Shake Shack April 2011 Flavors - Any Must-Haves?

[tpigeon]

Monday - Coconut Caramel

Tuesday- Strawberry Pistachio

Wednesday - Cheesecake Brownie

Thursday - Gianduja

Friday - Fluffernutter

Saturday - Pancakes and Bacon

Sunday - Carrot Cake

Pancakes and bacon sounds interesting...Gianduja sounds good. Also want to try fluffernutter.

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Shake Shack
Madison Ave and E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

Shake Shack
366 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024

Shake Shack
691 8th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Shake Shack
154 East 86th Street, New York, NY 10028

[FoodDabbler]

I was able to try the pancakes & bacon on Saturday. It's a fascinating flavor. It's a challenging flavor. It's definitely a must-have flavor. But it wasn't, to me, a can-have-lots-and-lots-of flavor. The taste of bacon was very strong in the batch I got (44th St.), and it got overpowering after a while. I was left with a lingering aftertaste of bacon. Not a bad thing, but not necessarily a great thing. I asked how they made it, and was told they mix in bacon fat.

My batch did not have bacon pieces. There's a tiny subthread above between tpigeon, ellenost and kathryn on the virtues of bacon bits. Without even having tried the bacon-bit version, I think I can safely say/speculate that I'd have preferred that. The custard wasn't as salty as I was expecting, either, nor was I sure where the pancakes came in -- perhaps a hint of pancake batter in the base? A softer bacon flavor in the base (or even plain vanilla) with a more pronounced pancakey texture, and with lots of salty, crunchy bacon bits mixed in might be an interesting variation. I tried pairing a small scoop of the p&b with a small scoop of Il Laboratorio maple (straight, not the maple-walnut) but the gelato was too thin to stand up to the rich thickness of the custard.

I'm talking about the pint I got, of course. As we've seen in these SS custard threads there appear to be significant variations from one location to another and one week to the next.

[Bloombee]

Tried the p&b flavor at the upper west side location - no bacon bits and I thought it would be more aptly named maple syrup and bacon, but overall thought it was a good flavor experience and certainly glad I tried it.

[tpigeon]

The pancake custard on mine did not have much, if any, bacon flavor. At least 90% of the flavor was provided by the bacon pieces. I wonder if it the same up in nyc, when they serve it with bacon pieces.

[ellenost]

Both times that I had the P&B (once with no bacon bits and once with tiny bacon bits), there was a strong bacon flavor-actually that's all I tasted. Not a problem for me. BTW, already finished the pint from Saturday.

[tpigeon]

I am officially retracting this statement. I was not paying enough attention. There is plenty of bacon flavor in the custard itself without the bacon bits.

[kathryn]

My friend went to the MSP location last weekend and reported bacon bits in her custard, BTW.

[MVNYC]

Tried it today on the UES, only one lone piece of bacon in a small cup. I will report however that it was very good. A nice play between the sweetness of maple syrup and the smokiness of bacon. The mouthfeel was what really got to me. It coated the tongue the same way eating animal fat does and unlike typical dairy products. A small cup was more than enough as it was pretty rich

[uwsister]

Missed it yesterday, once again - I didn't realize it until this morning. I guess 30th is my last chance. Must remember, must remember, must remember...

[coasts]

i grabbed a pint of it this saturday. MVNYC's comment is spot on. no bacon pieces at the UWS location though.

[uwsister]

That's OK with me. I'm actually hoping bacon flavor won't be too dominant.

I even wrote it on my datebook. Saturday - must go to Shake Shack for custard.

[FoodDabbler]

I gave p&b another try on Saturday (44th St). This one had a much better balance. The bacon flavor was less pronounced and more smoky. I'd put aside some custard from the previous week in case I got a chance to compare versions, and there was a significant difference between the two. The previous week's was much more strongly bacon-fatty. There were no bacon bits in the scoop I got two days ago (or, as I reported above, in the pint the previous week).

Since kathryn had reported bacon bits at MSP I went there yesterday afternoon for a day-old pint. They were out. The clientele there -- improbably thin for burger fans -- must have a more adventurous palate than at 44th where I've seen customer after customer ask for a taste then reject it. I'm not a man who takes "no bacon" for an answer. I shot up to the UWS and got a pint there. Same balanced smoky flavor as at 44th this past Saturday, but alas, as coasts also reports, no bacon bits.

[ellenost]

I'm going to try to get over to the UES location this Saturday (probably late) to try it again. So far since tpigeon has been running these monthly threads (thank you tpigeon!), the p&b has been my favorite flavor.

[tpigeon]

Agreed on the P&B being the best flavor. As far as starting the threads, let's just say it's a labor of custard love.

[ellenost]

Stopped by tonight and bought 2 pints of the P&B. It was kind of fun to bypass the long line to buy the custard. I was done within 5 minutes. Thank goodness for the "C" line! Looking forward to the flavors of May.

[tpigeon]

I just tried carrot cake and really liked it. No actual cake in it but if you like carrot cake you will definitely like this flavor.

[FoodDabbler]

Had gianduja today. I agree that it's excellent. A rich, lush chocolate-hazelnut mouthfeel, with a lovely, faint crackle in the texture. Powdered wafer perhaps?

I had some of the day-old cheesecake brownie as well. Didn't care for it much. Although there are lots of brownie fragments visible, the flavor of cheesecake is too dominant.

[ellenost]

Agree with both you and tpigeon that the gianduja is excellent. Very rich chocolate hazelnut flavor. Bought a pint; I expect it to last for a few days. Too rich to take more than a half cup.

[FoodDabbler]

You're a better woman than I. My pint will not last the night.

Just kidding. You're right that it's very, very rich. But I have a Nutella fan visiting tomorrow who'll help me consume it.

[ellenost]

I'm hoping to stop by on Saturday to get a fresh batch of the Pancakes & Bacon (last time I bought it as "day old" that was still great).

[FoodDabbler]

And I'm working on changing my schedule so as to be in Manhattan on Saturday. Pancakes & Bacon sound too intriguing to be left just for you.

[ellenost]

Don't worry, I'll leave you some :-).

[ellenost]

Just stopped by the UES Shake Shack on my way home from the theatre (actually got off the bus 2 stops early) to buy another pint of the Pancakes & Bacon. I absolutely LOVE this flavor. Tiny pieces of bacon this time. Do like it better "fresh" (as opposed to day old). Not sure whether the pint will last the night. I hope FoodDabbler gets to try this flavor.

[tpigeon]

Good to know that the UES is the same as miami. This flavor is awesome. Which is better with bits of bacon or without?

[ellenost]

With the bits of bacon (of course everything tastes better with bits of bacon :-)).

[kathryn]

What kind of question is that, tpigeon?!!

I like ellenost's answer.

[tpigeon]

I did not have the opportunity to try both as I live in miami. I had my strong suspicions which I would prefer but I was just making sure I wasn't missing out on anything ;).

Let it be known that I am not afraid to ask the stupid obvious questions. That's what I am here for.

[RCC]

We had the Strawberry Pistachio for lunch today and we were hard pressed to find the pistachio flavor. It's good, but ornery good, and I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

[nightkitchen]

I agree you wouldn't know there was pistachio in there. Kind of disappointing if you love pistachio. Basically tasted like a lighter cherry garcia to me.

[rose water]

even if you concentrate really intensely, and imagine really hard, there's no discernible pistachio. the strawberry is tasty enough, but nothing i would've gotten a pint of on its own

[steakrules85]

Wow do any of those sound bad?

I love my sweets and really hope I'll be in the city near Shake Shack one day to sample these.

Most appealing- Strawberry Pistachio, Fluffernutter, Pancakes and Bacon, Cheesecake brownie.

[tpigeon]

I tried leftover Gianduja today and it was great. It would have been even better if it wasn't in the freezer for a day. Highly recommend going thursday served out of the machine.

[FoodDabbler]

I began my April tastings today. Coconut Caramel is a low key flavor: delicious but not exciting. The coconut registers softly on the front of your tongue and the caramel on the swallow. Initially both flavors seem in balance, but after a few spoonfuls the caramel aftertaste starts its mouth domination. I had to cleanse my palate with a sip of beer and some fries before I could taste the coconut again. It was a pleasant enough experience and I might have it again this month, but I wouldn't feel my life was incomplete if I didn't.

I begged them to sell me a pint of day-before-yesterday's flavor (p&b), but they were resolute in their insistence that they couldn't. I'm hardly ever in Manhattan on a Saturday, so I shall have to live this one vicariously through tpigeon, ellenost, and kathryn's husband.

[kathryn]

Pancakes and bacon: my husband thought it tasted great and loved the pieces of fried bacon on top. I thought the custard itself tasted more like yellow cake. Fun and worth a try but not my thing.

[tpigeon]

Did you try it last year or do you have some kind of shake shack super powers that allow you to try flavors early?

[kathryn]

I tried it last year, they've done it 2-3 times now.

[tpigeon]

I'm with your husband. I really liked it. The bacon is really salty though, you might want to mix it in to the custard before eating to balance it a bit more.

[ellenost]

Just tried the Pancakes and Bacon (yesterday's flavor that was being sold by the pint and at a discount). While there were no pieces of bacon, the custard tasted completely like bacon which for me was wonderful! I'll try to get over to Shake Shack on another Saturday to see whether there are pieces of bacon when bought on Saturday. Very pleased with the "day old" Pancakes and Bacon.

[tpigeon]

Just had Pankcakes and Bacon again. Definitely a must-have.

[FoodDabbler]

Dang. I see I shall have to make special arrangements to be in Manhattan on a Saturday. Custard is too serious to leave all the tasting to you, ellenost, and kathryn.

kathryn: have you noticed significant variations from one appearance to another in other flavors, as well? Several of us found variations even within an incarnation of flavors such as Maple Walnut Spice in March.

[kathryn]

To be fair most of my tastings are at the MSP location since it's a 5 minute walk from my office. I only go to the UWS, Times Square, and UES locations if I happen to be going to something else nearby.

[kathryn]

Tried it today, at the UWS Shack. They've definitely changed it up to no bacon topping and lots of bacon flavor in the custard. Tasty. Borders on Momofuku Milk Bar territory thought my husband, due to the savory nature.

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Momofuku Milk Bar
15 W 56th St, New York, NY 10019

[tpigeon]

Weird. Mine had tons of bacon topping.

[L2k]

Same here. Had it in midtown, no bacon on top, but delicious!

[uwsister]

That sounds like right up my alley. Next Saturday!

[tpigeon]

Fluffernutter is good but nothing special.

[ellenost]

Wow! You must be psychic. I was just thinking of stopping at Shake Shack to try it. What does it taste like?

[tpigeon]

Not psychic. Just live close to shake shack. I am a bit surprised you are interested in this flavor because the nutter is peanut butter. For me, the flavors were a bit too mild to make it great on both the marshmellow and peanut butter side.

[ellenost]

Sorry, you're absolutely right that I wouldn't like it because of the peanut butter. I do love narshmallow fluff, but didn't realize the nut was peanut butter. Thanks for pointing this out.

[loratliff]

Pancakes and bacon? Wow! Can't decide if it sounds good or not. Although, strawberry pistachio sounds amazing.

[ConOrama]

That sounds like an April Fools Joke, lol

[ellenost]

Thanks for posting the flavors; I saw the sign in the window this morning, and agree that pancakes and bacon, and gianduja sound great. Also interested in coconut caramel and cheesecake brownie. I'm going to be out of town next week (yearly visit to LV), but I look forward to trying them when I return.

[tpigeon]

Just bring back some lotus of siam leftovers and all will be forgiven. Have a good trip.

[FoodDabbler]

As I said last month, you're a good hound. As reliable as a good swiss clock. I'm not in Manhattan right now (have been there only six days in the last three weeks), but will be around more starting next week so will begin sampling the flavors.