Little Brown: Have Some Chocolate With That!

There are two things that invariably improve my mood: coffee and chocolate. So it was with glee that I walked through the doors of Little Brown Chocolate Bakery & Coffee. I'd been waiting for it to open all winter. The cafe bills itself as a "chocolate & coffee love affair," and thankfully, you can have a menage a trois with both of them. Another slogan that might apply to this place is: "Have some chocolate with that." Little Brown offers a menu of breakfast and lunch items with chocolate mixed into just about everything. Steel cut oats? Have some Belgian chocolate drizzled on it. What about a low-fat yogurt parfait with fruit? There's Belgian chocolate cream on top. Even pancake bites (oh Lord, these pancake bites are addictive... I ordered a box for my picky 16-month-old and ended up eating half of them) can be served with bananas, maple syrup... and chocolate. About the only things that don't have chocolate are the buffalo mozzarella and tomato sandwich (yum) and the turkey bacon and frittata on a croissant. There's also a large selection of chocolate bakery items that includes a gluten-free chocolate cake. As for the coffee, the mochaccino is rich and thick without tasting like someone emptied out an entire container of Hershey's chocolate syrup into it (I'm looking at you, Starbucks; your location across the street from Little Brown is going to get a run for its money).

Little Brown Chocolate Bakery & Coffee: 1269 Lexington Ave.

Hummus Kitchen

When I think of the words "vegan, kosher and healthy," the word "delicious" doesn't immediately follow. However, the hummus at Hummus Kitchen could be described as unreasonably delicious. Adorned with plump whole chickpeas, it's sprinkled with lots of paprika. Its texture is made unctuous with olive oil, and its flavor is rich with tahini. This warm hummus puts those plastic supermarket containers of beige to shame! And it's not the only reason to eat at Hummus Kitchen.

In the non-vegan category, the green shakshuka, or baked eggs with spinach, peppers and tomatoes, warms you to the core. Grilled chicken is tender and is accompanied by a huge Mediterranean chopped salad. There is a condiment (I don't know the name of it) that is addictive in the hurts-so-good way that Indian mango pickles are; it tastes intensely of mint, parsley, vinegar and hot pepper. As it's Passover right now, you won't be served the traditional pita bread, but will instead enjoy a delectable thin herbed cornbread... and some matzo, of course.

Hummus Kitchen: Various locations. The one we eat at is located at 1613 Second Ave., (212) 988-0090.

Sweets News

Here's some very sweet Easter news. On April 24 (Easter Sunday), Benoit (60 West 55th St.) will be holding a special dessert buffet, which includes lemon tarts, strawberry cake, raspberry shortbread stacks, chocolate mousse, and meringue "floating islands."