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!

Dinner at Frankie's 457

I took some friends to Frankie's 457 Spuntino (457 Court St., between 4th Place and Luquer St., 718-403-0033) recently, as they hadn't yet experienced the loveliness that is dinner there. We waited in the backyard with our bottle of wine for a table to open up, which took about 30 minutes late on a Thursday night. It's beautiful in the backyard, under minimal lighting, with flowers and vines growing, candles flickering on the tables and the F & G trains rumbling a block away, and is a nice way to pass the time before being seated.

We were seated at a four-top next to the window on the left side and were promptly approached for drink orders by our pleasant and upbeat server. We stuck with wine, but Frankie's does have a nice list of aperitifs, various cocktails and grappas. After a little deliberation and coordination we placed our order. We started out with a couple Crostini: one with Avocado & Pesto, one with Cannellini beans, capers, lemon & anchovy and two of my favorite, Ricotta with Aged Parmesan. The little bites are perfect to split in half to maximize the tastes you get to experience. The ricotta is creamy and paired perfectly with dry, salty cheese, the avocado and pesto is clean and flavorful and the cannellini bean paste is briny but not overpowering and has a nice texture.



There was an order of Pork Braciola Marinara which is an incredibly tender piece of thin pork rolled up and stuffed with cheese and bread crumbs. The marinara is savory and strong, not sweet, and is generously poured over the meat and then covered with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan. It's quite delicious.



There was also an order of the House-Made Pappardelle with braised rabbit, tomato, capers and Sicilian olives. The pasta is tender and cooked to perfection, the rabbit was gamey and tender and the sauce was bursting with the flavors of the capers and olives, briny and salty and robust.



There were also two orders of my absolute favorite Frankie's dish, the House-Made Cavatelli with Faiccos hot sausage and browned sage butter. It's heavenly. The sausage is fresh and delicately burns your mouth. The sage butter is earthy and incredible and the pasta again is tender and cooked to perfection. It's the best combination of flavors and the one dish I think about in between visits.



We were so full but decided to split one dessert between the four of us and chose the Red Wine Prunes with Mascarpone. This is such a surprisingly divine dish. The warmed up tart and sweet prunes paired with the creamy, slightly nutty mascarpone go so well together! Delish!



In addition to serving meals as a restaurant, Frankie's hosts private parties in the backyard and "Barn", an outbuilding behind the main restaurant.

Sushi To Go from Koto Sushi #2

The Junior League of Brooklyn is holding a fundraiser for C.H.I.P.S. (a soup kitchen and pantry in park Slope) next Thursday, April 30th at the terrific Franklin Park. There will be happy hour drink specials and complimentary tapas and cupcakes. Admission is free with one can of food. What a wonderful way to support the community!


I've written about Koto Sushi (552 Henry St., at Carroll St., 718-222-8055) before, as it's my go-to place for sushi in Carroll Gardens (they also have an amazing website which you should check out!). This time I decided to try something different and opted for the Nigiri Sushi Deluxe. You get ten pieces of sushi and one Spicy Tuna roll, along with soup or salad for $20. The quality and presentation of the fish at Koto is really good, everything tastes fresh, and the different types of fish have their own distinct flavor. The sliced pickled ginger is also really good, and sans dye which is just totally unneccesary.



So, with this Combination Meal you get some pieces of Salmon (both regular and King), a few pieces of tuna (regular and white), one shrimp, and a couple of Mackeral and Yellowtail. I loved it all. The rice is nicely cooked and moist, the fish was all tender and tasty and clean, and there was a variety. The Spicy Tuna Maki was also good, and very spicy, mixed with plenty of wasabi and sprinkled with sesame seeds on the outside.

The Miso soup is delicious as well, with loads of chunks of soft tofu and slices of scallion, perfect if you've got a cold or are just in need of something to warm you up. I wholeheartedly recommend Koto for their sushi. They also offer steak, but I haven't tried that yet.