The Sugar Quest

Mirror mirror on the wall, which is the most delectable Boston Bakery of them all. Is it the infamous Mike’s Pastry on Hanover Street or a few doors down at Modern Pastry? Magic mirrors can’t produce samples to help you decide but the North End of Boston certainly can and that is where my quest for Boston’s best bakery began.

From day one of my Massachusetts rebirth I heard the cries for Mike’s Pasty loud and clear all the way in Brookline. Six months later, the time has come to step into the promised land of Mike’s Pastry and see what all the hype is about. Upon first glance and first feel (as my sides are elbowed and my toes are crushed by the masses trying to satisfy their sweet teeth), Mike’s seems like the hot spot of the North End.

I am a kid in a pastry shop, Augustus Gloop in Willy Wonka’s land of edible delight, only one hundred people, some small children, and a few glass cases stand between me and my pastry prizes. After twenty minutes of deep thought, I decide to narrow my “research” to cannolis.  Mike’s has a plethora of options, chocolate covered, eminem filled, cherry dipped, a limitless bounty of flaky delight. Naturally I choose the aged old, classic cannoli, with creamy filling and sweet chocolate chips, I am quite impressed but curious to see what Modern Pasty, the North End’s “other” famous bakery has to offer.