Easy Tiger
Bengal Spice Cookie
Hot Pretzel
Tiger Claw
Almond Croissant
Double Espresso on Ice
Featuring outdoor ping pong, a beer garden, house crafted sausage, an artisan bakery/coffee shop, plus more skinny jeans and facial hair than a Delta Spirit show suffice it to say that Easy Tiger is a trendy gathering space on the edge of fashionable East Austin, but featuring several unique takes on traditional pastry under the direction of Chefs David Norman the space is more than just a hipster hangout…as a matter of fact, it may just be the best bakery in ATX. Intentionally off-hand in service but friendly enough to sell me on a quartet of options along with a double shot of Texas Coffee Traders’ rich espresso on ice it was much to my surprise that two of my choices were warm to touch at 1:00pm but beginning with a golden pretzel procured fresh from the kitchen as opposed to those cooled on the rack the extra effort (and freshness) was appreciated – the stretchy, soft chew like that of a toasted buttered bagel graced with crunchy kosher salt and amongst the best I’ve ever tasted, praise I’d equally apply to the shattering layers of the lightly spiced pecan ‘Tiger Claw’ also delivered warm. Moving next to a personal favorite, a very respectable almond croissant prepared bien cuit with a crackling shell but just a bit too much sweetness and almond filling it was with a large cookie recommended by the barista that I finished and ever fond of the snickerdoodle the “Bengal Spice” was superb – the crispy ring and soft center both expectedly sweet and buttery but taken up a notch by the smoky aromatics of cardamom – a simple twist reinventing a classic and a veritable bargain at a mere $2.50.
http://www.easytigeraustin.com/
