Bakery giant arrives in Astoria

Leli's Bakery & Pastry Shop (35-14 30th Ave, Astoria)

As I have been scurrying around Western Queens gathering images and information for my upcoming December story in Boro Magazine, my path has taken me past several neighborhood holiday favorites... in particular, the bakeries.  While I was sad to notice the absence of Terrizzi, whose hand-painted marzipan I featured in last year's story, I couldn't help but notice a huddle of people crowded around the window this past Saturday, eagerly peering inside the newly renovated space.

When one door closes, another opens--this time, to make way for what has the potential to become a popular bakery not only in Astoria, but perhaps several other locations around the city.  Leli's Bakery and Pastry shop is the first retail outpost for the team whose Bronx-based wholesale bakery supplies high-end pastries and sweets to such mega-stores as Dean & Deluca, Starbucks, Crumbs, and luxury hotels and restaurants like the Waldorf-Astoria.

Cupcakes range from carrot and caramel-filled apple, to mocha, and even a raspberry linzer cupcake.

Baked on premises, the bakery boasts gorgeous assorted fruit tarts, artisan breads, gourmet cupcakes and cookies, and soon, specialty sandwiches for meal service at the cozy, rustic dining area overlooking the delectable pastry showcases.  In just a few visits, I have sampled delicious, fresh-from-the-oven cranberry walnut bread, an enormous rugala stuffed with chocolate and plump raisins wrapped in a honey-soaked pastry topped with crushed walnuts, a chocolate cupcake stuffed with mocha cream, and white chocolate and milk chocolate rainbow cookies with a chocolate shell so thick and delicious, it reminded me more of a pastry-and-jam-filled candy bar.

Only open a few days, lines are already building as the neighborhood greets this specialty newcomer with outstretched arms.  Open for business just in time for the holidays, Leli's promises to become a neighborhood favorite in almost no time at all.