Best Strawberry Shortcake
Thursday, July 08, 2010
In its freshness and simplicity, strawberry shortcake is one of the summer's great desserts. But when you're not in the mood to bake up a shortcake (too hot in your kitchen?), it may be time for a pilgrimmage.
So where's the best strawberry shortcake? It turns out there's one award-winning, pure and simple shortcake at each end of the state. The winners:
In Providence: Pastiche Fine Desserts. The perfect shortcake - sugar-topped, perfectly balanced biscuits are split by the master bakers at the Providence fine pastry shop, filled with fresh strawberries softened in juice and topped with pure, freshly and lightly sugared, whipped cream (shown here, right). Simplicity rules here... it's as if your favorite aunt was a pastry chef, and you're tucking in at her picnic table. Top notch. 92 Spruce St, Providence, 861-5190.
In Narragansett: Aunt Carrie's. Yes, all the way at the other end of Rhode Island. This traditional mecca for shore dinner, in Point Judith, may be better known for chowder, clams, and lobster. But savvy shortcake seekers know that Aunt Carrie's does it old-school, with the biscuits, fresh berries, and whipped cream. While they're in season, so hurry. 1240 Ocean Rd, Narragansett, 783-7930.
Now, what next? Turns out a few spots feature a cake-based shortcake, which to purists may not satisfy, but they're great summer desserts in their own way, and we celebrate them here.
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Everywhere else (East Providence, Providence, North Kingstown, Warwick): Gregg's. Again, this is not quite a strawberry shortcake by definition, but it's in demand at the cake-celebrating family restaurant year-round. Like at Wright's, this dessert features two big layers of yellow cake, lots of strawberries and fresh-whipped cream. It's delicious, it's summery. It's in four spots in the state. Perfect.
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