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.

Pinch and S'mac

Comfort food reigns at this Upper West Side combo of pizza hence Pinch and Mac and Cheese. Had the four cheese mac and cheese served in a cast iron skillet and it was cheesey, yummy with a great crust on top. The corn salad side with grape tomatoes had a great fresh taste. You order at a counter, there is alfresco dining and this is a great spot to dine solo/sola. Inexpensive as well.

GO!

Buttermilk Channel

A madhouse at brunch with a deafening din though the food lives up to the hype. Very solid comfort grub with a twist. I was seated at the dreaded bar, which I hate, though looking at the crowd, I reluctantly agreed. I ordered the fried pork chop over waffles, a take off on the famous dish of chicken and waffles. Big perfectly fried pork chop with light and tasty waffles with real maple syrup for $15 bangers. The pork chop could have been slightly more seasoned though with great cooking was a clever dish. Also ate as shown the fresh fried apple cider donut which was well fried and powdered with sugar for $2 bangers. Other dishes around me looked first rate. This corner spot is meticulously renovated with a touch of the vintage look so very popular in Brooklyn joints these days. GO!

Mambo Open Book Cafe

A cafe on the steps of the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, I attended the opening ceremony with Mr. Brooklyn himself, Marty Markowitz. As Marty said,"It doesn't get better than this." The owner is local restauranteur Spencer Rothchild. This cafe is brilliant Brooklyn p.r. and a great place to hang, chew, chat and sip while overlooking Prospect Park.

The food is Latin inspired as Spencer owns the yummy Barrio and Playa in Park Slope proper. We munched on lobster sliders served on a soft roll($8.75) which were yum. Mexican inspired hummos served with flatbread was also very tasty. Sweet, chocolatey brownies finish the yummy flavors served. Beer and wine will be served as well.

GO!

Golosi

Authentic Roman pizza by the inch. The owner uses caputo flower imported from Italy for a doughy flavorful pizza. The margherita has a light, sweet sauce, good cheese and the lovely crust. Parma procuitto, and arugula are also tasty with the counter person adding a little extra virgin olive oil on top upon request. Golosi also features homemade gelato which could not be a more perfect combo. The mini cone- literally a mini cone with gelato is clever. Flavors like nutella, chocolate or fruity flavors like lemon or grapefruit make for a tasty apres pizza treat.

GO!

Dish Du Jour- Taste of Queens and beyond

Out in the beautiful borough of Queens is this yearly tasting event. All inclusive of food and wine representing Queens and it's international flavor. Set in a large and slightly tacky catering hall(which adds to the charm and uniqueness of the event) taste of Queens was not as innovative as last year's. The theme of the meatball and a contest for who makes the best limited the food choices as many vendors served meatballs. Some food standouts were the meatballs from Bar Stuzzichini(from Manhattan) lovely Andulusion gazpacho from 718 in Astoria and authentic Italian food from Manetta's in Long Island City like stuffed mushrooms with sausage, and stuffed artichokes with black olives. Desserts like gelato from Ciao Bella and some local bakeries could have been a little more imaginative. Magic Hat, Brooklyn beer were a lovely presence as was Maker's Mark and specialty rum drinks.

Taqueria De Los Muertos

Taqueria de los Muertos is a small spot on the edge of Prospect Heights. What distinguishes this gem apart from the others is the freshmade authentic food and cute decorations like tiny skulls surrounding the perrimeter reminding you it is the taqueria of the dead. The brunch item pictured above of breakfast enchilada for $12 includes the entree as well as coffee or tea and an orange or mango juice. This enchilada was a flavor fest of eggs, shrimp, cactus with queso fresco and mole poblano- yummy. You can also order off the regular menu which I have and it is also reasonable and tasty. The deluxe burrito with your choice of meat- I ordered turkey, choice of beans(love that) I ordered pinto, plus chease guac., rice with pico de gallo and sour cream is $7.50. You can also order your burrito desnudo style which is without the tortilla and those look yummy. Tacos, tostadas, quesadillas and burritos are all made fresh to order at this slice of Mexican heaven. Service is amatuerish here though the great food makes up for that.
GO!

Co.

Co. hit the mark with it's current location on 24th. and 8th. Ave in a spot foremerly occupied by a Twin Donut. Mostly communal seating is the only downside at this restaurant opened by the guy who started the Sullivan Street Bakery. Co. aims high culinarily and reaches it's goals. For appetizers, we ordered olives, eggplant on toast and an escarole salad and a salami from California. The escarole salad with capers, croutons and a lemony olive oil dressing was a standout. The ham and cheese pizza with gruyere, buffalo mozzeralla and procuitto with it's charred crust and out of the oven heat was simply killer as the owner is a breadmaker and the dough made all the difference. For dessert a banana split with homemade gelato. Blood orange and chocolate gelato over bananas and smothered in marshmellow sauce and hot fudge with candied walnuts. Perfetto!

MUST GO!

Rios Churrascaria

Rios Churascaria opened quietly at the old Porcao space on Park Ave. South. Soaring space, churascarias are the ultimate activity food. A huge salad bar pales compared to the old Porcao. Some options look a day old. Nicely cooked pork ribs were the star of the salad bar. The meat service was dissapointing with lots of varieties though most was overcooked and flavorless. It took several requests to get extra cheese bread and fried bananas. Given the prices I would say this is a fun space though better churascarias are found elsewhere.

SLOWGO!