Issue: Is it better the second time around? This was a return trip for me, after taking a tour of BC a few months ago. This time there were 4 of us, not 5 as last time, a weekend instead of weekday, spring vs. fall. Many small differences. Will they lead to a big change?
Rule: Times improves all things. (Or does it?)
Application: In the fall we were sat at the long center table that we shared with a few other diners. The worst thing about the place was that we couldn't hear each other speak. Our group was not overwhelmed with joy for that visit. We had high hopes and were not blown away with the food or atmosphere. This was not an issue last weekend. We got a seat right away, just in time for the early bird special. Both times I have ordered salads but this one was better. I ordered the arugula salad, packed with extras including pomegranate seeds which provided a juicy kick. Ryan let me sample a bit of the signature buttermilk fried chicken with a delicious cheddar biscuit. It is definitely signature, unique, and tasty. My first bite was a bit dry, but my second was moist and spot on.
The cheese tray and Brussels sprouts were the highlight for me for sure. The details and small dishes are what makes this place special. One of the cheese selections is a Consider Bardwell which holds a special place in my heart as a delicious local cheese. Instead of bread with olive oil, we were treated to biscuits with honey. Yum. The cocktail list was inventive and about $10 each. Weekday specials also highlighted local products including the Red Hook Lobster Pound and Caputo's linguini.
Conclusion: The second time is the charm. Emphasis on charm. I discovered the little charms of the place, the eye turned towards local flavors, the wonderfully decorated bathroom, the ability to hear our conversations, the small outdoor seating, the fabulous slice of the neighborhood. It all added up to a better trip this time around.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Buttermilk Channel Guest Blog
As promised, we bring you Eric Mancini. Hailing from Providence, RI by way of Agawam, MA, Eric is a good eater, fun Monday night company, almost citified walker, and has a good eye for detail. Enjoy:
We spent a hot day wandering through the post-industrial playgrounds that are the more obscure neighborhoods in Brooklyn, through areas that are supposed to blow up any minute (aren't they all), walked literally off our feet on the last full day of my week long visit to the hippest place on earth. This is how we came to Buttermilk Channel. This trip was the culmination of a week of being whisked around the city to one landmark restaurant after another by my gracious hosts, and it loomed large, seeming as it did to embody so many of my conflicted feelings about Brooklyn. Serious food trying too hard to be a casual neighborhood experience. Historical names and places mined for design elements. New American cuisine that (though I love it) tends to be similar across trendy restaurants. Spaces that are beautiful but so self consciously designed to be so. Also, and this is the crucial part, food that is better than any restaurant within fifty miles of where I live.
We got in around 6:30 and were the last customers to sit down without a wait. The interior was refreshing: all simple cream colors that gave off a warm, welcoming light. Any weariness the four of us felt from the long day of walking drained away almost immediately with the first round of drinks and popovers - light and crispy with just a hint of honey. The ladies went the route of multiple small plates and salads while the guys voted the Buttermilk equivalent of the straight ticket: buttermilk fried chicken with cheddar waffles, as close to a signature dish as the restaurant has.
Most of the small plates were tasty – the brussel sprouts practically jumped off the plate with their seasoning, and the cheese plate had one certified superstar - Queso del Inferno from Vermont, a harder cheese with a great salty flavor like spicy pecorino. Some of the dishes missed – the fresh mozzarella itself was good but the butter soaked bread between each piece was soggy and overpowering. And the sweet potato and goat cheese croquettes were nicely creamy but without any big flavor payoff. It's telling that my fiance, a croquette fanatic, thought they were forgettable.
Though fifteen minutes later it was easy to forget even the better appetizers in full embrace of the chicken and waffles. Served in a neat pile, universally dark amber in color and balanced out with a bright white scoop of cole slaw, it was immediately clear that someone thought this dish through. The chicken had the expected outer crisp with the interior landscape of a slow roasted bird, dark and moist. The waffles were browned, unassuming. Both tasted good alone but didn't reveal themselves fully until they were bound up with the primordial glue that was the syrup. Dark as petroleum but thinner, it poured easily and soaked into the chicken. It wasn't entirely sweet; there was a flavor in there that I struggled to place afterwards. My best guess would be a type of balsamic vinegar. All these years living in New England seeking out the thickest, sweetest maple syrups and I had it all wrong.
No room for dessert, we headed to a tiny bar across the street to meet with friends, my tongue still probing around for more syrup. And as always happens, my original, cynical defenses are taken down in presence of the actual thing, the food itself. Then I'm forced to admit that my conflicted feelings are mostly posturing, with a slight hint of envy, and that I've eaten better this week than anytime in recent memory. Brooklyn has some truly great restaurants. I can't thank my hosts enough.
We spent a hot day wandering through the post-industrial playgrounds that are the more obscure neighborhoods in Brooklyn, through areas that are supposed to blow up any minute (aren't they all), walked literally off our feet on the last full day of my week long visit to the hippest place on earth. This is how we came to Buttermilk Channel. This trip was the culmination of a week of being whisked around the city to one landmark restaurant after another by my gracious hosts, and it loomed large, seeming as it did to embody so many of my conflicted feelings about Brooklyn. Serious food trying too hard to be a casual neighborhood experience. Historical names and places mined for design elements. New American cuisine that (though I love it) tends to be similar across trendy restaurants. Spaces that are beautiful but so self consciously designed to be so. Also, and this is the crucial part, food that is better than any restaurant within fifty miles of where I live.
We got in around 6:30 and were the last customers to sit down without a wait. The interior was refreshing: all simple cream colors that gave off a warm, welcoming light. Any weariness the four of us felt from the long day of walking drained away almost immediately with the first round of drinks and popovers - light and crispy with just a hint of honey. The ladies went the route of multiple small plates and salads while the guys voted the Buttermilk equivalent of the straight ticket: buttermilk fried chicken with cheddar waffles, as close to a signature dish as the restaurant has.
Most of the small plates were tasty – the brussel sprouts practically jumped off the plate with their seasoning, and the cheese plate had one certified superstar - Queso del Inferno from Vermont, a harder cheese with a great salty flavor like spicy pecorino. Some of the dishes missed – the fresh mozzarella itself was good but the butter soaked bread between each piece was soggy and overpowering. And the sweet potato and goat cheese croquettes were nicely creamy but without any big flavor payoff. It's telling that my fiance, a croquette fanatic, thought they were forgettable.
Though fifteen minutes later it was easy to forget even the better appetizers in full embrace of the chicken and waffles. Served in a neat pile, universally dark amber in color and balanced out with a bright white scoop of cole slaw, it was immediately clear that someone thought this dish through. The chicken had the expected outer crisp with the interior landscape of a slow roasted bird, dark and moist. The waffles were browned, unassuming. Both tasted good alone but didn't reveal themselves fully until they were bound up with the primordial glue that was the syrup. Dark as petroleum but thinner, it poured easily and soaked into the chicken. It wasn't entirely sweet; there was a flavor in there that I struggled to place afterwards. My best guess would be a type of balsamic vinegar. All these years living in New England seeking out the thickest, sweetest maple syrups and I had it all wrong.
No room for dessert, we headed to a tiny bar across the street to meet with friends, my tongue still probing around for more syrup. And as always happens, my original, cynical defenses are taken down in presence of the actual thing, the food itself. Then I'm forced to admit that my conflicted feelings are mostly posturing, with a slight hint of envy, and that I've eaten better this week than anytime in recent memory. Brooklyn has some truly great restaurants. I can't thank my hosts enough.
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Vanderbilt
Last week we have a mini restaurant week of our own when a friend came in to town, hungry to try some new cuisine. We will be welcoming him sometime this week as a guest blogger with his own spin on where we ate.
Issue: Which new restaurant in the area do we venture out to with a friend from out of town? Our friend has visited many times before and has kept himself advised of new movement in Brooklyn's restaurant scene from afar. Dinner on his first night had to be somewhere new and interesting.
Rule: It seems like new restaurant openings have slowed a bit in the last few months, but slow still means many new restaurants have opened during the winter. The Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights opened in the early winter of 2009 and boasted a nearly full bar area last Monday and about a half full back dining room.
Application: Whatever kinks may come with a new restaurant were not on display here. One of the most memorable highlights from this dinner (more on the delicious food later) was the amazing service. From the kind hostess who greeted us immediately, to the attentive waitress, to the quick food preparation and floating busboys and food runners, the service never missed a beat. Impeccable. At least three different people wished us well on the way out of dinner, always a good sign. Our waitress was attentive and available, but never cloying. All of meals came out in record time, and there was never a crumb on the table for more than three seconds. I really have to hand it to them.
The food was exceptional. The Michelin starred chef from Saul on Smith Street has created simple and delicious small plates. Our waiter recommended 2-3 plates a person, but that would be too much food. Instead, the three of us ordered one hors d'oeuvres, one charcuterie, two vegetable dishes, one duck dish and a delicious donut desserts.
The hors d'oeuvre and first item to arrive, in five minutes flat was roasted Brussels sprouts with sriracha, lime and honey. The sprouts were small and crispy with a sweet honey punch. In a word-yum. I tried to recreate it this weekend, but obviously couldn't reproduce, so I will have to go back. Again and again.
Next, we received the cauliflower soup which was mainly for me to enjoy on a rainy day. It was served with a caper-raisin puree that was unexpectedly wonderful. The soup had a thick consistency with actual crispy cauliflowers on the top. The caper-raisin puree added the salt and the sweet which is always a good combination.
While I was slurping up the soup we got the pork belly with lentils. I had high hopes, so I was little let down. Whenever I have pork belly now I think about the wonderful pork belly at Beer Table and nothing else has lived up to it. Vanderbilt's version had a crispy, sticky skin that got stuck in our teeth and not in a good way. (Is there a good way?)
We also got an artichoke dish which was wonderfully spiced and a hit with our artichoke-loving eater.
The duck confit special was the universal hit of the night. Served with a generous portion of spaetzle it was a lot of duck on a small plate. The duck was done perfectly moist and full of flavor. You can't really go wrong with duck confit, but we have all had it overcooked and bordering on dry. This was wonderful and every last bit of it was licked off the plate.
And finally, we got the delicious warm spiced donuts with pistachio ice cream for dessert. We were all stuffed from munching on the small plates, but I figured we could squeeze one more in. It was well worth it.
Conclusion: A wonderful entry into the new neighborhood places. During our mini-restaurant week we also went to Char 4, Buttermilk Channel, and Purple Yam and two of the best dishes of the entire week were the duck confit and the Brussels sprouts. That is saying an awful lot, as we ate like kings for a few days.
Issue: Which new restaurant in the area do we venture out to with a friend from out of town? Our friend has visited many times before and has kept himself advised of new movement in Brooklyn's restaurant scene from afar. Dinner on his first night had to be somewhere new and interesting.
Rule: It seems like new restaurant openings have slowed a bit in the last few months, but slow still means many new restaurants have opened during the winter. The Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights opened in the early winter of 2009 and boasted a nearly full bar area last Monday and about a half full back dining room.
Application: Whatever kinks may come with a new restaurant were not on display here. One of the most memorable highlights from this dinner (more on the delicious food later) was the amazing service. From the kind hostess who greeted us immediately, to the attentive waitress, to the quick food preparation and floating busboys and food runners, the service never missed a beat. Impeccable. At least three different people wished us well on the way out of dinner, always a good sign. Our waitress was attentive and available, but never cloying. All of meals came out in record time, and there was never a crumb on the table for more than three seconds. I really have to hand it to them.
The food was exceptional. The Michelin starred chef from Saul on Smith Street has created simple and delicious small plates. Our waiter recommended 2-3 plates a person, but that would be too much food. Instead, the three of us ordered one hors d'oeuvres, one charcuterie, two vegetable dishes, one duck dish and a delicious donut desserts.
The hors d'oeuvre and first item to arrive, in five minutes flat was roasted Brussels sprouts with sriracha, lime and honey. The sprouts were small and crispy with a sweet honey punch. In a word-yum. I tried to recreate it this weekend, but obviously couldn't reproduce, so I will have to go back. Again and again.
Next, we received the cauliflower soup which was mainly for me to enjoy on a rainy day. It was served with a caper-raisin puree that was unexpectedly wonderful. The soup had a thick consistency with actual crispy cauliflowers on the top. The caper-raisin puree added the salt and the sweet which is always a good combination.
While I was slurping up the soup we got the pork belly with lentils. I had high hopes, so I was little let down. Whenever I have pork belly now I think about the wonderful pork belly at Beer Table and nothing else has lived up to it. Vanderbilt's version had a crispy, sticky skin that got stuck in our teeth and not in a good way. (Is there a good way?)
We also got an artichoke dish which was wonderfully spiced and a hit with our artichoke-loving eater.
The duck confit special was the universal hit of the night. Served with a generous portion of spaetzle it was a lot of duck on a small plate. The duck was done perfectly moist and full of flavor. You can't really go wrong with duck confit, but we have all had it overcooked and bordering on dry. This was wonderful and every last bit of it was licked off the plate.
And finally, we got the delicious warm spiced donuts with pistachio ice cream for dessert. We were all stuffed from munching on the small plates, but I figured we could squeeze one more in. It was well worth it.
Conclusion: A wonderful entry into the new neighborhood places. During our mini-restaurant week we also went to Char 4, Buttermilk Channel, and Purple Yam and two of the best dishes of the entire week were the duck confit and the Brussels sprouts. That is saying an awful lot, as we ate like kings for a few days.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The Farm on Adderley
Issue: Where to go for a celebratory brunch with friends without breaking the bank.
Our friends Hilary and Jeremy got engaged recently and Ryan and I wanted to take them out to brunch to congratulate them. However, we are also trying to save money for our own impending wedding so we didn't want to spend a fortune. Plus, we live in opposite sides of the Slope which always makes me worry that one party is going too far out of their way for brunch. So after thinking it over we went with Ryan's suggestion of The Farm. It is in Ditmas Park, so a subway ride away for both parties.
Rule: See: James. Brunch is crazy in our neighborhood. Finding a table for four at 1pm is nearly impossible. And not feeling rushed is even more difficult.
Application: We arrived at 1pm and were told that it would be quite a while. Usually at this point you are forced to choose between sticking it out or walking down the block to the next place. However, the issue with Ditmas Park (and the biggest thing holding me back from moving there this instant) is a lack of variety. As their restaurant row grows, it expands with new cuisine, there is not much repetition. If we wanted to go to brunch we could go to Purple Yam for some entirely different Asian fare, or Connecticut Muffin next door and possibly be able to grab a seat with a coffee and muffin. The only similar brunch is Picket Fence, which is also crowded on a Sunday morning.
We weren't able to be seated until after 1:30, but the hostess was kind enough to take my number so we weren't confined to the small waiting area near the bar, or the freezing cold outside. A bottleneck instantly forms at the entrance to the restaurant creating a waiting problem and a bar seating problem. But the restaurant is much larger than it seems, especially when the weather is warm and the backyard is back in play. The seats are all interchangeable, creating a warm and comfortable environment. Like a farm. Although the place is busy and the line is literally out the door, the restaurant never succumbs to the desire to cram the tables in as closely as possible. Our four top was so distanced that we never heard any other conversations besides our own.
The Farm boasts one of the best brunch menus I have seen in a long time. It is nicely balanced with two salads alongside french toast and omelets. Our table ordered two substantial burgers, the bibb salad and the tuna salad sandwich. The burger was unremarkable but huge. It did come on an English muffin and with cheddar cheese, big pluses. However, the fries were a bit soggy and not at all interesting. The bibb salad was the most delicious salad I have had in a while. Pumpkin seeds gave it a nice crunch and the dried cranberries kept it a bit sweet. I also had a side of chocolate brioche that I witnessed a waiter going blindly from table to table trying to drop off, but missed me again and again. It was flavored with sea salt and butter, I mean... Whoa. Delish. Hilary loved that her tuna salad lacked heavy mayonnaise and was instead flavored with capers and roasted tomatoes. If I could do it again, I would order the same thing. If I could do it one more time, I would order the farmer's breakfast of scrambled eggs and home fries.
Conclusion: The wait can be terrible, but better planning would alleviate that problem. The total was entirely reasonable and treat-able. We all got coffee, but no delicious sounding drinks that make brunch more expensive than it needs to be. The atmosphere is friendly and the service is good, if a bit overwhelmed. Our waiter never tried to rush us in ordering even in spite of the long line. However, I did catch a few glances as we lingered over the check for a moment. It was almost as if we stayed for two more minutes we would have gotten a warning from the staff. The food was tasty, never mind that the burger was not so impressive, everything else on the table tasted great. All that means is that it deserves another trip out to Ditmas Park. This time at a more reasonable hour.
Our friends Hilary and Jeremy got engaged recently and Ryan and I wanted to take them out to brunch to congratulate them. However, we are also trying to save money for our own impending wedding so we didn't want to spend a fortune. Plus, we live in opposite sides of the Slope which always makes me worry that one party is going too far out of their way for brunch. So after thinking it over we went with Ryan's suggestion of The Farm. It is in Ditmas Park, so a subway ride away for both parties.
Rule: See: James. Brunch is crazy in our neighborhood. Finding a table for four at 1pm is nearly impossible. And not feeling rushed is even more difficult.
Application: We arrived at 1pm and were told that it would be quite a while. Usually at this point you are forced to choose between sticking it out or walking down the block to the next place. However, the issue with Ditmas Park (and the biggest thing holding me back from moving there this instant) is a lack of variety. As their restaurant row grows, it expands with new cuisine, there is not much repetition. If we wanted to go to brunch we could go to Purple Yam for some entirely different Asian fare, or Connecticut Muffin next door and possibly be able to grab a seat with a coffee and muffin. The only similar brunch is Picket Fence, which is also crowded on a Sunday morning.
We weren't able to be seated until after 1:30, but the hostess was kind enough to take my number so we weren't confined to the small waiting area near the bar, or the freezing cold outside. A bottleneck instantly forms at the entrance to the restaurant creating a waiting problem and a bar seating problem. But the restaurant is much larger than it seems, especially when the weather is warm and the backyard is back in play. The seats are all interchangeable, creating a warm and comfortable environment. Like a farm. Although the place is busy and the line is literally out the door, the restaurant never succumbs to the desire to cram the tables in as closely as possible. Our four top was so distanced that we never heard any other conversations besides our own.
The Farm boasts one of the best brunch menus I have seen in a long time. It is nicely balanced with two salads alongside french toast and omelets. Our table ordered two substantial burgers, the bibb salad and the tuna salad sandwich. The burger was unremarkable but huge. It did come on an English muffin and with cheddar cheese, big pluses. However, the fries were a bit soggy and not at all interesting. The bibb salad was the most delicious salad I have had in a while. Pumpkin seeds gave it a nice crunch and the dried cranberries kept it a bit sweet. I also had a side of chocolate brioche that I witnessed a waiter going blindly from table to table trying to drop off, but missed me again and again. It was flavored with sea salt and butter, I mean... Whoa. Delish. Hilary loved that her tuna salad lacked heavy mayonnaise and was instead flavored with capers and roasted tomatoes. If I could do it again, I would order the same thing. If I could do it one more time, I would order the farmer's breakfast of scrambled eggs and home fries.
Conclusion: The wait can be terrible, but better planning would alleviate that problem. The total was entirely reasonable and treat-able. We all got coffee, but no delicious sounding drinks that make brunch more expensive than it needs to be. The atmosphere is friendly and the service is good, if a bit overwhelmed. Our waiter never tried to rush us in ordering even in spite of the long line. However, I did catch a few glances as we lingered over the check for a moment. It was almost as if we stayed for two more minutes we would have gotten a warning from the staff. The food was tasty, never mind that the burger was not so impressive, everything else on the table tasted great. All that means is that it deserves another trip out to Ditmas Park. This time at a more reasonable hour.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Times Food Section
Most exciting things in the Wednesday NY Times food section:
1. Coffee!
2. Cheap food!
3. Honey Cakes! What are Honey Cakes?
4. Steak House!
1. The paper of record published an exhaustive and comprehensive review of coffee houses in NYC. It is especially interesting to read about beans being roasted in Greenpoint, and plans for more coffee beans to be roasted in and around Brooklyn. Cafe Grumpy in Park Slope recieves a star review. They are very serious about their coffee over on 7th Ave. No laptops are allowed and I believe even sitting is discouraged. Grab your coffee and get out. The coffee is of course delicious and strong. This cannot stop me from accidentally pronouncing it as Caf-ay Grump-ay everytime I say it aloud.
The article also cites Cafe Pedlar from the Frankie's guys in Cobble Hill. I have yet to check it, which is shameful because it is right down the street. Writing this is making me embarassed of my Dunkin' Donuts cup to my left.
2. Cheap food in LES? WHA?? No big surprise here, but the review of Carteles on East 6th Street makes me yearn for some chicken and yuca sancocho. And I don't even really know what it is.
3. What are honey cakes? At this point, I don't care. I just want to eat the chocolate covered one with marshmallows. Yum.
4. Review of Strip House. Steak is not really my thing, as I tend to vear to more vegetarian fare. However, the review does have it's own mouth-watering moments. Most of them refer to the decor and atmosphere. Mainly, it sounds like a pretty cool place. Anywhere with a signed photo of Thurgood Marshall tucked into the bar area is cool with me. The steaks and scrumptious sides sounds deliciously fatty. With steakhouse prices it may not be the best deal in town, but I certainly would recommend it to meat-lovers on a trip to NY based on this two-starred review (which may be as high as Sifton has gone in his relatively new role).
1. Coffee!
2. Cheap food!
3. Honey Cakes! What are Honey Cakes?
4. Steak House!
1. The paper of record published an exhaustive and comprehensive review of coffee houses in NYC. It is especially interesting to read about beans being roasted in Greenpoint, and plans for more coffee beans to be roasted in and around Brooklyn. Cafe Grumpy in Park Slope recieves a star review. They are very serious about their coffee over on 7th Ave. No laptops are allowed and I believe even sitting is discouraged. Grab your coffee and get out. The coffee is of course delicious and strong. This cannot stop me from accidentally pronouncing it as Caf-ay Grump-ay everytime I say it aloud.
The article also cites Cafe Pedlar from the Frankie's guys in Cobble Hill. I have yet to check it, which is shameful because it is right down the street. Writing this is making me embarassed of my Dunkin' Donuts cup to my left.
2. Cheap food in LES? WHA?? No big surprise here, but the review of Carteles on East 6th Street makes me yearn for some chicken and yuca sancocho. And I don't even really know what it is.
3. What are honey cakes? At this point, I don't care. I just want to eat the chocolate covered one with marshmallows. Yum.
4. Review of Strip House. Steak is not really my thing, as I tend to vear to more vegetarian fare. However, the review does have it's own mouth-watering moments. Most of them refer to the decor and atmosphere. Mainly, it sounds like a pretty cool place. Anywhere with a signed photo of Thurgood Marshall tucked into the bar area is cool with me. The steaks and scrumptious sides sounds deliciously fatty. With steakhouse prices it may not be the best deal in town, but I certainly would recommend it to meat-lovers on a trip to NY based on this two-starred review (which may be as high as Sifton has gone in his relatively new role).
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
sick day lunch
Issue: I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Where can I go when I leave work early with a fever and nose that won't stop running? What can I eat to make myself feel a little bit better?
One of the perks of my job is that we have unlimited sick days. That's right. Unlimited. However, that makes me feel a bit uneasy taking them, like I am taking advantage of this great thing that we have. But last week I needed to take the hours. My brain was fuzzy and I was blowing my nose through all my court appearances. Not a good look for me. I needed to grab a lunch on my way out of work to enjoy while laying on my couch before taking another nap.
Rule: Sick day lunch should include soup, be warm, toasty and delicious. It shouldn't cost too much money either, you don't want to feel guilty on top of feeling sick. But it should be a treat. Something to look forward to on a day when you are counting down the hours until it is bed time again. So when I think sick day lunch, I think Brooklyn Larder.
Brooklyn Larder is owned by the wonderful and creative team behind Franny's, which is just a few steps away on Flatbush. It is filled with delicious olive oils, local chocolates, a large and tasty cheese selection, and a steady stream of wonderful prepared foods. But most importantly soups and sandwiches.
Application: Brooklyn Larder has a lunch special of a small soup and small sandwich for a bit over $9 with tax. Not the cheapest lunch special around, but certainly the tastiest. The soup and sandwich is definitely sufficient for lunch, sometimes I don't even finish them both.
There are a lot of delicious sandwiches described on the board behind the counter, but to qualify for the special you need to choose between the ham and cheese, or the grilled cheese. I always go with the grilled cheese with a full and complex flavor. The bread of prefectly salty and oily without being the least bit greasy. For soups the selection varies. I was really hoping for the chicken and barley or one of the tomato based soups when I went in last week, but instead they were serving onion soup. The chicken and barley is perfect for hang over or full dinner. The onion soup was as tasty as expected, salty and warm- perfect for a sick day. Oh the healing powers of salt.
The staff is friendly and so knowledgable. No question goes unanswered. The place itself is also friendly and beautiful. If I wasn't in a hurry to jump into my bed, Brooklyn Larder has a few seats and a huge picture window perfect for people watching while slurping soup. I could sit their all day.
Conclusion: In my pre-wedding spending freeze (no non-essential travel, new clothing, or happy hours) I have been trying my best to neglect Brooklyn Larder. But at my sickest, it is there for me. Even though I have tried to turn away from it because of my propensity to accidentally spend $80 when I go in, it is there to support and feed me. I am sure this won't be the last post about Brooklyn Larder. But for now, it the perfect place to grab a fortifying lunch on a slow afternoon.
One of the perks of my job is that we have unlimited sick days. That's right. Unlimited. However, that makes me feel a bit uneasy taking them, like I am taking advantage of this great thing that we have. But last week I needed to take the hours. My brain was fuzzy and I was blowing my nose through all my court appearances. Not a good look for me. I needed to grab a lunch on my way out of work to enjoy while laying on my couch before taking another nap.
Rule: Sick day lunch should include soup, be warm, toasty and delicious. It shouldn't cost too much money either, you don't want to feel guilty on top of feeling sick. But it should be a treat. Something to look forward to on a day when you are counting down the hours until it is bed time again. So when I think sick day lunch, I think Brooklyn Larder.
Brooklyn Larder is owned by the wonderful and creative team behind Franny's, which is just a few steps away on Flatbush. It is filled with delicious olive oils, local chocolates, a large and tasty cheese selection, and a steady stream of wonderful prepared foods. But most importantly soups and sandwiches.
Application: Brooklyn Larder has a lunch special of a small soup and small sandwich for a bit over $9 with tax. Not the cheapest lunch special around, but certainly the tastiest. The soup and sandwich is definitely sufficient for lunch, sometimes I don't even finish them both.
There are a lot of delicious sandwiches described on the board behind the counter, but to qualify for the special you need to choose between the ham and cheese, or the grilled cheese. I always go with the grilled cheese with a full and complex flavor. The bread of prefectly salty and oily without being the least bit greasy. For soups the selection varies. I was really hoping for the chicken and barley or one of the tomato based soups when I went in last week, but instead they were serving onion soup. The chicken and barley is perfect for hang over or full dinner. The onion soup was as tasty as expected, salty and warm- perfect for a sick day. Oh the healing powers of salt.
The staff is friendly and so knowledgable. No question goes unanswered. The place itself is also friendly and beautiful. If I wasn't in a hurry to jump into my bed, Brooklyn Larder has a few seats and a huge picture window perfect for people watching while slurping soup. I could sit their all day.
Conclusion: In my pre-wedding spending freeze (no non-essential travel, new clothing, or happy hours) I have been trying my best to neglect Brooklyn Larder. But at my sickest, it is there for me. Even though I have tried to turn away from it because of my propensity to accidentally spend $80 when I go in, it is there to support and feed me. I am sure this won't be the last post about Brooklyn Larder. But for now, it the perfect place to grab a fortifying lunch on a slow afternoon.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Brunch
Issue: Where to grab a quick and delicious brunch in the neighborhood for four without waiting an hour for a seat.
My parents were in town briefly on a Sunday and wanted something tasty that didn't require a super long wait. Usually my parents love the process of going out to eat. They like planning where to go, ordering the entrees only after the appetizers have been delivered to the table, returning to favorite spots and sampling new places. But we all had a hockey game to watch, so the timing was important.
Rule: Brunch in the Park Slope area can have an insane wait, especially when the snow starts to melt and seats become available outside.
People make fun of Park Slope for being all about babies and brunch. And, honestly, some of that critique is probably true. There are a ton of babies and there are a ton of places to get brunch. In spite of all the choices there is often a long wait for the best places. For example, I have never in my life been to Dizzy's on 8th Avenue without having to wait for at least a half hour. Yet, there are plenty of seats available at places where the selection is sub-par or the place is kind of ho-hum, but who wants to go there? Certainly not my parents.
Application: So we decided on going to James in Prospect Heights. After cataloging many restaurants while sitting in my apartment (Franny's, Flatbush Farm, Rosewater, Al Di La, Alchemy-mostly rejected because Ryan is tired of their brunch menus even though I think they are the best) we decided on James, with The Vanderbilt as a back-up, just in case there was a long line.
James is on Carlton Avenue in Prospect Heights, one of the prettiest blocks in Brooklyn. The owners live upstairs and grow herbs used for meals at the restaurant. I mean, come on! How cool is that? That is seriously right up my alley.
We arrived with a complete party and were told that it would only be a few minutes to sit. Score. We were able to quickly get four stools near the window and a drink menu while we waited for our table in the busy room to open up. This short wait gave us time to survey the room and marvel at the plants seemingly growing out of the wall, the amazing chandelier and the huge plant on the bar. All the decorations are over sized and yet fit very well in the room with high ceilings and a lot of charm.
For brunch I ordered the ricotta pancake with blueberries which I had planned on splitting with my Mom, who ordered the delicious and fluffy fritatta. Instead of eating them both evenly I devoured by sweet and light pancakes and ate a bunch of the fritatta as well. My Dad ordered the french toast stuffed with blackberry jam. OMG it is so good. He was suitably impressed. Ryan got the burger with yummy herb fries that were gone in 2.5 seconds.
My only complaint was a slight hiccup with our waiter who seemed a bit overworked (widely known side-effect of waiters working Saturday dinner and Sunday brunch) and misheard my drink order and forgot my Dad's coffee. Besides that the service was right on- quick, efficient and pleasant.
Conclusion: We were in and out of there, entirely sated and well fed within an hour. After all the back and forth about where we would end up, it was the perfect choice for a brief brunch that never felt rushed. James is also due for a special shout-out for the delightful brunch cocktails. I don't normally imbibe during brunch, but I couldn't resist the blood orange bellini. If I was into bloody marys, I am sure their version with jalapeno would have been an excellent start to a Sunday full of family, food and hockey. Go Canada.
My parents were in town briefly on a Sunday and wanted something tasty that didn't require a super long wait. Usually my parents love the process of going out to eat. They like planning where to go, ordering the entrees only after the appetizers have been delivered to the table, returning to favorite spots and sampling new places. But we all had a hockey game to watch, so the timing was important.
Rule: Brunch in the Park Slope area can have an insane wait, especially when the snow starts to melt and seats become available outside.
People make fun of Park Slope for being all about babies and brunch. And, honestly, some of that critique is probably true. There are a ton of babies and there are a ton of places to get brunch. In spite of all the choices there is often a long wait for the best places. For example, I have never in my life been to Dizzy's on 8th Avenue without having to wait for at least a half hour. Yet, there are plenty of seats available at places where the selection is sub-par or the place is kind of ho-hum, but who wants to go there? Certainly not my parents.
Application: So we decided on going to James in Prospect Heights. After cataloging many restaurants while sitting in my apartment (Franny's, Flatbush Farm, Rosewater, Al Di La, Alchemy-mostly rejected because Ryan is tired of their brunch menus even though I think they are the best) we decided on James, with The Vanderbilt as a back-up, just in case there was a long line.
James is on Carlton Avenue in Prospect Heights, one of the prettiest blocks in Brooklyn. The owners live upstairs and grow herbs used for meals at the restaurant. I mean, come on! How cool is that? That is seriously right up my alley.
We arrived with a complete party and were told that it would only be a few minutes to sit. Score. We were able to quickly get four stools near the window and a drink menu while we waited for our table in the busy room to open up. This short wait gave us time to survey the room and marvel at the plants seemingly growing out of the wall, the amazing chandelier and the huge plant on the bar. All the decorations are over sized and yet fit very well in the room with high ceilings and a lot of charm.
For brunch I ordered the ricotta pancake with blueberries which I had planned on splitting with my Mom, who ordered the delicious and fluffy fritatta. Instead of eating them both evenly I devoured by sweet and light pancakes and ate a bunch of the fritatta as well. My Dad ordered the french toast stuffed with blackberry jam. OMG it is so good. He was suitably impressed. Ryan got the burger with yummy herb fries that were gone in 2.5 seconds.
My only complaint was a slight hiccup with our waiter who seemed a bit overworked (widely known side-effect of waiters working Saturday dinner and Sunday brunch) and misheard my drink order and forgot my Dad's coffee. Besides that the service was right on- quick, efficient and pleasant.
Conclusion: We were in and out of there, entirely sated and well fed within an hour. After all the back and forth about where we would end up, it was the perfect choice for a brief brunch that never felt rushed. James is also due for a special shout-out for the delightful brunch cocktails. I don't normally imbibe during brunch, but I couldn't resist the blood orange bellini. If I was into bloody marys, I am sure their version with jalapeno would have been an excellent start to a Sunday full of family, food and hockey. Go Canada.
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