Everything I've had from this place has been awesome! I first tried the turkey pesto sandwich with apple, which was warm and delicious, and, as expected, came on an excellent roll. On a side note, this has to be the one thing I miss the most about the Philadelphia region. Good breads. Most sandwiches and subs (hoagies, dammit!) I've had in Balmer have had good insides, but the rolls have been laughable, squishy things. So, obviously, I was pretty excited about this sandwich. I came back again and got a croissant and a french roll. I was really optimistic about the french roll since I have recently been trying to bake more, and have been reading about french breads a lot. Her french roll was amazing! Gorgeous ears! And a really nice, spinning crumb. The croissant was very good, but was shadowed by the french roll in my opinion.
Both times I've gone in I've also met really friendly people, including the owner. A really great place, I only wish I could stop in more often.

I met Anisha, proprietress of Puff's and Pastries, at the Charm City Roller Girls Championship bout. I shared a vendor table with her and got to try some of her cupcakes. Absolutely amazing. Moist, and the cream topping was creamy, rich, and sweet, more akin to a whipped cream than a frosting. The flavors were very light and delicate.

I stopped by a few weeks later to get some lunch, and tried the sandwich deal. Sandwich, coffee, and a cookie for 7 dollars and change. After spending two years buying lunch in Bethesda, spending less than $10 for gourmet fare is a welcome surprise. I ordered the bacon, walnut, and apple sandwich. Anisha gladly substituted cheddar for bleu cheese at my request (sorry, I just don't care for mold). When my order came out, I was surprised that I had a footlong sandwich. Years of eating in fancy bakeries had conditioned me to expect small artisanal sandwiches.

The sandwhich was delicious. The sandwich really had it all, lots of texture, several distinct flavors, and bacon. I mean, who doesn't like bacon? The cookie was big and rich, so much so that I saved half of it for later. The coffee was strong and bitter, but that's how I like it.

Puff's and Pastries is now one of my favorite places to get lunch. I'll gladly go out of my way for one of Anisha's sandwiches.

I had breakfast there just the other day - the homemade blueberry scone was great. The puff pastry with fruit and creme filling was also a good one. If only we had been hungry enough to try the rose mousse cakes that were just coming out, with pretty pink frosting on top.

Its a great little place for a snack, and with a full view of the kitchen from the bar, you get to watch the pastries being made.

I stopped in for breakfast one morning (after Patti's great review) and found the baker/owner just pulling a tray of muffins out of the oven. She poured me a great cup of coffee and I sat on the front porch watching avenue residents walk to school and work. The warm muffin just melted in my mouth with nuts, coconut, shredded carrot and other surprises throughout (not just on top). A great way to start my day!

the location is great in a walking friendly neighborhood. However, the chocolate mousse was way too sweet while the granny smith apple tart lacked flavor. I was wanting it to be great so badly.

I was lucky enough to get a sneak-preview taste of this new Hampden sweet spot. Un-lucky for Anisha the chef, I cleared her out of at least one of every single pastry - I couldn't help myself, each one was better than the last! Two in particular will demand a visit in all my future trips to Hampden: a savory duxelle danish, and a dark-chocolate brownie for dessert. The duxelle is a flavorful mixture of garlicky wild mushrooms and goat cheese, nestled in a puff-pasty purse. And the brownie? Rich, chewy, and oh so cocoa-y!

With ingredients on the menu like green tea, earl grey, and bourbon, I can't wait to go try these unique cakes and pastries. If you need me, I'll be memorizing the menu on the website in pastry-withdrawal anticipation.

UPDATE: The slice of Earl Grey cake was every bit as good as I imagined. In fact, the ripe strawberries and custard sandwiched in between the moist cake made it even better than I imagined. Not too sweet either. Perfect!