Brian & Brooke vs. White Plains, NY

Brooke vs. White Plains

The guys I was going to the Yankee’s game with (that would be Brian and his friend, Barry) bought a 6-pack of tall beers so they could get drunk before the game. Yes, you can drink on the train, and when you’re standing next to two guys having a chugging contest, it can be a bit embarrassing.

Boys.

Brooke vs. White Plains

What is the best sound to any kid? I would have to say it is the music of an ice cream truck coming down the road. Yep! When I was a kid, I’d run to the my change box and grab whatever I could in time to flag the big truck down.

It’s been a long time since I had heard that noise, but White Plains brought it all back. Every time Brian and I hear it, our heads perk up and we look to the other, “Should we?!”

Ice cream trucks aren’t just for kids.

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!

Brooke vs. White Plains

Carvel, as we discovered, is a very popular ice cream store chain in the New York area. They don’t have Dairy Queen here, just Carvel. I’ve been to the website (www.carvel.com), saw the big sperm-whale dude, and thought it might be worth a shot… just might.

Brian and I drove to Scarsdale, and to start the adventure off right, it started raining. So, immediately, we had to walk a ways in the rain to get to the place. We walked in and it was like a kid’s dream. Pink and purple – and that was just on the wall. The ice cream was in little vats and displayed like gelato in all of its rainbow glory. It looked mighty tasty. Brian had to disagree. He was put off immediately by the lack of flavors for the Carvelanche. Reluctant, he stuck with the cookies and cream cone, while I opted for the cake mix.

Our total came to $7.00 for two cones, and guess what, they don’t take credit cards, which is all I carry. Brian had to dish out the cash (which again didn’t make him too happy). We made our way to the pink bench and stool area to enjoy our treat, but I gotta be honest, there just wasn’t much to enjoy. The ice cream was flavorless (basically)! I giggled at our misfortune, while Brian shook his head with each bite.

“Are you kidding me?” he said looking at the giant whale on the wall. The whale had a speech bubble next to him that read something like, “Is it just me, or is it delicious in here?” Brian immediately shot back, “Who did they pay for that genious line, seriously?”

Just then two young girls and their mother came in to the store. They were so extremely excited about the whale and the colorful ice cream. We knew then that they must advertise during morning cartoons, because we just can’t see people coming here for the delicious flavors. We were both satisfied with that assumption. Otherwise, it made no sense as to how this place could be so darn popular. Ahh, the world is at peace again.

And, of course, at the very moment, a grown man came in alone… without children, to get ice cream. And… yet another one after that! What is this strange curve ball that’s been thrown at our inner peace?! So, its not just the kids that keep this place going.

Sick of thinking about it, Brian chimed in, “This place sucks.”

“Well now we know, Brian.” I said. “We’ll never come here again.”