Dominique Ansel Bakery 12-08-2011

Location: 189 Spring st.
Time: 12:45pm

People: StevenC and myself

Feelings: Since I wasn't able to attend StevenC's fabulous gallery birthday party, I took him out for lunch at a new bakery, Dominique Ansel in SoHo. The former tenant, Rheon Cafe was one of my favorite Japanese cafes in the city, so I was sad to see it go. But I knew that you cannot possibly go wrong with a Parisian style cafe from the former pastry chef of Daniel.

It turns out they kept most of the clean, minimalist decor and charming service from Rheon with the wonderful new compliment of an enclosed and heated outdoor seating area. This greenhouse with beautiful wooden shelves created a luxurious atmosphere for casual dining and is a much needed oasis in the bustling neighborhood of SoHo. Just to be able to sit at this space, I would choose this bakery over any other cafes in the area. The natural lighting and all white background also make this an ideal space for a photo shoot if you are thinking about updating your Facebook profile.

We skipped the beautifully crafted cookies and viennoiserie, and even his famous "DKA" ($5.25 Dominique's kouign amann: flaky and tender Breton style cake with caramelized layers) and went straight for the savories. I ordered what I thought would be a rather sensible lunch, Seasonal Salad ($9.50, arugula, creamy goat cheese, roasted red beets), but it was actually quite voluminous and sprinkled generously with tons of creamy goat cheese. The tasty beets were all hidden under the mountain of arugula, and there was no way I could finish even half of the dish.

StevenC ordered the bakery's popular sandwich item, Roasted Pork Club. ($12, six-hour roasted pork shoulder, pickled eggs, tomatoes, bibb lettuce and spicy mayo on sourdough) This triple decked sandwich looked quite decadent. However, he explained the sandwich as just "not bad." "It was clean tasting but not much punch," he said.

If you are lucky enough to work in SoHo or busy shopping in the area, why not stop by at the bakery, sip a cup of coffee and a bite of scrumptious canele ($3) or eclair at their beautiful greenhouse? Prices here a bit high comparatively, but hey, isn't it better than stuffing your face with a box of mediocre cookies and waiting something better to come along? This place is all about quality over quantity-- have a piece of heavenly delectable that completely intoxicates you. You deserve it.