2 Delicious NY Dollars

People say you can't buy anything in New York for two bucks. Not so. Here's my Top 11 list (is that a baker's ten?), not in any particular order...

1. I teased you before with one of my picks, the intensely chocolaty bouchon at Bouchon Bakery. I believe the bouchon is the only thing you can get at Bouchon Bakery for less than $2.

2. Another great cheap chocolate thrill is the chocolate fondant ($1.85), the little flourless chocolate cakes, at Beard Papa. I've bought six of them as dessert for a dinner party. Nuked in a microwave for 20 seconds each and topped with Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream, these puppies will have your host thanking you profusely. Of course, the Beard Papa cream puffs also qualify ($1.25) (stick to the original flavor). Also delicious and cheap here are the cheesecake sticks, a light soufflé-like confection that gives Japanese cheesecake a good name. 2167 Broadway, 212-799-3770; 740 Broadway, 212-355-8888; 5 Carmine Street, 212-989-8855.

3. Mitchel London cupcakes at Burgers and Cupcakes: Yes, Mitchel is, shall we say, eccentric in the extreme, but the man knows what tastes good. The mini cupcakes ($2) here are moist, flavorful, and, gasp, taste as if they weren't made from a mix. And if you've overdosed on cupcakes, Mitchel's very good rustic apple tarts are a reasonable $1.75 here. 458 Ninth Ave. at 36th St, 212-643-1200.

4. Bings at Roll and Dough: These little savory pastries ($1.50 to $1.95) have a divine flaky crust and fine fillings. I like the regular and spicy pork varieties, but, then again, I go for the pork time and time again. 135 W. 3rd St. (just east of Sixth Ave.) 212-255-4160.

5. Hot Dog at Papaya King: Though I heard at dinner last night that Gray's Papaya was about to raise the prices of its hot dogs to more than a dollar, Papaya King has been at a $1.70 for awhile now. Same great natural-casing dog, perhaps a touch bigger, with a secret ingredient I can't identify, and better mustard. 179 E. 86th Street, 212-369-0648; SW Corner Seventh Ave. and 14th Street, 212-367-8090; 121 W. 125th Street, 212-665-5732; and, get this, there is a Papaya King Mobile Unit at Dearing Oaks Park in Portland, Maine.

6. A Bag of Organic Popcorn at Fairway: I wouldn't mind spending $5 for a tub of popcorn at Sony Lincoln Square popped the week before it's purchased if the popcorn didn't suck. But it does, big time, so when I have the time, I walk upstairs at Fairway and pick up a $1.29 bag of organic popcorn easily big enough for two. It's worth the trip up those stairs and the hand-to-hand combat you have to engage the crazies in on every visit to Fairway.

7. Four prosciutto balls at Joe's Superette: A shout-out to fellow New York Times contributor Dana Bowen for turning me on to these crunchy, creamy, savory delights at a shop on Smith Street that has most assuredly not been gentrified. Maybe that's why Joe Coladonato can sell these outstanding little treats for 50¢ apiece.

8. Kiddie Cones at Shake Shack: I know you all think I'm on Danny Meyer's payroll for mentioning the Shake Shack in every list, but the kiddie cone ($1.15) here is a beautiful thing. You get enough frozen custard to fully experience its greatness, and you get your cone within five minutes of getting in line because you can use the ice-cream-only express queue. Madison Ave. and 23rd Street, 212-889-6600.

9. A slice of pizza bianco or bianco con pecorino at Sullivan Street Bakery: I know it's not the cheesy slice of pizza New Yorkers know and love, but Jim Lahey's pizzas are Roman-inspired rafts of deliciousness. The pizza bianco, made with fresh rosemary, extra virgin olive oil, and salt; and the bianco pecorino, made with pecorino chese, salt, bread crumbs, and extra-virgin olive oil, both make it under the $2 limit. 533 West 47th Street (between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues), 212-265-5581.

10. City Bakery Hot Chocolate Shot: Let's face it. An entire cup of Maury Rubin's insanely rich hot chocolate is just too much. But City Bakery regulars know to order the hot chocolate by the shot, which is just the right amount and costs $2. 3 W. 18th Street, 212-366-1414.

11. I almost forgot about Madeline Lanciani's insanely buttery and good fruit turnovers ($1.50) at Duane Park Patisserie, which are just about as good as a turnover can get. 179 Duane Street, 212-274-8447.