New Pastry Innovation Hits New York: Cronigiri Takes the City by Storm
In a culinary twist that combines Japanese and French flavors, New York City has been introduced to a new pastry sensation known as cronigiri. The unique pastry, a fusion of a croissant and an onigiri, has taken the city by storm since its debut at Cafe W in Murray Hill, Queens.
Earlier this year, Cafe W’s owner, John Lee, challenged his employees to create a pastry that would blend the flaky texture of a croissant with the shape of an onigiri, a Japanese rice ball. After two months of experimentation and fine-tuning, the cronigiri was born. The pastry features three curved points like an onigiri, with a buttery crust and a soft, dense interior. Cafe W offers two flavors of cronigiri: chive bacon cream cheese or mayonnaise with roe, priced at $6.50 each.
Since its introduction, Cafe W has been selling approximately 1,600 cronigiris per week, with each batch taking over 11 hours to make. The bakery has become a hotspot on weekends, with cronigiris selling out within hours. For those who miss out on this innovative treat, Cafe W also offers another unique creation: the crone, a croissant ice cream cone for soft serve.
The success of cronigiri at Cafe W highlights the growing trend of culinary fusion in New York City, where innovative food creations continue to captivate the taste buds of locals and tourists alike. With its blend of Japanese and French influences, cronigiri is a testament to the city’s diverse and ever-evolving culinary scene, setting the stage for more exciting gastronomic creations in the future.