New Bake Shop Coming to Austin St.

I believe this is in the former space where that little Mexican / Chinese food combo place used to be. Looks like it could be a cute little place...

Popular Forest Hills bakery Bonelle to close after all

According to the Queens Chronicle the Ascan Avenue Bonelle Pastry Shop, one of the older bakeries in Forest Hills, will close in January. This, after a local outcry by Forest Hills residents who have treasured the small independent shop for decades. There was even a petition signed by hundreds of shoppers to try to keep it open. But the manager now says they will have to close their doors. Read all about it here: Bonelle Pastry Shop in Forest Hills to close in January

La Boulangerie Events

And speaking of small businesses—or maybe the better term is independent businesses since La Boulangerie is always so packed with customers the word "small" just doesn't seem to fit—it was so nice to see how our finest French bakery is expanding its role in the neighborhood, hosting local events. The next one is on Tuesday, December 16:

This, my friends, is what is starting to make our neighborhood really great... I also noticed a similar poster in Red Pipe's window about some event coming up but didn't have time to stop and read it. If anyone knows what it is, please post below...

New York Magazine Loves La Boulangerie

I forget which reader mentioned this a few weeks ago (Susan, I think?) , but I've been wanting to track it down for a while now, and now I have...

From NYMag.com:

The Greatest Thing Since …

La Boulangerie’s Baguette

"Since its July opening, his modest shop has been like Macy’s on Black Friday. What’s all the fuss about? Croissants, pains au chocolat, naturally leavened boules, but most of all Danielo’s classic baguettes."

A Preview of the New Martha's Country Bakery

A little something to whet your appetites... It opens Friday morning.

Some Sweet News

What can we all use on a day when the stock market is tanking? How about some more news about the brownies store opening soon on Austin? The owners sent me an email with lots of delectable details:

"We are making everything onsite daily. Some flavors of Brownies are S'more, Chessecake, Espresso, Caramel and much more. We will also have homemade ice cream and French Macarons. The ice creams will range from Raspberry White Chocolate Ribbon to Peppermint Chocolate Chip.  For the French Macarons we will have Lemon Curd, Dulce de Leche and a few other yummy fillings. We will also serve coffee.  The opening date should be August 25 (hopefully), or anytime 1 to 2 weeks after that."

Thanks for the update guys! 

Brownies & Cream's Offerings

A reader was kind enough to grab one of the cards from the store window and scan it, giving us a preview of the delectable-looking treats that await us when Brownies & Cream opens in a couple of weeks:

Impressive Newcomers

La Boulangerie

I spent about an hour this afternoon sitting in La Boulangerie, chatting away with a friend while sipping an iced coffee. I have to tell you, that place was doing some impressively brisk business. People didn't stop coming in. What a great addition to Forest Hills it is. It was such a comfortable place to while away an hour or so with good conversation and a good coffee. And, by the way, the shelves were brimming with bread. And, they had something like 3 or 4 bakers in the back baking away... If you've been disappointed by this place being out of stuff when you visit, it looks like they are ramping up big-time. So I would highly recommend another visit.

Emily's Sugar Rush

Then, I stopped in Emily's Sugar Rush a block or so away on Austin. This candy store is now overflowing with stuff. Wow have they boosted the offerings there! I can't imagine that a candy-lover would leave Emily's without finding something to satisfy their sweet tooth.

So there they are - two really great new businesses that have just recently set up shop on or just near Austin St.

And with Brownies & Cream set to open in a few weeks, it looks like the fun places just keep on opening here in Forest Hills. It's a great time to be a FoHi'er!

Brownies & Cream Sign

The sign is up for this new brownies place on Austin that is expected to open mid-August...

To Lose a Hand for Brownies

So upon walking past the soon-to-be brownie place, Brownies & Cream (sp?), late today on Austin I noticed that there were a bunch of promotional cards stuck to the window of the place -- but behind the roll down gate! I stood there for a few seconds, imagining myself trying to squeeze my hand through the gate in an attempt to obtain one of the cards. After all, from what I could make out they had very tantalizing full-color photos on them of the brownies this place will soon dole out to hungry Forest Hillers. "What a find!" I thought to myself, thinking I would race back home, scan the cards and post immediately to Edge of the City! But then I also imagined myself standing there with my hand stuck in the gate, screaming for help like a fool and realized that, yes, while I do indeed love getting scoops for my blog, I am not willing to risk public humiliation... or the future use of my hand.

But I may try again tomorrow when the gate is up!

(Or, Mr. and Mrs. Brownie people, you can email a photo of your card to edgeofthecity@gmail.com and I promise to post it in the space right below!)

La Boulangerie Coverage

Boy oh boy, Forest Hills' new French bakery La Boulangerie is really racking up the coverage!

Here's how they handled the opening at the Edible Queens Blog: La Boulangerie Brings a Taste of France to Forest Hills "Crunchy on the outside," Edible Queens says, "with the flaky crust giving way to a buttery interior this croissant is surely the finest to ever be made in Forest Hills."

And here's a review from Eatery Row: Forest Hills "Should any of you readers ever ask yourself "why does Manhattan get all the Le Pain Quotidien's?" you need hunger for one no longer. Now, we have one."

And Jon ends his review by saying: "It's a relaxing place where you can go, have an espresso, read the Times, and smile in the knowledge that Forest Hills is finally becoming a little more refined."

La Boulangerie Under Construction

My top-notch reporter was allowed to take some photos inside the new French Bakery, La Boulangerie, currently under construction near the corner of Austin St. and 72nd Road. My reporter tells me this is their first bakery and they are not affiliated with anyone else.  It is going to be set up so that you can see into the kitchen through large windows and watch the bread being made. The owner also says they are going to focus on bread and food stuff as opposed to sweets as they see too many other places around where people can buy cookies and cupcakes. They look to be creating a high end kind of place, and hope to be open in another two months.

For those who don't know where this will be, this is a view of the corner: