Biting Commentary in New York: 8 Favorite New York Sweets

Top row, from left: halvah sundae at Russ and Daughters Cafe, macarons from Francois Payard Patisserie, frozen s'more and madeleines from Dominique Ansel.

Bottom row: olive oil coppetta at Otto, butterscotch cashew bars from Amy's Bread, chocolate babka from Breads Bakery, hot fudge sundae from Brooklyn Farmacy.
 

It's all too easy to get caught up in the rush of New York City. The sugar rush that is. After a week, these are the sweets that top my list:

• Halvah sundae at Russ and Daughters Cafe
  This sundae is like sesame nougat candy in ice cream form, drizzled with salted caramel and sprinkled with sesame crumbles.
   
• Macarons from Francois Payard Patisserie (with Laduree a really close second)
  The best macarons outside of Paris. The pistachio and passionfruit flavors are my favorite, but really, I'm not going to turn down any of them.
   
• Frozen s'more and fresh madeleines from Dominique Ansel
  I never found the time to stand in line for a Cronut, but found bliss at Dominique Ansel anyways. The s'more—a warm bruleed marshmallow surrounding a frozen graham-cracker-and-chocolate center—was delightful. And the fresh mini madeleines, baked to order, are always a terrific treat.
   
• Olive oil coppetta at Otto
  An Italian sundae of fruity olive oil gelato and tangerine sorbetto, layered with candied kumquats and finished with a bit of salted fennel brittle. Not too sweet and just the right amount of savory.
   
• Butterscotch cashew bars from Amy's Bread
  When in Chelsea Market, a friend in New York never passes up the chance to get one of these treats. Lucky for me that she shared, otherwise I would have never discovered my new favorite cookie: crunchy, salty cashews, gooey butterscotch, all on a shortbread crust.
   
• Chocolate babka from Breads Bakery
  If you're the kind of person who always wishes there were more chocolate in your chocolate croissant (me!), you'll love this chocolate babka. There's chocolate in every crevice, nook and cranny of this rolled and braided sweet bread. "Very New York," said a friend approvingly when I emerged from Breads, chocolate babka in hand. 
   
• Sundae from Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain
  I'm a sucker for throwback soda fountains, and Brooklyn Farmacy is one of my favorites in the country. It pulls on every nostalgic heartstring with its restored 1920s apothecary building, vintage decor and old-fashioned ice cream sundaes that spill over with thick hot fudge and gobs of fresh whipped cream.