[Photo: Kathy Chan]

On mornings when a croissant alone from Patisserie Claude isn't quite enough, chase your morning meal with something a little sweet. The éclairs, in chocolate and coffee, are a rich affair, better suited for the evening; the glazed chocolate cakes are an afternoon sort of treat—but in the morningtime, I lean towards the Pear Mousse ($3.75), seemingly the plainest of them all. A light-as-air sponge cake, kept extra-moist with simple syrup. One layer of fresh pears, in tiny dice, hidden beneath a mousse of the same fruit. Classy, focused, and to the point.

Patisserie Claude

187 West 4th Street, New York NY 10014 (map)
212-255-5911