Shelsky’s Lox Rocks

Recently we added another eater to the team. Little B is now a big brother to Little T. Naturally I celebrated the new man in my life in the traditional way with a bagel and lox…

Lox is a big no-no when you’re pregnant. It’s also one of my favorite foods. When Little B was born, Lawman brought me not one but TWO Russ and Daughters bagels with lox in the recovery room at the hospital. This time around, I waited until I got back to Brooklyn to get my lox fix and made my inaugural trip to Shelsky’s on Smith Street.

I kept things simple and ordered a “Member of the Tribe,” Gaspe Nova with cream cheese on a poppy seed bagel, while Lawman went for the Shelsky’s Pastrami, Pastrami Salmon, Mustard Herring, Riesling Braised Sauerkraut on pumpernickel. The lox was to die for—this was the buttery, fishy, salty-goodness I’ve been missing for 9 months. I’ve already got my eye on the Brooklyn Transplant (Fatty Kippered Salmon, Apple Horseradish, Cream Cheese, Pickled Herring Salad, Served on Pumpernickel or Rye) or The Great Gatsby (Pastrami Cured Salmon, Horseradish Cream Cheese, Honey Mustard and Red Onion) for my next visit. Anyone ever try their Bentowitz boxes? Very tempted…

Shelsky’s
251 Smith Street
(Between Degraw and Douglas)
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 855 8817
shelskys.com< jump

Day Tripping to Philly

A couple of Saturdays ago, I hopped aboard a bus to head down to Philadelphia for the day with the main goal of attending the Philly Vendys, but knew that I wanted to make a few stops first especially one at the incredible Federal Donuts (careful: there's music on the other side of that link).

I had heard whisperings of the greatness being served up at Federal Donuts before their NY Times piece piqued my interest before the plethora of Instagram pictures did. I specifically took an early bus allowing for time to stop by Federal before walking to the Vendys. (Side note to those who know me in real life: I was forced to get over my bus phobias in Mexico. Changed woman, I tell you.) I arrived around 10:30 at the Sansom Street shop expecting a huge line and total chaos. I was wrong. After the initial hazing--I didn't know how to correctly order--it was a quite relaxing chicken breakfast, right down to chatting with the owners. When you order, you have the choice of a wet or dry rub with various options for each. I went for the Buttermilk Ranch dry rub, a salty chive-filled winner atop the crunchy and quite juicy pieces. They are proof that fried chicken is definitely having its moment in the Yankee sun. Afterwards, I took my doughnuts and headed to the park for people watching. I disregarded advice I'd received about only eating their cake doughnuts fresh, a bad move on my part. I thought them good, but not great, not anything I couldn't get already in New York. Maybe I tried the wrong flavors? Maybe at the wrong time? Either way, if you're in Philly you should definitely try to stop by for a cheap and delicious fried chicken lunch. That's for certain.

Federal Donuts
1632 Sansom Street
Center City
Philadelphia
(215) 665-1101 jump

My Newest Downtown Haunt

It's hard to find a good evening drinking spot in lower Manhattan. Most places are overpriced or have terrible happy hours or no happy hours or taken over by unsavory clienteles. So when I find a really great place, I usually want to keep it to myself. But not this time.

A few weeks ago, I found out about Eastwood, a new bar plus chip shop on the Lower East Side. I stopped by to check it out, not expecting much. Instead I found a relaxed, sunny spot with 2-for-1 happy hours, a decent selection of brews, and a little window turning out delicious fried things, like this fish sandwich. The sandwich and fries come out crispy and hot, not greasy or soggy, which is key to my enjoyment. And though the bread is a tad on the big side, I didn't let it get in the way of enjoying one of the best fried fish sandwiches I'd had in a long time. I'm already looking for opportunities to head back to try more things while taking advantage of a great happy hour.

Eastwood
221 East Broadway
Lower East Side
(917) 284-4514 jump

Now It's Time for The Game of Cones

Here at B&B we get a lot of email. Rarely do we open another mass press release that stops up in our tracks and exclaim "BRILLIANT!" to absolutely no one. On the subway. But this was one of them! To celebrate the season finale of Game of Thrones, HBO has teamed up with Foursquare to do Game of Cones! Genius! In New York and San Francisco, the best ice cream shops are battling it out for the Iron Cone. Summer is coming (even though she's protecting Bran as he travels to find the three-eyed crow)!

Starting this past Friday, whichever ice cream shop has the most Foursquare check-ins *with the hashtag #GameOfCones* by June 21st wins! Big Gay is currently in the lead, but a good push by loyal fans of any of the other shops can totally take them out, especially the current 2nd and 3rd Milk Bar or Ample Hills. Oh man, this is so exciting! Go eat ice cream, people! jump

Ample Hills Makes Awesome Soft Serve, Too!

It's no secret that I’m a huge fan of the ice cream at Ample Hills (and so is Blondie). I like to keep tabs of their specials on Twitter and Facebook, which is where I learned they are now making soft serve and that their Cinnamon Toast soft serve was recently named by Time as "one of the funkiest flavors on earth." Naturally I had to make a little trip to check this new development out...

The soft serve is super rich and creamy and according to Time's report it's "authentic bread flavor comes from steeping toast slices in hot milk. The mushy bits are strained out before the butter and cinnamon are added." I don't know if "funky" really does the flavor justice. If you love French Toasty goodness, this should win your favor. It really does have nice bready overtones and it's heavy on the cinnamon. The companion flavor is a Bourbon, Straight Up which is made with Maker's Mark and vanilla bean. It's boozy and though I only got a small sample on the side, I can imagine it would be great swirled with the Cinnamon Toast. The soft serve flavors will rotate, so be sure to keep tabs on them via Facebook.

Ample Hills Creamery
623 Vanderbilt Ave
Prospect Heights
(347) 240-3926
www.amplehills.com jump

Something To Look Forward To

If you're not planning on heading down to Philly this Saturday for the Philly Vendys, you should head out to Brooklyn Based's Red Hook Immersion! The day's activities include complimentary drinks around the neighborhood, discounts at stores and restaurants, and, if you're up for dares and Instagram, you can win some prizes!! And when you're all good and liquored up, there's a live show. Here's how to get in on the fun:

Starting at noon, Brooklyn Based is handing out 500 *free* Immersion cards at Brooklyn Ice House or Rocky Sullivan's. Then you walk around the neighborhood, drinking beers, eating stuff, basically having an altogether awesome Saturday afternoon, but uploading Instagram photos and checking Twitter for random giveaways. You can win things like a private tour of Brooklyn Winery or a class at Pioneer Works. Finally, Wyatt is going on stage at 5pm for a free show at Jalopy Theater. Click here for more information on what Brooklyn Based has in store, and here for a map of all the participating locations.

Brooklyn Ice House
318 Van Brunt Street
Red Hook
(718) 222-1865

Rocky Sullivan's
34 Van Dyke Street
Red Hook
(718) 246-8050 jump

Have You Nominated Your Favorite Vendor for a Vendy Yet?

 

You have just shy of two weeks to get your noms in for the 2013 Vendy Awards, scheduled for Saturday, September 7th at Industry City in Sunset Park. You'd better get moving 'cause time's a wasting...

We love the Vendys. Not just for the awesome food and the fun day of eating and drinking, but also for what the Vendys stand for—they’re the primary fundraiser for the Street Vendor Project. Part of the Center for Urban Justice Center, the Street Vendor Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a voice for the thousands of people who sell food and merchandise on the streets of our city. It also means that a portion of your ticket is tax deductible—pretty sweet.

Popularly known as the “Oscars of street food” the Vendys is a pretty darn big deal in the food world, but what’s so special about the event is that it recognizes the vendors and puts all of their hard work and dedication on display. Over the past two years of researching and writing our cookbook we’ve had the chance to collect amazing stories and recipes from a number of Vendy finalist and winners.

Our cookbook, New York à la Cart: Recipes and Stories from the Big Apple's Best Food Trucks features FIVE of the Vendy Cup Winners:

• HALLO BERLIN
• NY DOSA
• COUNTRY BOYS
• KING OF FALAFEL AND SHAWARMA
• SOLBER PUPUSAS

FOUR of the Vendy Dessert Winners (would you expect anything less from us?!):

• THE TREATS TRUCK
• WAFELS & DINGES
• KELVIN NATURAL SLUSH TRUCK
• WOOLY’S ICE

And TWENTY ONE Vendy Finalists:

• A-POU’S TASTE
• VERONICA’S KITCHEN
• UNCLE GUSSY’S GREEK TRUCK
• EGGSTRAVAGANZA CART
• BIRYANI CART
• KWIK MEAL CART
• PATACON PISAO
• CHIMICHURY EL MALECÓN<
• MISS SOFTEE
• COMME CI COMME ÇA
• BIÀN DANG
• COOLHAUS
• THE CINNAMON SNAIL
• VAN LEEUWEN ARTISAN ICE CREAM
• BIG GAY ICE CREAM TRUCK
• DESSERTTRUCK
• MEXICUE
• SCHNITZEL & THINGS
• TAMALES GUADALUPE
• FAUZIA’S HEAVENLY DELIGHTS
• TORTAS NEZA

Anyone that hasn’t won the Vendy Cup (or category Vendy i.e. Desserts) can compete again. From just the finalists listed above there are a ton of vendors that are more than worthy of another chance at the big cup. Regardless of whom you nominate, do it and do it soon! Noms close on June 15th. Show your favorite vendor some love. And though the big day might be 3 months away, the event does sell out, so buy your tickets now. Early bird tickets are already gone. Don’t wait until they announce the finalists because you might be shut out as well! jump

Making Ice Creams

Now that school's out for summer and there aren't any more book things to do, I've found myself with all sorts of free time. I can read books and lounge around at parks and job search and sleep. Glorious sleep. And have fun in the kitchen again! If you've been following me on Instagram, you've seen the little experiments happening in real time. One such fun thing was making roasted strawberry rhubarb basil ice cream.

See, I had bought two quarts of sweet strawberries from the Union Square Greenmarket, overlooking the price just this once. But my first experiment only used up one quart. Not wanting the others to go to waste, my heart set on making them into ice cream--after I ate a few, of course. I also had rhubarb and a potted basil plant that just won't quit begging to be added. The roasting idea sprung from my GelOtto Cart visit last spring. And it all came together. I cribbed from this recipe, cutting everything in half, leaving the mixture chunky and adding cocoa nibs during the churn for a little chocolatey crunch. It went fast, and I already have requests for more. jump

Some Food(ish) Projects Brownie is Supporting

Famous OTO from Pistachios on Vimeo.

Have you all kicked in for NYC Food Community for Oklahoma yet? A bunch of our favorite food folks (including Blondie) are supporting Team Rubicon to help rebuild in OK. The overall team goal is $15k and they are super close to 2/3s to goal. Any amount will help! I made my donation. Once you've made yours, you here's another project that a friend share with me. If you have a food truck loving kid in your life, like I do, you might want to take a peek, too...

The time we spent working on our book unfolded over a significant portion of my son's life--he is just a toddler after all. He's been to the Vendys every year since birth and has visited countless food trucks. A few months back when the ice cream trucks were beginning to emerge from hibernation he noticed one on our walk and said "Mama! That's a food truck!" What can I say, the kid knows his trucks. He also loves playing in boxes and I know he'd love this sweet, sweet ride. It's sturdy, it's non-toxic, it's made in the USA. For the past two Christmases I bought my nephew a similar cardboard play contraption, one year was a color-your-own spaceship and the next was a color-your-own train, but the graphics and the details, including the serving window on this have those beat. It's supposed to be easy to assemble (and more critically, to disassemble for storage). Check out more on the Famous OTO's Indiegogo page.

If this project gets funded the creator has plans for "a massive list of other trucks I want to make down the line - tacos, noodles, BBQ, churros, hot dogs, hot rods, lemonade, the list goes on and on..." I'm thinking he should get in touch with Kim from The Treats Truck about making a special cardboard version of Kim's truck "Sugar" I know Lil B would be the first in line for that truck! jump

Perfectly Unexpected Perfect Sandos

Before I've been downing those pies, I have been enjoying some quite delicious sandwiches. The savory component to the meal with that beautiful Banoffee pie was Brooklyn Sandwich Society's The Grand, a wonderful sandwich of pan-fried squid, bok choy, and spices hot enough to give you a kick, not so hot that you can't taste anything. And what really got me, besides the toothsome squid slices, was the bread. It had just enough crunch without being too hard, and soaked up the juices without falling apart.

Then there was this sandwich. I'll admit to harboring a love for McDonald's chicken sandwich. I know it's an amalgam of chicken bits blended together. I know it's absolutely terrible for me and since I don't eat a lot of fast food anymore, it sends my stomach into a tizzy. But I love it. And Fritzl's Lunch Box's Fried Chicken Sandwich, which appears to be a quality version of the McDonald's sandwich, is better than the original. More sesame seeds on a fresher bun, crispy lettuce, *actual chicken* patty! It's about the same size and a few more dollars, but makes you swear off the fast food versions forever. No wonder everyone's been raving about it.

Basically, these two places are the tits.

Brooklyn Sandwich Society
184 Dekalb Avenue
Fort Greene
(718) 596-4147

Fritzl's Lunch Box
173 Irving Avenue
Bushwick
(929) 210-9531 jump

Happy Memorial Day!

Two years ago I posted about a Memorial Day weekend trip we made up to Maine to see Aunt Alberta and she introduced us to one of her favorite places to grab a bite is Rolly's Diner. It's just the sort of locals only joints that you dream of stumbling on when you're on the road. This Memorial Day, I'm thinking of our nation's many vets and those in our family who served and are serving in the Armed Forces. But today I'm especially thinking of my Great Aunt Alberta who passed away over the weekend. Aunt Alberta was the bride of one of my favorite vets, Uncle Johnny...

Aunt Alberta was 93, she lived a good life and lived it to the fullest, but that doesn't mean I'll miss her any less. I'll miss listening to her stories. She was the last person that really knew my great-grandparents and grandparents. I'll miss her throaty laugh and wicked sense of humor. She was a strong lady and one of a kind. Whenever we were able we'd made a side trip in Maine to Lewiston to see her. That's where my grandmother and her family lived for generations. It's weird to think that we don't have a reason to go to Lewiston any more. Next time we're in Maine, I plan on making the trip any way to celebrate Aunt Alberta in one of her favorite spots whether it's Rolly's Diner or The Chick-A-Dee Restaurant. Or maybe we'll finally try The Italian Bakery, which Aunt Albert proclaimed as "beyond compare." Aunt Alberta, you too, were beyond compare. jump

Hi, Pie! How Are You?

Brownie likes pie. A lot. Me? I'm kind of on the fence sometimes. I'd rather have ice cream or cookies or ice cream and cookies topped with hot fudge and whipped cream and some sprinkles. But lately I've been eating pie as my lunch dessert. Of course I'm going to tell you guys about it only if it's delicious and holy mother, they have been delicious. This beautiful specimen of pie was had at the Brooklyn Sandwich Society. It's called a Banoffee pie--a English pie made with a layer of bananas, toffee or dulce de leche, and sweet gorgeous whipped cream. I'm in love.

And obviously I'm banana crazy because the other pie came courtesy of Fritzl's Lunch Box where it was delivered from Pies-n-Thighs. I should not be made aware that this pie with its creamy banana filling and flaky crust and 'Nilla wafers really exists within walking distance of my place. I'm going to pretend its home is in Bushwick, not Williamsburg. The best part is the little pie face I see which almost makes it too adorable to eat. Almost.

Brooklyn Sandwich Society
184 Dekalb Avenue
Fort Greene
(718) 596-4147

Fritzl's Lunch Box
173 Irving Avenue
Bushwick
(929) 210-9531 jump

Dinosaur vs. Hamburger Shake Shack-themed Birthday Cake

 

Lil B is very into dinosaurs these days. And of course he's a Shake Shack fan. Naturally, this is his favorite t-shirt. In the run up to his birthday this year, whenever I'd ask him what kind of cake he wanted, he'd tell me "a green cake" so that's what he got...a Shake Shack-inspired green cake...
I'm going to admit here that the dinosaur's cake innards came from a blue box. But stuffed inside that delicious boxed mix yellow cake was homemade dark chocolate pudding (seriously, this is my favorite chocolate pudding EVER). The chocolate pudding filling was in part a tribute to Lil B's current favorite book, Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems, a retelling of the classic tale where chocolate pudding factors in prominently. The cake was topped with my own version of grocery store buttercream--you know the sugary part shortening, part butter frosting. Lil B went crazy for it. After announcing it was a "Dinosaur eating a hang-ka-bur, he proceeded to plant his face and teeth into said hang-ka-bur. When he came up for air he said: "Mama, I'm sharing the hang-ka-bur with a dinosaur!"

 How does it stack up to past birthday cakes? You be the judge. Here's the 1st cake and the 2nd. I do think my decorating skills are getting better and better. jump

Our Last Signing and We're Bringing CoolHaus!!!

So many moons ago, I wandered down to Marlow & Daughters for my first taste of Coolhaus. If you'd told me then that I'd be asking them to come vend outside my book signing in a few years, I would have told you to shut it. And get away from my ice cream. But yes, next week, Coolhaus is bringing their truck to Greenpoint to sell some ice cream sandwiches while (maybe, because she might be having a baby) Alex and I sign some books.

It's all going down Tuesday evening around 7pm. We'll be hanging out at WORD on Franklin Avenue, doing our last signing for quite awhile, possibly ever. Coolhaus is bringing their truck by a little early because I want to eat ice cream to tell passersby why they're here and get them to buy a copy. Of course, all of you are welcome to come join us. It's entirely possible that I'll be hitting up Paulie Gee's after.

WORD Brooklyn
126 Franklin Avenue
Greenpoint
(718) 383-0096
jump