"Open for just over a year, this burgeoning bakery empire (two locations now open with three more on the way this year) recently started offering 24-layer cakes. Cakes this large are typically dry and crumbly, but their renditions are impossibly moist and tender. From head baker Arlander Brown, formerly of Librae Bakery and Liv Breads, they have a “Beauty” (lemon curd, blueberry ganache, and vanilla bean whipped ganache) and a “Beast” (chocolate cake layered with dark chocolate ganache and rum syrup). They now offer them everyday as part of the evening menu, from 5 to 9 p.m. in Long Island City." - Mike Chau