Chouquettes in Harlem at Patisserie Des Ambassades

[Photographs: Niko Triantafillou]

If you live in South Harlem and your immediate plans include a stroll to take in the fall foliage, don't forget to bring some food to fuel your walk. I suggest a bag of Chouquettes from Patisserie De Ambassades. They're small, easy to share and very versatile, making them the perfect snack for this endeavor. And at three for $1.75 you can feed a whole group of walkers on the cheap.

Chouquettes are small, baked choux pastries (without filling in this case) with pearl sugar sprinkled on top to add a hint of sweetness. And the choux from Ambassades is very fresh and has a nice eggy flavor. I found it hard to stop eating the hollow chewy puffs once I started.

Chocolate almond croissant.

You can even make a meal out of these by adding some peanut butter, Nutella, or better yet, your favorite cheese (I suggest Gruyere). If you're looking for a more heavy-duty pastry for your walk, check out Ambassades's excellent chocolate almond croissant.