Best of the rest

FINALES

Cherry religieuse at Le Cirque
The double-decker éclair filled with cherry custard from former Cirque pastry chef Vincent Jaoura inspired our religieuse devotion. It’s no longer on the menu, but we’ll always worship it.
151 E 58th St between Lexington and Third Aves (212-644-0202). $10.

Panna cotta at Union Square Cafe
Chef Carmen Quagliata toys with his panna cotta’s cream base by adding fresh robbiola, a tart and creamy soft Italian formaggio. The result is a velvety dessert with a depth of richness that goes all the way to your toes. Its perfect mate: wild-huckleberry compote.
21 E 16th St between Fifth Ave and Union Sq West (212-243-4020). $9.50.

Pie in a box, Park Avenue Winter
At first glance, this minimalist-in-appearance white-chocolate cube doesn’t say “mama’s pie.” But the first taste tells a different story. A carefully constructed mélange of apple compote, shatteringly crisp pie crust, airy whipped vanilla mascarpone, Medjool date puree and spiced sponge cake somehow delivers all of your memories of what an apple pie should taste like. Someone bring in the Proust reference, stat!
100 E 63rd St between Park and Lexington Aves (212-644-1900). $24 (serves two).

Peanut butter bomb at Cake Shop
Two parts moist chocolate sponge and one part fluffy peanut-butter filling add up to a mouth-jamming, craving-inspiring piece of cake. The fact that it’s vegan allows you to feel smug, not gluttonous.
152 Ludlow St between Rivington and Stanton Sts (212-253-0036). $5.50. ¢

Pretzel-covered sea-salted caramels from Bespoke Chocolates
Chocolate-covered pretzels and salty caramel get married in this brilliant bonbon from chocolatier Rachel Zoe Insler. Oozing, Maldon-salt–spiked caramel is coated in 66 percent dark chocolate, then rolled in Martin’s crushed pretzels. It’s a pairing meant to last.
6 Extra Pl off of E 1st St between Bowery and Second Ave (212-260-7103). $2.25 each. ¢

Rainbow cake at Vegas Diner
The Vegas Diner’s sizable slab—touting five layers of chewy almond-flavored cake—comes covered in ganache and streaked with raspberry jelly. There’s a ton of food coloring, but we challenge you to find a better use for marzipan.
1619 86th St between 16th and 17th Aves, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn (718-331-2221). $4.45. ¢

STREET EATS»

PIZZA, BURGERS AND FRIES | CARBS (AND THEIR FRIENDS) | INNARDS | FINALES | STREET EATS | PROTEIN! | FROM THE SEA | SANDWICHES | THIRST QUENCHERS | BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH | THE DAIRY SECTION