Picture Of The Day: Court Pastry Shop And Empty Street

Court Street Pastry Shop  on Court Street is a real Carroll Gardens institution.

Strange to see the street and stores so empty.

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Court Pastry Shop On Court Street Temporarily Closed By Heath Department

Carroll Gardeners, who wanted to purchase baked goods from Court Pastry Shop for the New Year celebration, were stunned to find that the beloved neighborhood store was closed in the last few days of 2017.  A hand written sign on the gate simply states: "Under Maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience. Will try to open A.S.A.P."
Long time customers immediately feared that the bakery, which sells Italian specialties, was gone for good.  However, it turns out that the New York Health Department paid the establishment a visit on December 27, and forced the closing after "critical" violations" were found.
Court Pastry Shop, which has been operated by the Zerilli family since 1948, is one of the most beloved institutions in Carroll Gardens. For many in the neighborhood, no holiday would be complete without the shop's biscotti and Sfagliatelle. A visit to relatives in the suburbs would be unthinkable without bringing boxes of its pastries.

Let us hope that Court Pastry will reopen a.s.a.p., as the owners promise, because Carroll Gardens without this venerated institution would not ever be the same. Read more

The Traditional 'Agnellini Pasquale' Now On Sale At Court Pastry Shop

Every year before Easter, Court Pastry Shop at 298 Court Street, displays their traditional "Agnellini Pasquale" in its shop window. The molded marzipan lambs, seated on a bed of meringue and fake green grass, are a symbol of the Catholic holiday in Sicily.
Of course, it would not be Easter in Carroll Gardens without them. I can't help photographing them every time they re-appear, because I am happy that the tradition continues just a bit longer in the neighborhood and that the family-owned pastry shop is still part of the community.
More than anything, the agnelli are a sure sign that spring is on its way.



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