The subject of food in New York City is not to be treated lightly. From Michelin- and Zagat-rated bistros to world-class delicatessens, tastes and smells await visitors. The most impressive aromas emanate from the city’s bakeries where cases of pastries, cookies and cakes lure even the pickiest eaters into choosing a treat. Manhattan is the unofficial home of the bagel and before supermarkets usurped neighborhoods, small bakeshops reflected the ethnic diversity of the Big Apple, literally branding neighborhoods. Some still do. Discover the rich cultural heritage of New York City bakeries by following your guide – and then your nose – to paradise.
Get Your Bearings
It’s a small island — one that can be walked from end to end without too much heavy breathing — but Manhattan is a complex web of neighborhoods with distinct identities and flavors. Get a map of the city to differentiate communities so you can design a self-guided tour. Decide how much walking you want to do, particularly if you have physical challenges that require you to use aids to get around. You can leave the planning to others if you sign up for a bakery tour and let someone else worry about shepherding you around sweet-smelling emporiums.
Prepare For a Great Time
It’s no joke: clothing with some spandex content can make your New York Bakery Tour a more satisfying experience. Wear comfortable shoes; bring a hat if you’re touring in summer and fold-down rain gear just in case the weatherman’s predictions materialize. Tote water if you’re on your own. Tour companies work hard to meet the needs of participants, so if you’ve signed up for one, you don’t have to worry about finding an oasis or la toilette. On average, tour groups accommodate from four to 15 people. Some companies require participants to pay for their food in addition to the tour charge. A 15% gratuity for your guide is traditional.
Design Your Own Tour
Make your own arrangements to tour bakeries if the idea of being shepherded around neighborhoods just isn’t your thing. Use your smart phone, phone directory, food critic’s reviews and a map to group bakeries by location (Chelsea, the West Side, Broadway, Harlem), ethnicity (German, Jewish, Italian, etc.), neighborhood or community. Group your self-directed tour into two sessions with a break for a non-food experience so you can return to those heavenly smells ready to compare the éclairs you sampled earlier with the ones awaiting your taste buds.
Follow the Critics
Make a list of food critics’ picks from New York-based newspapers and magazines. Follow their recommendations by creating a tour that includes bakeries they have featured, including city hot spots like Two Little Red Hens, Trois Pommes Patisserie, Sweet Melissa’s, Yura, City Bakery, Bouchon, Soutine, Duane Park Patisserie, Andre’s Hungarian, Payard, Amy’s, Mitchel London, Once Upon A Tart, Margaret Palca Bakes and E.A.T. Life moves at warp speed in New York City so check critics’ most recent reviews so you don’t miss a newbie.
Book a Formal Tour
The Greenwich Village Food Tour can lead you to everything from thin crust pizza and bagels to Rocco’s cannoli and cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery, featured on the TV show Sex and the City. Book the Original East Village Tour, originating at Panya Bakery, to explore ethnic specialties like falafel sandwiches and Italian cookies. Try the highly rated Chelsea Market Tour that promises seven food shops and one restaurant tour over a three-hour period. This action-packed tour is a one-price-only experience that includes food costs. Nobody will make you sign a waiver that indemnifies you against weight gain, so wear exercise sneakers to help process all those yummy indulgences.
