Tuesday, June 15, 2010

East Village and Veniero Pastry Shop and Cafe

(All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them once, and then again.  Return to the blog post by using your browser's back arrow)

The East Village is one of downtown Manhattan's most vibrant neighborhoods.  It  extends from 14th Street south to Houston Street, and east of Fifth Avenue. The neighborhood is a lively mix of students, artists, and young professionals. There is a large and varied assortment of antique shops, bookstores, record stores, specialty shops, and ethnic restaurants. The East Village is a mix of old mansions and tenements and recent new condo constructions. Many people are attracted to the neigborhood because of its relatively affordable rents compared to other downtown areas.  I find it a fascinating neighborhood to visit and explore.


This beautiful Federal Style house, located at 21 Stuyvesant Street, was built in 1803 on land owned by the Stuyvesant family since the 17th century. It was built by Petrus Stuyvesant, the great-grandson of Peter Stuyvesant, who was the last director general of the city then known as New Amsterdam, until it was ceded provisionally to the English in 1664 and renamed New York. It was a wedding gift to Stuyvesant's daughter Elizabeth, and her husband, Nicholas Fish, a Revolutionary War hero and veteran of Valley Forge. Fish was also a close friend and political ally of Alexander Hamilton. Their son, Hamilton Fish, was born here in 1808 and called it home until 1838. He would go on to became a United States Representative (1843-45), New York State Governor (1848-49), United States Senator (1851-57) and United States Secretary of State (under President Grant from 1869-1977),

An informational plaque on the Landmarked house. 


When I am in the East Village I can't resisit visiting the Veniero Pastry Shop and Cafe, located at 342 E.11th St. NY,NY. This Italian pastry shop has been continuously owned and operated by the Veniero Family since 1894

Veniero's has stamped copper ceilings, Italian marble floors, and stained glass windows, and has an atmosphere just like an old world style Italian cafe.

Upon entering the pastry shop, you are greeted by a wonderful 40 foot display of traditional and regional Italian confections, a vast variety of large and miniature pastries, and assortments of hand-made Italian butter cookies.
My husband and I decided to sit in the cafe section to enjoy a cappuccino and a pastry.

Instead of a menu they they use picture cards, so that you will see what you order.

So many wonderful selections!  It was not easy to choose.

My husband had a plain Baba Rum, one of his favorites....


..and I chose a Torta di Mandorle as I love almond flavor, and this cake was almond lover's delight!


Along with our cappuccinos, the desserts were perfect way to re-energize for a little more of our exploration of the East Village neighborhood, which, of course, I will blog about at a future date.

I'm linking this post up with Susan's Outdoor Wednesday event at her blog, A Southern Daydreamer, and Jenny's Alphabe Thursday event on her blog Jenny Matlock.  The letter this week is "V."  Please visit both blogs and join in all the fun!



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67 comments:

Anonymous said...

PAT!!!! OMG you are in HUGE trouble!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used to live in the east village on 9th between 1st and A . My boyfriend at the time was ordered once a week to go to Veneiros for the napoleons and one of everything! I had a real addiction to their pastries!!!!!!!!

Now, this is my first week on my diet and I am sitting here starving and I find this post!!!!!!! You little devil.This brings back so many NYC memories and worst of all makes me so hungry!

Thanks for the post anyway:):) a walk down memory lane!

love you!

kelee

Claudia said...

I love Veniero's and go there whenever I am in NYC and pick up pastries for family. The East Village is fascinating. I remember in high school (days of yore) when it was the cheap but charming place to go!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow Pat, I would love seeing that area of the city. And that Pastry Shop and Cafe looks fabulous... It's almost 11 p.m. and you have made me hungry... Darn--and I'm not close enough to that Pastry Shop... Oh Well!!!!

Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

a quiet life said...

oh my, i will take one of each... who am kidding, make that 3!

RoeH said...

I'd like to send myself into those photos and try every single one of those pastries. I'd also like to live there for a couple of years to soak it all up.

Anonymous said...

for the longest time, my family would always get our cakes from there (cookies, too). i love their tiramisu cake. haven't been down there in ages.

lol! about your comments about the vuvuzelas. i never heard them before but interestingly enough they don't bother me. after a very short time, it has become white noise. lucky me.

dianasfaria.com said...

Ooh! Yummy, and a pastry shop I haven't been too. Thanks for the tip.
I love how you and your husband are constantly out and about.

Judy said...

Now am I in need of a dessert! Those pastries look so yummy.

You take us to the best of places...and they are always free. I love that.

RNSANE said...

Well, Pat, I know where I want to go when I visit....it's not marzipan but that almond dessert sounds really fabulous to me.

http://jackieinsurrey.blogspot.co.uk/ said...

I am glad that those wonderful, delicious, FATTENING pastries are across the pond!!! Jackie in UK

Maria M. Boyer said...

Yum! One pignoli tart, please. ;)

Anonymous said...

What a lovely cafe. The stained glass windows were beautiful. Thanks for the tour. Count me in for a black coffee. :-)

Allie and Pattie said...

Oh Pat. Years ago when I worked in the city, a friend and I would go down to Little Italy once a week to hit a pastry shop- fabulous!!!!
xoxo Pattie

Mister Meatball said...

You're killin me, that's 320 miles from here!

And where are the sfogliatelle?

Oh, here they are: http://bit.ly/9SC0eE

And, yes, I've had the frozen at Coluccio's, not bad.

Buona giornata!

Tracy said...

Oh, such a delicious post, Pat...BIG YUM! that pastry/sweet shop looks a little taste of heaven! One thing about where I live now is that there is no good place for pastries...sad. Hope you're having a good week. Due to some family matters, I will be needing to take an unexpected break for some days, which I will posting about today. Happy Days, my friend ((HUGS))

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Pat - That is one wickedly delicious place to have pastries. I love their ricotta cheesecake, but the selections you and hubby chose are making me drool too. You have the best posts about NY!

nycstylelittlecannoli said...

what a way to start my morning! and I was looking at the Baba Rum on the menu and there it was! guess this is a place I need to check out very soon! great, wonderful post! italian pastry is one of the best!! :)

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Great post!! When I was a little girl, my parents liked to stop at Veneiros for espresso and canoli. I thought that was pretty funny since we owned a bakery and all, but they loved the city and all it had to offer. The history of that area always fascinates me.
♥, Susan

Kathleen said...

When I saw the name of your post I knew it would be dangerous to come look!
I love your history lessons, and those pastries are making my mouth water!
Never move out here, terrible bakeries!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Pat! What a perfect day!

I adore federal architecture, and that townhouse is just so handsome and such wonderful food you had at that restaurant! With every post, I just love NYC more and more.

Thank you for sharing this wonderful day with us.

Happy Outdoor Wednesday!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Carole Burant said...

Just drop me off at the Veniero Pastry Shop and Cafe and come back for me later! hehe Oh my, look at all those pastries, they all look so delicious and had my mouth watering. East Village is certainly the type of place I would love to explore, especially with these old buildings that I always find have so much character. Love hearing the history behind them as well. xoxo

Joyce said...

Sfogliateli (sp?) is my all time favorite Italian Pastry. No fair teasing me with those photos. Hubby is in the city today and I think I will tell him to bring home a few for me. I like a mini assortment so that I can eat the entire box. Love the cannoli filling. Enjoy a crusty almond cookie to dunk in milk. Safe to say I never met an Italian pastry that I did not like:-)

Just a little something from Judy said...

The East village is another one of the places I wanted to visit, and thanks to you, today I had that privilege and it did not cost anything. You are the best tour guide, except maybe you should try to not take such amazing pictures of your visits to cafe's. Oh my goodness, that looked so delicious! Thank you for sharing again.

Anonymous said...

You keep posting things like this--goodies we can't even get around here--and you're going to find a brigade of bloggers on your doorstep with their overnight bags in hand one day!

What can I say but YUM!!!

Barbara said...

I love streetscapes like this and the shots in the bakery are so wonderful! Thanks for the trip to NYC!

Debbiedoos said...

Love this place, what delightful pictures as always Pat you have to share with us....you know the city inside and out, and backwards and in the dark, etc.......love it! Thanks so much for your feedback...everyone has given me such wonderful feedback and I am figuring out exactly what needs to be done...stay tuned for my next post:)

Old Kitty said...

Wow! I never knew about New Amsterdam. Well I know now! :-) What a fascinating history - so interesting - thanks for the wiki link - it's fascinating to know about the Dutch settling it first then cedeing it to the English and et voila - New York City. Wonderful.

21 Stuyvesant St is lovely. Is it in private hands now? I hope it remains as pristine as it looks here.

Now as Veneiros - what can I say. The cappuccino alone has got me dribbling. It's pastry heaven. I could quite happily spend the rest of my life in that shop, thank you very much. Wonderful. And a great visual way to choose your dessert!

East Village is definitely a place to return to - I look forward to your future blog about this area of NYC!
Take care
x

Vee said...

Oddly enough, my mother visited today bringing treats from our local bakery just opened in April. Yes! Right here in town. Believe me, it looks nothing like the Veniero Pastry Shop and Cafe. I don't know how either one of you were able to make a selection from all that was available!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Visiting your blog makes me want to jump in the car and head to NYC! I have such a good time reading and view your gorgeous photos!

Kindly, ldh

Unknown said...

I want one of everything on the pastry menu.......oh, canneloni looks so wonderful and I see your adorable little grandson peeking at me on your sidebar....he must be the one in Colorado.....

Donna said...

What a nice area and a fabulous pastry shop. Those pastries and coffee look so good!!

Hugs,
Donna

Annesphamily said...

Pat you always post the greatest stuff! I am sorry you were hit with that spam/scam. I am having a hard time sorting it out because Facebook is so user unfriendly.

On a bright note, I love it over here! Thank you.

Anne

lissa said...

going to East Village as a place I should visit, even if just to go to the pastry place is worth the trip

Brenda said...

I think if I never make it to New York City I will have seen it all through your eyes. Thanks.

Kat said...

Oh wow! We got to visit the East village once years ago when staying with my Uncle. But I did not see that pastry shop. Believe me, I'd probably still be there :) I love Baba Rum, that would have been my choice also (with a side of cannoli lol) Great tour and great choice for V. Kathy

A 2 Z said...

OMG! Veniero, here I COME! This shop will be on my hit list next time I go to New York. Thanks for sharing the info. Wish I could share a pastry or two with you as well LOL

Anne-Marie

steviewren said...

Yum! I'll take one of everything. What a fun way to sit and rest up.

Jo said...

as always i just love your posts about New York ... until i get the chance to go there, i am learning all about the city through your blog and i just love it! and the history of the pastry shop ... wonderful ... it all just looks so yummy, it would be hard to choose just one pastry!

Short and Sweet said...

I really enjoyed reading your blog about some of the history of the East Village. The Italian pastry shop is calling my name...maybe because I'm Sicilian and love Italian pastries. They look sooooo good!

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful post on the East Village. My favorite is the pastry shop of course. Everything looks delicious! Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

I could drool over the cards for hours before I could make a choice.

Sheila said...

Pat - This post is so timely for me. I have been checking it often for tips for my daughter who is leaving for New York tomorrow. I'll talk to her tonight and be able to recommend this shop and cafe. She and the friend she's traveling with both took a semester of university in Cortona, Italy, so anything Italian is of great interest. Thanks for choosing this to blog about just in time!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I so enjoy you touring us around NYC, Pat!

Is there truly any better place than an old Italian bakery? I think not!

I have a favorite in Baltimore.

Lola said...

Super ‘V’ post – yummy!

Happy Alphabe-Thursday to you too!

LOLA:)

PS Mine this time is HERE. Hope you can join me!

H said...

I'm just recovering from a sickness bug but, even now, those pastries look absolutley delicious!!

Theresa Plas said...

So fun visiting the East Village and Veniero Pastry Shop with you. FABU, yummy pics!

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous blog! I am here in San Diego on holiday scoffing everything I can eat, and feel so much better seeing your lovely coffee feast! As soon as I get back to the UK I will be back on the salad and fruit diet.....but it's worth it for the odd break out in the US. By the way Pat, I'm your new pen pal and will be sitting down to write as soon as I get back.

Gracie said...

Pat, you just killed me! Those aren't gluten-free, right? Right.

jeff campbell said...

Pat...another stupendous post...you bring to life such a colorful, universal, mysterious city. I have been to many of these areas and places...would love to return sometime...will you be my guide? peace and blessings

Viki said...

Great look at NY as usual. I love that Italian bakery. Yummy things. That menu is very unique and does look very helpful when deciding what delicious thing to order. Good V post.

Ms. Bake-it said...

You made a fabulous choice Pat! Torta di Mandorle is one of my favorite desserts. My great grandmother used to make it for me. No matter how hard I try, mine just does not come out as good as hers. Great photos! Love all the historical information.

~ Tracy

Carol said...

Pat, outstanding! I haven't been to the East Village in so many years and years and I love your posts bringing me back in the day! Haven't been to Veniero's, but everything looks so good. Perfect way to spend the day!

GailO said...

Mr O and I are heading to NYC this weekend...I don't know if we will be anywhere near the East Village but if we are you KNOW where I'll be...

Mary Ann said...

Adore your blog, always so lovely, informative and interesting.

Tara said...

Hi Pat

We spent time this spring in the Village with our son going to some galleries and eating our way through---there are so many college kids around from FIT, Pratt, NYU, SVA...he's had the time of his life living in there and I am nothing short of jealous! It's my dream when I retire to sublet a pied-a-terre for the summer...I ahve friend who do it and love it!

PS--my husband's family has been in Manhattan as long as the Stiuyvesants and there's even a NYC society called the Holland society if you are descended from the original Dutch settlers!

Junie Moon said...

This is great, Pat! Pastries are very much on my mind lately as my friends and I here in Tucson are plotting and planning our pastry class in July.

mrs. c said...

I love the East Village and those pastries look divine! I always look forward to your posts because it is always about my favorite city...NYC. thank you so much for finding all those places that I will visit next time I am there!

Amanda Lee said...

Ooooh, this makes me want to visit the city! the East Village looks so charming, and those pastries look amazing!

One Photo said...

I have only been to NYC once and that was a long time ago but I hope one day to see more and if I go, Veneiros will be on my list, it looks fabulous, like the sort of place you'd find in France, Italy or Belgium. They don't have places like that here in Texas!

PERMANENT POSIES said...

That was dreamy! I want to go there and next time I go to New York....I will go there. Glad I found you.

Unknown said...

Dear Pat,
Thank you for your kind words on my V-post! I love history and it has rubbed off on Erik.

Luckily for me I do not live in New York City. I am sure that I would put on several pounds after a short visit at Veniero Pastry Shop and Cafe! Yummy! (But I am writing down the address for my next trip to New York in a year or two.)
Thank you for the tour of places of historical interest. I am interested in the history of New York. My father grew up in Westchester County. I still have friends and relative there abouts.

You inspire me. I think I will do a similar investigation of some cafe here at home.....There's an Italian resturant here that needs to be looked at....

Best wishes,
Anna

For the benefit of other readers:Anna's V-word

Cheryl D. said...

Happy V-Day! I'm really into history of buildings too! I felt like I was reading a blog of a kindred soul! Nice post!

Red Couch Recipes said...

Pat, great "V" post. The East Village is so farm removed from the little town that I live in. I so loved your post about Veneiros...their pastries look lovely...especially since we don't have a pastry or bakery shop in town. Like you, I would have gone for the almond pastry...especially if it had marzipan in it. Loved your post. Joni

Jenny said...

Pat! What a deliciously mouth-watering link to Alphabe-Thursday's Letter "V"!

Oh sure, the buildings and the history were interesting and all that jazz but the baked goods. Holy Mother of Weight Watchers!

I also love almond. And your coffee looked deliciouso as well!

Thanks for making me want to cheat on my diet!

And thanks for this delightful link!

A+

joe@italyville.com said...

so many favorites in those pics Pat!

Lorrie said...

I love the East Village Pat, and Veniero's Pastry Shop looks fabulous. I love the idea of photo cards as a menu. Makes ordering so simple for the customer and the waiters. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy a snack and a stroll.

Susan said...

Yum and YUM...OMG!! I am drooling over some of tasty tributes to a fine heritage of cuisine and pastries!! how dare you make me hungry!! LOL

I love cannoli's and svigadel (spelling off, so spelling as an Italian would pronounce it. and I LOVE the item picture next to the Napoleon, that I always thought was a Napoleon. The layered bar with the creams. people often mistake me for Italian...and definitely my dad, sister and brother as they are all with darker coloring, I should be Italian, I think they made a mistake and slide me down the wrong tube. it is my favorite food, I love the sound of someone speaking Italian...I love the music...and it has been a life long dream to go to Florence and Rome.

Thanks for an inspiring post, i gained 5 lbs. just reading it! Have a good week,
Susan