Serious Eats: New York
Sugar Rush: Budapest Log at AQ Kafe
After reading about AQ Kafe's Budapest Log on the blog Ramen and Friends, we dashed uptown for a taste ourselves. Given the choice between getting a slice ($5.95) or an entire log ($15.95), we went with the latter because one can never have too much cake in life.
This creation is a three-part affair: crispy pipes of hazelnut meringue, buttery chocolate mousse, and Mandarin oranges tucked in the center. It's on the sugary sweet end, and the mousse is more about the creamy texture than it is the chocolate, but we enjoyed the log nonetheless. The outer shells of hazelnut meringue remain light and crisp while the inner layers, surrounded by mousse on all sides, become more moist and soft while still retaining chewiness and nuttiness throughout. A citrusy pop of mandarins in the middle is an unexpected, refreshing surprise. Far from amazing, but bound to attract attention at any party.
AQ Kafe
1800 Broadway, New York NY 10019 (b/n 58th St. and Central Park South; map)
aqkafe.com