Cordaro invented the oft-imitated Cannoli Chip when customers asked what to do with the leftover shell from the giant cannoli stuffed with minis that they had served at an event. Frank suggested dipping the pieces in cannoli cream, and a craze was born. At first he’d sell a few bags of the chips at holiday time, with a container of frozen cream that would keep well during any needed travels. Then their popularity surpassed even the mini-cannoli, and other cannoli vendors have copied the concept.
It’s rather amazing how much bounty fits into what’s not a huge shop. Some of it caters to special diets, like sugar-free chocolate cake and gluten-free or sugar-free cookies. No trans-fats are used in anything, and for the savory-minded, there are crisp taralli biscuits in the standard black pepper flavor, plus cheese and hot pepper versions.
Caffe Aurora has been around even longer: since 1941, when immigrant Paolo Strippoli opened it at its original 201 Main Street location. According to the family, “Friends advised him not to choose a name that had a strong Italian flavor, because the United States was at war with Italy at the time. So he chose ‘Aurora,’ which means ‘the dawn.’”
Caffe Aurora has been in its current spot at 145 Mill Street since 1962, and Strippoli’s youngest son Louis, who has a BA in Business Administration and studied at the Culinary Institute of America, now runs the bakery/café.
There is an espresso bar and plenty of seating, encouraging lingering over your delectables. The warm retro neighborhood ambiance makes it an appealing stop for people going to and from the Poughkeepsie train station. Tables are decorated with decades of write-ups, and there are newspapers to peruse, including Italian-language ones. Shelves offer espresso machines from simple to elaborate, demitasse cups, plates and platters, plus figurines and greeting cards.
There are arrays of colorful cookies and all the Italian pastry standards, from rice pudding to cuccidati (a fig-filled Sicilian Christmas cookie) to rum baba, biscotti, éclairs, pignoli cookies, sugared almonds, cakes, tarts, as well as sugar-free and gluten-free cookies.
The espresso bar also serves Italian ices in 25 rotating flavors, among them chocolate fudge, cannoli cream, cantaloupe, mango and “bodacious blackberry.” A sugar-free lemon is available, and there’s a window for orders from the street (including by the pint and quart), with a sign: “Hands down we’re the best lick around.” There is ample parking outside, and the Caffe is open Thanksgiving Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
But whose cannoli is best: La Deliziosa or Caffe Aurora? Although I sampled both and loved Deliziosa’s dense, creamy, not-too-sweet filling in a thicker crunchy wrapper and Aurora’s sweeter, lighter filling in a thinner crispy wrapper, I just can’t make up my mind. Both are heavenly, dusted with sugar and green sugar sprinkles, and are ephemeral delights. You will have to decide for yourself.
La Deliziosa is located at 10 Mount Carmel Place, (845) 471-3636 or www.ladeliziosany.com. Hours are Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Find Caffe Aurora at 145 Mill Street, (845) 454-1900 or www.caffeaurora.com. Winter hours are Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Read more about local cuisine and learn about new restaurants on Ulster Publishing’s www.DineHudsonValley.com or www.HudsonValleyAlmanacWeekly.com.
