Hey everybody, just wanted to let you know that I covered the latest cook-off in a seemingly endless string of amateur cook-offs. This time it was ramen, as in Top Ramen, the sodium-filled staple of my youth. Check out my coverage over at The Feedbag.
I had never seen Enid's so packed, but I guess when pie comes a callin', you got to accept the charges. There were 40-plus pies entered in the apple pie contest and I didn't taste any of them because I'm not really a dessert guy and I had just eaten a huge plate of chicken mole. But I digress. Jonathan Toubin whipped up the crowd with his old-school beats while food got served in stick form. Food on sticks and apple pies? Yup, it was like a county fair except with hipsters instead of fat people. And the winners are ...
In these trying times, nothing calms the nerves like eating a giant piece of meat. The NY Times did a story on in-house butchering, a practice that promotes use of "sustainable, humanely raised and, ideally, local" meats, and which gives restaurants greater control over their menus.
The story focuses mainly on Mark Firth and Andrew Tarlow, owners of Marlow & Sons, Diner and Bonita. They get all of their meat from Tom Mylan (aka Grocery Guy), who butchers whole animals in a cramped back room at Marlow & Sons, and who also gives butchering classes at Brooklyn Kitchen. The story had exciting news about the team's new butcher shop:
They have just leased a space a block over from Diner, at 95 Broadway. Called Marlow & Daughters, it could open as soon as the end of the year. The store will be the first retailer in the city offering nothing but local meat from small farms, cut to order, seven days a week.
With Marlow & Daughters and the old-school, excellent butcher shop Mario & Sons, Williamsburg is going to be a great place for meat lovers.
The last one was awesome, I don't see why this one would be any different. One thing: Remember when absinthe was this mysterious substance that might cause you to paint a masterpiece or chop off your ear? Now bars are offering $5 beer-and-shot deals as if it were Jägermeister. Stupid modern technology, demystifying my preconceived notion of would-be hallucinogenic drinks.
Anyway, the 5-buck plates of BBQ are always delicious at these things and the weather is supposed to be nice and cool, so definitely stop by Hope Lounge tonight.
This Sunday at everyone's favorite art space/barnyard animal rotisserie, folks from far and wide will gather to listen to some of their favorite bands, carouse with friends, and roast an entire pig over an open flame. Hold on. What is this, absurd event announcement week? First the gratuitously musician-ed noise drumming event/fun with numbers game (see post below), now a pig roast/dance party.
Every so often, as has occurred this week, when the awesome ridiculousness of living in Williamsburg reaches a fever pitch, you recognize exactly how ridiculous it's been all along. Like a seasoned carny who, for some reason, upon seeing his 13th bearded lady in a row realizes that living in a circus is kinda crazy--you see the forest for the trees.
There's a guy in some sort of a paper mache pirate hat who flops around in the street on Bedford. There are renegade bakery outfits. There's a grown ass man who drives around the north side with the windows rolled down singing oldies at the top of his lungs (seriously, has anyone else seen this guy like, a million times?). There's a machete wielding gang on the loose. And that's not even mentioning the overload of nutty indie bands, myriad art spaces, McCarren Pool, uber-gentrification, and the great cesspool that is Union Pool. Williamsburg, I love you. But I'm definitely weirded out right now.
Has anyone else ever had a Manhattan Special? Bottled up right in our backyard, these tasty carbonated espresso drinks are seriously awesome. The New York Times did an article on the beverage and its makers today, and this is one product that deserves the publicity. It's actually a little odd that the drink isn't more popular in the Burg, seeing as how they're delicious, packed with caffeine, and chock full of vintage-hipness potential (they've been around for over 100 years). Screw cappuccinos. Nix Naked juices. Vitamin Waters are out. I hereby dub the Manhattan Special the incipient hipster drink of choice.
Seriously though. Try one.
I was busy moving into my new apartment all weekend, but I did take a break Sunday to check out the UnFancy Food Show and The Hold Steady at the first McCarren Park Pool Party.
The scene at East River Bar was nuts; it was hot and muggy as all holy balls and the swarm of hungry foodies didn't make it any cooler. Somehow, the pork rillettes made me feel better. Then I started seeing friends of mine and started drinking some Blue Moon and all was right in the world. The final touch was ice cream from Van Leeuwen, a creamgasm of deliciousness that you can find at the corner of Greene and Prince streets in Soho or in a gourmet ice cream truck near you.
Then it was off to the McCarren Park Pool. Same as last year: Dodgeball. Different: Instead of Brooklyn Lager, they are serving Sixpoint, Hoegaarden and Bud Light (?). Craig Finn of The Hold Steady was awesome, captivating the crowd with his spastic dancing and non-threatening spectacles.
Last post o' the day, as I have to finish moving. Lorimer stop, here I come!
No, this bunny wasn't on the menu.
Recent Comments