Here is what excited me most about today's food section:
1. ROBOTS: The front page article, entitled "Just Like Mombot Used to Make" is about cool robots serving the writer a granola bar. The Snackbot delivers food to real people in an effort to improve homo-robo relations. Amazing. (Little known fact- I love robots) There was also a restaurant in Japan that served ramen made by robots. When the restaurant gets slow the robots engage in friendly knife play with each other. Basically, certain people all over the world are trying to invent robots to, ahem, cater to our every food need. A little wild, yes, but a little exciting. Does anyone feel weird about this? Does anyone feel a little excited by it?
2. No. 7 is expanding: This restaurant is at the top of my to-go-to list. I've walked by several times and it always looks so warm and inviting. So it is terrific news that it is expanding to making subs at the Ace Hotel which would surely go well with the Stumptown coffee they are serving.
3. A new wine bar is opening on Cortelyou Road: Mimi's Hummus is expanding their enterprise with The Castello Plan just a few steps away. Ditmas Park is an interesting and quickly expanding culinary destination and this is sure to be a stand out wine bar. With a few great restaurants already open, a few great bars are needed. Right now Sycamore might be starting to feel some competition.
4. The Sifton review made me ravenous: The Times doesn't leave the island that often to venture to Brooklyn, and almost never makes it as far as Bay Ridge. So it was a delight to read a wonderful review (although only one star) of Tanoreen in Bay Ridge. It is a newly expanded restaurant that seems to be working out some kinks, but the food itself was terrifically reviewed. The hummus sounded perfect and although Sifton was surprised with the use of basil, it only added to my intrigue. Wonderful review and I can't wait to try it out.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches
Issue: Where can I go to get out of the cold in downtown Brooklyn and feel 100 miles away?
Winter is dragging along and sometimes I just want a brief escape from the cold and the court during lunch. I want a place where I can linger (But not past two, don't want to be late to intake!) to warm up. This place also needs to transport me up and out of Brooklyn.
Rule: There are a million places to eat within 10 blocks of the courthouses in downtown Brooklyn. However, many are packed with fellow lawyers and judges. And let me tell you, we lawyers love to gossip about those fellow lawyers and judges, so trying to eat a meal while surrounded by them does not make for a pleasant dining experience. Atlantic Avenue is close enough to be completely walkable, but far enough away that most lawyers and judges won't trek there for lunch. So I recently paid a visit to Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches on Atlantic, just off Smith.
Application: Nicky's is only a few brisk blocks from the courts, but it is filled with local residents on their lunch break, students and Mom's with their kids. On my last visit I did sit next to two lawyers who blabbed on about their firm, but that was my only encounter with law folk in any of my visits. The sun shines bright through the big front windows into the slighly underground restaurant. I can imagine on a rainy day it is even better and warmer and awesomer. Customers order at the front and in approximately 4-5 seconds a steaming, fragrant bowl of pho appears before you with cilantro, lime and Sriracha. It is easy to tuck into a corner of the small restaurant and focus on only the pho in front of you. There are only about 10 chairs available in the room, but it never feels crowded. The bowl of pho is gigantic with a plentiful side dish of additions to pour into the soup. The dish is served hot, but never burns. The bowl magically contains its heat throughout the entire lunch break.
The room is quiet and all other customers can be easily ignored. Perfect for a get away lunch in the middle of the day.
Conclusion: An easy escape from midday Brooklyn. Many of tables are one top or two tops, no loud groups of lawyers prepping their cases or complaining about judges sitting three tables away from them. If the pho is finished before the alloted break time is done, then a quick stroll up Atlantic to windowshop or grab a cupcake is totally warranted as a nice finishing touch a real lunch break.
Winter is dragging along and sometimes I just want a brief escape from the cold and the court during lunch. I want a place where I can linger (But not past two, don't want to be late to intake!) to warm up. This place also needs to transport me up and out of Brooklyn.
Rule: There are a million places to eat within 10 blocks of the courthouses in downtown Brooklyn. However, many are packed with fellow lawyers and judges. And let me tell you, we lawyers love to gossip about those fellow lawyers and judges, so trying to eat a meal while surrounded by them does not make for a pleasant dining experience. Atlantic Avenue is close enough to be completely walkable, but far enough away that most lawyers and judges won't trek there for lunch. So I recently paid a visit to Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches on Atlantic, just off Smith.
Application: Nicky's is only a few brisk blocks from the courts, but it is filled with local residents on their lunch break, students and Mom's with their kids. On my last visit I did sit next to two lawyers who blabbed on about their firm, but that was my only encounter with law folk in any of my visits. The sun shines bright through the big front windows into the slighly underground restaurant. I can imagine on a rainy day it is even better and warmer and awesomer. Customers order at the front and in approximately 4-5 seconds a steaming, fragrant bowl of pho appears before you with cilantro, lime and Sriracha. It is easy to tuck into a corner of the small restaurant and focus on only the pho in front of you. There are only about 10 chairs available in the room, but it never feels crowded. The bowl of pho is gigantic with a plentiful side dish of additions to pour into the soup. The dish is served hot, but never burns. The bowl magically contains its heat throughout the entire lunch break.
The room is quiet and all other customers can be easily ignored. Perfect for a get away lunch in the middle of the day.
Conclusion: An easy escape from midday Brooklyn. Many of tables are one top or two tops, no loud groups of lawyers prepping their cases or complaining about judges sitting three tables away from them. If the pho is finished before the alloted break time is done, then a quick stroll up Atlantic to windowshop or grab a cupcake is totally warranted as a nice finishing touch a real lunch break.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Purple Yam
Issue: How do I check out a (relatively) new and a hip restaurant in a (relatively) new and hip neighborhood and not spend a fortune?
I try to check out a new restaurant about once a month, and in order to keep up with the buzz it sometimes requires a trip to other parts of Brooklyn.
Rule: New and hip restaurants are opening up all the time in New York. All the time. They also close all the time. All the time.
I read somewhere once that 90% of restaurants that open in New York close within a year, much higher than the national average. Even tried and true restaurants close frequently (see: Olive Vine in South Slope, Miracle Grill on 7th Ave, Tempo on 5th Ave, the list goes on) after years in the business. But every single time I open the Times food section on Wednesday I get a flutter of excitement reading about the new and noteworthy openings and chef changes in local restaurants. One such relatively new addition is Purple Yam in Ditmas Park.
Application: Ditmas Park is a lovely neighborhood of huge mansions off the Q train. I got off one stop early to leisurely walk down Rugby Road to enjoy the scenery. Cortelyou Road is an increasingly hopping main street with an excellent flower shop/bar, a big co-op, a hummus place and other basic trappings of urban life. Purple Yam is one of the newest additions to this bustling strip. We made reservations for a Wednesday night and definitely needed them. The place was bumpin'. Maybe people had just been wasting time, waiting for a Fillipino/Asian Fusion restaurant to open up and now they finally have the chance. We were seated at a comfortable booth near the back with a view of the open kitchen-always a plus for me. The menu does a really good job of explaining what the dishes are while leaving a little bit of mystery. I always feel like too much of an idiot at restaurants with menus printed in another language to ask the waitstaff exactly what I am eating, so it usually forces me to be more safe. Which is weird, I know. But not here, almost everything on the menu has a small description next to it, which encourages guest to be a bit adventurous.
For starters we split a shrimp and scallion pancake special along with a large bowl of kimchi fried rice. Both were plenty enough food between 4 people. The kimchi rice was spicy and sticky and delicious. The pancake has small chunks of shrimp that never overwhelmed the overall flavor of the dish.
For my main course I got a bibimbap, which is one of my most favorite dishes in the world. I loaded on all the fixings and made is as spicy as possible. However, even with all the sauces poured on, it was still a little on the dry side for me. Bright, full flavors, fresh vegatables, tasty rice, but just a little dry. Having it without any of the sides would not be encouraged. I also sampled the duck leg with a vibrant peanut sauce that complimented it so well. Duck is one of my favorite meats and it was cooked perfectly. The green market veggies in green curry also had a nice kick and a clean flavor. For dessert we ordered the banana special which was sweet and gooey and melted in my mouth. We also ordered the halo halo, a traditional Phillipine iced dessert, heavy on the ice. Simply put- not so good. I get that it is an acquired taste, I simply have not acquired it.
Conclusion: A new and hip place that is not so new that it hasn't had time to work out kinks. Purple Yam has an excellently trained waitstaff, simple but attractive decor, nice wine list and it clearly has a following. Purple Yam is also not too hip to have a haughty staff, or decor that is edgy yet completely uninviting, or not allow us to enter and eat. We split a bill which included tons of food and two bottles of wine and it came to less than $45 each. Not bad for a night out at a new and hip place. It is just new enough and just hip enough to be recipe for a great night in a cool neighborhood.
I try to check out a new restaurant about once a month, and in order to keep up with the buzz it sometimes requires a trip to other parts of Brooklyn.
Rule: New and hip restaurants are opening up all the time in New York. All the time. They also close all the time. All the time.
I read somewhere once that 90% of restaurants that open in New York close within a year, much higher than the national average. Even tried and true restaurants close frequently (see: Olive Vine in South Slope, Miracle Grill on 7th Ave, Tempo on 5th Ave, the list goes on) after years in the business. But every single time I open the Times food section on Wednesday I get a flutter of excitement reading about the new and noteworthy openings and chef changes in local restaurants. One such relatively new addition is Purple Yam in Ditmas Park.
Application: Ditmas Park is a lovely neighborhood of huge mansions off the Q train. I got off one stop early to leisurely walk down Rugby Road to enjoy the scenery. Cortelyou Road is an increasingly hopping main street with an excellent flower shop/bar, a big co-op, a hummus place and other basic trappings of urban life. Purple Yam is one of the newest additions to this bustling strip. We made reservations for a Wednesday night and definitely needed them. The place was bumpin'. Maybe people had just been wasting time, waiting for a Fillipino/Asian Fusion restaurant to open up and now they finally have the chance. We were seated at a comfortable booth near the back with a view of the open kitchen-always a plus for me. The menu does a really good job of explaining what the dishes are while leaving a little bit of mystery. I always feel like too much of an idiot at restaurants with menus printed in another language to ask the waitstaff exactly what I am eating, so it usually forces me to be more safe. Which is weird, I know. But not here, almost everything on the menu has a small description next to it, which encourages guest to be a bit adventurous.
For starters we split a shrimp and scallion pancake special along with a large bowl of kimchi fried rice. Both were plenty enough food between 4 people. The kimchi rice was spicy and sticky and delicious. The pancake has small chunks of shrimp that never overwhelmed the overall flavor of the dish.
For my main course I got a bibimbap, which is one of my most favorite dishes in the world. I loaded on all the fixings and made is as spicy as possible. However, even with all the sauces poured on, it was still a little on the dry side for me. Bright, full flavors, fresh vegatables, tasty rice, but just a little dry. Having it without any of the sides would not be encouraged. I also sampled the duck leg with a vibrant peanut sauce that complimented it so well. Duck is one of my favorite meats and it was cooked perfectly. The green market veggies in green curry also had a nice kick and a clean flavor. For dessert we ordered the banana special which was sweet and gooey and melted in my mouth. We also ordered the halo halo, a traditional Phillipine iced dessert, heavy on the ice. Simply put- not so good. I get that it is an acquired taste, I simply have not acquired it.
Conclusion: A new and hip place that is not so new that it hasn't had time to work out kinks. Purple Yam has an excellently trained waitstaff, simple but attractive decor, nice wine list and it clearly has a following. Purple Yam is also not too hip to have a haughty staff, or decor that is edgy yet completely uninviting, or not allow us to enter and eat. We split a bill which included tons of food and two bottles of wine and it came to less than $45 each. Not bad for a night out at a new and hip place. It is just new enough and just hip enough to be recipe for a great night in a cool neighborhood.
Monday, February 15, 2010
lunch in the Slope
Issue: Can I find a good spot for ladies who lunch on a budget in the North side of the Slope?
With all the amazing restaurants in the neighborhood, it is somewhat surprising that weekday lunch options are so limited. Especially on Mondays and especially when said Monday falls on a national holiday. Alas, I made the trek out with three lovely ladies to chat, eat and waste the day away.
Rule: Many restaurants are closed on Monday and many more do not make themselves available for lunches on weekdays.
The blocks surrounding my tiny apartment are filled with shuttered and chained restaurants during the day. Restaurants that light up and fill up on weeknights and weekends suddenly blight a neighborhood in the middle of the weekday. Unlike lunchtime in downtown Brooklyn where I spend most of my weekdays, (which is hopping with lawyers, clients, law students and those accused) Park Slope (which is crowded with baby strollers and underemployed and students during the day) is quiet. You can go blocks without even finding a place to get a decent sandwich, especially now that Tempo Presto is closed.
Application: I just wanted a place to go with some girlfriends on a chilly day off. I suggested Moutarde, even though I had the terrible luck of going there one time when the waitstaff forgot to put in our order. They were terribly apologetic and the food was good, so all was forgiven in order to give it another go.
The place was nearly full but not loud. We got a bright and sunny four top near the entrance but protected from the cold. Service was prompt and attentive. My latte, however, was nearly cold when it arrived. Unfortunate for a cold day. My Croque-Monsieur was appropriately decadent and balanced nicely with a small salad. No one rushed us, we were free to linger in the sun and so we did. The adorable French-ness of the place makes lingering quite easy and leaving quite difficult. It could easily have been an afternoon where we could have switched to wine and cocktails after lattes, snacked on a croissant or two (chocolate, of course) and made it into an entire afternoon. Which is what I think they are going for...
Conclusion: Solid, unfussy French style brunch. Only two blocks from Union and the only thing open for blocks. The restaurant must realize this and understand their distinct standing as a unique place in the Slope. Otherwise, they would have kicked us out as soon as our forks were down.
With all the amazing restaurants in the neighborhood, it is somewhat surprising that weekday lunch options are so limited. Especially on Mondays and especially when said Monday falls on a national holiday. Alas, I made the trek out with three lovely ladies to chat, eat and waste the day away.
Rule: Many restaurants are closed on Monday and many more do not make themselves available for lunches on weekdays.
The blocks surrounding my tiny apartment are filled with shuttered and chained restaurants during the day. Restaurants that light up and fill up on weeknights and weekends suddenly blight a neighborhood in the middle of the weekday. Unlike lunchtime in downtown Brooklyn where I spend most of my weekdays, (which is hopping with lawyers, clients, law students and those accused) Park Slope (which is crowded with baby strollers and underemployed and students during the day) is quiet. You can go blocks without even finding a place to get a decent sandwich, especially now that Tempo Presto is closed.
Application: I just wanted a place to go with some girlfriends on a chilly day off. I suggested Moutarde, even though I had the terrible luck of going there one time when the waitstaff forgot to put in our order. They were terribly apologetic and the food was good, so all was forgiven in order to give it another go.
The place was nearly full but not loud. We got a bright and sunny four top near the entrance but protected from the cold. Service was prompt and attentive. My latte, however, was nearly cold when it arrived. Unfortunate for a cold day. My Croque-Monsieur was appropriately decadent and balanced nicely with a small salad. No one rushed us, we were free to linger in the sun and so we did. The adorable French-ness of the place makes lingering quite easy and leaving quite difficult. It could easily have been an afternoon where we could have switched to wine and cocktails after lattes, snacked on a croissant or two (chocolate, of course) and made it into an entire afternoon. Which is what I think they are going for...
Conclusion: Solid, unfussy French style brunch. Only two blocks from Union and the only thing open for blocks. The restaurant must realize this and understand their distinct standing as a unique place in the Slope. Otherwise, they would have kicked us out as soon as our forks were down.
cupcake
I did it! I saved most of the cupcake from Betty on Atlantic Avenue. Moist and delicious red velvet with a not-too-sweet frosting. Half of it is still sitting here staring at me and when I am alone I will eat it all for breakfast! Yum Yum yum.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Franny's
Issue: Can I eat right around the corner with food from local sources for a reasonable price?
Dinner meant Franny's for a date night treat. Ryan had never been there and I had been bugging him for a while to take me there. It is so close to us and was so warm and inviting on a cold night. Franny's does not take reservations, but luckily there were two stools available at the window ledge where we could wait, get a drink and look out on Flatbush Avenue. I had a glass of Coopérative de l’Enfer Enfer d’Arvier. I'll admit- I have no idea what that is. But it was delicious, light and clean and not too sweet. We had time for Ryan to finish a cocktail before we were sat in the worst seats in the house. Franny's has a long line of two-tops at the right hand side of the delightful room and we were seated at the last table closest to the bar and the door. Because it was such a tight room it meant that my chair was not placed across from my companion, but right next to him so as not to be bumped into by the traffic. This seating arrangement meant that I looked down the loooong row of tables and could see what everyone was eating and drinking. This made it especially uncomfortable for the table right next to us as I tried to ignore their conversations and delicious looking desserts. Oh well, the food more then made up for it.
Rule: Brooklyn is home to many, many restaurants claiming to use local ingredients and organic everything else.
Franny's menu details where the beef is from, where the ricotta is made, where the coffee is grown and I like that. This level of detail is reflected across the street at Brooklyn Larder, pretty much my favorite place (more on that to come as well). Reading about where my food is coming from serves to make me more hungry. Job well done Franny's.
Application: How it all went down.
After hearing recently that a friend with a big appetite ate 2 pizzas and 2 pastas almost all by herself I lobbied for two appetizers for Ryan and I. Wise decision, me. We split the cauliflower zeppole and the crostini with pancetta and beans. They were terrific. The cauliflower was carefully spiced crisped to perfection. It was a decadent vegetable. Incredible.
For my main course I ordered the white pizza with buffalo mozz, Salvatore Brooklyn ricotta, garlic, oregano and hot peppers. The crust was slightly charred on one side but solidly cooked the entire way through. The peppers provided a decent kick but nothing too distracting. Over all- wonderful. After the terribly tomato blight of the summer, I have been hesitant to eat tomatoes that I know would not be approaching their full potential. Yet, the tomato pizzas did look delicious from my view at the head of my table. I could probably have finished the entire pie myself had Ryan not assisted me. With a few bites of Ryan's baked paccheri with pork ragu in addition to my pizza I reached a perfect state of fullness. I could walk out on my own two feet and not feel like I should have to roll down the street, even mosey on down to Flatbush Farm for an after dinner drink. Satisfaction is perhaps the right word for it. Deliciously satisfied.
Conclusion: With a bill slightly over $100 (thanks, Ryan!) that included at least two drinks each as well as two appetizers it was not too pricey. However, I couldn't help thinking $17 is a bit much for a pizza that could quite easily serve only one person. Yet, I never feel that bad when I know the kitchen grease is being converted into biodiesel fuel. Overall, yes, I can eat right around the corner at a restaurant sourced by local farms and not spend every cent in my purse. A delightful dining experience.
Introduction
Hi there!
I am a chef, restaurateur, table-scaper, artisanal cheese maker, wine lover, centerpiece designer and locavore stuck in a lawyer's body.
As I slowly learn to make better food and desperately try to inherit my mother's inherent cooking skills I also can spend the extra $2 to get bread that is made in NY, delicious cheese made in VT and juice made in NJ. Waiting for my cooking skills to improve leads me to eat out a lot. Luckily, I live in one of the best culinary locations in world: Park Slope, Brooklyn. I explore these places with a delightful ladies dining club, family, friends and my lovely soon-to-be-husband.
My lawyer body wants me to be rational when writing about what I eat and where I go when I eat. Three long years of law school and three years of practice have all but wiped out my regular writing skills. So I will be IRAC-ing in my posts. IRAC is a writing pattern learned during the first days of law school. Issue. Rule. Application. Conclusion. The issue for this blog is where can I eat well in Brooklyn and beyond with local ingredients, decently priced wine lists, terrific atmosphere and delicious and compelling meals.
I will start with my most recent meals and work backwards based on taste-memory and special favorites, all while continuing to eat my way through Brooklyn.
Cheers!
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