bakeries Archives - Adventure, baby!

Baked: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Red Hook, New York

July 30, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, New York Food, Red Hook / 0 comment

Baked is a Red Hook bakery created by entrepreneurs, Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito, with their dream to “Open a great American bakery that is not a cupcake shop”. Baked was born in January 2005 in the neighborly neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn. It is now so well-known that people from all over Brooklyn and even Manhattan trek out to Red Hook (hey, there’s not much transport, it’s totally a trek!) just to try their treats.

The cafe is cute and cosy—with a long line snaking around the register of fellow cake-lovers. The booth cross-benches are filled with people on laptops and friends catching up over snacks.

With such a huge selection of treats, it’s difficult to know what to try. They’re well-known for their giant marshmallows, and, even though they didn’t want to be a cupcakery, their cupcakes are known to be pretty good too.

Baked: kid-friendly cafes, Red Hook, New York - via brunchwithmybaby.com — Where the magic happens!

We sat in a booth at the back where we could park the stroller behind us. The kitchen is next to the tables, with an open glass window to check out the baking in progress. Older kids will enjoy seeing their favourite treats being made before their eyes. Cheese just wanted to smash the glass jars.

I chose the intriguingly named “Coca-Cola Bunt Cake“. Disappointingly, it only had the slightest hint of Coca-Cola flavour in the icing—otherwise it was just another delicious chocolate cake.

Alec tried the Focaccia with Spinach, Tomato and Cheese as he’s not a big cake-lover (I know, right? How are we even married?!). He said it was delicious and would order it again.

We ordered Cheese a Scone of the Day in chocolate and banana. It was a good scone, but sadly Cheese just wanted the cake, of course.

Last bite: Join the rest of New York and take a day trip to Red Hook for delicious baked goods from Baked. Allow time for wandering around the quaint houses and parks in the area—and perhaps get the ferry home!

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Minimal.
Easy access: No. There are a few steps to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Baked
359 Van Brunt St
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 222 0345
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm Sat-Sun 8am-7pm

Get directions.

Butter Lane Cupcakes: Kid-Friendly Bakeries, Park Slope, New York

June 6, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food, Park Slope / 0 comment

All I need is to hear the word “cupcakes” and “new location”, and I’m there, basically the next weekend. This was the case with the new Park Slope opening of Butter Lane, a cupcakery based, until now, just in the East Village. Butter Lane is known for having something for everyone—you can mix and match your cake base and frostings, meaning that even the pickiest eater can “design” (kind of—they’re pre-made, but you get my point) their perfect cupcake.

Butter Lane - kid-friendly bakeries, Park Slope, New York - via brunchwithmybaby.com — Cheese loved drawing on the chalk table.

Our afternoon tea break at Butter Lane came on a steamy hot Sunday, after a day in nearby Prospect Park. The cafe is a decent size, with high counters and kitchen stools, decorated with pastel KitchenAid mixers. Nestled in between the tables is a kids’ table and chair set, the perfect size for toddlers. The table is embedded with a chalk drawing area and there is a box of large chalk pieces for little kids to busy themselves while parents line up for cupcakes—and then devour them.

As I mentioned earlier, Butter Lane let you choose your perfect cupcake combination. Choose your base cake (vanilla, chocolate, banana), then your frosting. Try a seasonal special (we had options like chocolate malt and key lime) or a classic favourite like caramel, raspberry (my favourite!) and sea salt chocolate.

I find it hard to chose a single cupcake with so many options before me, so I had to get two (one for now, one for later!). I picked up a vanilla cupcake with raspberry frosting, and a banana cupcake with caramel. The first was definitely my favorite, just because I love raspberry so much. The vanilla cake base was light and fluffy, and the frosting just tasted like a whole bunch of raspberries crushed up and spread all over it. Holy moly, amazing. The banana cupcake I saved till later, and it was also really delicious. A dense base with big chunks of banana, and the caramel frosting was light and fluffy—probably not the best combination, in retrospect—next time I’d do banana with cream cheese, or vanilla with caramel, I think.

Butter Lane also do baking classes (in both locations) for both adults and kids. What could be sweeter than that?!

Last bite: The perfect place to stop off for a sweet treat before or after (or before AND after!) a trip to Prospect Park with your kids. Pick your perfect base and frosting to create your dream cupcake.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: Yes, plenty of room for strollers.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No. But, come on. CUPCAKES!

Butter Lane Cupcakes Park Slope
240 7th Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: (718) 369 0466
Prices:$
Hours: Daily 11am-8pm

Get directions.

Get Easter Treats at Betty Bakery; Kid-friendly Cafes Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, NY

March 30, 2013 / Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food / 0 comment

We dropped by our local bakery, Betty’s, this morning to pick up some delicious Easter snacks. If you’re like us, you enjoy eating your way through Easter. Yum! Happy Easter everyone!

Marzipan Bunnies – Betty’s Bakery, Boerum HIll

Easter cake and cookies – Betty’s Bakery, Boerum Hill.

Easter Cookies – Betty’s Bakery, Boerum Hill.

Petits Fours – Betty’s Bakery, Boerum Hill.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No. There is space for a few strollers in the store however – we’ve fit three at once and still had room for other customers.
Easy access: No. There is only one step, but it’s a narrow door frame and tricky to manoeuvre the stroller in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Betty Bakery
448 Atlantic Ave,
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 246 2402
Hours: Tues-Thurs 7:30am-7pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Closed Mondays.

Get directions.

Betty Bakery; Kid-friendly Bakeries and Cafes, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, New York

March 26, 2013 / Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Bites, New York, New York Food / 2 Comments

Betty Bakery is the place to stop in Boerum Hill when your sweet tooth is getting the better of you. The bakery was opened in 2006, by renowned cake designers Cheryl Kleinman and Ellen Baumwoll. A touch retro, a touch modern, it’s the go-to place n the neighbourhood for cupcakes, custom cakes, cookies and hot chocolate.

Kids hoping for snacks. Betty Bakery, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.

What to try: In summer, you absolutely have to have their strawberry lemonade. They also do a strawberry lemonade cupcake that will delight your tastebuds. In winter, get a hot chocolate and mini palmier to go – or perch on a stool in the bakery and take cover from the nasty elements outside.

Mini palmiers. Betty’s Bakery, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.

Betty’s loves to celebrate special occasions and seasons, so it’s the perfect place to drop in and pick up last-minute Easter and passover treats.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No. There is space for a few strollers in the store however – we’ve fit three at once and still had room for other customers.
Easy access: No. There is only one step, but it’s a narrow door frame and tricky to manoeuvre the stroller in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Betty Bakery
448 Atlantic Ave,
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 246 2402
Prices: $$
Hours: Tues-Thurs 7:30am-7pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 11am-5pm. Closed Mondays.
Get directions.

Chocolate Attack at Jacques Torres; Kid-friendly Places To Eat, DUMBO, Brooklyn

March 10, 2013 / Brooklyn Bites, DUMBO, New York, New York Food / 2 Comments

Admission: I have a huge chocolate addiction. After a sunny day turned cold, we head to our go-to place for delicious chocolate in DUMBO, Jacques Torres. Here’s what you need to know about Jacques Torres. The hot chocolate is so think it’s like mud. Delicious, but there is a high chance you’ll feel ill after drinking it. Don’t be weak though, order it while the weather is still crisp. The signature cookies are amazing – huge chunks of chocolate and minimal actual cookie. Planning to take home some chocolate for later? Try our favourites, the chocolate-covered almonds. They’re so moreish that they won’t last the subway ride home.

Take home hot chocolate mix or a giant Easter bunny.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No.
Easy access: No. There are a few steep steps to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Jacques Torres
62 Water St,
Brooklyn, NY
Phone: (718) 875 1269
Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-8pm Sun 10am-6pm

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