants with some of the area’s best sweets.
(DEAL: It’s not too late to buy tickets for The BITE, and now you can save some cash. Use promo code “Bite35” to bring the cost of a single ticket down to $35, or get two tickets for $45 by using the promo code “Bite2.”)
Jomart Chocolate, 2917 Avenue R, (718) 375-1277 Artisanal before it became hip, Jomart Chocolates is one of Brooklyn’s oldest candy-makers. The owner Michael is a third-generation chocolatier, and all the goodies – the truffles and hand-dipped classics, the chocolate bars and more – are made on-site. We went a bit off the beaten path and had a fruit salami, which we described as “incredibly dense and insanely chewy roll … a taste sensation.” But we’re also huge fans of the chocolate dipped marshmallows and, well, just about everything else Michael cooks up.
T&D Bakery, 2307 Avenue U, (718) 768-2267 One of the few classic Italian bakeries left in the neighborhood, and also a multi-generational family business, T&D Bakery is one of the places I just can’t pass and not go in. The scent of fresh-baked cookies and breads just wreaks havoc on my dopamine transmitters. Try the fresh-filled cannoli, pluck favorites from the vast Italian cookie selection, or try a danish as we did. Don’t forget about the holiday favorites, like the St. Joseph Zeppole. T&D also makes custom cakes like a boss, as we learned when they surprised us with a Sheepshead Bites cake at last year’s event.
Rocca Cafe, 2712 Emmons Avenue, (718) 769-2525 The transformation of a rundown Dunkin’ Donuts into the beautiful waterfront cafe, Rocca, remains one of the best new things along the Emmons Avenue strip. While the restaurant serves kebabs and other Turkish and Mediterranean fare, the real star is the desserts. Be it pretty little bowls of gelato or hunks of cakes, it’s hard to go wrong. The best treats are those the restaurant’s owners know well: check out the kunefe, a traditional Turkish cheese pastry soaked in sugary, rose-water infused syrup, or go with the more familiar baklava.
Masal Cafe, 1901 Emmons Avenue (The Lundy’s Building), (718) 891-7090 As the granddaddy of Emmons Avenue’s Turkish cafes, Masal’s greatest accomplishments are bringing back life to the struggling Lundy’s building with a vibrant, sprawling cafe, and introducing neighbors to the gut-busting kumpir – the Turkish version of a loaded baked potato that makes ours looks silly and diminutive. But the restaurant also has an expansive dessert menu filled with Turkish and Italian treats, as well as classic cakes and more. Our favorites are the various coppas – the gelato-based sundaes that cap off any summer day, and the loaded waffles.
Hungry for a taste? Each of these spots will be at The BITE: Sheepshead. Tickets are on now sale nowfor the event taking place Thursday, May 28 at 7pm at the waterfront venue Baron DeKalb – Knights of Columbus, 3000 Emmons Avenue in Sheepshead Bay. Our readers can access a discount by using promo code “Bite35″ at checkout, bringing the cost of admission down to just $35. There are limited tickets available, so get yours before it’s too late!