I went to my friend Alia Ahmed-Yahia’s birthday party last night in Tribeca. I didn’t manage to get a picture before the cake was cut into and half-devoured but you’ll have to take my word for it—this was one of the most gorgeous, tasty birthday cakes I’ve ever had. In a city full of Magnolia/Billy’s/Sugar Sweet Sunshine addicts who are all about down-home sweets, it was refreshing to have a reminder of just how good refined, high-brow pastry-cooking can be. There’s a reason Payard is such a classic.
