Sugar Rush: Lemon Blueberry Tart at Darwin’s Ltd. in Cambridge, MA

February 3, 2014

From Sweets

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[Photographz: Meghan Roguschka]

I can’t speak for anyone else out there, but Boston’s recent onslaught of blizzards and polar vortexes have left me pining for some citrusy, delicate, reminiscent-of-summertime sweets. Darwin’s Ltd. came to the rescue this week with their Lemon Blueberry Tart ($5).

Most commonly known for their sandwiches and lunchtime fare, Darwin’s Ltd. has two locations in the greater Boston area. I happened to visit the Cambridge Street café, but both stores—which are co-owned by Cambridge couple Steven and Isabel Darwin, who are indeed related to Charles Darwin—are well stocked with a plethora of artisanal sandwiches, salads, and baked goods. Both cafés are also home to a good number of cozy couches, benches, and small tables, which probably explains the popularity of the shops among college students and young professionals.

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In my quest for a taste of summer, the lemon blueberry tart fit the bill perfectly. The tart’s pastry shell was thicker than I anticipated, but struck a perfect balance between flaky and light around the exterior, with a caramel-like chewiness in the middle. It tasted simultaneously of buttery pastry and sugar cookie.

Resting inside the decadent shell was a perfectly smooth lemon curd. Unlike some citrus fillings that taste more like boxed pudding than custard, there was no skimping in the lemon department, and the thick texture of the curd stood in perfect contrast to the crust below. Nestled on top of the lemon filling was a generous pile of plump blueberries. Brushed with a layer of miroir glaze, the fruit lent a nice pop of flavor as well as some textural contrast between the smooth custard and flaky crust.

With desserts like these, I’m starting to believe that summer really will come again… eventually.

About the author: Meghan Roguschka is a Boston based blogger, foodie, and media anthropologist. She is the voice and eye behind the photo-ethnography website itooktomystoop.com, and can be followed on Twitter at @Roguschka_Me.