Chimney Cake Smells of Richness and History

Image by Chimney Cake

Right before Meg, AJ and I headed over to Queens Swap on Sunday, we made a pit stop at the most interesting, niche bakery in LIC, just a few storefronts away called Chimney Cake.  Meg had brought this place to my attention before, as it's named after a Hungarian/Transylvanian specialty dessert, which this place solely concentrates on.  Although my roots are seeded in Hungary as well as Slovakia (my father's side is Hungarian), I haven't heard of this dessert at all.  But I was needless to say, very very intrigued.

Atmosphere:
The three of us walked into the spacious bakery, not really knowing what to expect.  The space was vast and quite empty for the weekend afternoon, but that worked in our favor, as we got to converse with its friendly owner.  Her lovely nature and hospitable disposition, led her to offer us some delectable samples of the chimney cake and she even showed us the really unique oven that's used to make these treats.  It was pretty hard core, and seemed authentic.

Aside from the fancy equipment, the bakery is pretty plain, and could do with an infusion of more ethnic touches and personality.  The walls are a bit bare, the tables and chairs sparse, but still, we felt welcome and interested, for the goodies they sell are truly something special.

Chimney Cake:
We had the pleasure of tasting the coconut chimney cake, which was sweet on the outside, mostly attributed to the candied coconut.  The chimney cake itself is very light, with soft, flaky dough that you unwind from its naturally tubular shape.  And because this dessert is baked on wooden rods that help hold its shape, the inside is hollow.  While the variety we tried, didn't include a dip, you can embellish the cake further with a submersion of butterscotch, chocolate, vanilla or cream cheese.  Oh and Nutella too, which seriously ups its deliciousness quotient.

Service and Cost:
As I already hinted above, we were served by Chimney Cake's owner, who was friendly, informative and helped illuminate the history behind this interesting cake.  She said it was from the Hungaro-Transylvanian region and was often served on special occasions such as weddings, christenings, and the like.  She said you can currently find them at ski resorts or holiday markets, which rings a few bells actually when thinking back on the Christmas markets in Slovakia.

The costs here are moderate, especially given the level of uniqueness of the pastry.  Each pastry is $4 and for an extra $1 you can add a dipping sauce.  They also serve organic coffees and teas if you so desire.

3 Mmmms

Chimney Cake - 10-50 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101
718.786.1818
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.chimneycakenyc.com