Sugar Rush: Bakery Bits at Three Tarts

I slipped into Three Tarts just as they opened at 11:00 am on Sunday morning, hoping to grab an ice cream sandwich for brunch-on-the-go. (When you're in your twenties, and have a job that takes you all over the city all day and night, it's perfectly acceptable to have ice cream prior to noon.)

I made my way to the back of the shop and peeked into the freezer case. $4.25 squares of ice cream sandwiches, in sublime flavors such as green tea ice cream with lemon cake. I slid the case open to reach for some chocolate on chocolate action—but then! I spotted something infinitely more awesome. "Bakery bits."

I asked the woman behind the counter what the origin of these bits might be. Remember Chinatown cake bags from Hon Cafe? This was the same idea—only the ice cream sandwich version.

Leftovers ends, corners, and bits from cut ice cream sandwiches are jammed into plastic containers and sold for $2.50. For just over half the price, you get far more ice cream sandwich for your money—in a fork-friendly, easy-travel version. I spotted cake bit containers in all the ice cream sandwich flavors, including one which coupled chocolate cake with both sorbet and ice cream. I settled for a goat's milk ice cream with a tart strawberry-balsamic sorbet. Swoon!

Three Tarts 164 Ninth Avenue, New York NY 10011 (map) 212-462-4392
threetarts.com‎

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