SALSWEE

Fake Fruit Desserts Find Another Home in Manhattan | Eater NY

"When I stop by the new Flatiron bakery I immediately think of Richard Scarry — Salswee sells trompe l’oeil pastries shaped like mangoes, bananas, and pears that sit in a showcase like fruit-shaped vehicles at a marble-clad luxury dealership. The French-Asian bakery, opened earlier this month at 180 Fifth Avenue near West 23rd Street, serves cakes, other pastries and espresso drinks, and was started by the owner of Shakalaka Bakery in Flushing. On a recent visit the banana-shaped dessert — with a banana mousse inside — was listed for around $10; eating it is a race against the clock because it smoothly melts into a spoon, not at all like the slow chew of an actual banana. The shop’s versions most closely resemble the bruised banana Lee served at Jungsik, showing how bakeries are turning little desserts into sculptural, high-end treats you can sit and linger over." - Emma Orlow