Best of New York 2011 • Eating

• Maialino

  2 Lexington Ave., at 21st St. 212-777-2410

  At Maialino, they call them brioche caramellato. You might know them as sticky buns. In any case, biting into one is not unlike biting into a cloud—albeit a profoundly buttery cloud that’s been dunked in a vat of molten toffee. Pastry chef Jennifer Shelbo says a whole team of kitchen elves works late into the night to make sure these toothsome morsels arrive fresh for breakfast every day. They’re $3 a pop, but if you call ahead, you can order your brioche caramellato by the dozen.

  See Also: A Look Inside Maialino

From the 2011 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine