From countertop sundae classics to a graduate course in chocolate making, things sweet, silky, and wonderful in the borough

by Evan Monroe

FLAVOR OF FEMINISM
Self described at “the feminist bar and bakery of your dreams,” Butter & Scotch is a novel mash up of twin intoxications. Among the dessert standouts are the densely moist pink frosting laced birthday cake and the S’Mores pie (a sugary slice of graham cracker crust filled with milk chocolate custard blended with a delicately torched marshmallow). The 10 inch cake seen here “a super moist three layer vanilla cake, complete with a nostalgic vanilla pink frosting and a shower of rainbow sprinkles,” runs $78 and requires at least 48 hours order notice. 818 Franklin Avenue, butterandscotch.com

Flavor of Feminism_1

LAVENDER LUST
The goal of chef/owner Greg Baxtrom at Olmsted was to make refined food more affordable. Baxtrom, who owns the restaurant with farmer Ian Rothman, designed a limited, focused, and ingredient driven menu, often utilizing ingredients from its backyard garden. His gorgeous and silky house made frozen yogurt, with infused and fresh lavender, is an extraordinarily delicious yet subtle way to cap a meal. If in the mood for something more rich, you can go outside and toast your owns’ more! 659 Vanderbilt Avenue, olmstednyc.com

Lavender Lust

HEAVEN BY THE PIECE
A compatriot to the Lower East Side’s Petee’s Pie Company, Petee’s Café has as its namesake owner Petra “Petee” Paredez, who grew up in a pie baking family (her parents founded the regionally renowned Mom’s Apple Pie Company in Leesburg, Virginia). She uses only local produce and natural fair trade sweeteners, and her crusts feature organic flour and New York State grassfed butter. There are gluten free and vegan options, too, along with craft cocktails, beer and, natural wines. Petra’s sour cherry pie seen here using local Montmorency cherries gets even further amplified by big a scoop of ice cream. 505 Myrtle Avenue, peteespie.com

Heaven by the Piece

Nicole Spread

GOOD FOR WHAT AILS
A 1920s era apothecary and later a neighborhood pharmacy, Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain’s corner storefront had been shuttered for thirteen years prior to its 2010 conversion into a wonder of restored tin ceilings, penny tile floors, and a real soda fountain. (It was featured on the Discovery Channel reality TV show, Construction Intervention.) Standouts include classics like the sundae, soda, and ice cream float, but don’t miss other treats like the hot chocolate (seen here), the Hippy Haven (maple almond granola, sliced banana, vanilla ice cream, and hot fudge), and The Elvis a house made “peanut butter rock” with banana chocolate chip ice cream…all topped with caramel, sliced banana, fresh whipped cream, and house made bacon bits. 513 Henry Street, brooklynfarmacyandsodafountain.com

Good for What Ails

FACTORY FANTASY
If you’re as interested in the process as the results, arrange a tour of Red Hook’s Raaka chocolate factory (45 minutes long, and you gotta be over 8 years old to tour) and see how they go from bean to bar, tasting your way along the way! Turbo aficionados can take the $75 Chocolate Making Classes 101 and 201, the first covering the basics of chocolate making, then decorating your own Raaka bar, while the advanced course gets into “the real nibby gritty… You’ll make chocolate from scratch as you would at home, with DIY and tabletop equipment,” and covers broader parts of the maker art, including cracking, winnowing, and grinding. The advanced course requires students to be at least 12 years old. 64 Sea bring Street, raakachocolate.com

Factory Fantasy