Need locals help / insight for memorable pastry / baking / cookies + fine dining for my daughters trip to NYC next week

[guy_from_Chicago]

greetings foodies!
I'm bringing in my 23 yr old daughter to her 3rd Manhattan trip next sunday and we will be attending Paula Deens life story on tuesday evening - awesome! My daughter is an excellent baker and loves to experience new and exciting tastings. We have reservations at BLT Prime monday evening and the rest of the trip is wide open. All suggestions will be apprecatiated.

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BLT Prime
111 East 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010

[Ckone1999]

Momofuku milk bar in the east village for addictive cookies! I love the cornflake-marshmallow one and the corn cookie. People are crazy about their pies too, but I am not a fan of those.

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Momofuku Milk Bar
251 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

[guy_from_Chicago]

perfect! this is exactly the kind of suggestion we are looking for - marshmellow-cornflake cookies are on the list! thanks much.

[H Manning]

Try the dessert tasting menu at WD 50 for something new and exciting. The desserts at Empellon, Modern Bar Room, and Marea are also wonderful. You can have these at the bar if you don't want to commit to a full dinner.

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WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002

Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

Empellon Taqueria
230 W 4th St, New York, NY 10014

[Cheeryvisage]

What desserts at Marea do you recommend? I really enjoyed their Affogato, but what else do you think are particular standouts?

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Marea
240 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019

[H Manning]

Try the panna cotta on the current menu. In the past I've enjoyed the gianduja, the pear tart, and the torrone. I loved the affogato as well.

[Cheeryvisage]

Thanks!

[uwsister]

Is that the same torrone that was served at Alto? That was very good.

[kathryn]

Next Sunday as in the 9th? Many fine dining restaurants are closed on Sundays. However, it appears you'll be sticking around for a few days, which is good news. Your trip is in less than a week, which is bad news. A lot of our fine dining restaurants fill up for dinner 3-4 weeks in advance.

HOWEVER! It can be easier to get into fine dining restaurants for weekday LUNCH (but reserve ASAP as some will already be fully booked).

For unusual sweets, Doughnut Plant (try the cake doughnuts only, the yeast raised aren't as good) has flavors like tres leches, blueberry, green tea, and more. Check their Facebook for the rotation of flavors.

I am a big fan of the pretzel croissant and/or the baker's (leftovers) muffin at City Bakery.

Victory Garden has goat milk soft serve (don't miss the salted caramel if they have it) and frozen yogurt, with unusual toppings like sungold tomato, honey comb candy, maple marshmallows, havlah.

The Joyride Truck has caffeinated frozen yogurt.

I'd also recommend a trip to Laudree for macarons, Bosie Tea Parlor, Mille-Feuille for croissants, Grom for gelato, Kee's for chocolates.

You might also look into Spot Dessert Bar (Pichet Ong), Kyotofu (Asian desserts), or Chikalicious Dessert Bar for creative, plated desserts served outside your normal dinner setting.

For chefs known for programs @ fine dining restaurants, you should consider:
Brooks Headley at Del Posto
Johnny Iuzzini at Jean Georges -- his name is pretty much synonymous with molten chocolate cake at this point, he does four-part tastings of a flavor like "apple" or "chocolate"
Dominque Ansel at Daniel
Michael Laiskonis at Le Bernardin -- they now have a bar that serves the full prix fixe dinner menu - so if you can't get a reservation, try to walk in, and also don't forget to request the Egg
Karen Demasco's desserts and pastries at Locanda Verde
April Bloomfield's desserts and pastries at The Breslin
Christina Tosi's plated desserts at Momofuku Ko or Ssam Bar
Marc Aumont's desserts at Bar Room at the Modern (note: formal dining room will be closed but the more casual front room is open on Sundays)
Gina de Palma's desserts at Babbo
WD-50 (Alex Stupak has left but it seems like the pastry program is still going strong here)

What and where is your favorite dessert in Manhattan?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/784500

The Best Bakeries in New York: French-Style
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/05/serious-eats-bakery-week-french.html

The Best Bakeries in New York: American-Style
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2011/0...

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WD-50
50 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002

Kee's Chocolates
80 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012

Kyotofu
705 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Babbo
110 Waverly Pl, New York, NY 10011

Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Jean Georges
1 Central Park W, New York, NY 10023

Del Posto
85 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011

City Bakery
3 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011

Le Bernardin
155 W. 51st St., New York, NY 10019

The Modern
9 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019

Momofuku Ko
163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

ChikaLicious
203 E 10th St, New York, NY 10003

Grom
233 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Locanda Verde
377 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013

The Breslin
20 W 29th St, New York, NY 10001

Spot Dessert Bar
13 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10003

Bosie Tea Parlor
10 Morton St, New York, NY 10014

Doughnut Plant
220 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011

Laduree
864 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10021

Mille-feuille
552 LaGuardia Pl, New York, NY 10012

Victory Garden
31 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014

[JungMann]

There is a pop-up market across the street from Madison Square Park featuring baked goods from popular startups Macaron Parlour (bacon-maple, red velvet and classic macarons) and Robicelli's, which is well-known for very creative cupcake and whoopie pie flavors.

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Macaron Parlour
, New York, NY 10002

[tpigeon]

Levain Bakery

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Levain Bakery
167 W 74th St, New York, NY 10023