Brunch at Lilla Cafe

****UPDATE - Lilla Cafe has Closed. 6/3/15****


More Brunch! There are a ton of new places all of a sudden, and I want to check them all out! Last weekend I went to Lilla Cafe (126 Union St., between Hicks St. and Columbia St., 718-855-5700) with a friend and had a really lovely experience. We sat in the backyard, next to a pretty little garden and at one point, the chef came out to cut some fresh herbs! They got lots of points for that! We ordered coffee and juice and relaxed in the breeze.

We started out with the Panzanella Salad, with chunks of bread, cucumber, tomato, roasted red pepper, calamata olives, red onions and capers in a balsamic dressing. It was delicious, with the Mediterranean flavors mingling, the briny capers bursting through and the bread making it dense and substantial. Quite good.



I went with the Egg Sandwich on Foccacia, with cheese and bacon and a small side salad. This was also really good. The bread wasn't too "bread-y" but rather nicely herbed and toasted. The portions were well balanced and made for a satisfying dish.



My friend ordered the Huevos Rancheros with refried beans and spicy tomatoes. She said it was fairly spicy and very tasty, although it could have used a little sprig of something green, or perhaps some avocado for some color. The eggs were well poached too, no runny whites at all. In addition to the beans was a side of cheesy grits. Always a plus!



All in all it was a great experience. Our server was attentive but not intrusive and the menu had a number of enticing options. The menu changes every eight weeks or so, and I'm eager to go back and try their dinner. I hope they make it - that spot has had such bad luck!

Dinner at Mazzat

I recently discovered a little treasure that's been around for a while and I've just overlooked it somehow. Mazzat (208 Columbia St., at Sackett St., 718-852-1652) serves really good, tasty Mediterranean food at reasonable prices. It's a little off the beaten path and under the radar so it's never super crowded either. My husband and I went recently on a mild night, sat in the front where the glass doors open all the way to let the breeze and night air in. We started with a favorite of ours, Grilled Dates wrapped in Bacon. The dates were stuffed with blue cheese and were just divine. A perfect mixture of salty and sweet with a creamy and chewy texture.



We also got a side of Foul Moudammus, Fava Bean Puree serves with lemon, garlic, olive oil & cumin. It was a substantial portion, excellent with warm, slightly crispy pita, hearty and flavorful even if it's not photogenic!



Then we split an order of the Seafood Tagine with shrimp, scallop, salmon, calamari & tilapia stewed in tomato & herbs and served with a side of rice and salad. This was excellent. The stew was nicely spiced, and the pieces of seafood were tender and plentiful. I would have liked more scallops and less tilapia, but it was so good that minor complaint was easily overlooked.



I really liked Mazzat, and plan on adding it to our repertoire of restaurants we go to regularly. It's cozy too so it will be a perfect place to head to once the weather turns colder.

Food News!

Big news from the Hattie Carthan Garden in Bedford-Stuyvesant! First up is the 6th Annual Food Heritage Festival on Saturday, June 12th. From 12 noon until 9pm there will be tons of homemade dishes like Stewed Oxtail, Fried Okra, Rice & Beans and other dishes native to African, Latin & Caribbean cuisines. There will also be home-brewed beverages and live Blues music!

Also from the Hattie Carthan Community Farmer's Market is a different take on the CSA. Instead of shelling out all the big bucks in the beginning of the season for your weekly veggie deliveries, you can pay a pretty low monthly fee for a Single Basket ($12/week) or a Family Basket ($20/week) that will be full of seasonal fruits, veggies, herbs and eggs. Check out the flyer below for more info or go to the Hattie Carthan website for info on how to sign up.



Art Walk 2010 will take place this weekend along Atlantic Avenue on both Saturday & Sunday, with a block party on Saturday night and a Beer Garden set up at Atlantic Assets. Restaurants in the area will be offering special deals from 10% off to Happy House specials. There will be live music and other special events throughout the weekend. For a full line-up, go here!

And for your long-range planners, it's the Fundraiser BBQ for PortSide, produced by Brooklyn Based and sponsored (so far) by Brooklyn Brewery and Realty Collective. The event will take place on Saturday, July 3rd and the funds will go toward supporting summer programming (which includes free shows on the piers!). Food will be provided by the Red Hook Lobster Pound, Uncle Louie G's, and The Good Fork. Yum! For more information and to learn about PortSide, check their website.

Dinner at Ferdinando's

I've been hesitant to write about Ferdinando's (151 Union Street, between Hicks and Columbia, 718-855-1545) because I like to think of it as my little secret, even though the likes of Martin Scorsese has eaten there and lots of people know about it, but it's just so damn good I can't help but sing it's praises. It will also always have a spot in my heart because I went here on the day I got my braces and my mouth hurt so bad I could barely eat. The waitress brought me my first rice ball and said it's what she gave her son when he got his braces because it's so soft and tender. Well, I'm happy to report that the Arancina Special is still as delicious as it was that first day I had it.

On this most recent visit I ordered the Rice Ball with meat and peas, covered in tomato sauce and cheese and topped with thick and creamy ricotta cheese. The mushy consistency of the rice is so comforting and the slight bite of the ground beef and peas fills things out. It's decadent and amazing and I could eat one every day.



We also got another Ferdinando's classic dish, a Panelle sandwich. A chickpea croquette topped with a gigantic dollop of ricotta cheese plus grated Parmesan on a big, fluffy roll. The Parmesan isn't as strong as I like, but this sandwich is tasty enough without the added flavor. I also took the top of the roll off and ate it open-faced as it's pretty large!



Even though I knew this was plenty of food, my boyfriend insisted on getting a pasta dish. We ordered the Pappardelle alla Boscaiola, hand cut pasta with fried eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms. The pasta was fresh, and the tomatoes were large and plentiful, but I'm pretty sure the mushrooms were from a can. It was also a pretty greasy dish, with oil pooled at the bottom of the dish. Probably not the best dish to order. In the future I'll stick with tomato sauces or Parmigiana.



Wait, there's more! I know, it's crazy, but I often say I have an extra little stomach for desserts and I wasn't leaving Ferdinando's without a cannoli. They make the BEST cannoli! Seriously. The pastry part is crisp, the cream filling is thick and slightly almond & vanilla flavored and it doesn't have any extraneous chocolate chips or weird bits in it. It's pure and simple and perfect.

Dinner from Dub Pies, NYC

Long day at work, after a long string of late nights + no food in the house = Take Out! I've been walking by Dub Pies, NYC (193 Columbia St., between Sackett & Degraw, 718-858-8414) for a while now and have been intrigued, but never had the occasion to eat there. It's more of a take out place, with only a few little tables in their space, but a full menu of various, savory mini-pies. There are a few vegetarian options among the chicken and beef pies, plus salad, smoothies and dessert.



I ordered the Dub Plate #2 which is your choice of any pie with one of three salads. I picked the Steak & Mushroom Pie with a "Roman's Russian Special" salad which is a mixture of cucumbers, tomato, radish, peppers, dill, cilantro, onion, black pepper and sour cream on the side. The pie was filled with chunky bits of steak in a very dark brown sauce. The flavors were clean and simple - meaty & earthy - in a shell of flaky crust.



I also ordered Curry Vegetarian Pie which is packed with cauliflower, potato, carrot, zucchini, peas, mushrooms, onions & corn in a garlic, garam masala curry. It was hands down the best thing on the plate - spicy, flavorful with so many different veggies. The pastry is vegetarian too and is perfectly flaky and so delectable.

They also sent some complimentary Sausage Rolls and Spinach & Cheese Rolls (the smaller things next to the pies on the plate). The Spinach & Cheese Rolls were excellent - green, bright & fresh tasting, although my boyfriend said the spinach tasted boiled. The Sausage Rolls were a little disappointing for both of us though. Not very flavorful, not very distinct. The salad was a nice balance with the dense, richness of the pies. It was not dressed, but didn't need to be with the light dusting of black pepper.

I wanted to try one of their desserts too so I ordered the Lamington - a sponge/pound cake with a layer of jam in the middle covered in chocolate & coconut (in the bottom right hand corner of the top photo). It was so light & fluffy with each ingredient shining through. They also sent a little heart-shaped chocolate brownie and a little apple-cinnamon filled, sugar-topped pastry. I was so full, I just took a bit to taste and was happily surprised with the basic, classic flavor. Definitely having it for breakfast!



I'm so happy I tried Dub Pies! The woman on the phone who took my order was so nice and the food was just what I needed after a long day. I'm adding their menu to my regular rotation of Take-Out places!

Lunch at Calexico

So, I had to try out Calexico (122 Union St., between Hicks St. & Columbia St., 718-488-8226) for myself, and I have to say, I was disappointed. Yes, the Crack Sauce is delicious, but the rest of the food just didn't cut it. On top of the mediocrity, the food delivery from Sysco & IBP in the middle of our meal really turned me off. Maybe it's left over from college cafeteria days, but mostly it's my knowledge of what these huge corporations mean in terms of food quality (low) and cost to the environment (high), not to mention how the animals on these "farms" are treated. There is so much good food available, it's a shame that this place isn't buying from a local butcher, or a local produce grower. Everybody seems to love this place, and maybe I'll get some flack, but I've gotta stick to my guns here.

I ordered a cheese & bean taco and a tofu quesadilla. The taco comes on two soft corn tortillas and was pretty good. Drizzled in crack sauce (a thick, creamy, spicy mayo concoction) and served with a wedge of lime, this might be the only thing I'll get here again. The tofu quesadilla had very firm chunks of tofu wrapped inside a crisp tortilla. Yes, you can dunk it in a big dish of the sauce, but that's all I ended up tasting.



My boyfriend got the Pulled Pork Quesadilla and a Tofu Torta (a sort of grilled sandwich/panini-type thing). The pulled pork was gross. Oily, not flavorful and did not go so well with the sauce. The Tofu Torta again was stuff with bland, hard chunks of tofu. I understand the point of this place is the meat, but I keep coming back to the source of that meat and my stomach turns. There was also air conditioner drip landing in a puddle on the table next to where we were sitting that didn't look like it was being addressed. What's up with that? Maybe they'll wise up and start buying better quality ingredients, but until then I'll take a pass on Calexico.

Dinner at Alma

Ooops! I messed up the date when I posted this. Sorry it's late!

One of the best views of Lower Manhattan can be had from the roof of Alma, (187 Columbia Street, at Degraw St., 718-643-5400), a Mexican restaurant that has been more of a miss for me than a hit in terms of dining. I've been there a few times, and am usually left with a bit of a disappointing taste. The following is a sample of food I've had that explains why Alma is such a mixed bag.

I started with the Chilaquiles with shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, crema, and tangy tomato sauce. They were crunchy and tasty, but a little greasy and heavy.



The Tacos de Pescado were really good though, crispy fish tacos served on warm tortillas with jalapeno marmalade, pickled red onions and shaved red cabbage. I was surprised and disappointed to see that the fish was fried (not mentioned in the description), but the jalapeno marmalade was delicious and the rest of the garnishes added a crispy, tangy bite to the simple, flaky fish. It was very colorful too!



The corn tortilla Enchiladas stuffed with Portabello Mushrooms and Cheese with a Pumpkin Seed Sauce were a little off-putting though. Hmmm. It looks really unappetizing: a mess of cheese and oil and mush, topped with shredded iceberg lettuce. Really gross, right?



I don't know what to make of Alma. I've been disappointed more often thatn I've been pleased. It's only worth it to go early, have appetizer, some drinks and enjoy the view, and avoid dinner and the risk of getting a plate of mush!

Sushi to go from Kotobuki Bistro

So, Koto Sushi is my go-to place, but in an effort to try new places and expand my repertoire, I called up Kotobuki Bistro (192 Columbia Street at Degraw St., 718-246-7980) recently to place an order. I know people who travel from Clinton Hill to eat here (and they do have a nice little garden in the back for dining during the warmer months), so I had high hopes for our meal.

We started out with an order of Steamed Edamame, a nicely sized portion of gorgeously bright green beans, perfectly steamed, slightly salted, crunchy and tasty.



I also ordered the Spider Maki which is one of my most favorite rolls ever. I have to say that Kotobuki's spider roll was fresh and tasted just like the soft shell crab it was made out of. No gloopy mayo dressing smothering the meat, just big pieces of crab rolled up with cucumber, lettuce, and smelt roe. This was quite delicious.



In addition to that I got an order of the Rock'n'Roll with crab meat, salmon skin, avocado & crunch and an order of Spicy Tuna Crunch with tuna, scallion, smelt roe, spicy sauce and asparagus. The Rock'n'Roll was great, with crunchy salmon skin rolled up in moist rice, but the Spicy Tuna was awesome. An initial & quick burning sensation fades away so you can savor the flavor of the fish, which is also fresh and tasty.



I was a little disappointed though, as our Maki came with only six pieces instead of the eight I'm now used to, for the same or a higher price. They also use the dyed pickled ginger which I swear tastes different to me than the naturally colored version. It's a nice place to go to eat out back, but I think I'll stick with Koto for my sushi take-out fix.

Seafood at Petite Crevette

I had such a lovely experience at dinner the other night at Petite Crevette (144 Hicks St., between Union St. & President St., 718-855-2632), a seafood-heavy French restaurant on the border of Carroll Gardens and the Columbia Street Waterfront District (seriously, that's what it's called these days). It used to be on Atlantic Avenue but moved South to the Hicks St. location about two years ago. It was a slow Monday night, so we were seated in the back room which is super cozy, romantically lit and made me feel like I was in the French countryside, far away from my everyday troubles and concerns. Little lamps were scattered about, everything is dark wood or painted white and slightly scruffy, giving it that nice lived-in relaxed feeling.

The menu is written on chalkboards or butcher paper hung on the walls so you can see the list from every angle. There's the regular menu (fish, steak, salmon burgers) and a list of specials (catch of the day prepared a few ways). The front room is a bit colder and more brightly lit, so if you can try to get into the back room, which used to be Rose's Flower Shop. The old gold lettering is still on the window, adding to the vintage feel. The other nice thing is that Petite Crevette is facing the BQE (below street level at that point), so looking out the window the street feels wide open and spacious.

Then there's the terrific food; everything we ordered was delicious. We started with the Crab Corn Chowder and were served a great big bowl of the stuff. It was loaded with chunks of sweet crab meat, lots of kernels of juicy corn in a creamy, tasty base. I sopped up what was left with my bread!



I then got the Roast Cod with Capers and Mashed Potatoes. Let me just say that I LOVE capers. So salty & briny and they explode with flavor. The fish was tasty and tender and the side of veggies was perfectly garlicky. The mashed potatoes tasted great and were super creamy...but they were kinda on the cool side. I even asked for them to be warmed up, which I never do, instead I tolerate because I don't want to be a pain, but even then they came back just hot on the outside. Oh well, but not a big enough deal to affect how delicious the meal was.



My boyfriend ordered the Skirt Steak with Caramelized Onions. The onions were fabulous - sweet and tangy, and the steak was juicy and cooked perfectly. It was a HUGE portion, so we ended up taking it home to enjoy for lunch! YUM!



It is BYO, and there's a nice wine shop around the corner on Union where the owner will recommend something tasty. They do charge a corkage fee though, and it's cash only, so make sure you've hit the ATM on your way over.

Pulled Pork & Fried Chicken at Jake's

On cold, wintery nights I crave BBQ. I'm not even from the South, but it's total comfort food to me. If I can't get to Fette Sau, I turn to Jake's BBQ (189 Columbia Street, at DeGraw Street, 718-522-4531) and order in. Their menu is pretty extensive, ranging from all sorts of sides (Mac & Cheese, Rice & Black Eyed Peas) to BBQ Ribs to Jambalaya and other Seafood dishes, but I pretty much stick to a few tried and true options.

I usually get their Pulled Pork Sandwich. It's not a typical moist pulled pork that's got strands of pork, this seems more chopped than pulled. It's on the drier side, but is definitely still tasty with plenty of smoky BBQ flavor. It comes on a choice of bread (I always get it on a roll) and it comes with Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Fries or Cole Slaw. Their slaw is some of the best I've ever had, and the sliced pickles go SO well and the BBQ sauce is spicy and tangy. I don't know why anyone would get mayo or mustard with this. It's also big enough to split between two people.



I ended up getting the Macaroni Salad which is decent. I do love this shape of pasta, and with little pieces of carrot and bell pepper, it's a little reprieve from the greasy, meatiness of the rest of the food!



On this occasion I also ordered their appetizer of Kansas City Fried Chicken which comes with five pieces. This is big enough for a meal, but is perfect to share along with the Pulled Pork Sandwich. This breaded outside is perfectly salty and the meat is tender and juicy. Some of the pieces aren't very meaty, but it's satisfying nonetheless.



I also ordered a side of the Collard Greens because I thought we needed a vegetable. They too were tasty and not overcooked as is often the case with Collard Greens at BBQ joints. They were simply seasoned and I didn't see any meat, so they might just be pure vegetable.



I'm thankful Jake's is close by when the craving strikes!

Burger from Pit Stop

Today's post takes a look at Pit Stop (127 Columbia Street, between Kane and Degraw Streets, 718-875-4664), a cozy, fun auto racing-themed French Bistro in the Columbia Street Waterfront District. The front dining room is really small and cozy, with only a handful of booths & tables, but the backyard is spacious. It takes up three lots and includes a deck with tables, two Petanque courts and a whole driveway lined with big-wheel type driving toys for kids to play with while their adults eat. It's great, and the food is good too.

One night however, I found myself getting home late and in the mood for a burger. I had ordered the burgers at Pit Stop before and found them to be delicious, so I decided to get one to go. What came was a huge burger, on a huge bun, covered in melted blue cheese with diced tomatoes and some lettuce and a side of thinly sliced and well-salted french fries. It was delicious, and satisfied my burger craving, but it was HUGE, like I mentioned, and there's too much bun. I ended up taking off the top and having it open-faced.



In an attempt to be a little healthy, I also ordered a side of sauteed green beans. While the portion was nice, they were overcooked with tons of butter and therefore mushy. While well seasoned with big slices of garlic, I ate only a few as they were pretty disappointing.



On a previous occasion, I stopped in to Pit Stop for their amazing, incredible, wonderful Warm Chocolate Cake. Filled with melty, gooey goodness, this dessert is one of my favorites, and so well done here. Decorated with whipped cream and a yummy raspberry sauce, this dessert is worth the trip.

Thai from Teeda Thai

My boyfriend and I probably order Thai food once every two weeks, and this last time we decided to mix things up a bit and try a different place. Teeda Thai (218 Columbia Street, between Union and Sackett Streets, 718-643-2737) is an unassuming little restaurant on Columbia Street that makes quite good food and is a nice alternative to the other spots in the neighborhood.

We started with one of my favorite dishes, the Fish Cakes. Their texture might not appeal to all, as they are slightly rubbery, but I love these savory and yummy treats, as well as the slightly fire-y sauce that comes on the side, a vinaigrette with red pepper flakes, chopped peanuts, cucumber and red onions.



We also got an order of my second favorite Thai appetizer, Chicken Satay. I just LOVE peanut sauce, and this one is creamy and thick and delicious. Four skewers of perfectly grilled chicken come in an order, and are a great classic starter.



As our main dish we split an order of Pad Thai with Tofu. Teeda Thai makes a really good Pad Thai, with fresh and crunchy bean sprouts, thin slices of red cabbage and carrots, and lots of chunks of Tofu. The sauce is light, flavorful and slightly sweet, with chopped peanuts and plenty of noodles - perfection!



While it seems that most of their business is take-out, it's also pleasant to eat in the restaurant. It's warm and quiet there, and it's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of Smith and Court Streets sometimes.