Levine’s Patisserie

I just discovered this kosher parve Vaad Harabonim of Queens certified French bakery which opened recently and offers a wide range of breads, challah, and pastries, including gluten free products. It is a welcome addition to the great neck community since Bruce closed down. I am a challah baker, therefore I am very critical of the industrial challah sold in bakeries and supermarkets. I have to say that everything I tried in this new bakery blew me away. First, the challah is absolutely outstanding. I tasted the pecan fruit challah and the turmeric breakaway challah (which i had never eaten before) and they were absolutely delicious and so fresh that we ate them on shabbat and by Sunday breakfast it was all gone. The turmeric challah had a sweet spicy taste very special and the pecan fruit challah (cranberry, apricot, raisins) was melting in our mouth. I went back and got an olive bread, so tasty and yummy that it did not last a day in my home. I then bought lemon meringue, apricot tarts, almond tarts/​cream puff and muffins (blueberry and almond) for a Torah class and again these incredibly fresh deserts disappeared in no time. The lemon meringue especially had a crispy taste and a tender heart of buttery lemon with an almond taste. The Rabbi who wanted to taste the deserts at the end of the class he was giving, got only crumbs… Compared to other bakeries in this area and in Plainview where I often shop, this place is worth the trip and every cent I spent. I even asked who was the baker there and I was told he trained in France with a «meilleur ouvrier de France» baker, award which is granted only to outstanding professionals in their field every five years. I highly recommend this bakery, which makes eating almost a sin…