STP Experiences

datecake
Originally uploaded by i_eat_ny.

I tasted sticky toffee pudding for the first time at a great London restaurant called Fiona’s. That rich dark cake in combination with its buttery sauce is my idea of a good time. The cake had the deep mahogany color of chocolate and the density of a pound cake, but the taste of caramelized dates within the cake gave a complexity I can’t describe. And that sauce! The kind of stuff you just want to bathe in. From the recipes I’ve collected, the sauce often has what the Brits call black treacle, which is the same as American blackstrap molasses.
My STP experience was three years ago. Ever since, I’ve been trying to find that kind of perfection in New York, but to no avail. There have been some close seconds.
My favorite has been Moto (394 Broadway) in South Williamsburg (take the JMZ to Hooper/Hewes St. stop). I’ll go ahead and call this place a gem because it’s small and romantic. However, it’s super loud during peak dinner times because of the patrons, live music and the location under the elevated train. It’s worth it though because the space is really beautiful in that old European way. Look at the website to see how pretty it is. More importantly, the meals are well done and cost under 20 bucks. Unfortunately they don’t open until after 4pm on weekdays but my advice is to try their brunch, especially if you’re with someone you want to kiss. You should order a panini, then order espressos and then split the date cake. You can make a dumb joke about the name, but once the pudding comes, you’ll be licking the plate clean. The cake is a bit lighter and spongier than proper STP, but that sauce is right on. Feel free to chew on the mint leaves to freshen the breath after the coffees. Now you’re ready to make out, my friend!
I also like the version of sticky toffee that Schiller’s (131 Rivington & Norfolk) makes. No picture, but trust me, it’s yummy. New on the list is the Tuck Shop (68 E 1st St bw 1st & 2nd Ave.) cake. More of a take away shop, (I’ll talk about their meat pies later), their sticky toffee is something you have to heat back up in your oven. I use the toaster oven. It’s certainly no Fiona's, but it'll just have to do until I'm back in London.