jmj's Profile
Asheville Fig - similar to Market Place?
Excellent meal at Fig!
My wife and I drove 500+ miles today, arriving around 7pm, only to discover downtown Asheville occupied by Belle Chere. We were coming from Brooklyn, and had only been here before on 4th of July--so all we could be sure of was that we wanted to avoid downtown.
Hence Fig.
Couldn't have been happier!
Wonderful service (thanks, Jenny!) Wonderful winelist (special Tavel rose and rueda by the glass. Believe me when I say that either of these would have been memorable in the Big Apple).
Ordered Gazpacho and mussels as appetizers, with the green salad (goat cheese + walnuts) and gnocchi. Waiter apologized that the gazpacho was out, so would we want chilled cauliflower soup with creme fraiche. We would. We were very happy.
The soup--which had clearly been prepared on fairly short notice--was exquisite; think grown up Vichysoisse. And while you might expect a salad of mixed greens with walnuts and goat cheese to be ho-hum, this one was as good as a salad could be. Continued surpises: the mussels were very well cooked--tender, moist, with a nicely spicy sauce. And the gnocchi came with a vegetable ragout that was a revelation: spinach, lentils, a fennel ragout--the kind of haute simple food that makes you think you could learn to cook if you tried a little bit harder and really paid attention.
We almost never order dessert, but we were feeling good, so we had the special blueberry sorbet (with lemon/tarragon jus!) and apple tart. Yum
OK--all that, plus three glasses of wine. Total tab: $88!
Folks, all I can say is, next time you pull off the road in Asheville after a 500-mile drive, and want a grown-up meal in truly gracious surroundings, with no parking hassles, and a gentle tab--this is the place.
Best Jamaican Beef Patties (areas or restaurants)?
Jamaican Pride definitely the best in that short stretch of F'bush (try the Meatloaf, only Fri/Sat I believe), followed by Erroll's, with Gordon's a distant third. Golden Crust doesn't even count, IMHO--you would do (much) better getting frozen patties from the supermarkets.
Jive Turkey in Clinton Hill: Reviews?
The whole fried turkeys are fine, but pricey (see following paren) and flavorwise just above-average (nothing beats a true smoked turkey for my money, and you could probably get a low end smoker plus bird for about the cost of one of these babies). The various flavorings are a mixed bag--I bought a couple of small samples to try them out and can't honestly remember if any of them made much of a difference. The Bourbon Sauce they supply, on the other hand, must be an acquired taste--as I failed to see why you would do such a thing to a nicely cooked turkey. Never had a problem with courtesy but yeah, it is disorganized and you want to plan your thanksgiving with care since this is their annual perfect storm day. On balance, if you want to please your dad and don't mind taking a risk, you'll be happy. But if you have a back yard and are up for the drill, I'd recommend that you consider that smoker (there are also mail order TurDuckEn, but I haven't et 'em)
Tempo or Convivium, for MEAT
If you can believe Time Out New York, the Convivium rib eye is da bomb:
"A monster steak that’s also a monster deal, Convivium Osteria’s pristinely roasted 48-ounce rib eye ($72) will easily sate four normal appetites, despite being listed on the menu for two. Deftly seasoned and as tender as prime rib, the two-inch-thick beast, grass-fed beef from Wolfe’s Neck Farm in Maine, arrives on its own cutting board, along with a long blade for carving off slices. Herbed fries and a heap of endive-radicchio salad complete the feast. 68 Fifth Ave between Bergen St and St. Marks Pl, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-857-1833)
Picnic stuff in North or Central Park Slope?
Union Market on Union and 6th Ave definitely makes sandwiches--sometimes... I've seen them in the case, sometimes as many as four different varieties, but they seem to sell out by dinner time. I have only been to UM on 7th @ 13th once, and saw no sandwiches. On the other hand, I walked out with a ton of lovely vegetables and salads, and probably would have snagged a chicken too if only my wife liked meat better. They have two types--adobo and rosemary--both of which looked terrific.
seeking mezcal!
try Warehouse (Manhattan) Bway @ St. Mark's. Pretty sure I saw the worm there. If not, you are close enough to Astor (Lafayette @ 4th), which will surely have something.
Nasturtiums
hmmmm I believe Dean and Deluca used to carry them sometimes, but this was a while back. Dunno about Gourmet Garage.
Take away for picnic in Prospect Park
You will have to open bags at the gate, so make sure you read the restrictions on what you can bring in. Glass bottles are a no-no (as are coolers, I believe)! Now there must surely be several clever ways of getting "contraband" in, but I'm sure I wouldn't know what they are...
quick dinner neart Court Street movies?
This board raves about The Waterfront Alehouse, which is almost right around the corner (Atlantic between Henry and Clinton). We've never tried it, but instead always go to Downtown Bar and Grill (Court at Amity/Dean). In between lies Cody's, which looks to be an "old man" bar with lots and lots of sports TV. Some people go for that too, apparently.
What shouldn't I miss at Bklyn Fairway?
In the mustard section, look for a prepared dijon with roquefort. It turns your basic vinaigrette into a whole 'nother animal.
Brunch near Brooklyn Botanic Garden?
Cafe Enduro is on Lincoln Road, right next to the south end of the Prospect Park subway station. From there it's maybe 5 minutes (at most) to the south entrance of the botanic garden. It's Mexican, and has a bar.
Del Re Knife Truck
feh!
Chef's Choice Model 130 (not the 110 or 120). Sells for $150 bucks or so, but has the advantage of convenience plus the ability to hone an edge on just about anything. Charm, I can't afford it.
Around Brooklyn Lyceum
Barrio is outstanding, but it is on 7th Ave and 3rd. Should allow 10-15 minutes to walk, and it will be a different subway stop.
Best liquor store in NYC (LeNell's) calling it quits?
"silly girl"? What decade is it, Geo8rge?
Brooklyn Pizza Recommendatons
does anyone else think it's high time for a separate Brooklyn Pizza board? :-)
Barrio Park Slope
Another rave for Barrio!
Went at 6:15 on a Thursday night; sat outside (lovely evening). Yes there were plenty of kids, including our two, but all were very well behaved and I am one of those who enjoy having well-behaved children at a neighborhood restaurant. Which this is.
One of the best margaritas I have ever had. An elegant blanco, with a distinctive agave tang, not overpowered with citrus. Also, draft Dos Equis Lager--new to me and very enjoyable. We also ordered a specialty drink--the Dulce Kamila--which was well made but a little too frou-frou for our liking.
Guacamole as good as reported elsewhere in this post, and the warm flour taquitos were a pleasant alternative to chips. (The chips, by the way, are also fine and replenished as needed, and there are two fresh salsas, both good, but the better being the mild, which is also a pleasant surprise. This is a kitchen that knows how to deploy heat, and what to provide instead.)
Fish taquito appetizer crispy, tasty and fresh.
My entree was the Puerco Puebla--a (braised?) loin with a really interesting peanut mole, and a tiny spinach budin on the side. SO's entree was the salmon--which is a pretty good yardstick, as she invariably orders salmon and generally ends up with a serviceable slab of pink-orange fish, variously sauced. Barrio's rendition was more in the nature of a filet than a steak, with a surprisingly vivid fish (not salmon!) taste. Several cuts above standard restaurant fish.
And since there has been some "discussion" of the kid's menu, let me report that the experts--i.e., the kids--were ecstatic. The chicken nuggets are exactly what you get at home (anyone objecting this is not what a restaurant should be serving obviously has no idea of what eight year olds actually want). The mini steak taquitos, however (they're called something else, but the tag line on the menu tells you what they really are) are flat out delicious.
I was being treated to my *&^th Birthday, so I didn't pay, but the entrees top out around $16 (most are in the $14 range) and appetizers areound $8-9. Totally appropriate pricing.
As to the waitstaff: Whatever issues there might have been on startup appear to have been resolved. Service was very warm and friendly; wait-time non-existent.
Our experience--and we are both from the southwest, love Mexican, and care not a fig for anyone else's Talmudic arguments on "authenticity"--was pretty close to rapturous--given the beautiful setting sun, sophisticated saucing (i.e., NOT putting the "pica" in everything willy nilly), and general vibe. Oh, and the host--who I suspect may have been "Spencer" himself--couldn't have been more gracious.
As I said earlier, I consider this a true "local" in that it aspires to serve good-quality, inventive food at a resonable price in an attractive, informal setting. We will be back often.
Lookout Hill Smokehouse Any Good?
Same owner, same equipment, but a new chef: Joe Breaton, who ran a smokehouse out on LI (the much reviled Biscuit on Flatbush and Biscuit BBQ had the same chef, Josh Cohen). One can only hope...
http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/dining/ny-fdcov5029018dec27,0,2149045.story?page=2&coll=ny-dining-utility
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/31/20/31_20_tasty_restaurant_gossip.html
Where to buy oysters in brooklyn
I always get mine at the Blue Moon stand in either the 14th St. or GAP greenmarkets (Wed/Sat respectively, if memory serves). The website (http://bluemoonfish.com/fish/)says they're back now and should have ersters.
Where can I find high quality lard?
Any carniceria--heck, any bodega with interesting meats in the deli case--in a mexican neighborhood. I got some in manhattan up in Spanish Harlem a couple of years ago, but I'm sure the same is true in Sunset Park. You really can't make beans without it.
Caribbean/West Indian groceries?
can't recommend the store, but Prospect Park, Parkside and Church on the Q, and Sterling, Winthrop and Church on the 2 will all land you in the middle of Brooklyn's Caribbean neighborhood. From Prospect Park, you can walk a couple of blocks over to the Western Beef (Empire @ Franklin) which is enormous, replete with Islands brands, and definitely strong on soft drinks, candies and snack foods. "Koreans" on Flatbush all have Caribbean stuff, though my (amateur) sense is that Jamaica and Trinidad are most prominent. I know there are Bajans etc in other pockets, but can't be more specific. Nostrand is also another great shopping thoroughfare.
Worst grocery store in Park Slope
I believe the deal with Key Food is that the stores are individually managed, which explains not only the extreme variation but also the weirdly named "Jo, Brian and Joseph's" Key Food on Flatbush.
Elementi on 7th Ave. (Spot where Snooky's was)
My wife and I took a shot at MOIM at 8:30 this Friday without a reservation--only a 20 minute wait, but as we're de-toxing this month, having a drink at the bar wasn't really an option--so having a perfect parking spot in front of Key Foods, retreated to Elementi.
The results:
Fritto Misto appetizer: delish, perfectly cooked (calamari like butter) and a very ample portion.
Pappardelle with Oxtail ragu: again, scrumptious (though, let's be honest, considerably easier to do well).
The daily special, which was some kind of pasta primavera with seafood combo: perfectly fine, not sensational.
Service: attentive and helpful
Ambience: really very nice (we were in the back room, which I'd only seen from the front. It turns out to be rather elegant in a subdued way, and best of all, the tables are not jammed up next to each other)
Cost--since we were not drinking--about $60 with t+t, which seemed reasonable indeed.
No, it's not a destination restaurant and shouldn't be compared to ADL or Tempo (though I've yet to have that transcendant ADL experience everyone else seems to get). On the other hand, it has to be one of the top 2 or three 7th Avenue spots, and for now, at least, you can walk right in.
I'm inclined to echo all the other posts in saying Give it a break. Give it a chance. Cuz you'll be sorry when it's gone.
Romantic restaurant in Brooklyn..
Yet another recommendation for Garden Cafe, especially on a wintry night. You will feel well cared for, you will feel very well fed, and you will have your s/o's undivided attention
Ali's Roti on Flatbush
Agreed! But the $1M question has to be... has anyone tried Caribbean Sweet Hand, the reincarnation of fabled Lenny's?
New Prospect Cafe - RIP?
Stopped next to a couple who had come for brunch this afternoon. Grates down; what appeared to be ceiling tiles stacked on the tables and various other kinds of construction debris on the floor. Menus still taped to the window but no other notice. Anyone know any more? Sad to see it go if only for sentimental reasons, since for so long it was one of the few decent and reliable spots in the neighborhood. But this was a while ago...
Movie at Prospect Park Pavillion, dinner at?
Another vote for Johnny Mack's (grab a burger and a beer). As far as the worst movie theatre in Brooklyn, that miserable distinction goes to the UA Court Street--no contest.
Nostrand Tavern
I thought it was doneski! In a previous incarnation--I'm pretty sure they've been shuttered for a while--it was a really valiant effort. They were trying to serve restaurant quality food (which, as you may know, is still scarce in that nabe) in a restaurant environment (even more scarce) with a bar in front that would be the focus of a neighborhood scene. At the time--this was what, maybe three years ago???--no other establishment came close that far east, so they got major points for trying. Since then, we have Cafe Enduro a little further west, in P-LG, which has pulled off that particular trifecta IMHO, so the comparison may be useful.
The problem with Tavern on Nostrand used to be that the restaurant wasn't really ALL that inviting (it was certainly nicely decorated but awfully bright), and the two times we went, the small bar scene drowned out the even smaller dining scene (it was a noisy space, with a taller ceiling than Enduro--which is also noisy, but darker and somehow, being almost always full, more welcoming). But the food was tasty--a notch or two better than Enduro, aiming for comfort food w/ a southern bias as I recall, instead of Brooklyn Mex--and we kind of set it down as the place we would go to coming back from the country at 8:30 at night on a Sunday. But we never got around to going back, and then it closed. Or at least I think it did.
If you are trolling President Street in Crown Heights, I am thinking you must be a local, so please post a report if you dine there, as the nabe is reasonably active (we have our very own blogs!) and supporting local business is so important.
DUMBO
ixnay on the ubbybay! Unlike the Tribeca original, this one serves mediocre food with scattershot service in a cavernous barn of a room. Unless you want a burger with (marginal) fries, you can and should do better elsewhere. FiveFront is probably the toniest spot, though it's pretty casual. We've had good meals there, though the board suggests it's started down the long decline. Despite the negatives, Rice has also been a standby for St Ann's (and GAle GAtes before that), because it is edible, quick and cheap. Tonight we're going to Superfine, which we haven't frequented in a couple of years. I'll report back if it's warranted. But the listing that caught my eye was Hecho in Dumbo, which appears to be an antojitos spot in the bar of the Dumbo General Store. Reviewed in NY Mag last month. Sounds interesting (if not necessarily a wise choice if you're trying to make an 8:00 curtain, or foregoing the cerveza on account of the waistline).
