FreeP vs. Food: Boston Cream Pie Edition

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Welcome to FreeP versus Food: Boston Cream Pie edition. This week, we scouted out the namesake of Boston Cream Pie and got a slice of what our city has to offer.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][mediagrid cat=”26039″][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”107466″ img_size=”full” title=”Trident Booksellers and Cafe, Newbury Street”][vc_column_text]Trident Booksellers and Cafe is known to many students for the cozy atmosphere and delicious food. Located right by Hynes Convention Center, it’s an easy walk for anyone craving a good book or a nice study spot. We began our Boston cream pie expedition here, ordering two slices at a hefty $8.75 each. We admired the nicely presented dish, which was completed with powdered sugar sprinkled on top of a rich chocolate frosting.

Though the cake was a little dry, the cream filling was a dream and a half — sweet, perfectly chilled and smooth as butter. It balanced out the thinness of the frosting and the price that left all of our pockets much emptier that we expected. It’s possible that Trident is not the best place for the classic Boston dessert. Perhaps the casual patron should instead order a sandwich and a cup of coffee.

Michaela: B

Emma: B+

Allegra: A-

Elise: B[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”107464″ img_size=”full” title=”Sweet Cupcakes, Back Bay “][vc_column_text]Sweet Bakery, located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Back Bay neighborhood, is a Boston chain with locations downtown, as well as in Beacon Hill, Harvard Square and Chestnut Hill. Sweet deals mostly in cupcakes and personalized cakes, so we each got a Boston cream pie cupcake. The adorable “cupcakery” did not disappoint. The fluffy cake was delicious, and the custard inside was sweet but not overpowering. The hard chocolate ganache frosting served as a treat for dark chocolate lovers.

The main drawback is the size. The tiny cupcake didn’t hold as much cream as we would deem sufficient, and the $3.75 price tag would probably be better spent on one of Sweet’s specialty holiday cupcakes. On a rainy day though, a Sweet cupcake (or three) would make a nice, satisfying snack.

Michaela: A-

Emma: A-

Allegra: B

Elise: B+[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”107463″ img_size=”full” title=”Flour Bakery and Cafe, Cambridge”][vc_column_text]Flour Bakery and Cafe has multiple locations around Boston, but we crossed the river to visit the one on Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge. This Boston cream pie, unlike the first two, was layered, alternating a light cream with a spongy cake. Though the filling was more similar to whipped cream than custard, the consistency added to the overall fluffiness. The rich chocolate fondant on top served was a thick layer that balanced out the airiness of the dessert.

Our only issue with the frosting was that, because it was a hard fondant, the whole shell came off in one bite, which was a little bit of a bummer. The cake itself was very soft — maybe almost a little mushy at times. Despite this, the flavor had a strong resemblance to tiramisu’s coffee-flavored sweetness, which definitely made up for the borderline sogginess. Tiramisu enthusiasts will dig this one.

The cake was fairly large and could probably have fed two people, making the $5.95 absolutely worth it. The combination of the cozy café environment and friendly servers made the eating experience all the more enjoyable. Flour’s cake is definitely Cream Pie Crawl-approved.

Michaela: A-

Emma: A

Allegra: B-

Elise: A[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”107473″ img_size=”full” title=”Veggie Galaxy, Central Square”][vc_column_text]A galaxy-themed, retro diner located in Cambridge and known for its vegan and gluten-free cuisine, Veggie Galaxy’s hip atmosphere was far more impressive than the pie we tasted. Dense yet strangely moist, the vegan pie initially appeared lovely on the plate, though.

The cake was what we’d describe as strangely sandy, and tasted like, as Allegra noted, “straight-up wheat.” The chocolate glaze was quite hard and difficult to keep in tact. In fact, we struggled to keep the top layer of the cake on the plate, as it kept sliding off the supposed cream filling onto the table.

A smidgeon of chocolate mousse in the middle layer was a nice added touch, and the thick filling had a hint of banana flavor. While we admit we aren’t accustomed to eating many vegan desserts, we agree that the healthier pie was a unique twist on the classic. If you’re an adventurous eater and appreciate a modern spin on ‘50s vibes, the pie might be worth a try. But if not, we’d recommend avoiding this one.

Michaela: C

Emma: C-

Allegra: C

Elise: C+[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]