In the Press

The sugar buzz was going around.

Sugar Plum, home of decadent truffles and those can’t-get-enough salty potato chips dipped in dark chocolate, had opened a café.

Without waiting to hear the details, I grabbed my pal Babs and lead-footed it over to United Penn Plaza. I didn’t even care what was on the menu – only one thought loomed large in my edacious mind – no matter what, there would be desert.

The café is tucked into a corner of the shop, looking very NYC with its shelves of gourmet goodies and clever black-board menu wall. Funky SoHo chairs and petite tables complete the look French bistro meets Williams Sonoma.

A full range of coffee specialists had me regretting my jumbo Dunkin Donuts caffeine bomb in the am – did I dare risk the jitters with another shot of java? I cast caution aside and ordered a large latte – and kudos to the café for being able to make it with soymilk for those of us whose lactose intolerance makes milkshakes a thing of the past.

The café has been certified as a kosher dairy restaurant, which means that most of the menu items are vegetarian. Chef and part owner (along with his mother, Frann Edley) Neil Edley has put together a simple menu of two daily sandwiches and soup. Our choice that day were a wrap filling with portobello mushrooms in a balsamic reduction, herbed couscous and horseradish mayo or a grilled garden tomato and basil sandwich. We both opted for the mushroom – and a grand choice it was, complete with side salad of baby green, dried cherries and a zingy vinaigrette. Ok, so maybe the home-fried potato chips detracted from my smug feeling of virtue, but they did add a delicious crunch to the meal.

A lunch meeting the next day gave me an excuse for a return visit. The wrap won out again, this time filled with a Mediterranean tuna salad studded with Nicoise olives. A cup of white bean and escarole soup helped stave off the unseasonal chill outside.

The only problem with lunch at Sugar Plum is that you are literally surrounded by chocolate. Chocolate popcorn, chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate bark (including a chocolate bark ice cream sundae on the café menu), cookies studded with huge chunks of chocolate – are you getting the theme here?

Of course that’s only a problem for some people. I had no problem with it at all. I simply chose the assorted basket of anything you could imagine covered in chocolate, whipped out the credit card and started munching. After all, chocolate comes from a bean, so it must be a vegetable, right?

There are no ifs and butts with regard to this site. It’s got all sorts of gourmet treats, from chocolates and bulk candies to nuts and, should the regular kind not live up to expectations, candied nuts. Heck, there’s even a wily assortment of stuff like infused oils, jams, biscotti, marinades and other sundry items that could only fit under the Gourmet mantle. While there aren’t any actual sugarplum listed (at least, at this writing), there’s plenty of other stuff to dance in your head.

Weekender-Sara O'malley May 28,2003
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Amidst the array of stores that make up the United Penn Plaza, sits an eclectic candy and gift emporium known as Sugar Plum. Upon opening the door, scents of berries, apples, coffee, freshly baked cookies and flowers pour into the air, arousing feelings of passion, intrigue, and desire to taste the succulent sweetness.

With a touch of classical music cascading in the background, an intoxicating serenity brings about a childlike smile.

The Sugar Plum has developed into a successful business over the last eight years, breathed into reality by mother-son owners Frann and Neil Edley. They have created a thriving worldwide business, importing and exporting all over the globe.

The enchanting emporium has a collection of gifts to suit everyone’s tastes with a combination of bohemian, contemporary, abstract, and traditional styles. A perfect gift for anyone could be found in this showcase of beautiful choices.

Priding itself on uniqueness and creativity, the Sugar Plum offers just that and more with their delicatessen: homemade chocolate and pastries, a wide variety of nuts and candies, micro roasted house blend coffee, especially crafted by the Edley’s.

There is a wide selection of flaquaint yet diverse garden of treasures is the sidewalk café, which opened three weeks ago.

Featuring a shake of the week and differed flavored crumb cake each week, the Café’s four tables are set up on the walk in front of the store. “We wanted to bring a big city feel to the area,” said Frann Edley, as she spoke of the reason behind adding the sidewalk Café. It is an opportunity for customers to enjoy the beverage of their choice, be it a cup of freshly brewed coffee or sipping the delights of the Irish tea, while taking in the fresh air and sunshine. The menu consists of all their homemade treats along with the option for sugar free chocolate and a complete low-fat menu coming soon.

Next time your sweet tooth is screaming for chocolate or your stomach is craving the satisfaction of a welsh cookie or you need a cup of joe to get you moving, you need not look any further than Sugar Plum. Then take a moment to sit and relax at the sidewalk café and enjoy the beauty of nature, and the beauty of all Sugar Plum has to offer.

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