Dinner at Dumont

** Austria Wine Month started a few weeks ago and continues until November 22. Restaurants in Brooklyn and Manhattan will be offering special prix fixe menus, pairings and select rare Austrian wines by the glass. Boozy NYC has the complete list. Stay tuned for my write-up of my trip to Thomas Beisl! **

Dumont! We took our visiting friends to Dumont (432 Union Avenue, between Metropolitan Ave. & Devoe St., 718-486-7717) for dinner Saturday night, and wouldn't you know it, my camera battery died! So, please accept iPhone photos, but I think the food transcends the photos. Trust me!

We started with cocktails. The Mary MacGregor was deliciously citrusy with lemon juice, Dewar's, Apricot Liquor and a sugar-coated rim. Smooth, sweet and tart, it's dangerously good. I also had the Scarlett O'Hara (these were the only two named that way; listed together makes them sound a bit ridiculous) which was Gin, lemon, real crushed cranberries and something else I forget. It's a seasonal drink, light and refreshing, with the kick of strong, bitter fruit. Pretty too.



For food, we started with some salads. One of the best tasting dishes I've had in a while was the Crispy Artichokes, with baby arugula, parmesan, lemon, herbs & creamy garlic dressing. The dressing! Tangy, strong, smooth, with the wonderful small artichokes that were lightly fried was incredible! Dang!



Then we ordered the Dumac & Cheese, with bacon, made with cheddar, gruyere and parmesan. It's perfect to share since it's so rich & creamy. It's fantastic though; thick and full-flavored, not thin or powdery at all.



And, of course, we got a Burger, because they're so good. Presented with perfect, crispy fries, thick slices of pickle, tomato & lettuce, it's cooked exactly to order and arrives on a bun that's neither too thick or too thin. You also get a choice of cheddar, American, danish blue or gruyere if you want it with cheese.



For a little bit of extra vegetables, we got a side of Brussels Sprouts which were solidly good. Nothing note-worthy or special, but good, fall veggies, sauteed in butter served with a sprinkling of salt & pepper.



Even though it was quite full, the wait wasn't very long. They've got the backyard garden covered and heated, so there's ample seating and a few bar areas to wait at with your cocktails or beer. Since the food is worth waiting for, it really isn't a bother.

Brunch at Fort Defiance

** Austria Wine Month started a few weeks ago and continues until November 22. Restaurants in Brooklyn and Manhattan will be offering special prix fixe menus, pairings and select rare Austrian wines by the glass. Boozy NYC has the complete list. Stay tuned for my write-up of my trip to Thomas Beisl! **

I was all set to love Fort Defiance, (365 Van Brunt St., at the corner of Dikeman, 347-453-6672) based on what I had read, the cool sign on the outside proudly displaying its name in cursive, with its nod to Brooklyn history and its presence in Red Hook, one of my favorite neighborhoods. Plus, the eggs are free-range and organic and the cocktail menu is extensive, creative and intriguing. Alas, Brunch did not lead me to love. (Added 11/11/09 - It has come to my attention that Sam Filloramo (the chef mentioned in the write-up on Brownstoner that I've linked to) left Fort Defiance four weeks ago).

We started with some drinks - the Bloody Mary (which you can get with gin, vodka or tequila; I chose vodka) and a Mimosa. I was interested in a Tiepolo, a drink with Prosecco and Strawberry puree, but the Bloody Mary swayed me. It was nicely spicy, not too tomato-y and just strong enough to create the lightest of buzzes. Don't they look pretty on that awesome fig oilcloth?



The Eggs Benedict sounded good, with two poached eggs, ham and Hollandaise sauce. But, the sauce was too acidic, as if whoever made it had a heavy hand while pouring the vinegar, and the ham was like boring, tasteless cold-cut deli ham, not a thick cut of something quality and savory. The bread was boring too, not even an English Muffin and a bit dry. The eggs were also a bit underdone which led to raw whites oozing out with the runny yolk. Boo. I was also disappointed in the presentation - that's it? No little salad or some potatoes? Just a julienned strawberry. Double boo.



My boyfriend and I split the eggs and an order of Yogurt, Granola & Fruit. The granola was on the light side, full of flaky bits instead of crunchy oats, but the yogurt was thick, creamy and tart, just like a good plain yogurt should be. The thinly sliced green apples were a nice touch, but I could have used a few more berries, slices of banana or something. Honey was drizzled on top which contributed nicely to the dish.



We also ordered a side of bacon (North Country Bacon - not so special, but with a special name; it's not organic or anything). It did have a good, meaty flavor, but it was served in a puddle of grease. Not very appetizing.



Our friend ordered the Red Beans on Toast with two fried eggs. It was OK, with a touch of southwestern flavor, but it wasn't spectacular, only decent. It could have used a little more fire.



All in all I was quite disappointed. Add to my reaction to the food was our waitress who seemed like there were a million other things she'd rather be doing. I don't need a lot of attention, I just like someone who is a little friendly, smiles once or twice, and makes an effort to engage while interacting. I'll definitely give it another try, maybe for an evening meal, but I don't have high hopes anymore.

Breakfast at Naidre's

I've written about the breakfast sandwich at Naidre's (502 Henry St., on the corner of Sackett St., 718-596-3400, and there's one in Park Slope) before, but there are other great breakfast treats to get there, available until 3pm everyday. I do have to mention the breakfast sandwich since it is a Classic. Here it's made on a bagel, roll or croissant, with eggs, cheese and either bacon, sausage or tofu bacon. If you eat it in house, it comes with a side of hash brown potatoes. The sandwich is good, best on a croissant, but the potatoes have always left me disappointed. Not salty enough, too greasy, and kinda boring.



The coffee is strong at Naidre's, but since there's a never-ending rotating cast of characters behind the counter, nobody seems to ever master that art of barista-ing. This latte was supposed to have a heart on it, but it ended up looking more like a butt than anything else. Maybe a butterfly?



On this occasion there was an order of the Vegan Scramble with tofu bacon and potatoes. The report was that they were fine, NOT as good as the Vegan Scramble at WaterCourse Foods, in Denver, where, while my friend was last eating them lasy year on Election Day AND saw two members of the Beastie Boys, perhaps adding to the scramble's yumminess. Naidre's version was a bit dry & bland, but OK.



My favorite breakfast item is the Yogurt, Granola and Fruit. This one was presented in a smiley face and was as tasty as it was happy. Tart, plain yogurt, crunchy granola and fresh blueberries & strawberries with dried cranberries and walnuts. Such a good combo, and totally hearty & filling. Depending on the season there can also be melon, banana & grapes.



It's a good neighborhood place, and usually there's a place to sit in the morning, although it does get pretty crowded with people and their small children. The work-at-home crowd comes in later and stay throughout the day. Great mac-n-cheese is on hand for dinner.