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.