$4.25 A group of us set out to find the best banh mi in Cambridge and Somerville and discovered along the way another treat everyone loved – a savory, sweet and substantial scallion biscuit. The pastry’s base of butter, flour and cheese is dense but delightful. (Has Phinista Cafe, which makes its entire menu in-house, cooked up a real-life lembas bread like J.R.R. Tolkien’s elves gave to hobbits on a quest because “one small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man”? Our crowd enthused about it but ate delicately). Baker Chayapa Lerdperrakorn, known as Poon, explains the rest: Pepper, salt and herbs add spice, honey adds a sweet moistness. As to the naming element, “we were going to do a chive biscuit,” Lerdperrakorn said, but scallion was in the kitchen awaiting use in rice bowls. For now, the biscuit is available in the Cambridge store only.
Phinista Cafe, 1876 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge
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