dessert
Critic Raves
Montclair Magazine contributor and northjersey.com food editor
Esther Davidowitz names these area desserts tops
WRITTEN BY ESTHER DAVIDOWITZ
CHOCOLATE CHARCUTERIE VANILLAMORE, MONTCLAIR
STRAWBERRY & RHUBARB
PANNA COTTA
FAUBOURG, MONTCLAIR
There isn’t one dessert that
isn’t a winner at Faubourg,
the modern French brasserie
opened by two alums of Daniel
in Manhattan. Pastry chef
Melissa Rodriguez is one tal-
ented pastry chef. We sampled
five of her creations and loved
them all: the stuffed-meringue
vacherin adorned with raspber-
ries ($13); the molten chocolate
cake known as coulant ($12);
the citrus-y madeleines ($8);
the light and gorgeous pas-
sion fruit cheese cake ($12);
Rodriguez removes the passion
fruit’s seeds, dries them and
then replaces them to visually
dazzle). But if we had to choose
a favorite, it would be the silky,
smooth rhubarb and strawberry
panna cotta served with oatmeal
crumble ($10). It’s beyond
delicious; it’s out of this world.
• 544 Bloomfield, (973) 542-
7700; faubourgmontclair.com
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HOLIDAY 2019 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE
Heard of a meat and cheese charcuterie board?
Leave it to pastry chef and owner Risa Boyer to
come up with a dessert charcuterie board. Boyer,
who studied art in college, loves to design — and
“draw” with her food. Her chocolate board is a
glorious vision of cookies, compotes, creams and
confections along with Vanillamore’s chocolate sala-
mi (yes, chocolate that looks like a sausage). Bring a
friend or two and go to town. $25. • 349 Bloomfield
Ave., Montclair; (973) 707-5373, vanillamore.com
MAPLE POT DE CRÈME TURTLE + THE WOLF, MONTCLAIR
Don’t even try to share this dessert with your dining
companions; it’s likely not going to end well. Order
your own “pot” of silky custard topped with whipped
crème fraîche. Peace and happiness all around. $7.
• 622 Valley Road, Montclair; (973) 783-9800,
turtleandthewolf.com
HAZELNUT MOUSSE CAKE GENCARELLI’S, BLOOMFIELD
One Yelper put it best when describing Gencarelli’s
Gianduia (a better-grade Nutella) cake: “It is eat-
ing a ginormous Ferrero Rocher cake.” Most of us
know the Italian confectioner’s crunchy chocolate
and hazelnut confection. Imagine it as a cake — rich
hazelnut mouse with crunchy praline encased in dark
chocolate. As the same Yelper said, “Everyone loves
it.” • 321 Valley Road, (973) 872-0500 and
446 Broad St., Bloomfield, (973) 743-1480
gencarellisbakery.com
CHARCUTERIE:
CRUMB CAKE STYERTOWNE BAKERY, CLIFTON
We’re not the only fans of this stalwart bakery’s
famous crumb cake. It’s been voted Best Crumb
Cake in New Jersey four times in a row. Said one
NJ TripAdvisor user: “This is the best crumb cake
that I have ever tasted. It is worth the 30-mile trip.”
You don’t even have to make the trip anymore:
Styertowne will deliver the cake to you (for a charge,
of course). Put on the coffee pot and slice into that
heavenly moist crumb-rich cake ($13.95 will feed a
dozen or so). You’re never going to want any other
crumb cake in North Jersey. • 1039 Bloomfield Ave.,
Clifton; (973) 777-6193 styertownebakery.com