What gift should I give? Food on an airplane edition
June 18, 2017 8:47 AM Subscribe
I'd like to get some nice sweets or baked goods from New York for my family. What should I get? And how should I transport it through a 10 hour trip including a 6 hr plane ride without damaging it or running into problems with the TSA?
Constraints:
-Item must be picky-child-pleasing (basically: should be sweet; exotic flavors will be a hard sell), but ideally special in some way (so, not just a plain vanilla cheesecake)
-Cost is a factor, but I do want to get something nice. Under $50 ideally
-Must generously serve 6
-The item will probably be picked up late this Thursday, taken with me as I travel Friday afternoon, and finally eaten either very late Friday or late Saturday.
-Given my particular demographic, I'd prefer not to take chances with the TSA
It's really the transportation part that's causing the struggle. A Brooklyn Blackout from Two Little Red Hens, for instance, seems to satisfy all my requirements but also seems impossible to transport! I'm only taking a messenger bag and a small carry-on suitcase. Maybe a pie would be better? Cookies? Chocolate (seems pricy)? Something else I haven't thought of?
Constraints:
-Item must be picky-child-pleasing (basically: should be sweet; exotic flavors will be a hard sell), but ideally special in some way (so, not just a plain vanilla cheesecake)
-Cost is a factor, but I do want to get something nice. Under $50 ideally
-Must generously serve 6
-The item will probably be picked up late this Thursday, taken with me as I travel Friday afternoon, and finally eaten either very late Friday or late Saturday.
-Given my particular demographic, I'd prefer not to take chances with the TSA
It's really the transportation part that's causing the struggle. A Brooklyn Blackout from Two Little Red Hens, for instance, seems to satisfy all my requirements but also seems impossible to transport! I'm only taking a messenger bag and a small carry-on suitcase. Maybe a pie would be better? Cookies? Chocolate (seems pricy)? Something else I haven't thought of?
Baked by Melissa cupcakes come in these little blister-pack cases (the photo doesn't show a lid, but they have lids). Kids love them. If you happen to be flying from JFK, there's an outpost there.
posted by xo at 9:22 AM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by xo at 9:22 AM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Levain cookies!!
posted by ferret branca at 9:24 AM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ferret branca at 9:24 AM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Some of the dense Jewish pastries at Zabar's (babka, rugelach) will survive being crushed because they're already low to the ground (and delicious).
posted by 8603 at 9:47 AM on June 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by 8603 at 9:47 AM on June 18, 2017 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Seconding Levain's cookies: lovely to behold and to share, will suit many palates. Black and white cookies are also a great choice! The Zabar's bakery in the market at Grand Central has good, fresh cookies.
A bialy, alas, will not travel well: it loses texture and flavor quickly.
posted by lasagnaboy at 10:03 AM on June 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
A bialy, alas, will not travel well: it loses texture and flavor quickly.
posted by lasagnaboy at 10:03 AM on June 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Can you get a couple of chocolate babkas from Breads Bakery? They're flattish and rectangular, so they're pretty easy to transport in a bag.
posted by marfa, texas at 10:13 AM on June 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by marfa, texas at 10:13 AM on June 18, 2017 [4 favorites]
If it counts as a baked good, I would want the soft pretzels.
posted by aniola at 11:24 AM on June 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by aniola at 11:24 AM on June 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Go to an Italian bakery and get a box of assorted cookies.
posted by Splunge at 12:59 PM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 12:59 PM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ooh! Or go to one of Jacques Torres stores. Even if you don't bring anything back you have got to try his chocolates.
posted by Splunge at 1:01 PM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 1:01 PM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
My suggestion would be go to the Italian bakery and get a box of Canolli.
posted by fings at 6:50 PM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by fings at 6:50 PM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]
We always request black and whites and linzer tart cookies. Hot and Crusty makes great ones and they can package them in plastic clam shells so they will travel well.
posted by LKWorking at 8:54 AM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by LKWorking at 8:54 AM on June 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone! I will do some taste testing and report back.
posted by perplexion at 3:27 PM on June 19, 2017
posted by perplexion at 3:27 PM on June 19, 2017
Response by poster: Ended up getting black and whites from Amy's Bread and babka from Breads Bakery. Both made the trip just fine. They liked the cookies, but the babka was definitely the real star (reminded us of pain au chocolat, which we all adore). I also tried Levain cookies and think they would have been a great option as well. Thanks for the help!
posted by perplexion at 12:21 PM on June 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by perplexion at 12:21 PM on June 26, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by eponym at 8:53 AM on June 18, 2017 [7 favorites]