Sookk

Sook is an amalgm of Thai cuisines. It's menu explains the different sauces and spices utilized in Thai cooking. The welcoming space on Broadway and 102nd St. is comphy and the staff is super accomodating. Foodwise, there is a lunch special starting at $7 and it is delicious. All the food is served at once and I started with fried chicken and shrimp dumplings(pictured above) and asked for duck with my rama sauce(a peanut based sauce). Though there is no duck with the lunch special, I offered to pay more and they obliged. Food was fresh, spicy, and sublime.

GO!

Almondine Bakery

Almondine bakery finally opened Slope side on the corner of 7th Ave. and ninth street. This Dumbo fave features amazing breads, baguettes, and sublime pastries. The colorful macaroons are fruity tasty concoctions and who could resist a raspberry beignet with coffee. This bakery serves the classics done with an artisan touch. Plenty of seating room in the space which has deriguer P.S. exposed brick and two bathrooms in the rear. Welcome to your new home Almondine.

Must Go!

New Amsterdam Food Market

Food lover's paradise on a beautiful day next to the South Street Seaport. This monthly market brings local, upstate and even some Vermont purveyors to town with samples of their goods. Breads are beautiful here and some of the best include our local Pain d'Avigon, Sullivan Street Bakery and Balthazar. Brooklyn was well represented with Salties, Marlow and Sons, and The Meat Hook. My bratwurst on a potato roll with homemade cabbage, and spicy mustard from The Meat Hook was beyond delicious. Lots of cheese samples, some wine samples and even some chocolate samples. Ice-cream from the upstate creamery, Bent Spoon chocolate with rosemary was lovely. Other notables were Porchetta with their pork sandwich and the line for the East Village's Luke's Lobster was long though the sandwich looked rather ordinary. Freshly shucked oysters and a lovely chili with all the fixin's and a semolina cracker from Marlow and sons were tempting, but the bratwurst plus samples filled up my deliriously happy stomach.

MUST GO!

Brooklyn Star

Teeny, wainscotted space that dishes upmarket Southern classics or classics reinterpreted. Tables on the perimeter of the room surround a communal table in the middle. Seating is not optimal, though some of the food is worth the cramped arrangement. We ordered the recommended cornbread which is served made to order in a cast iron skillet, hot out of the oven for $4. My dish of country fried steak with mashed potatoes, served with warm slaw for $15 was outstanding. Crispy coating on the steak with creamy gravy and lovely warm slaw was created a little food envy . A side of creamed corn served with smoked trout for $4 was the perfect sweet/salty contrast. My friend's barbequed catfish was slightly underseasoned though served with a side of creamed corn and deep fried cukes redeemed the dish. There was only one dessert which was the deep fried apple fritters pictured above with vanilla ice-cream and sugared pecans for $6 which was to die for. Deep fried meaty apples paired with creamy ice-cream and crunchy sweet sugared pecans was delectable.

Go!

Brooklyn Star

33 Havemeyer St.

Bklyn, NY 11211

718-599-9899

Fonda

In a neighborhood not unsaturated with upmarket restaurants, Fonda takes the cake. A chef born in Mexico City and lauded in Austin whips up comida sabrosa on this southern stretch of 7th Ave. A lovely garden in back offers a quiet respite and most important a killer meal Friendly, attentive service to boot. I ordered the enchiladas suizas with scrambled eggs for $12 with a mimosa for brunch. This dish is also available with chicken tinga. My suizas were smothered in a super tasty green tomatillo sauce. I asked for chips and they brought over(gratis) some house fried giant salty ones with spicy red sauce. Other great sounding options are the shrimp enchiladas for $15 or the french toast served with piloncillo syrup, whipped cream and sugared pecans for $10.

MUST GO!

Fonda

434 7th Ave.

Brooklyn, NY 11215

718-369-3144

Chile Pepper Festival

Hot and spicy pickles, chutney's, HOT hot sauces and the best display and tastings of chilies and chocolates. This food day family event later proved a washout, but it was super fun until the rain came. A line up of vendors including Horman's pickles whose bread and butter pickle and horseradish pickle were pickleicious.

J.D south philly's hot sauce were some of the hottest I ever tasted.

There were food demos of spicy foods and lessons on different chilies. The creme de la creme was the "Hot Chocolate" area featuring master chocolatiers displaying and offering samples of their interpretation of spicy, chile infused chocolates. Chocolate and chile dark chocolates, cookies, even cupcakes reached new sweet and savory goodness. There was also a sampling of chefs cooking up spicy bread pudding, peppers with chocolate and even ravioli with chocolate. A panel discussion on the subject discussed the origins of this combo. This is a yearly event and for next year's event-at the Brooklyn Botanic garden.

Must Go!

Salties

Salties opened a week ago in the defunct and beloved Cheeks bakery space on Metropolitan Ave.
This little food shop serves salads, sandwiches as well as homemade ice-cream and baked goods.
Salties owners developed their food chops at Diner and Marlow and sons, both great for the resume. Some goodies I ate:
Concord grape goat cheese tart-$5
Pansy salad(panzanella salad)-$4
Potato tortilla with aoili-$3
Salted caramel and eaton mess ice cream-$3
Blueberry meringue ice-cream-$3
All were delish though the potato tortilla was one of the best I have ever eaten and have been to Espana four times and the homemade ice-cream is killer.


salties
358 Metropolitan Ave
Bklyn, NY 11221

Rye

Mouthwatering food in a speakeasy setting, located behind a clandestine unmarked entrance on the south side of Williamsburg on a decidedly unglamorous block. Large, retro space with tinned ceiling as many spaces are decorated in this de riguer in the "burg." On a Saturday night in the interior many women dressed up in cocktail dresses joined the upscale hipsters for dinner. Firstly, service here is a bit confusing and no bread arrives unless requested. Otherwise, the food is mouthwatering, innovative and just plain delicious. We started with grilled asparagus with preserved lemon. Warm and comforting with a hint of balsamic reduction on the top. My main was the short rib sandwich(pictured at left). Wow! Juicy meat soaking up the soft roll and topped with horse radish slaw and served with fresh pickles- delish as well as being one of the best bargains on the menu at $8.
For dessert we shared the hot, fresh fried donuts with vanilla ice-cream and as well as a steamed lemon cake with fresh berries. Super duper!
Must Go!

rye

247 South 1st St.

Bklyn, NY 11221

718-218-8047

La Fusta

Oh, La Fusta, restaurante authentico Argentino, across from the busy Elmhurst hospital. Love your old school interior and meat-centric menu. Went here Sunday with our Queens food group for some meat love. Soft bread and garlicky chimichurri like sauce on the tables starts the feast. Many of us ordered appetizers. My empanada of chicken was flaky and flavorful. Around the table, the morcilla(blood sausage) was very tasty and the meat empanada was also super authentic. The meat arrived next, and oh the oooohs and ahs. I ordered the short ribs with spinach. You can order french fries, or mashed or veggies. My dish of three huge short ribs was nothing short of perfection. Perfectly salted and cooked these were succulent, meaty marvels. A large serving of garlicky spinach went very well with the meat. Many at the table had meat envy as the ribs were clearly so incredibly tasty. The skirt steak was also perfectly cooked and was quite good. This Argentine perfection does not come cheap and the meat dishes start at about $14 dollars. The hood is a cultural experience in itself with ladies selling large pots of tasty tamales and the dulce de leche I bought on the street for $2 was some of the best I have tasted outside of Argentina.
GO!

DiCosmos Italian Ices

Little shack directly next door to Rockaway Taco, how convenient. Homemade and authentically flavored this stand is the perfect dessert apres taco. I had the pink grapefruit which was fruity and tangy and tasted just like the fruit. Friendly and cheap.

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Rockaway Taco

Located near the rumbling elevated train station in an unglamorous strip of the Rockaways, this shack turns out killer Mexican grub. There is a small outdoor seating area and the food is cheap here, with most dishes under $5. I ordered a bean quesadilla served on a fried tortilla with white cheese and popped for fried sweet plantains($1 extra). Delish! Refried beans, cheese, plaintains with a squeeze of lime. There are fish tacos and other requisite faves. Fresh squeezed juices like watermellon are served too. Hot sauces are on the tables. This is a no frills beach joint that fills you cheaply.

GO!

La Flor

In a decidely unglamorous location under the tracks of the #7 train sits this bakery/cafe that turns out bangin' breakfast/brunch plates all cooked to order in their open kitchen. My brunch was decidely feastlike at a price that would have been at least 1/3 more for this quality in a hood like Park Slope. Plus as crowded as it was there was no waiting. The waitresses run around frantically, but they got everything right. Starting with my hot chocolate with an ice-cube which had a touch of cinnamon and was quite good. The cranberry scone was tasty served with butter and prepackaged preserves. If they made their own it would have been a home run. My Mexican inspired eggs, potatoes and cheese was delish. I also ordered a fresh corn salad as well as a mixed South American potato salad. The corn salad was freshly shucked and better than the one at DBGB, with a hint of balsamic. The purple potato salad with it's Peruvian potatoes was original and delish. I really can't think a better tasting brunch I have had in a while. The whole meal was under $20 and this was a giant amount of lovely food.

GO!

Timmy' Os

Old school lunchonette in Corona with the charming owner serving lunch counter faves and custard on the cheap. Specials like a burger, fries and soda for $5. Same special with a frank also for $5. I was there for the custard post Tortilleria Nixtamal. Custard of the day is blueberry pie, with pieces of pie and the chocolate and orange being mainstay flavors. Timmy' O attended the Frozen Dessert Institute of America where he honed his craft. Custards are smooth and creamy and orange tastes like an old fashioned creamsicle. Prices are very reasonable in this part of Queens.

GO!

Tortilleria Nixtamal

Absolutely worth the trip to Corona for artisan Mexican food in a place that makes its own tortillas with special corn they order and roast it themselves inhouse to make the masa. It was love at first sight when I saw the cute outside porch as well as a sort of back yard where a big pot of pork was cooking. The interior is also colorfully cute where the lovely tortilla press works. Here the owner lovingly creates authentic chow in this Corona corner. I ordered the taco al pastor which is sort of a pork souvlaki cooked on a spit squeezed in with fresh pineapples. WOW! Different pieces of superflavorful pork, some tastefully fatty with slivers of pineapples, onions, and cilantro on their fresh tortilla- sabroso. Next I ordered the salsa combo which was a green, a red and guacamole in a pretty trio dish with fresh fried chips. Delish- warning- chips here are outta the park and super addictive. A spicy pork and chicken tamale left me stuffed and sated.

MUST GO!

Royal Crown Bakery

Darkly just baked loaves of perfection at this old school Brooklyn bakery that sells to many fine food shops around the city. As I stood in wonder at the beauty of these loaves, I was a little faint. I have not been to this epitome of Italian bakery perfection in years and was relishing the moment. I bought a smaller baguette still warm, just out of the oven and sprinkled with flour for $1. Broke off a piece and remembered this flavor as the same as the last time I was here years earlier. Delish.

Must GO!

Lot 2

Bland, interior except for some carved wood beamed ceilings and the requisite exposed brick lead to a restaurant where the food and ingredients rule. New Brooklyn cuisine is expertly represented. Passionate people from the waitress to the owners asked what we thought and it showed in the food. Rolls from Sullivan Street bakery with butter start the service. The menu is made of of smaller dishes, reminicent of Prune on the LES. We ordered two dishes to share. The steamed clams with roasted tomato, fresh chilies and garlic bread was a flavor burst for $13 bangers. The other dish of olive oil poached cod, melted leeks and white beans was also fresh flavor popping good for $19. Melt in your mouth cod, with flavorful beans and leeks was a lovely combo. Dessert of cheesecake with almonds and blueberries was next. There were only 3 dessert choices and one was peach ice and the other chocolate pudding with candied peanuts, we went with the cheesecake. The dessert was a small round cheesecake with crunchy slithered almonds on top which added a nice crunch and yummy blueberries cooked with sugar.
Go!

Capsouto Freres

Perfection personified in the soaring space of this classic Tribecca bistro. We having been eating at Capsouto on and off for years to celebrate birthdays and special occasions. Brunch is a treat here and has remained consistently great as the brothers Capsouto keep a keen eye on quality in and out of the kitchen. At a brunch to celebrate my friend Mark's birthday, we sat overlooking the soaring space and were presented with the familiar warm rolls, house made orange and pear preserves with pretty butter. There is a prix fix brunch of $29 which includes a starter, entree and dessert. My starter of mushroom soup was very rich, full of mushrooms and delish. The main of salmon with a cream sauce, rice with carrots and broccoli was tasty. Mark's main of pasta with shrimp and scallops in a creamy sauce is yummy. One word about service, it does not get any better and servers are well trained and super professional. Now for the dessert. Souffles are a specialty here and I asked for a combo of chocolate and raspberry- I asked and they created. My chocolate souffle with raspberry sauce was tdf. Mark's housemade chocolate chip ice-cream served in a crispy baked shell with real and candied fruit was also delish.

Scratchbread@Toby's Public House

Owner and baker Matthew Tilden rents out the rustic brick oven at Toby's Public House for a few hours a night. In that time he creates artisan bread and foccacia. This is amazing bread, properly darkly baked and using hand chosen ingredients. These loaves of love include olive, tomato focaccia, mushroom and just plain baguettes. Bread this great excites me and so I took home a few. Dense, flavorfull and absoulutely fantastic.