Brian & Brooke vs. White Plains, NY

Brooke vs. White Plains

I used some of my miles to get $25 off coupons for restaurants in the area. Going out to dinner in NY is quite costly, but one of my favorite things to do, so it seemed like a good idea. We went to Spiga, which I think is a chain restaurant, and was pleasantly surpised by their cannoli dessert!

Score is based on 1-5 (5 being the best).

Presentation: Talk about WOW. When you order a cannoli for $6.50, you’re not sure what you’re going to get, but this was awesome. Brian and I each got a plate that was drizzled in bright pink and orange sauce. In the middle of the plate was displayed this fantastically-sized and stuffed cannoli, speckled with chocolate chips and powdered sugar. To the left was a mound of fresh whipped cream topped with a mint leaf, and to the right was a scoop of a delicious mix of strawberries and blueberries. It was extremely colorful! Score = 5.

Filling: The filling did not let me down a bit. It was thick and had the ricotta taste I love. Score = 5.

Shell: The shell was crisp! Score = 4.

Satisfaction: I judge my satisfaction of a cannoli on the “can I really finish it” factor. I should be able to finish it, but I should feel that I do not need another. Score = 5.

Overall Score: 19/20

Highly recommended if you are going out to a dinner!

Brooke vs. White Plains

I have been in contact with another BnA-er, gettingouttahere (Laurie), for quite some time now. It was great coming to New York because we actually got to meet in person. The week of my birthday we met up at her place in the Bronx for a cookout, and she definitely surprised me with my favorite dessert – cannoli!

Her place is in a highly Italian neighborhood, so she got some from a pretty great Italian bakery. However, they were mini-cannoli, so I’ll have to speculate on satisfaction in relation to the normal size cannoli:

Scoring is based on 1-5 (5 being the best).

Presentation: Well, I’m kind of biased on this part since it was presented as a surprise to me. I believe, however, I saw these packaged in the fridge in a cute little pasty box from the bakery. Laurie then put them on a silver platter and brought them outside. The pastries themselves were very typical. Score = 4.

Filling: The filling was authentic ricotta goodness – not runny and with choc chips throughout. Score = 5.

Shell: The shells were crisp and either plain with powdered sugar, or coated in chocolate. Score = 4.

Satisfaction: It’s hard to compete with mini-cannoli. I’d probably have to eat 3 to have the same amount of satisfaction as a normal-sized cannoli. Score = 3.

Overall Score: 16/20

These were definitely up there on my list, but I think I would have to venture out for the larger ones! 🙂

Brooke vs. White Plains

Last summer when I came out for my brief visit to Brian while he was in White Plains, we had a decent dinner at Zanaro’s that included cannoli for dessert. We decided to go back for my birthday since it is the only place in town that we KNEW had cannoli.

Scoring is based on 1 – 5 (5 being the highest).

Presentation: The cannoli is interesting. They serve two cannoli, one stacked on the other, with a strawberry spiral cookie stick (forgot what they are called) stuck in the top one. I enjoy this presentation a lot (wish I had taken a picture). Score = 4

Filling: The filling, however, is not your traditional consistency. It is kind of runny, and they left half of the inside empty! It’s a shame since I do enjoy the slight taste of cinnamon I think they add. Score = 3

Shell: The shell was crisp and coated in powdered sugar just how I like! Score = 4

Satisfaction: We each had one of the cannoli and felt very unfulfilled afterwards. Although these have an interesting flavor, they are lacking the richness I desire in a normal-sized cannolo. Score = 2

Overall Score: 13/20

I also want to note that our service was absolutely horrible. I have never felt so ignored at any restaurant before, and even though I know they serve cannoli, I don’t think I’ll be going back.

Brooke vs. White Plains

Obsession is not a strong enough word to describe my love for the delectable Italian treat, cannoli. Coming from central-Illinois, I simply never had the opportunity to try the dessert until my semester abroad in Italy 2004. I had heard stories of its deliciousness, but after our first encounter, I knew that none had done it justice.

I remember the day perfectly. It was late April in Sicily when the primary quest began, which read something more like, “The quest to taste a cannolo.” Sarah, my traveling companion, and I made our way to the homeland of cannoli because, after all, we had never had one before and figured what better way to really taste one than to get to its roots. And so we did.

The quest didn’t last long as there are actually pastry shops on every corner in Sicily. I looked in the window of the first one in Catania and saw someone steadily at work filling a pastry shell with a creamy filling – yes, it was our beloved cannoli! I ran in with a smile on my face, pointed at what the lady had in hand, and paid my 1 ½ Euro with about as much exuberance as a kid in a candy store. Success!

Back on the street, pastry in hand, we took a moment to examine our soon-to-be-eaten treat. The shell was a pastry tube about 4 ½ inches long filled with some creamy/sweet ricotta filling that was randomly speckled with mini chocolate chips. Both ends were decorated with bright red candied cherries, while the top was lightly dusted with powdered sugar. My mouth was watering.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I sank my teeth in, and it was at that moment that I felt it: love. Love? Yes, I’m pretty sure it was love.

That was the day I made it official – The quest to find the perfect cannolo. With this in mind, I am taking advantage of my current location so I can search out the best in New York!