Pinisi Bakery

It's 11pm and I was getting ready to go sleep cause I gotta get up all early and stuff for work tomorrow. BUT. Just an hour ago, I found the most divine red velvet cake I've had in my entire life and I'd thought you would like to hear about it :) The name of the place in Pinisi Bakery. It's the most darling of bakeries in the East Village, located precisely on 4th St between 1st and 2nd Ave. Run by the sweetest husband and wife team you'll ever meet, I felt so welcomed the moment I set foot in the bakery. And that's important, you know? To feel welcomed into a food establishment? Even if the food is excellent, any eating experience is ten million times better when the owners are nice!

The bakery is tiny, with just two stools for those lucky enough to snatch a spot. The glass windows allow passer-bys swoon worthy glances of danishes, chocolate cream cheese muffins, apple strudles and buttery pound cakes in both vanilla and chocolate. But the real treats are found inside the refrigerated glass cases to the left just as you enter the bakery.

Options vary with the day, whimsy, and mood of the owners, so you just never know what you might encounter. This particular Thursday night featured carrot cake, strawberry shortcake, pistachio cheesecake, white chocolate mousse cakes, creme brulee, cannoli cupcakes, and a whole bunch more. But I only had eyes for one luscious lover. The red velvet. OOooOooman. So awesome!

Isn't it gorgeous? I told you! My goodness I don't even know where to begin. A very dark and tender cake, almost as dense as pound cake, but incredibly moist with subtle notes of chocolate. Check out that deep vibrant shade of red! And the frosting! Oh dear, I don't even usually like frosting but this sent me head over (high) heels into bliss - a super light whipped cream cheese frosting. As if heavy cream was beaten to billowy clouds and cream cheese was somehow magically incorporated in without adding the slightest bit of weight. And of course, like all desserts I really love, it was a sweet without being too sweet. Price tag? $3.50 is a small price to pay for this gem.

Overall? I would suggest you walk right on over to Pinisi's right now, because it's a tiny bakery, and I don't know how many people know about it already. But I would burst into tears if they closed down due to a lack of business. The owners are clearly hard workers and love what they do. So. All you people in line at Magnolia's and Sugar Sweet Sunshine: please turn around and come here :)

Pinisi Cafe & Bakery
128 East 4th St
NY, NY 10003
(212) 614-9079