Almondine... Another reason to visit Brooklyn

I keep an ever-growing list of new desserts to try saved on my Google docs, which at this point in time has been in the works for so many years that I don't even know what's on there anymore, where it came from, or why I decided I should go in the first place.

A few weeks ago when my roommate Stacey and I were wandering around DUMBO, we passed a Jacques Torres on Water Street (who knew that was there?!), and across the street, a bakery with a line out the door.  We went closer to investigate, and I recognized the name - Almondine Bakery. Almondine had been on my list for at least two years now, but since I never go to DUMBO and thought that Water Street was in the Financial District, Almondine was doomed to remain there forever!

Stacey and I peeked inside and saw (and smelled) amazing desserts.  Giant chocolate chip cookies. Meringues that looked like ice cream sandwiches.  Macarons in every color and flavor imaginable.  We had just eaten, but decided to come back on our next journey to DUMBO.
Memorial Day weekend, we returned.  Luckily for us, Almondine was much emptier on this trip over.  On the down side, a lot of the desserts I'd been dreaming of since our last visit weren't there.

We ended up with one of the giant chocolate chip cookies, an oversized chocolate macaron, a chocolate rocher and a pretzel bread filled with gruyere cheese.

They also offer chocolate mousses, tortes, specialty cakes (definitely recommended for the next special occasion, they looked amazing) and a ton of breads made with organic flour and few ingredients (the Cjaps aren't fans of processed foods, which is why we stick to bakeries where everything is made fresh).  Almondine is known for their croissants and macarons.  We didn't try the croissant, because they were out of chocolate ones, but the pretzel bread was delicious.  There was a light layer of gruyere cheese on top, which could've been heated up a bit to make it soft and melted, but we still loved it.

As for the chocolates - well. The chocolate chip cookie was pretty damn good.  Not up there with Levain or Paradis, but it was a good cookie.  It was tremendous (see photo for proof.  My hand isn't that big!)  My initial reaction was that I wasn't going to like it because there were so few chocolate chips.  I like when they're evenly distributed throughout, and there's a little chocolate in every bite.  In Almondine's cookie, there were three giant chocolate chips, but then about 80% of the cookie was just cookie.  Despite this, it was a good cookie.  It was rich, thin and buttery, and there was a little bit of chocolate spread throughout.  Guest blogger of the day Stacey liked it more than I did, but it served it's purpose.  However, I probably wouldn't get it again.

There was also a dark chocolate walnut cookie offered, as well as oatmeal raisin, of equally large size.

There was an assortment of different flavored and colored macarons, but I opted for the large chocolate macaron that was so big it slightly resembled a whoopie pie. The chocolate cake layers were dusted with powdered sugar, and were dense and tasty. The chocolate in the middle was rich and flavorful.  It was a large macaron cookie, and can easily be split between two people.  The smaller ones looked good too, but those will be tasted another time.  The rocher I found extremely boring.  I had it in my bag and it melted, so the next day after refrigerating it, it tasted like a melted, re-chilled, mushy rocher chocolate.  You're better off buying them from your local Duane Reade and go for the better options at Almondine.

They also offer sandwiches and soups, and a full blended coffee menu.  There are a few tables inside, or you can walk down a couple of blocks to enjoy your treats at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Almondine is open daily from 7-7 (except Sunday, 10-6)

85 Water Street between Main & Washington (DUMBO)
442 9th Street (off 7th Avenue in Park Slope)
www.almondinebakery.com