A Dominique Ansel Cronut, Springtime in Brooklyn and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

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This past weekend, while E was working, I decided to hop a New Jersey Transit train to New York City.  Why sit at home when I could wander?

After a quick forty minute ride, I was in Pennsylvania Station, right in the middle of everything. Where to first?!

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn

I had been DYING to try one of Dominique Ansel Cronut (they turned 3 years old yesterday) so I hopped on the subway down to Soho. Maybe the line wouldn’t be ridiculously long? One could only hope!

Within minutes I was getting off at Spring Street and walking to the Dominique Ansel Bakery storefront. At 10:00 AM (they open at 8:00 AM during the week and on Saturdays and 9:00 AM on Sundays) there was already a line for Cronuts that ran all the way down the block! I guess I wasn’t the only one with a hankering for a Cronut!  The line was FILLED with tourists, all clamoring for a taste of the famous sweet treat.  I may have been the only one currently living in the tri-state area.

I found out from my fellow line mates that they only sell one flavor of Cronut each month. The May flavor is Brown Sugar Rhubarb with Lemon Thyme Sugar. The flavor combination was thankfully right up my alley!

There were about twenty people in front of me but the line moved surprisingly fast. Within thirty minutes I was INSIDE the bakery! I was expecting to be standing outside for at least an hour. Expectations already exceeded!

Once inside, I immediately understood the hype. The pretty little pastries were adorable and looked delectable.  You could smell the sugar everywhere. I was in HEAVEN!

I heard that while the Cronut is what Chef Ansel is famous for, his other pastries are even better.  Unfortunately, I had a singular focus, the Cronut!  Next time I am getting Penny the Pig, “a classic French religieuse that consists of a double-decker cream puff filled with fresh strawberry jam and honey rose mascarpone cream.” Doesn’t that just sound divine!?

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn - A Dominique Ansel Cronut by popular New Jersey foodie blogger What's For Dinner Esq.Little Piggy PastriesTRAVEL: A Cronut, Springtime in Brooklyn and Lemon Ricotta PancakesAll Of The Goodies!TRAVEL: A Cronut, Springtime in Brooklyn and Lemon Ricotta PancakesAfter waiting for another ten minutes inside, I picked out and paid for my Cronut (each person is only allowed to buy a maximum of two each) and hurried outside. I HAD to try it IMMEDIATELY.

Unfortunately, it was around this time that E called and asked what I was up to. After I told him, he asked if I could wait to try the Cronut with him.  I begrudgingly obliged. Instead I only took photos with it until his afternoon arrival.

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn - A Dominique Ansel Cronut by popular New Jersey foodie blogger What's For Dinner Esq.Someone Is Excited!TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in BrooklynDITTOTRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in BrooklynMy Brown Sugar Rhubarb with Lemon Thyme Sugar Cronut In ALL Of Her Glory!TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn - A Dominique Ansel Cronut by popular New Jersey foodie blogger What's For Dinner Esq.#agirlandhercronut #agirlandherdonut

Hat: Janessa Leone, Jacket: Everlane, Shirt: J.Crew, Bag: Lo & Sons, Bracelet: Alex and Ani

After the thrill and excitement of FINALLY getting my hands on a Cronut, I was ready to do something a little more relaxing and maybe a little less touristy.

E and I recently became members of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and we hadn’t yet been able to visit and see the cherry blossoms. The past few weeks have flown by!

While I knew that peak bloom had passed (we missed it by ONE WEEK), I thought that seeing post peak might still be worth my while.  I am so happy that I decided to go! The cherry blossoms, while definitely past their prime, were still gorgeous. The petals were soft and falling everywhere. There was a blanket of pink petals covering the grass. And while the cherry blossoms were no longer blooming, the bluebells and tulips were in their prime and absolutely GLORIOUS!
TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in BrooklynBoots: Loeffler RandallTRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in BrooklynJacket: Everlane, Jeans: AYR, Boots: Loeffler Randall, Hat: Janessa Leone, Bag: Lo & Sons, Shirt: J.Crew
TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in BrooklynAfter wandering throughout the garden, I was HUNGRY.  It was around now that E made it into the Brooklyn. He met up with my brother and I for some late brunch at Krupa Grocery. You may remember them from my last post on New York City (see HERE).

The last time we went, my brother ordered the lemon ricotta pancakes.  While I loved my avocado toast, I watched him eat every last bite of his pancakes with envy. They looked and smelled AMAZING.

I wasn’t going to make the same mistake this time! E and I shared an order of the pancakes. Sharing is caring. After all we did still have Cronut to eat!  The pancakes were just as I imagined they would be. Fluffy, with a hint of lemon! The blueberry compote perfectly complimented the lemon. Not too sweet with just a little tartness.  I would order these over and over again. They actually reminded me of the pancakes I ate at Archetype Napa (see HERE).  Thankfully, Brooklyn is much closer then Napa!

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn

After the pancakes it was time to head back into New York City.  E and I planned to have dinner with a friend at Luzzo’s La Pizza Napoletana in the East Village.  Because you can never have too many carbs in one day!

Before dinner, we HAD to try the Cronut…and of course we HAD to try it in front of a mural. What I didn’t realize when I took my first bite was that the Cronut was PACKED with filling. A big glob of filling landed right on my boot!

The Cronut was even better then I had expected. There were layers upon layers of flaky croissant filled with rhubarb jam. Every bite blew me away! I can’t wait to see what Chef Ansel has in store for the month of June (my birthday month)!

TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn - A Dominique Ansel Cronut by popular New Jersey foodie blogger What's For Dinner Esq.Going In For My First Bite of Cronut!!!TRAVEL: A Cronut and Springtime in Brooklyn - A Dominique Ansel Cronut by popular New Jersey foodie blogger What's For Dinner Esq.What a perfect way to end the day. With a Cronut in my belly and Cronut filling on my shoe. It doesn’t get much better then that!