At Pan Pan Vino Vino, a Pastry Chef Gets into the Bakery Game

Chef Sam Short makes magic with sugar, spice — and citric acid.

When I first moved to New York in 2008, Greenpoint was such a quiet, residential part of North Brooklyn, it never really warranted a trip — especially not on the sole train that serviced the area, the G train, which very much lived up to its nickname as the G for Ghost train.

Back then, neighborhood gems like Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop were still largely a neighborhood secret (and certainly not hosting late night poetry readings or appearing in blockbuster movies like Spiderman). If you were going to Greenpoint in 2008, assuming you didn’t live or grow up there, you were probably looking for some good, down-home Polish food.

These days, if you’re on your way to Greenpoint on the vastly more reliable G train or the East River ferry, which is my favorite way to cross the river, there’s no saying what you could be up to. Maybe you’re headed for Archestratus bookstore to browse for a new read. Maybe you’re in the mood for some Mexico City-style tacos at Taqueria Ramirez. Or maybe you’ve made brunch reservations at Rule of Thirds to try those viral soufflé pancakes (word to the wise: skip ‘em).

I could go on, but the gist is, there are so many ways to while away a day in Greenpoint. And as of March, a new bakery called Pan Pan Vino Vino is making a very good case as to why it should be on your list of places to visit.