Magnolia Bakery l Foodie Find
Food, the ultimate unifier. Tomorrow is April 1 and, were he still with us, would mark another birthday for my grandfather. I think of him more often than anyone may guess, and I find myself especially remembering him this time of year.
While we weren’t incredibly close and didn’t have much time together, I am thankful for the vivid memories I have of him from the time we did spend. One of the sharpest of these involves my family’s visit to Pakistan, an overripe banana and a simple fact turned lesson.
I was very young, around five years old, and as picky about my food as any other kid my age. I distinctly remember my tendency to eat around and discard any browned spots on bananas. As a kid, the darker spots disgusted me. I was convinced they were not safe to eat, flaws of nature. Until he enlightened me, simply: “The dark spots are the sweetest parts.” I tested his wisdom and it rang true. For years I felt privy to a secret understanding of the arched fruit.
As I grew older, I found myself recalling the experience repeatedly and especially in low periods of stress or hopelessness.
The dark spots are the sweetest.
An unintended (or, maybe not) life lesson. I eat the yellow fruit daily, constantly reaffirming the message he shared with me more than two decades ago as every sweet, brown spot reminds me of him and takes me back to that first meeting.
When sifting through my recent food experiences to find one worth sharing with you, this is the one that fit best. Started in New York in 1996, Magnolia Bakery can now be found around the world — from Tokyo, to Los Angeles, to (soon) Saudi Arabia and yes, Chicago. Even with this international presence, Magnolia prides itself on its essence as a good old-fashioned, neighborhood bakery. They focus on fresh, small-batch goods whipped up in plain sight.
Many folks think Magnolia Bakery is all about the cupcakes, but it has much more to offer in the way of sweet treats. One of its most popular menu items? Magnolia Bakery’s Famous Banana Pudding. I tried the Chocolate-Banana version (of course) for the first time a few months ago and it was incredible. The texture is mousse-esque with delightful chunks of Oreo wafers, bananas and chocolate shavings folded in.
Truly a must-visit for the charming vibes and tasteful sweets. Happy Foodie Friday, friends.
