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Adventure to Maman

06/22/18 | Bakeries, Food, Lavender

Yesterday I checked out a cute little bakery cafe called Maman – and I will definitely be back! While I’ve been trying to be reasonably frugal while in New York, I also want to take advantage of the numerous gourmet options while I’m here. I particularly love coffee shops and bakeries, and could squander a lot of money there quite easily. However, I’m also quite productive in such places – I love the ambience, and the light chatter that provides (most of the time) just the right amount of noise to get things done. Thus, I decided that I can probably afford to treat myself once each week; to explore one cute new coffee shop while working on various research/MCAT studying/other items of my to-do list – or simply while reading a book for fun. As it turns out, Maman may ruin my plan of visiting a new place each week, because I’ve already decided I have to return!

I found Maman through an online search of the best bakeries/coffee shops in NYC near me, and had seen online that they had an intriguing assortment of filled croissants. When I arrived, my eye was immediately drawn to a set of large croissants with almond-and-something filling oozing out of the sides. There was also a set of pretty green-sprinkled croissants beside it, but they weren’t quite as large nor quite as beautiful as the almond-something ones. The bakery case wasn’t labeled, so when I got to the counter I asked what the different kinds of croissants were. The almond-something was a chocolate almond croissant, and the green-sprinkled one was a pistachio-chocolate croissant.

Now I was really torn.

I’ve had a chocolate almond croissant before – I actually tried it a week or so ago at Breads Bakery in NYC (just before starting this blog) – and I generally like to try the whole spread of options before trying the same thing for a second time. This logic would lead me to choose the pistachio croissant. However, the chocolate-almond croissant I had at Breads Bakery was delicious, and the chocolate almond croissants here – especially the big one in front – were just so delectable-looking I felt my choice was made.

I asked for the chocolate almond croissant (specifically I asked if I could please have the big one in front – the lady cheerfully complied) and decided I’ll just have to come back.

I settled down with my croissant (no regrets!), gave myself a few minutes of reading time with Schindler’s List, and then went to work on some MCAT studying. A little while later, I looked at the drinks/espresso bar menu (I hadn’t seen it earlier because I’d been so focused on the croissants), and saw that they
had lavender hot chocolate!!!

I may have mentioned that I like lavender before, but to give a brief background, a cute coffee shop called Magpie’s in my college town of Decorah, Iowa introduced a lavender syrup this fall. I tried in a white chocolate mocha, and quickly became obsessed. Over winter break, I had tried making lavender hot chocolate myself, but the chocolate I used was a little old, it didn’t turn out great, and I hadn’t tried again. Most definitely, however, I have never seen lavender hot chocolate advertised as a normal/permanent menu item anywhere. Thus, the fact that Maman did advertise it as such seemed like a sign – I needed to try it.

Against my better judgement and the health of my insulin receptors, after an hour and a half of studying and savoring my croissant, I ordered a lavender hot chocolate. It was, indeed, incredible! I’ll have to work on recreating this, myself. I may have felt slightly ill afterwards from the sugar overload so early in the day, but still have no regrets.

In any case, I certainly plan to return to Maman, and most definitely recommend that you check it out as well!

Comments | 4 comments

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Comments

  1. Beth-Ann Bloom says

    June 22, 2018 at 4:54 pm

    https://www.sugarhero.com/lavender-hot-chocolate/ This looks like a great recipe!

    Reply
    • Marta Williams says

      June 25, 2018 at 7:50 am

      Indeed it does! Thanks for the tip – I’ll let you know when I try it 🙂

      Reply
  2. Kayla Elles says

    July 2, 2018 at 10:23 am

    Tsk tsk tsk, you shoulda gotten BOTH croissants. I am disappointed, Marta.

    Reply
    • Marta Williams says

      July 2, 2018 at 12:01 pm

      Hahaha, never fear! I returned this weekend – and will probably go back again! 😀

      Reply

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Hi there!

Looking for me? I am most likely to be found curled up with a good book, working on a puzzle, out on the trails for a run, in a practice room working on scales, in the lab working on my latest research project, in the kitchen concocting some new creation, or any place where there is food with lavender or basil.

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