Dinner at Sardi's? No... Schmackary's is the Post-Broadway Show Haunt
Anyone who loves Broadway and spends a decent amount of time in the Theatre District knows that place that anyone who is anyone goes after a show is a little tiny hole-in-the-wall shop on the corner of West 45th Street and 9th Avenue. If you don’t know what I am talking about, then you need to seriously mend this giant hole in your theatergoing program. Of course, this place of gustatory wonderment, spilling forth wafts of warm heaven, is Schmackary’s. Before the show, after the show, even during the show, people are lining up to taste some of the greatest cookies ever to dance out of the oven.
I must admit that I was suspicious my first time out when a friend introduced me to Schmackary’s. I mean, I love cookies as much as the next guy, but how could THESE cookies be so much better than all others? I also had trouble pairing (in my mind) eating cookies with my Broadway-going experiences. But I, of little faith, was certainly converted when I took one bite of their Maple Bacon cookie, a sweet and salty wet dream of a cookie, a combination of candied bacon, maple syrup, toffee bits, and sea salt. The flavors exploded in my mouth and had me singing showtunes all the way back to Grand Central Station. Only the explosive delivery of a brassy showtune could do justice to the feeling a Schmackary’s cookie inspires when its warmth melts in your mouth. Suddenly, I had seen the light. Cookies and Broadway DO go together!
I have since returned to Schmackary’s just about every time I have visited NYC to see a Broadway show. Though the Maple Bacon still holds a fond place in my heart (she was my first, after all), my reigning champion of flavors is their Sweet Corn, a luscious, sugary and savory splicing of the cookie with corn bread. The ingredients? Cornmeal, corn flour, sweet corn, cranberries, and pecan bits. Yes, I started out dubious of this flavor, but as soon as my teeth had broken the surface, I was transported to heaven and I started singing “I’m as corny as Kansas in August.”
What really deserves the standing ovation at Schmackary’s is the creativity and adventure with-which the bakers come up with new flavors. Sure, there are some tried-and-true types of the classic variety (chocolate chip, their personal spin on the snickerdoodle), but it’s fun to visit their cozy little shop (where you will often find the performers from Broadway plays and musicals lined up with you), and buy yourself some of their more interesting concoctions such as The Hummingbird (a glorious vegan option with oats, pineapple, banana, pecans, and cream cheese), Mexican Hot Chocolate (dark chocolate, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper), The Graceland (bacon, banana, and peanut butter), The Ginger Rogers (molasses, ginger, white chocolate and cinnamon), and the Cereal Killer (made with fruit-flavored breakfast cereal). But why listen to be drone on when you can simply go to their website and see all the choices they offer (you can order online and halve them delivered to your home!!!!). You will be bowled away by the options.
So, as much as it has always been the in-thing to go to Sardi's before or after a show (and it still is, really), why not give yourself another tradition while you high on the adrenaline of seeing a Broadway show. Go add some sugar to that rush and visit Schmackary’s. It’s a theatre tradition. Everyone is doing it! You wanna hang out with us, don’t ya?
