Leonelli Focacceria e Pasticceria
La Colombe Cold Brew Coffee
Sfogliatelle
Tricolore Cookie, Pignoli, Wedding Cookie, Brownie Cookie, Brutti Ma Buoni
Robiola
Cannoli Cake – Dark Chocolate, Rum, Candied Orange
Still fondly remembering dinners at Per Se and Lincoln cooked by Jonathan Benno it was with high expectations that Evelyn Hotel was approached on Saturday evening, a 7:00pm reservation at the Chef’s eponymous Restaurant preceded by Coffee and Snacks from Leonelli Focacceria e Pasticceria while relaxing in the boutique hotel’s foyer.
Open for just six months and serving as the Evelyn’s all-day quick-service option, a location just inside doors facing East 27th Street, guests will find the Focacceria brightly lit from 7am until 6pm daily, shelves stacked with everything from Cakes and Cookies to Pizza and Sandwiches made by Benno, Pastry Chef Lindsey Bittner and baker Lisa Kalemkiarian.
Not to be confused with Leonelli Taberna, Benno’s upscale-casual eatery offering lunch and dinner daily, it is after lengthy perusal of items that change throughout the day that most will find something suiting their fancy, each offered as-is or warmed-to-order and first bites of an item simply title “Robiola” nothing short of delicious as mild Cheese squishes between toasty slices of Focaccia with a bit of stretch and good chew.
Serving La Colombe Coffee both hot or Cold Brew, the latter a favorite dating back to its earliest days in Philadelphia, it was with “Pizza” quickly gone that tasting progressed to warm Sfogliatelle, one of Italy’s most labor intensive Pastries here featuring softer Cream and more Citrus that results in an entirely unique experience without losing sight of the classic recipe and its looped, shattering exterior.
Not about to pass on Italian Cookies, a cost of five for $4 no doubt more than the per-pound price of most mom n’ pop shops, suffice it to say that naturally-colored Rainbow Cookies come across far less sweet than most while Pine Nut Pignoli and Italian Wedding Cookies also set a high standard, as too does a $5 Cannoli Cake featuring light Mascarpone Frosting around delicate Sponge perfumed by Rum.
www.leonellibakery.com
