David Chang, I am thy humble servant

Today I had the good fortune of dropping by Momofuku Bakery and Milk Bar on 13th and 2nd Ave when it wasn’t packed with customers. The place is plastered with signs saying “take a number” and the deli counter-style number dispenser and red LED “now serving” sign were very evident. But only one hipster couple separated me from pastry chef Christina Tosi’s sublime creations. I ordered the malted chocolate soft serve with peanut butter halvah. It was served in a small dish, not much bigger than a whiskey glass, with one of those Baskin Robbins teeny-tiny sample spoons. Soft serve. I never knew it could be like this. The peanut halvah was crunchy and buttery, with just the right amount of nuttiness to complement the tang of the malt and sweet bitterness of the chocolate. I kept waiting for the taste to go sour on me, but it held up perfectly – this was no funky Pinkberry. I marveled at the ultra-smooth and even texture. Not an air bubble in sight. As I neared the bottom of the cup, I discovered a hidden layer of halvah. It was like finding a forgotten Christmas present on New Year’s day.  I could have cried.