There’s no better way to embrace the fall season in New York than by indulging in its deliciously festive foods. Many shops implement seasonal flavors — from ice cream shops to markets — in their signature items. Whether you’re craving a pumpkin-spiced treat or a hearty apple-filled pastry, there’s something for everyone to enjoy during this charming time of year.
Here are a few top picks among the many great options available in New York City.
Near Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, Borgatti’s, a handmade pasta and ravioli shop, features pumpkin-flavored pasta and ravioli in their weekly specials. This could be served with a traditional red sauce or a lighter herbal butter sauce. It is the perfect seasonal dinner to share with friends or family.
Beyond our local community, there are a plethora of bakeries across Manhattan and Brooklyn serving delicious treats.
Little Cupcake Bakeshop is known for its innovative and delicious cakes, winning “Best Chocolate Cake” in the United States for a few years in the past decade. They are offering a pumpkin spice cake with a cream cheese frosting. I tried it in early October and can say it is worth the trip to the Lower East Side.
Radio Bakery in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, focuses on croissants and offers a pumpkin cheesecake croissant on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. They sell out fast, so definitely get there early if you can.
Funny Face Bakery, a playful cookie shop, produces some of the best combos for every season. They offer a pumpkin sugar spice cookie, which includes white chocolate chips mixed into pumpkin dough and sprinkled with cinnamon.
Even though the temperatures are starting to drop, Caffe Panna, an ice cream shop near Gramercy Park in Manhattan, is serving up some weekly specials that are perfect for fall. Indulge in their pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple crisp and pancake praline flavors throughout October and November. Treat yourself to these seasonal delights on one of the lovely sunny days while we still can.
Farmer’s markets across all boroughs are bound to fulfill your fall food dreams. The New York Botanical Garden offers a weekly market with various bakeries and fresh produce until Wednesday, Oct. 23. Other great markets in the city include Union Square Greenmarket, Chelsea Down to Earth Farmers Market and the Inwood Greenmarket.
This past weekend, I ventured to the Union Square market in search of fall foods, open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I was in awe of the amount of fresh produce, even from farms in Massachusetts. There were apples, honey and baked goods at almost every other stand, perfect for one’s fall needs. It was busy on a sunny Saturday, but I found bottles of apple cider and donuts at the Breezy Hill Orchard stand, even in the later hours of the market, around 3:30 p.m.
You cannot talk about fall foods without seasonal drinks. While many people instantly think of Starbucks, plenty of charming local cafés offer unique and delicious options worth exploring.
Near Fordham’s Lincoln Center Campus, quaint coffee chain Birch Coffee offers a “Birch Spiced Latte” containing cinnamon and pumpkin spice. It is perfect for a pre or post-class treat. They have over 10 locations across different neighborhoods in New York, so there are locations accessible to everyone.
Another coffee shop, Forever Coffee, located in Washington Heights, offers a few fun drink varieties. They have a nutmeg ginger latte, a salted maple caramel latte, an apple chai-der and a pumpkin spice latte.
Lastly, La Colombe offers both canned and fresh drinks at various locations across New York. They have a pumpkin spice latte on tap that can be served in their infamous Black and Tan combo or by itself. It is equally delicious either way. Or, walk to Rams Deli and pick up one of their canned Pumpkin Spice Draft Lattes.
New York’s culinary scene loves to embrace the comforting spices of fall, so there is no shortage of options. Don’t miss the chance to make a day out of trying these fun combinations across all boroughs!
