New York food treats

(Manhattan skyline, as snapped through a fence in Brooklyn)

Let's hear it for New York! I'm back from the bakery trip, sated and inspired, with a notepad full of tastes and bakers' tips and a memory card chocka-block with photos to tempt your tastebuds. I have so much to write about, but come back Friday for the first of a series of blog posts on each bakery I visited in turn, kicking off with Magnolia Bakery up first. And of course, many thanks to M&S for hosting the trip.

Most people come back from New York with a suitcase full of new clothes, but much as I'd have loved to, since the trip was a food trip, it figures the little bit of shopping I did manage to squeeze into four days was foodie-related. I simply couldn't resist buying presents at Dean & Deluca and William Sonoma - and here's a little sample...

Dean & Delcua Papabubble candy sticks and William Sonoma spices to liven up my brother's hunt for the perfect burger on the barbeque...

Bouchon Bakery's pecan and cinammon waffle mix, Serendipity's frozen hot chocolate dessert and cinammon sugar - bought purely because I was smitten by the packaging (I'm an easy sale). I once wrote a piece for the Guardian which mentioned my horror at things like boxed pancake mixes and the like, but I couldn't resist the Bouchon Bakery box - and besides, it might inspire us to actually open the waffle maker which has been lying in its box untouched for about two years already!

And finally, some very cute little animal cupcake toppers for a certain little toddler who turns two in a few months' time.

So that's what's in my basket - a rather random but pleasant enough selection - and come back Friday for the first bakery tour installment!
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