Old Post 11: Enrico Biscotti Company, not just for biscotti

When your bakery is named after a specific item, one is typically drawn to the store for that particular item.  Coco's Cupcakes, the Pie Place, Peace Love and Little Donuts, etc. You choose what they call themselves for since it really ought to be the best thing on their menu.

Maybe the best way to go about choosing your items at this Steel City emblem of a charming little bakery is to eat the biscotti first, so that you don't overwhelm your taste buds and then find yourself a little disappointed.  Now don't misunderstand, they have GREAT biscotti.  The texture is just right: it's it a little crunchy, a little crumby and not too dry.  They manage to not overdo the sweetness either.  The selection of flavors is fabulous as well, but the one pitfall is that the flavors don't seem to truly permeate the biscotti.  For instance, the fig pecan didn't hint at figs or pecan until you actually had one in the bite.  That said, with a hot cup of coffee, the biscotti is very, very good and can be found at a variety of cafes around the city if you can't make it to the strip district.

But it's just not the best thing you get to savor at Enrico's.  The almond macaroon and the coconut macaroon at Enrico's are so good that you shouldn't make the mistake of eating them first. Wait until you've had a chance to try other things and then order the macaroons. 

The almond macaroon almost tastes like the amaretto shot you get at the end of your meal at Mallorca; it has a crispy outer crust with just the right amount of browning and a delightfully chewy center.  The coconut macaroon is unlike most other bakeries. It manages to have a sinfully buttery flavor amidst the sweetness of the coconut.  A traditional coconut macaroon recipe calls for coconut, egg whites, sugar and some extract, so however they achieve the buttery flavor is a welcome and delightful surprise.

Enrico's is also doing a lot of cool things in the city.  Their cafe arm hosts first Friday family style dinners. The first Friday of every month you can join the Enrico's crowd for a family style meal in their cafe.  They also host a bread making class every Sunday at 10 am which includes breakfast (for a very wallet friendly $50).  Beyond those regular events, they host a variety of other Italian cooking experiences.  On July 30 and August 27, they will be having their Big Italian Throwdown- a large family style Italian dinner for 26 people.  It's BYOB and only $50 a person.  They also have a summer salad class July 21 and August 11. You can register for any of these events here. 

It's clear why Enrico's is consistently rated one of the top bakeries in Pittsburgh and has even found themselves in the top ten of all bakeries in America.  They have an excellent selection of great Sugar Loving treats, they have Steel City Charm, and they are community focused.   Stop in and order some biscotti and macaroons, but eat the biscotti first!

Enrico's Coconut Macaroon on the Sugar Love Scale:

Taste ♥♥♥♥♥
Texture ♥♥♥♥♥
Appearance ♥♥♥♥♥
Overall ♥♥♥♥♥

Yep, we're loving Enrico's.