"I went to buy pastries after church yesterday to take to my son's house for dessert following Sunday dinner. With our coffee, everyone tried a selection from the assortment, and we all noticed that the quality of Modern Pastry has declined compared to what we remember. I bought ten pieces of Italian pastry: four ricotta cannoli, two sfogliatella, two paragina, and two eclairs. The cannoli shells were stale and had an unpleasant odor, reminiscent of a musty room or a damp basement—almost moldy, but not quite. Additionally, the size of the cannoli was quite small given the price. The boiled cream in the paragina also tasted slightly off; perhaps they used imitation vanilla. It lacked the authentic flavor we expect. I make my own boiled cream at home, and it's straightforward and delicious when made with quality ingredients. Sadly, I won't be returning anytime soon; Modern Pastry is no longer what I remember. Having grown up with parents from the North End of Boston, I'm quite familiar with the bakery's storied past. Overall, I'm deeply disappointed."
