I walked into La Deliziosa pastry shop JUST to pick up my brothers rainbow layer cake. Yes, a cake that is entirely made of this dense- rich- almondy cookie. And, I always have to get just one more thing because it’s without a doubt my favorite Italian bakery. I scan the cookie case, the pastry case, and the cannoli station before I decide in under five seconds that I am calling out the chocolate cigar. Rather, it’s calling for me!

Look at this cigar… just take a deep dive into its core. Those dense chocolate layers are full of fudgy flakey everything. Almost like a grown up rugelach but dare I say it’s similar. The crust is kissed with turbinando sugar which makes my favorite crunch factor.

I doubt the chocolate, raspberry, or almond cigars - sold on a daily basis- are even considered Italian pastries but it’s another reason I love this bakery. They have the best of classic Italian baked goods and then some. In the recent years they seem to have experimented with more treats like croissants, layer cakes, hamentachen (another favorite!), and some other things.