Breads Bakery - a nice post-Passover leavened treat

Union Square is probably one of the smallest neighborhoods in NYC.  Go too far above 18th street you're in Flatiron. Venture to the left an extra couple of steps you're in Chelsea. Over to the west? Gramercy. And right below, the East Village. Each neighborhood has it's own identity, and their own share of bakeries and chocolate shops to get you coming back for more.  But Union Square proper really hasn't had much of a claim to stake in the bakery category, until Breads came onto the scene in February.

All of the breads and pastries are made with fresh, natural ingredients.  For someone like me, with a sensitivity to most of the ingredients found in baked goods and processed foods, this means that I can eat it without getting sick, always a plus!

There is a wide assortment of bread loafs, from Rye to Walnut to cereal bread.  The counter held quiches made of goat cheese and artichoke.  There were sandwiches and coffees and ample seating to escape the chaos of Union Square (or take a breather after a trip to Lululemon).

I had a hard time deciding here, but opted for the chocolate roll and two pieces of the chocolate rugelach.  The owner/baker Uri Scheft is originally from Israel (he's the man behind the 11-year old Lehamim bakery in Tel Aviv), so you'll find a lot of Jewish desserts, including the rugelach and a chocolate babka loaf.  Even though I'm Jewish, I've never been a fan of Jewish desserts.  Most don't include chocolate, and the ones that do are usually hard and stale-tasting and not worth the calories.  But this rugelach was phenomenal.  Each piece was bite-sized and warm, fresh out of the oven.  Looking like mini chocolate croissants, it was oozing with chocolate and flaky crust, and all I could think was that I wished I had brought home other things from Breads to try.

Bread Bakery, now open at 18 East 16th street, right off of Union Square East.
Open Monday - Friday, 7-7. Weekends 8-7.  Every train goes to Union Square, so no excuses why you can't check this one out!
www.breadsbakery.com