Dim Sum at East Harbor Seafood Palace

A bunch of us went to the East Harbor Seafood Palace (726 65th Street, between 7th & 8th Avenues, 718-765-0098) on the border of Sunset Park, Bay Ridge & Dyker Heights, in a bland, peach & beige building that looks like anything BUT a palace. We went on a recent, frigid weekend morning and stood in the windy entryway with our ticket in hand, asking the kind people around us what number the gentleman inside was shouting into his microphone. He eventually did yell out our number, in English no less (they write it down if you need such assistance when you get your number) and were seated, 45 minutes after arriving at a cozy table away from the action at the front door.

Immediately plates of Pork Spare Ribs were brought over (Bottom Center), along with some Shrimp Dumplings (Top Right) & Fish Balls (Top Left) (please excuse my ignorance at not knowing the proper names for some of these dishes, we were so hungry and frantic at first, I could barely stop to take a photo, let alone write down the name!). Happily and hungrily we dove into our food and were quickly put at ease. The ribs were cut into small pieces you had to eat with your fingers in order to scrape the meat off of the bone. They were fatty too, so I could only stomach 2 or 3 pieces. The Shrimp Dumplings were "fierce" as one of my dining companions exclaimed but the Fish Balls were my preference. They were of a soft consistency - sort of doughy, sort of mealy, but a pleasant texture overall and very tasty.



Next came some Flat Rice Noodles stuffed with Shrimp and doused in a sweet Soy Sauce. They were so steamy, I had to photograph them twice!



What are you eating?



Oh, there you are! These were wonderful. The sauce was sweet and a bit thick, the noodles were slightly sticky and gummy, yet pleasing to the palate and they had juicy, tender shrimp nestled in them.

Of course, it wouldn't be a complete meal without some Buns. Fluffy dough, slightly dry, with tender chicken meat inside - perfectly proportioned.



We also went out on a limb and tried a dish of Little Fried Fish. This was an "Extra Special" dish, and was the most expensive item we ordered, ringing in at $6.95. Tasting very garlicky and fishy, I ate a small handful before cutting myself off. Two of my dining companions couldn't stomach them at all, while my other friend seemed to enjoy them a lot. See their little eyes?



We also got some BBQ Pork in Flaky Pastry (Bottom Center) (YUM! saucy, flaky, delightful), Spinach & Shrimp Dumplings (Top Right) (so great with the spinach) and some Turnip Cake with bits of pork (Top Left) (not my thing).



MORE flat noodles with shrimp. So tasty!



Of course we had to have something sweet to round the meal out. Sesame Balls with Red Bean Paste are a must. So sweet, a little oily, but so delicious. Again, the consistency of the inner dough is slightly gummy but I love it. These were cut with a special scissors by our server!



We also had these really great doughy balls covered in coconut flakes. There was some kind of dark black/brown paste in the center that I couldn't place, but I really liked these too.



I haven't been to Dim Sum too many times so I'm not a reliable critic on this one. My friend who grew up eating Dim Sum regularly rated the EHSP passable. Most of the dishes were decent, but she's had better. It's definitely a fun option for a group wanting something different for Brunch some weekend morning. Seating is available until 3pm.

Robicelli's One Year Anniversary

5/19/10: I never updated this; probably because I was so sad. Robicelli's had to close. But, their cupcakes became so popular, they're still in business doing customs orders. You can still get your Elvis cupcake fix!

I went to Robicelli's Gourmet Market on Friday to celebrate their one-year anniversary. I forgot my camera, so bear with me as I describe all the things there were to eat without seeing photos - you'll just have to go to the store to see & taste for yourself! They had a big pot of their famous Butternut Squash soup that got them into the food business in the first place. It was so creamy and flavorful - I'm not a huge soup fan but I could eat this every day for a week and be happy! It was a lovely bright orange color too, certain to cheer you up on rainy, winter days.

There was also a big pan of roasted Brussels sprouts made with lemon juice which I really liked - definitely a new way to have sprouts that made them zesty and fresh instead of their normal earthy mustiness, in addition to roasted broccoli with pignoli nuts, nicely browned & seasoned. (Photo courtesy of Cupcakes Take the Cake via Flickr.)



There were also Pork Belly BLTs that were INCREDIBLE! Parts of the pork were nicely burnt, which made them crisp and crunchy, and the sandwich was completely decadent. There was also an egg salad sandwich made with olive oil and soft-boiled eggs so they made their own mayonnaise. Delicious.

It wouldn't be a trip to Robicelli's without cupcakes, and just for this special occasion, Allison made a Kiwanis Cupcake, based on the special-occasion-cake of her childhood. White cake with banana in the center, with banana (butterscotch?) frosting and topped with a cream puff and a slice of chocolate covered strawberry (help me out Allison, did I remember it correctly?). So rich, so complex - amazing for a small dessert.

There's so much good stuff going on there, I highly encourage you to visit. Run by a husband & wife team, they are always trying to do the best by their customers while also keeping their food top-notch. They are so dedicated to their neighborhood and to keeping business local, they're changing the products they carry to reflect a more NY-based selection.



Allison & Matt with their famous cupcakes. (Photo courtesy of Cathyerway via Flickr.)

Brunch at Hom

While in Bay Ridge on a recent sunny morning (I know, sun, please come back!!!), I was lured into Hom, a gift store and cafe located on 3rd Avenue (8804 3rd Ave. between 87th Street & 88th, (718) 238-4466). The front area is a gift store with all sorts of pretty little things including cards and notebooks, gardening tools, new-agey CDs and tons more. We were taken out back where there are two areas for dining, one with a number of various tables and benches and one more private, with space for one party to be seated. Long, white flowy material hangs down from the balconies of both buildings, contributing to a magical feel. It's quite lovely back there, with the sun streaming down through the trees. There was a slight breeze and we were offered Peruvian blankets to keep us warm. The sun soon came up over the tops of the buildings so they weren't needed, but was a nice touch!



There were TONS of teas available, but both the proprietor and our waitress recommended the sangria and we easily succumbed. One white and one red, each unique. The white was more "juicy" and sweet, with a slight tart note that reminded me of muscat. The red was good too, but was more dry and earthy. Both had huge orbs of red grapes floating about as well as chunks of apples and an orange wedge. I also got a cup of coffee but this was some of the worst I've ever had. I'd stick with tea or for a splurge, get the sangria.



After we ordered, we were served a plate of complimentary breads and pastries. A nut pound cake, a chocolate bread (both very tasty) and a decent croissant. It was a nice treat and took the edge off our appetite while we waited for our food.



There were only a few options for Brunch, but everything sounded great. I settled on the BLT sandwich with egg & cheese on whole grain toast. It was FABULOUS! Nice proportions; perfectly melty cheese. It tasted like perfection. I'd definitely go back just for this sandwich!



The BF ordered the "Green Eggs & Ham", an omelette of sorts made with pesto, green peppers, ham, onions, Swiss cheese & spinach with wheat bread toast. The pesto was a surprisingly nice addition to this substantial and tasty dish.



I loved this place and would recommend it to anyone in the neighborhood, or if you're looking to explore, head out to Bay Ridge some weekend morning, start with a delicious Brunch at Hom, and then wander 3rd & 4th Avenues before heading to the water for gorgeous views of the harbor.

Snacks from Robicelli's Gourmet Market

5/19/10: I never updated this; probably because I was so sad. Robicelli's had to close. But, their cupcakes became so popular, they're still in business doing customs orders. You can still get your Elvis cupcake fix!

Allison & Matt opened Robicelli's Gourmet Market (8511 3rd Avenue, between 85th & 86th Streets, 718-748-6804) in the Fall of 2008. I was invited to their store this past weekend to sample some baked goods and take a look at what they've got going. They are lovely, dedicated owners, committed to the neighborhood by supporting small and/or local businesses and contributing to the community. As fourth generation Bay Ridgers (their kids are the 5th generation in the neighborhood) they want to positively contribute to the area by offering a wide variety of organic foods & snacks (both packaged and bulk), hormone and anti-biotic free grass-fed meats (and certified humane, which is most important) and dairy products, as well as homemade baked goods (Allison was up until 4am the morning of our visit!).

So, speaking of baked goods, and with full disclosure, Allison generously gave me two of her cupcakes to try. YUM! One was called The Elvis: banana cupcake with peanut butter frosting, sprinkled with bacon and it was awesome! The cupcake was moist and banana-y, the frosting was whipped into frothy peanut-buttery goodness and the bits of bacon added a wonderful salty, smoky contrast to the sweet.



The other cupcake I got was Allison's Famous Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese frosting. This too was delicious and moist, with a creamy smooth, slightly tangy frosting.



We also purchased a bag of coffee beans from Brownstone Beans which is roasted by local guys who offer different flavors of organic, Fair Trade coffee. It brewed some of the strongest coffee I've ever had; dark and flavorful and rich and it's available at locations all over Brooklyn. Allison & Matt are also are environmentally conscious - the bags they provide customers with are biodegradeable! Whoo-hoo! Go check 'em out and support the new generation of Mom & Pop stores!