Momofuku Milk Bar
Monday night I tried to go to the Ace Hotel to finish reading my Sunday Times, but there wasn't one single seat available in the lobby. I sometimes forget that I'm in New York City, where at any given time there are approximately 8 million other people trying to do the exact same thing that I am. So I turned around, got back on an uptown train and ended up at the Upper West Side outpost of the Momofuku Milk Bar.
As with most things I do, it had been on my to-do list, and I had been craving ice cream all day so it was as sensible a destination as any. I ordered their signature cereal milk soft serve, with cornflake crunch topping. I had read rave reviews and they were all absolutely justified. It's unlike any ice cream I've ever tasted — sweet, but not overwhelmingly so, and even maybe a bit salty. I definitely recommend the cornflake topping — I don't think it would have been as good without it. In addition to covering the outside, they also filled the bottom, which was a nice surprise when I finally made my way to the end.
The only negative is actually something others might love — it was far too large. I would gladly pay less than $4.50 for a smaller portion, preferably one that didn't make me feel extremely sick after downing the whole thing (I mean, I didn't want to be wasteful).
While I was there, I also bought a slice of their equally famous crack pie, and took it home for later. Later ended up being Wednesday afternoon, when I couldn't wait any longer and devoured the entire slice before noon. I don't recommend waiting quite this long, however, because by the time I unwrapped it some of the wax paper had somehow melted and molded to the pie slice. I ate it anyway, obviously, but if I can help even one person avoid playing the unseemly game of "Paper or Pie?" than I've done my duty to dessert lovers everywhere.
Unlike the ice cream, I actually wish the pie slice was a bit larger , especially for the price ($5.25 — do I spend too much money on desserts? —don't answer that). It was delicious, of course, and incredibly sweet, creamy and kind of non-descript (it tasted like custard? sugar? a really good thing?). Whatever it's made of, it certainly deserves its name, because for the past few days I've been thinking about when I could get my next fix, although the first taste was anything but free.
Side note: Can you believe they get $44 for an entire pie?? I mean, it was good, but geez. I'm no expert, but I feel like I could buy a pie made from real crack for less money. Oh New York, sometimes you're pretty absurd. But, luckily, always delicious.