Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Mermaid Parade: Dick Zigun

Today I made my first visit to Coney Island for the annual Mermaid Parade, a whimsical art parade that celebrates the Coney Island community and seaside spirit. To kick off the parade was no other than Dick Zigun himself aka "the Mayor of Coney Island" and original founder of the parade. Unfortunately, I didn't get too many good shots because my battery died halfway through. But here are a few:

Williamsburg Fun at TNE, Roberta's, & Huckleberry Bar

The Noble Experiment: Owney's

Today we did a tour of The Noble Experiment, New York City's only exclusively rum distillery. It's a small operation and the founder Bridget gave the tour herself and poured us samples of her final product Owney's Rum. As a bonus, we also got to sample some leftover holiday editions infused with Rosemary, Mint, and Vanilla Bean. Oh the cocktails one could make with these gems!

Smashburger: A Smashing Good Time

Smashburger

Smashburger was one of our favorite burger joints when we lived in Boulder, CO and we miss it dearly. That's why we are excited that this chain is expanding into NYC in a major way. Their first location is in Fort Greene, Brooklyn and now they have one in Midtown West with many more to come. Tonight we were in Fort Greene for the special RadioLoveFest taping of Ask Me Another at BAM and stopped in for a couple of burgers before the show.

Clover Club is still Acing It

Clover Club: Improved Whisky Cocktail

Tonight we attended the special RadioLoveFest taping of one of my favorite podcasts, Ask Me Another. While The Mr doesn't listen to podcasts, I've taken him to both of Radiolab's live events and knew he would enjoy special Very Important Puzzlers Robert Krulwich & Jad Abumrad. I also suspected he would be excited by special musical guest They Might be Giants. And I was right. It was a delightful event and afterward we wanted to keep the party going and explore more of what Brooklyn has to offer. Before the show, we had grabbed a couple of burgers at Smashburger, but we were ready for some cocktails and another nosh.

Robbed of Words at Roberta's

Bloody Mary

We were in an area of Williamsburg we hadn't been to before scoping out some potential new apartments and we were famished. I pulled out my phone and was very surprised to find that we were really close to Roberta's which has been on my "must-try" list for a while thanks to the ravings of a good friend of ours. So we headed towards it and found ourselves walking down an abandoned warehouse lined street with not a soul in sight. Even The Mr. started getting a little nervous.

Midway down the block, a cab going in the opposite direction stopped and some girls asked us if we knew where Roberta's is. Uh-oh, I thought it was just up ahead, but if that was the case, they should've passed it. This wouldn't be my first time getting led astray by Google Maps...but when we got to the corner it was supposed to be on, we were pointed to a very inconspicuous door. Opening it was like falling through the back of the wardrobe into Narnia. We were suddenly surrounded by warmth, a lively crowd, and enticing food.

First Day of Smorgasburg 2012

Porchetta

What's a food blogger to do with an out-of-town guest on a beautiful Saturday day in Spring? Well, if it just happens to be the first weekend of Smorgasburg, this is a no brainer. There's no easier way to get a taste of The Big Apple in one convenient location.

So without further ado, here's our coverage of our first 2012 visit...

Taking Peter Luger's down a Peg

Peter Luger's Steakhouse

Since we've moved to this great city, we've heard tell of a great Steakhouse called Peter Luger's- supposedly the best steak in the five boroughs and with a burger to rival any. Unfortunately, the burger is only available on the weekday lunch menu, making it a little tricky to make it out there since we have day jobs and all. Finally, we took advantage of the Martin Luther King, Jr half day to make the pilgrimage out to South Williamsburg on the M Train.

Smorgasburg

Porchetta 

 We planned on hitting up Smorgasburg a few weeks ago as part of our glorious NYC Staycation, but after brunch at Pies N Thighs we were full for the whole day. Today we wouldn't make the same mistake twice, so headed off to Williamsburg with empty stomachs.






We planned on starting our day with doughnuts from Dough, but they were a no show. OK, straight to luncheon foods it is. We couldn't help but notice this booth as soon as we walked in with its obviously fresh-baked, crusty rolls and tempting slab of pork.

Satisfied Sighs at Pies 'n Thighs

Brewdriver & Michelada 

Biscuits & Gravy 'n Chicken & Waffles

As part of our staycation weekend, we wanted to further explore all that Williamsburg has to offer. No conversation about fried chicken in NYC can come up without Pies 'N Thighs getting high praise. I wasn't sure what to expect, but wasn't too surprised when it turned out to be a small, bright, Williamsburgesque space. Since we are still clinging to summer, we got to sit in the back patio area, where we promptly ordered a Brewdriver and a Michelada. Apparently, a Brewdriver is a beer with orange juice. At first we were a bit worried, but after one sip we realized how much sense it makes. Think about how good a Shock Top is with a slice of orange and just dial that up a notch! The Michelada was pretty darn good too.

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish from Acme

White Fish, Smoked Salmon, Pastrami Salmon, & Blue Fish

A coworker who lives in Brooklyn brought in some goodies from Acme Smoked Fish to go with our Friday Bagels at work. My favorite was definitely the pastrami cured salmon although they were all good! Really made coming in to the office on a half day worth the trip!

Nuts for Almondine

Coffee, Croissant, & Passion Fruit Macaron

We were enjoying the New York Photo Festival in DUMBO when we found ourselves in need of a coffee break. Almondine had been recommended to us based on their reputation for having some of the best croissants in NYC. The Mr loves him some croissant, so we definitely needed to try them out. The croissant was buttery and flaky and so, in a word, delicious. I also threw in an added bonus of a Passion Fruit Macaron. A perfect little cafe to enjoy high quality french treats and take a break.

Newbie Foodies v Food

We've been watching Man v Food recently with a mix of jealousy and horror and have become fans of the adorable Adam Richman. When we found ourselves with a free afternoon off of work and no plans, we decided to make the pilgrimage to Brooklyn to visit his hometown favorites.

Stop 1: Vito's Bakery

Ok, this wasn't one of Adam's picks, we were just thirsty and needed a snack, but it was good enough that it definitely warranted a mention.

Cookie

Strufoli 

Ahhhh a classic New York Bakery full as far as the eye can see with all kinds of wonder. My personal version of heaven. They also had a deli in the back which looked good, but we got our seltzer and a cookie and were on our way, sadly without a plate of strufoli- which looked divine.

Stop 2: Brennan & Carr

Brennan and Carr

Started with our roast beef sandwich at Brennan & Carr. A good solid roast beef dip, definitely a good neighborhood favorite, but not worth going out of your way for. Enjoyed the old school wood panelling and laid back friendliness of the staff.

Stop 3: L & B Spumoni Gardens

We preferred the sicilian over the regular, but L & B Spumoni Gardens falls into the same camp as Brennan & Carr. A great pit-stop if you are in the area, but not worth going out of your way for.

Wishing I was a Lokal

The folks over at Lokal Mediterranean Bistro invited us to trek on out to Brooklyn to try out their fare. "Sure" we thought, "we'll do a post on them for our Brooklyn readers". Oh were we wrong. This post is for anyone reading, because it is absolutely worth the journey from wherever you are.

Turkish Beer & Wine from the Mediterranean

 It was a frosty February night, but when we walked in, we immediately felt a bit warmer. We were surrounded by the whites & turquoise of the Mediterranean and started out our meals with some authentic beer & wine from the region.

Bread, Oil & Vinegar 

Oh the bread. Spongey, moist, and delicious. When we asked what kind of bread it was the waiter was a bit puzzled by the question. To him, it was just bread. However, he very helpfully went back to the kitchen to get the ingredient list for us. Yep, basic run-of-the-mill bread ingredients, but something in the preparation made it transcend basic bread for us.

Sauteed Spinach

 When it came time to order, we went with the waiter's suggestions. Sauteed spinach may not at first sound like an exciting choice for an appetizer, but that is until you read how it is served: pine nuts, raisins, caramelized red onions, red peppers, feta cheese, and paprika yogurt. An amazing blend of textures and flavors. The Mr. immediately declared that he would go home happy with just a huge plate of this, and I had to agree.

Lamb Burger

But we owed it to you, our readers, to continue on with main courses, to truly assess this eatery. We went out on a limb a bit by ordering the lamb burger since we aren't usually big lamb fans, and it paid off. Loved how the cucumber relish and thick cut tomato added a burst of freshness. 

Roasted Free-Range Organic Chicken

But the real star of the show is their roasted chicken served over beets, carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms. I normally don't like chicken and after eating this dish I now know why. This is the moistest, tastiest chicken I have ever tasted. The sharp contrast made me realize that most of the time I find chicken to be bland and dry. The root vegetables were the perfect accompaniment. We will make the journey back to Lokal just for this chicken.

So there you have it folks. If you are lucky enough to live nearby, go here for your next dinner. If not, figure out what combo of trains will get you there!



*My meal was provided by the restaurant as part of a Press Dinner.

Brunch tastes just as sweet at Rose Water

Went to visit our friends who live in Park Slope out in Brooklyn and further explore what this charming borough has to offer. Walked about a bit before settling on Rose Water which had a long wait and good reviews. Our wait outside in the cold was worth it! The tiny little restaurant was warm and cozy and the food was fantastic. I got the special which involved eggs, pesto, butternut squash, cauliflower, kale, and feta. The Mr. got the Slow Pulled Pork Sandwich on Brioche with cheddar, pickled cabbage, apple, and mustard dressing.
 

A Night in Brooklyn

Clover Club

My visiting friend had a friend in Brooklyn to catch up with and so off we went to experience some of the best Carroll Gardens has to offer. We started the night at Clover Club which I was instantly smitten by. Stepping through the door was like stepping back in time. I loved their dedication to classic cocktails and was tickled pink by the menu.

Getting Good Grub at Grimaldi's

Finally, I get to experience the legend that is Grimaldi's. Took a little stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge and got in the legendary line and hunkered down for a wait. But we only had to wait about 20-30 minutes which was really not bad, especially on a Friday night. Was worth the trek AND the wait, this is some darned good pizza. Can't WAIT until the Limelight Marketplace opens up around the corner.

Hooked on Red Hook

5/9/10

Needed to go to Ikea. Again. Our love is wearing off now that we are on our 3rd trip in 3 weeks. The ferry is less of a fun adventure and more of a huge time sink. So we decided to add the air of adventure and discovery back into our Ikea trip by visiting the famous Red Hook Ball Field Vendors. Right next door to the Ikea in Brooklyn are some soccer fields that vendor trucks line up around and sell some of the best South/Latin American food in NYC. Started with a pork huarache and some horchata, then grabbed some pupusas from the El Olomega truck. One pork, one plantain. Everything was delicious and helped make yet another trip to Ikea suddenly seem not so bad.

A feast of Ikean proportions

After moving into a new place there are always a bunch of various household goods that you find yourself needing, but don't really want to invest too much money in since you don't know what needs the next apartment will bring. Ikea is the apartment dwellers dream. The NYC Ikea is located in Brooklyn and they have their very own free water taxi to take you across the East River from Manhattan. To add to the excitement, The Mr. had never been to an Ikea before and didn't know what to expect. About 10 minutes after entering the store I hear him yell "I love Ikea!!". Excellent, mission accomplished.



And since the folks at Ikea have thought of EVERYthing, they know how hungry you are after home goods shopping for a couple of hours (not to mention after a boat ride adventure) and they've put a Swedish restaurant at the end of their showroom. Just like their furniture it is all about good quality at insanely cheap prices. Seemed appropriate to get their famous Swedish meatball plate with mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce. We also threw in some potato galettes and a side of toast just for good measure. I washed my portion down with some elderberry juice, which was light and fresh, and then we finished it all of with a princess cake (of course). Ahhh satisfying.

But you are not done yet. There is still the warehouse section of the store and check out. After which they know you've had time to build up a bit of an appetite, so they have a little cafe that sells cinnamon rolls and soft serve frozen yogurt cones. What don't you think of Ikea? The soft serve comes in at one dollar and is a delicious guilt-free treat. The cinnamon rolls smell like heaven, but in reality are a little dry and very mediocre, but I fall for it every damn time. Obviously not everyone feels this way about the cinnamon rolls though because I see plenty of people leaving the store with them in bulk.