2008 Woodie Awards
These hidden Boston Jewels offer something sweet to sink your teeth into
Lynette Cornell
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Lifestyle
As with most major cities, some of Boston's best gourmet offerings aren't the usual names gracing the pages of travel guides. Luckily for lovers of luscious baked goods, Boston's best kept secrets are also its sweetest.
Although the North End lays claim to real Italian cannolis, Chinatown houses Eldo Cake House's famous fruit cakes and Southie is grounded in its traditional pastries, some of the best places are often overlooked. Three fabulous, often-missed bakeries are La Sultana in East Boston, Clear Flour Bakery in Brookline and Lulu's Bake Shoppe in the North End.
LA SULTANA 40 MAVERICK SQ., BOSTON
La Sultana is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant located less than a minute from the Maverick T-stop on the Blue line. From the outside, the place looks like nothing worth noticing. Inside, though, the rich smells of authentic Mexican food engulf the senses. Near the door, a display case reveals delectable desserts, including chocolate cream horns, cake rolls and bread pudding.
Around noon on a weekday, the desserts remain mostly untouched, but La Sultana offers its customers other options. Its hot lunch items are in high demand. A steady stream of Spanish-speaking locals enter the sunny eatery, ordering steaming plates of rice, beans and meat stews.
The most popular items by far are the fresh empanadas, which come filled with either chicken or beef. Their golden, crisp exteriors hint of a subtle sweetness, while the generous interiors boast of a mild spiciness.
Nothing is labeled, but the largely Hispanic customer base can already identify the items. The women behind the counter are pleasant, efficient, and helpful. They will offer to heat up items and provide a cup for people sharing a drink.
The delicious food is also easy on the wallet. One cheese puff, one caramel-filled doughnut, and one giant cheesy crescent came to a little more than $4, including tax.
The cheese puff is slightly larger than a tennis ball with a crispy outer shell and a cake-like interior, similar to the consistency of a crab cake. It has a subtle cheese flavor.
Although the North End lays claim to real Italian cannolis, Chinatown houses Eldo Cake House's famous fruit cakes and Southie is grounded in its traditional pastries, some of the best places are often overlooked. Three fabulous, often-missed bakeries are La Sultana in East Boston, Clear Flour Bakery in Brookline and Lulu's Bake Shoppe in the North End.
LA SULTANA 40 MAVERICK SQ., BOSTON
La Sultana is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant located less than a minute from the Maverick T-stop on the Blue line. From the outside, the place looks like nothing worth noticing. Inside, though, the rich smells of authentic Mexican food engulf the senses. Near the door, a display case reveals delectable desserts, including chocolate cream horns, cake rolls and bread pudding.
Around noon on a weekday, the desserts remain mostly untouched, but La Sultana offers its customers other options. Its hot lunch items are in high demand. A steady stream of Spanish-speaking locals enter the sunny eatery, ordering steaming plates of rice, beans and meat stews.
The most popular items by far are the fresh empanadas, which come filled with either chicken or beef. Their golden, crisp exteriors hint of a subtle sweetness, while the generous interiors boast of a mild spiciness.
Nothing is labeled, but the largely Hispanic customer base can already identify the items. The women behind the counter are pleasant, efficient, and helpful. They will offer to heat up items and provide a cup for people sharing a drink.
The delicious food is also easy on the wallet. One cheese puff, one caramel-filled doughnut, and one giant cheesy crescent came to a little more than $4, including tax.
The cheese puff is slightly larger than a tennis ball with a crispy outer shell and a cake-like interior, similar to the consistency of a crab cake. It has a subtle cheese flavor.
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