EAST VILLAGE — A New Jersey bakery known for its flaky almond croissant has opened its first New York shop, where the proprietors hope to become a destination for pastry fanatics.
Patisserie Florentine is now serving up fresh-baked pastries at its new to-go location at 280 E. 10th St., where brothers Itay and Tomer Zilkha hope New Yorkers will fall in love with the sweets that have already met success at their original Englewood, New Jersey, outpost — particularly their best-selling almond croissant.
"That's what we hope for, for that to be our strongest product," said Itay Zilkha, who founded the hospitality group with brother and chef Tomer Zilkha in 2011. "And so far, so good."
The almond croissants have become a major draw for New Jersey locals, he added.
The patisserie's kitchens are stocked with ovens from New Zealand that use steam and a bi-directional fan system to create the desired flakiness on the coveted treats, which are baked hourly, explains Tomer Zilkha in a behind-the-scenes video from CUNY-TV.
The bakery near Avenue A also serves up other sweet varieties of the buttery dessert, including an almond chocolate croissant and a Nutella croissant slathered with melted mascarpone and fresh strawberries.
Currently in soft-opening mode, the East Village patisserie will celebrate its grand opening on Feb. 3, said Itay Zilkha, adding he is thrilled to see his brother's pastries in the competitive Manhattan food scene.
"It was always the dream to open in the city," he said. "We are very happy this is the second location of the patisserie."
While the Englewood location also serves brunch, the East Village outpost is solely to-go and will serve only pastries and coffee.
