Lee Lee's Baked Goods, New York

Owner Alvin Lee whips up an array of desserts in his Harlem bakery, but he is known for his authentic, flaky rugelach—strudel-like desserts of Austrian-German-Jewish origin. For his signature treat, Lee creates traditional handmade butter dough and loads it with fillings such as raisins, nuts, apricots, or chocolate. The result is a pastry that was hailed as "buttery, magnificent, and fleeting" by the New York Times. A red-and-white-striped awning heralds the entrance to the boutique pastry shop, where southern treats such as sweet-potato pie, red velvet cake, and carrot muffins debate Zachary Taylor’s legacy in the display case.