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Elisa’s Love Bites Dessert Atelier

Opening Hours
Today: 11am–7pm
Thurs:
11am–7pm
Fri:
11am–7pm
Sat:
11am–7pm
Sun:
11am–7pm
Mon:
Closed
Tues:
Closed
Location
441 East 9th Street
Neighborhoods
Location
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Founded by Antonio Veniero, who emigrated to New York as a teenager from a small town outside Sorrento on Italy’s Amalfi coast, Veniero’s has been an East Village mainstay since the turn of the twentieth century. Initially a confectionery shop, it later evolved into a cafe and then a full-fledged pastry shop, with culinary creations by some of Italy’s finest bakers. Along with his wife, Pasqulina, and their seven children, Antonio followed the Italian custom of keeping business in the family. Veniero’s passed through four generations until reaching its current owner, Antonio's great-nephew Robert Zerilli, who had worked at the cafe alongside his father, Frank, for decades before taking over. Beyond the business legacy he left behind, Antonio also birthed an extensive family tree. “The Venieros are every-where,” Robert quipped, adding that the legendary Bruce Springsteen is his second cousin. The business savvy of the extended Veniero family has helped keep the shop alive. Tales of Antonio’s relentless determination to succeed are still retold with pride by his relatives. He is also credited with bringing electricity to the neighborhood, home to mostly poor immigrants at the time, by rallying local support and collecting signatures to sway the reluctant energy company.In another bit of local lore, Antonio is said to have ushered in the entry of Italian espresso to the city, as he started roasting his own beans right in the shop’s backyard. Fittingly, Robert has Veniero’s to thank for meeting his wife, whose love for their iced cappuccinos made her a regular customer until he found the courage to ask her out on a date.

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Butter Lane Cupcakes 1 Specialty Cakes Bakeries Cupcakes East Village

Butter Lane Cupcakes

Three ladies founded this quaint, cheerful dessert shop in 2008 after spending several months sampling recipes, dedicated to finding the perfect bases and smooth buttercream frostings. I have stopped in too many times to count, guided by the sweet smells that confirm the founders' devotion to quality. Lisa Liu, who took over the shop in 2014 after earning the trust of the partners, has upheld this legacy.Previously the owner of a TCBY frozen yogurt franchise, Lisa followed her husband’s career from Salt Lake City to New York. It was her love for all things sweet that led her to Butter Lane. “I really like dessert,” she admitted. With an assortment of vanilla, chocolate, and banana bases, at least twelve frostings with seasonal flavors introduced almost every month, and no wrong combinations, Lisa is crazy about what she sells. The same is true of her staff. One employee told me that she had been with the company for over three years, in part because of its proximity to her residence, but mostly because of her “attraction to sweets.” Her favorite part of her job is the “free cupcakes,” as she is required to sample every cupcake flavor daily for quality check.It is no wonder that the cupcakes taste so good, being that they are made fresh each day from only wholesome ingredients. “We do not use any artificial flavors or colors,” Lisa explained. Even without food coloring, the cupcakes are quite attractive, and specialty cakes may be ordered with forty-eight hours’ notice. At the time of our latest visit, during the summer of 2016, the Butter Lane team was ready for the release of their edible tribute to a popular television show’s finale, though I was told not to disclose the name just yet.Equally as impressive as the delectable cupcakes are the baking classes, which always seem to fill the adjacent kitchen classroom to capacity with cupcake enthusiasts. Happening a minimum of four times a week, the classes include instruction in decorating during the winter and spring. People from around the world seek them out after learning about them in foreign travel magazines. The bakeshop has also been responsible for hosting birthday parties, complete with decorations. Great frosting, great fun.

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