Yes, this title does exist and it is one amazing treat. Plus, it is made from gourmet, local ingredients and is only $4. Where can you get this at once, you ask?

Puddin’ by Clio
102 St. Mark’s (A/1), East Village

Puddin’ is a tiny shop is making a name for itself with its super high-quality puddings created by skilled owner Clio. There are the usual puddings, such as chocolate, butterscotch, and rice, along with signatures like Banana Cream Dream and Coconut Cruise, but when I stopped by this afternoon, I couldn’t resist the ice cold puddin’ pops on an 80 degree afternoon. I chose the Cookies & Cream and Spud tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge, and both were incredible! There were big chunks of cookies in my half-dipped pop and silky smooth ribbons of fudge and peanut butter in hers. These decadent treats are going to be a huge hit this summer. Eat your heart out Bill Cosby, these ain’t your Jell-o Pops!

P.S. Crif Dogs is right down the block and would make a delicious pairing.

Chimney Cake
50-10 Jackson Ave, Long Island City

Just when I thought I had seen nearly every culinary creation NYC has to offer, last weekend I stumbled into a storefront devoted to baking and selling chimney cakes. Yeah, this was a new one for me too. Chimney cake is apparently a traditional wedding pastry that has made by Hungarian grandmothers in Transylvania for hundreds of years. While I doubt Dunkin’ Donuts is intimidated, this tasty cake and a cup of coffee make for a satisfying breakfast or snack. It is more substantial than a croissant, less doughy than a bagel, and similar in taste to brioche. The cylindrical shape of the crusty exterior unravels in a spiral to reveal a 1/4 inch layer of dough in the interior that is akin to a popover, but thicker. It is baked by wrapping the dough around a wooden log, rolling it in sugar and trusting it into the fire. There are many dusted flavors, including chocolate, cinnamon, almond, sesame and ginger. The menu also offers savory chimney cakes and a few other items. These cakes are made with love from owners who believe in their product. And for $4 each, they are a great bargain that you can unravel all morning long…

Wafels & Dinges Truck
31st Street and Ditmars, Astoria
Locations vary

BIG NEWS: One of the best and most popular food trucks in NYC, Wafels & Dinges, has come to Astoria! It’s a neighborhood first, and yes, it is only on Sundays, but based on today’s crowd, it won’t be long before others follow its lead.

This awesome truck has been a favorite for a for years. I almost always get the liege, a soft and chewy waffle, with the speculoos sauce ($5), served warm. Speculoos is a type of biscuit I believe, but the sauce is similar in consistency to Nutella, but with a less nutty flavor. I crave it all the time, and now I can get it without crossing the river! I would love to try some of their savory concoctions as well: bbq pulled pork wafel and bacon-syrup wafel. Those salty-sweet combos must be delicious. Besides the great waffles, the staff is outgoing, friendly, and obviously enjoys their jobs. It’s really nice to see, especially in a location so close to me. Check their site for other locations and carts around NYC.

Sugar Freak
26-18 30th Ave, Astoria

I am sure some form of popcorn pudding has been in existence in Native American or Nebraskan culture for centuries, but this dessert was brand new to me when I ordered it at Sugar Freak recently. After one bite, I was convinced that it should be offered all over this country. It was very sweet, but the popcorn texture kept it from being cloying and provided for a full dessert and not an insubstantial pudding cup. Corn pudding isn’t new, but using popped corn is the stroke of genius here. Popcorn seems like such an obvious combination that should be included in the pudding cannon with chocolate, rice, bread and tapioca. After all, everything in our culture is basically made from corn.

Do not be mistaken by its name, while Sugar Freak offers a few quality desserts, it is actually a real deal restaurant cooking up Louisiana cuisine in the heart of Astoria. The Cajun/Creole offerings are some some of the best NYC has to offer, with favorites like crawfish etouffee and oyster po’ boys. The muffulettas are excellent, with quality ingredients on an authentic huge round roll. For a great $10 lunch, split the veggie muffuletta ($15) and a side of red beans & rice ($5). You won’t be sorry. If you are feeling saucy, try the spicy creole bloody mary, and don’t forget the popcorn pudding.

Astor Bake Shop
12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria

I wrote a detailed review of our love for Astoria Bake Shop in January 2011, but I have found a new favorite item there that I have to share. Their cupcakes and more elaborate pastries are very good, but what the bakery really excels at are the more basic breads, both savory and sweet. The herb scones are delicious, but my new obsession are their *almond croissants*. I don’t usually crave danish or croissants, but this hybrid is making my mouth water just thinking about it. It is not puffy like a croissant, but is very flakey, yet not too airy. It is more substantial like a danish, yet with a light almond flavor. It is quite remarkable. The rest of Astor Bake Shop’s menu is very good as well. If you live nearby, you’d be a damn fool not to come here. That’s right.

rice pudding - possibly the worst food to photograph

*** I originally posted this review in 2008, but we recently revisited Rice to Riches and it still holds up. While it’s easy to forget about this unique dessert spot, it may be worth a repeat visit. ***

I am usually not a big fan those small storefronts that only sell one item in many varieties. They are good in theory: “Wow, a place that only sells peanuts (or hot dogs or cheesesteaks)!” I am calling them One Trick Ponies until I can think of a better name. Usually the item they make is good, but not good enough to make me a frequent customer. But of course a OTP that makes a sweet treat is something special. Even after you have already had a meal, there is always room for dessert. That’s the main reason for why Rice to Riches has been so successful. The other is that they have not franchised, there is only one location. Whenever I am around Spring Street, no matter what I am doing or whom I am with, rice pudding is always on the menu.

Rice to Riches
37 Spring Street (Mott/Mulberry), NYC

The decor has a definite metallic space-age feel. As you enter you see the sprawling counter of 20 or so pudding varieties. This could be a glimpse of a distant future where all foods come in sweet pudding form. Most of the fun is deciding what flavors and size vat of pudding to consume (Best deal: 2 flavors for $8.50). Category 5 Caramel? Stubborn Banana? Don Cappaccino? Sex Drugs and Rocky Road? It’s difficult. The pudding is delicious, although not cheap. I think most of the inflated prices are due to the non-recyclable thick plastic containers and dishes. It is unconscionable that they use such wasteful packaging. I took mine home and use it as a sugar bowl, but most people won’t. I do love the thick gooey pudding. I believe it is a perfect anytime food. You have to love NYC, a place where a rice pudding only eatery can be a gold mine.

Doughnut Plant
220 West 23rd St (7/8 Ave) | 379 Grand St.

Perfect pillows of glazed dough await for you at this new Chelsea outpost of Doughnut Plant. They have two different kinds of doughnuts, yeast and cake and just enough tables and chairs to enjoy some coffee or tea, too. On this particular visit, we sat down to enjoy two yeast ones: Pumpkin (round) and Peanut Butter and Jelly (square). What I love more than anything about Doughnut Plant’s goods is that they are not overly sweet. The glaze adds just enough sugar, but the cake is synonymous with brioche. The pumpkin doughnut has toasted sunflower seeds adorning it, while the peanut butter and jelly has chunks of peanut caught in its sticky glaze. I wish this plant would grow in my garden.

While I was tempted to repeat the delicious delicacies from Round 1, there are just too many options here. Spud and I had big discussions about this foodie food court and settled on a great porchetta sandwich ($9) from Piccolo’s Cafe with a nice hunk of pork, arugula, mozzarella, carmelized onions and a sweet and spicy aioli. Next was a heaping, messy, bold and tangy pork bun (2 for $6) from Fatty Snack. The final savories were from Asiadog: Sidney ($5)- Thai style
relish with mango, cucumber, red onion, crushed peanuts and Mel & Steve ($4.50)- Asian slaw with sesame seeds. Both were good, but not as bold in flavors as the earlier dishes. I will try Asiadog again, because it is supposed to be amazing. On to dessert, with 6 tiny, delicious donuts ($2!) from Cuzin’s Duzin and an excellent Wancko’s cookie ($3) of peanut butter, chocolate chips and pretzel chunks from Sigmund’s. This was another successful adventure at Mad Sq Eats.

The cheap eats gods have aligned and provided us with a place to taste many eats from top food truck vendors and have included hot sunny weather! On the west side of Madison Square Park, until October 21st, you will find a gathering of amazing food vendors like Wafels & Dinges and Momofuku Milk Bar, plus great beers. With nearly everything priced at under $10, I will have to break down my posts by rounds:

Round 1: For our first visit, we tried Manushe ($6) a rolled flatbread with yogurt, mint, cucumber and spices from upscale Lebanese eatery ilili. Next, we had a Cheddar Truffle Pretzel ($3) from pretzel guru Sigmund’s. Both snacks were tasty, but neither compared to the Tomato Chile Dumplings ($6) at Mehtaphor/Graffiti. These dumplings are made on the spot, with crispy edges and bold flavors, and are ridiculously good. I think Chef Mehta might be a genius. The cannolis from Artisan Stuffed Cannolis provided a sweet dessert (3 for $5). Go with the peanut butter cup in a chocolate shell, it’s always a winner. Skip the Shake Shack line, and check out these awesome vendors. (Thanks for the tip Litza!) Stay tuned for Round 2!

B & W Bakery
614 Main St, Hackensack, NJ

B & W Bakery has, without a doubt, the best crumb cake I have ever had. This isn’t just my opinion, reviewers on Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Roadfood are nearly unanimous about the pride of this institution for over 25 years. Jersey has great blue collar food: pizza, subs, hot dogs, diner grub, and yes, crumb cake. You can enjoy fancy croissants and scones, but this crumb cake really satisfies. When I visited, I mistakenly asked for 2 pieces, and was met with 2 massive 10 inch square slabs of crumb cake! I didn’t realize that one piece actually serves about 8 people! Besides the quantity, the cake is moist, doughy and sweet, and loaded with crumbs. Grab a large coffee and feast on this breakfast treat. It’s only 20 minutes from Midtown.