East Village Food Adventure - Part 5

Our last stop on the tour was Cecel Crepe Café, and despite the fact that I was well past the point of “full,” I can always find a little extra room for anything crepe or Nutella-related. These two items, especially when served together, hold a very special place in my heart…and my stomach.

It wasn’t until I spent a semester in Paris during college that I discovered the heaven-sent chocolate hazelnut spread known as Nutella. I’m embarrassed (or maybe proud) to admit that I had at least one Nutella crepe each week, sometimes for a snack, sometimes late-night, and always delicious.

So, I like to consider myself a true, knowledgeable crepe connoisseur. This is not to say I could make them on my own (I wish!) because it definitely takes a large round griddle and a very steady hand. But, after watching crepes being made countless times, I saw how much batter should be poured, how much Nutella should be spread (while the crepe is still on the griddle so the Nutella can melt), and how the crepes should be folded.

What better way to round out a fantastic food adventure than with dessert, right? Wrong. Unfortunately. It wasn't soon after NYC Food Guy and Miss Menu arrived at Cecel Crepe Cafe that I realized our food adventure wasn't going to end on the high note we had hoped for. I ordered a small crepe with just Nutella. Simple enough, right?

Somehow, the "chef" managed to mess it up in every way possible. He didn't put enough batter onto the griddle, which made the crepe itself really flimsy. He put refrigerated cream onto it, which made what should be a hot crepe very cold. Then, when he went to put on the Nutella, instead of opening up a jar, he took out a squeeze bottle and squirted imitation, watered-down "hazelnut spread" onto the crepe. The end result was a mushy, cold, terrible excuse for a crepe. I know this may sound harsh, but I think it's time for the chef/owner should try to find a new calling.

There are plenty of great crepes places in NYC, so I'll definitely be planning an outing soon to satisfy my Nutella crepe craving. All in all, this East Village food adventure was a huge success. I was able to try a lot of new places and new foods, all for under $25. Stay tuned for the next food adventure!

Cecel Crepe Cafe
135 1st Avenue
b/t St. Marks Place & 9th Street
Menu Pages listing

All Treat, No Trick

Mr. Softee may have met his match when it comes to serving sweets via a truck. Meet "Sugar," the Treats Truck. While not as numerous as Mr. Softee, Sugar sells delicious, homemade baked goods from a different location around the city each day.

Midtown Lunch had reported a few weeks ago that Sugar was sick (aka in the repair shop), but I am pleased to report that he was nursed back to health and is back on the streets. Lucky for me, he was at his 45th St & 6th Ave location today, and I was able to finally experience the magic.

I walked past the truck on the way to pick up lunch and noticed a huge line at the truck. When we got back to our desks, we saw that my boss had left a co-worker and me packages of mini caramel creme sandwich cookies as a thank you for work on a big project last week. This was great...I get to try goodies from the Treats Truck without having to wait in line in the cold. The mini cookies were delicious...very fresh and very homemade tasting.

I went to the Treats Truck website, and learned that they have a pretty extensive (mouth-watering) menu. Their location schedule is posted, as well as information for placing delivery orders. This is really handy since Sugar doesn't play the annoying music that Mr. Softee does! If the Treats Truck comes to your neighborhood, definitely stop by and pick up a treat!

The Treats Truck
various locations
website

Max(?) and the Chocolate Factory

After dinner last night at Otto, we were definitely too full for dessert, but weren't ready to call it a night. I came up with a compromise...Max Brenner. If you have never been to Max Brenner, the experience can be summed up in one word. CHOCOLATE. The scent of chocolate fills the air, everything is decorated in shades of brown, and there are pipes full of chocolate running through the restaurant. A chocolate lover's dream, or as Max Brenner calls it, a chocolate love story.

So you might be asking, why are we going to a chocolate/dessert restaurant after just finishing a huge meal? Well in addition to the desserts covered in chocolate (chocolate covered waffles, chocolate crepes, chocolate mousse, etc.) and a full savory menu, they also have a coffee bar.

Now, I'm not a coffee drinker, but I love a good cup of hot chocolate. And lucky for us, Max Brenner is known for his hot chocolate. It's a little more expensive than Starbuck's, but it is about 100 times better. When you order, you're able to choose between dark, milk, and white chocolate. I was a little disappointed when I saw the tiny cup it came in, but after taking one sip, I quickly realized why it's so small...this was the richest (and best) hot chocolate I have ever tasted.

If you're in the Union Square area, and are experiencing a major sweet tooth, Max Brenner is the spot for you.

Some suggestions (and this comes from this another visit as well as last night):
- The savory crepes (while not made of chocolate) are fantastic, especially the Smoked Turkey Mushroom Crepe
- The Munchies Waffle is unreal...possibly even better than Belgian waffles...in Belgium.
- Order the hot chocolage in the Hug Mug. It's a special mug that Max Brenner designed to give you the ultimate, cozy hot chocolate experience.

Max Brenner
Broadway
b/t 13th & 14th Streets
website
Menu Pages listing