Bark Hot Dogs in the Slope

Hoooot dooooogs, get your hooooooot dooogssss here! Bark Hot Dogs in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn makes a mighty fine dog. All of their hot dogs are specialty made by Hartmann's Old World Sausage in Rochester, NY specifically designed just for Barks. Actually all their ingredients are hand picked from farms and purveyors mostly in the Northeast area.  Fresh local ingredients makes for serious grub.

Got to try a few things here, the onion rings were good...suuuuper crispy, a tad heavy, not for the faint of heart, but very satisfying.  The hot dog was the Cole Slaw dog, such a great combo. Cold brisk slaw matched against the warm dog and potato bun. The dogs have a good snap to them as well. They don't put too much mayo in the slaw either which is cool, i hate too much mayo.  But after all that, and being a 'hotdog' place, the BEST thing on the menu is the CHEESEBURGER.  Its super simple but the fresh ingredients just made it work. The bun is soft, the meat is ridiculously juicy and the homemade pickles just make it rock.

Head over to the Park Slope, push all those baby strollers out of the way and get yourself a dog(or burger). Afterwords you can check out the upscale adult toy shop Babeland which is right next door, come on now, where do you think all those strollers come from anyways.

-J

Fried Chicken at Brooklyn Bowl will make...

..em say Ugggh Nah-Nah Nah-Nah. I feel like I've been eating alot of fried chicken the last year or so. Not that its a bad thing, just a matter of fact. Anywhoooo, some of the best crispy chickeness I've had is at a bowling alley. yea. really. Well, its true, Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg fries up some mean bird. It's not your typical line cook back there, this place is catered by the famous Blue Ribbon Group, so they def have some culinary chops behind them.

So the crazy good thing about this crispy, crunchy, moist chicken is whats helping coat that skin....the secret? Matzo-Meal! Hells yea! Jews win again!  It just makes the skin light and crispy. Went with the dark meat combo, but even the white meat is juicy at this place. You don't believe that chicken could be so grub from a bowling alley? shiiiiiit, if you don't believe me, watch this dude:

So if you find yourself in the Burg, slap a hipster in the face, then make your way to Brooklyn Bowl for that kick-ass chicken.

-J

Peter Luger Steakhouse lives up to the hype

Those of you that know me, know I'm a beef man. So I loves me a a good steak. Peter Luger in the South Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, NY has been hyped by many to have one of the best steaks in the United States. I would have to agree. The ambiance is very manly, wooden tables, big sharp knifes, waiters that give you shit. Its a fun fun scene. I celebrated the finish of an amazing triatholon with some buddies at this palace o' meat (i know, i know).


I started out with their thick cut bacon. This is not yo momma's bacon, its like a meal in itself. Crispy outside, chewy center, salty and porky. A must-have if you come here.

At Luger's there is only one type of steak you can get; It's the porterhouse for 2, 80 bucks, period. It's well worth it. The piping out steak comes out pre-cut sizzling on the plate. The masterful waiter carefully takes 2 pieces and places them on each person's plate, spooned over with the greasy juice left over by the mighty beast.

Be sure to order your steak properly. NEVER order well-done, you might as well ask them to throw your steak on the ground and stomp on it. I usually go for medium-rare everywhere else, but since they really know what's going on, I go with medium here and it comes out a proper pink in the middle (ohh yeaaaa). This steak is unreal, it just melts in your mouth. It has a slight char on the outside with the proper amount of salt crust. But the middle is what makes this steak probably the best I have ever had. Its soft, flavorful, pure pure beef at its finest.

In addition to great steaks, the sides here are nothing to laugh about. We went with the German potatoes (think hash, but with more onions and butter...really really good), the onion rings, and the star, creamed spinach. I'm more of a fresh vegetable guy, but this creamed spinach really is something special. Once again, the best I have ever had.

I know there might be better steak in the US, or even New York for that matter, but this place really just does it for me. It just makes you feel like a real man; STEAK, STEAK STEAK!!!

-J

Summer Time grub at Trout in Brooklyn

For this those of you that are freezing your ass off today, I'm bringing you back to the summer. Trout in Brooklyn has a great spot with a huge hipster deck to soak in the sun.


Their fries are top-notch, salted heavily, double-fried, crunchy on the outside, moist and hot in the middle. Paired perfectly with fresh watermelon topped with clover honey.


Mmmm dang, I almost forgot its 30 degrees outside right now.

-J

Grimaldi's Pizza in Dumbo Brooklyn, Forgettaboutit!

It's kinda strange that this is my first post about pizza considering I live in NYC. So, without further ado....PIZZAAAAAA! Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Dumbo Brooklyn is regularly ranked among the top pizza joints in the city. There is constantly mob of tourists and locals alike lined up 50 deep outside.


My bro and I went for a regular pie(geez, I say "pie" now for pizza, I really am from Brooklyn) topped with pepperoni. The crust is super thin, I mean thin, like Kate Moss thin. The center gets a little soggy, but after that first bite, its got a great crunch to it. The fresh mozzarella cheese is creamy, and the light tomato sauce has a nice zing to it. The fresh basil is nice touch too, just wish they put more of it on.


The best thing about the pepperoni is that is curls up like one of those popper toys you played with as a kid. Leaving you with a little pepperoni cup filled with porky grease, oh yeaaaaa.

Get in line early for this place, its always packed, but is worth the wait. Don't forget to take a stroll down to the water to walk off that grease.

-J

PS....I'm back!

Senegalese chicken and peanut soup from Almondine

Almondine continues to surprise and amaze me. This french soup/sandwich places breaks out great traditional French fair, but Senegalese chicken and peanut soup? come on now? WTF is that? I knew this soup was going to be legit when I saw the 200 lb African grandmother in the back stirring the pot. Peanut soup you say? Sounds weird right? Well, it is. Really freakin weird, but shockingly good if you like peanut flavor. A bit spicy with chunks of tender chicken, celery, carrots and okra I believe. I believe she also threw in some voodoo spices into the pot to get customers addicted. If you click the picture(fyi, you can click on all the pictures on this site for a larger view) you can see a close up of the red ring of grease along the top, mmmmm, red grease, you know you love it.


Thanks to the Frenchy for allowing his staff to do thier thing and bring alittle flava to my favorite lunch time spot.

-J

Philly Cheesesteak at O'Keefe's Bar in Brooklyn Heights

Fatty alert!!! I repeat, Fatty alert! You have been warned.

I had very low expectations walking into O'Keefe's Bar and Grill in Brooklyn Heights. Mainly chosen as a spot to watch the Laker game based on their TV size, I knew it would be the standard pub grub. In these cases, I usually go for the most standard thing on the menu (you should shy away from Oysters Rockefeller in sports bars), burger, wings, cheesesteak, etc.

I ordered a blue moon and the philly cheesesteak which was recommended by the barkeep. Sure, why not, philly it up. Ten minutes later I was presented with this monstrosity of a sandwich. Fatty indeed, but it looked promising. One bite and all my reservations about this place vanished. This sandwich really shocked me by how good it was, probably because my expectations were so low, but I digress.

The hero was actually garlic bread, which was toasted, with a nice crunch on top. The beef, slices of prime rib-eye, was tender and sauteed with green peppers and onions. All that goodness was topped with melty mozzarella cheese which kept me reaching for the napkins. As you can see by the grease on the plate, this was not for the faint of heart. The fries did themselves justice as well, no McD's, but damn good bar fries.

On that day my friends, I polished off this beast of sandwich, 2 pints of blue moon, watched the Laker's win, and then went home and enjoyed a victory nap. That cheesesteak really got the best of me.

-J

Brunch at Buttermilk Channel

Buttermilk Channel was just named Best New Brooklyn Restaurant for 2009 by Time Out New York. This distinction was well deserved. Located at the edge of Carroll Gardens by the Gowanas Expressway, this find was worth the trip. It was a bright airy atmosphere with both single and communal tables.

I went for brunch on a nice Sunday in Brooklyn, because that's just what you do in New York. No other city I've been to enjoys Sunday brunching as much as New Yorkers.

I tried the short-rib hash with sunny-side up eggs. Its like the traditional hash, except made with short-ribs, duh. I loooove short-ribs, so anytime I can incorporate them into my meal it generally happens. They were awesome, crispy, salty, meaty and potatoy goodness. Check out the one yolk on the right, it magically slipped off the white without breaking, you talented yolk you.


Finished off the meal with a freshly made apple cider donut. I can't drink apple cider because of some over consumption while a child, but I can put away apple cider donuts like Homer Simpson. This one was great, it had a slight crunch on the outside and good apple flavor. Since it was made to order, it was still hot on the inside. Check it out, they even fried the hole too. That just sounds wrong, fried hole..ewwww.


Buttermilk Channel, you are a welcome addition to the Brooklyn food scene and I wish you nothing but success. Keep on frying those holes.

-J

Taco Thursday at 7 star Deli

I know a good taco when I see one. So when I heard the little crap hole 7 Star Deli around the block from my office in Dumbo, Brooklyn was serving tacos on Thursdays, I was VERY skeptical. I arrived in the dirty deli with smiley Asian ladies behind the cash register with low expectations. I then moved to the deli counter, atop was a sheet of paper prompted up, stating, "Special: Taco Thursdays", well then, it was official, I'm in the right place. Bring it on. In addition to that sign, there was another stating something about a new chef. Dirty delis have chefs? who knew? There were two miniature Mexican cooks in the back, promising, very promising, considering I was looking for tacos.

There were 2 types, chicken (which was pre-cut and looked nasty), and pork. I looked down and saw a whole pork shoulder roasting in its own juices. Pork Please! They toasted the tortillas, and then chopped up perfectly chunked pieces of succulent hog to order. Then topped with freshly diced cilantro and white onion. They were served with an avocado sauce (also grub) and a fresh juicy lime wedge.

These tacos were LEGIT!! So tasty, just squeezed that lime over the top of that soft pork and smother them in avocado goodness. And for two bucks each a real deal.



I think I need to talk to the owner for some kind of kick back because I have half my office hooked on these tacos. Now I have something to look forward to on Thursday besides The Office.

-J

Mushroom Barley soup that doesnt...

...make me fart. Who knew? It may sound strange, but usually a good mushroom barley soup turns my ass into a trumpet. Not so for this soup served up from Almondine Bakery in Dumbo Brooklyn. Almondine is my favorite lunch spot, so if you like this post, be sure to check out all the others from this place.

My mom cooks a mean mushroom barley soup that can never be topped, but for soup that wasn't home made this one holds it own. Slightly creamy, nice chunks of various mushrooms and the barley makes me think of my childhood. That little hedgehog looking thing to the right is a piece of french bread. Crusty and warm.


Another desk meal that doesn't suck. And my co-workers are thanking this place for its ability to not turn me into a musical instrument.

-J

Brooklyn Fish Camp, Yay! Fish Camp!

Camp? Fish? What? Sign me up!!! Brooklyn Fish Camp in Park Slope Brooklyn is both fortunately and unfortunately not the kind of camp I thought it was going to be. While there was no forest full of bungalows divided up into boy and girl fishies, there was delicious seafood prepared to perfection. Damn! I can't get it all. This camp is actually an off shot of its more popular sibling in Manhattan known as Mary's Fish Camp. I've been to Mary's awhile back and I have to say I was underwhelmed, don't get me wrong, the seafood was good, but maybe it was waiting an hour and a half to get a few scallops through me off.

But this Brooklyn sibling restaurant set the stage early that it was going to be a great experience. Just check out the sign they had prompted up outside. Not overcrowded, but not empty either, filled with happy families (I was in Park Slope) and smiling faces.

I unknowingly arrived during happy hour on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. To my surprise they were offering spankingly fresh oysters for a buck! I had no intentions of eating oysters that day, but for a buck, hey, toss me two please! I was presented this nicely stacked plate by the friendly waitress. They were super-duper fresh. A little lemon, shallot and vinegar mixture and a few shreds of horseradish, SLURP, ahh bueno.

They had a small but satisfying menu. I was torn between the fried oyster po' boy and the trout BLT. Since I already had oysters, I opted for the Idaho Trout BLT. You have chosen wisely my son. Sandwiched between warm focaccia bread (check out the char on the top) and nestled on top of cool lettuce and ripe tomato. The trout had a nice crispy skin and fresh flaky flesh (say that 10 times fast). The sandwich was accompanied by onion rings. I was a BIG fan. I normally opt for the onion ring over the fries if given the choice. These were light as a feather. The batter was crispy and seasoned well while the onion still had a nice bite to it.


In addition to the buck oysters, their happy hour special included 2 for 1 beers. So after I finished my Amber Bock I was notified that my second choice would be gratis. What? Free beer? How could I say no. I finished off my second cool brew and let my seafood kiddies settle in my tummy. I love camp.

-J

Almondine's vegetarian sandwich hits the spot

You guys know me pretty well by now, I'm a meat a dude. I dig beef and like to kill little piggies. So if a vegetarian sandwich makes it onto this site you know it better be phenomenal. I told you I go to Almondine in Dumbo a lot and I'm going to continuously prove that fact on this site.

Behold this beautiful sandwich below. Its ok, you can stare, she like it. Look at her crusty bread, oh so crunchy, oh so good. This $7.25 sandwich was packed with roasted vegetables (red peppers, squash, cauliflower and asparagus), topped with a generous amount of creamy goat cheese and drizzled with high quality olive oil. Fucking delicious.


I know you noticed the keyboard in the background, so yes, this is another pathetic desk meal. But as I said in the past, at least I get to grub on world class sandwiches from around the corner.

-J

Mulligatawny at Almondine

Made popular by the infamous Seinfeld episode, mulligatawny is a delicious Indian soup. But Kramer explains it best:

Cosmo Kramer: A hot bowl of mulligatawny would hit the spot.
Elaine: Mulligatawny?
Cosmo Kramer: Yes, it's a delightful Hindu concoction simmered to perfection by one of the great soup artisans in the modern era.
Elaine: Who, the Soup Nazi?
Cosmo Kramer: He's not a Nazi, Elaine. He just happens to be a little eccentric. Most geniuses are.

I have to say, ever since watching that episode I have been more intrigued with the word mulligatawny than the actual soup. Say it with me, mulligataaaaawnyyyyy. I finally had a chance to try this soup a few weeks ago. They served it at my favorite lunch spot Almondine in Dumbo Brooklyn. I previously stated that Almondine was owned by Jacques Torres, but I was only partially correct, it's actually owned by both Jacques and Hervé Poussot, former pastry chef of famed Le Bernardin (super fancy pants Frenchie restaurant in nyc).

Anyways, onto the soup. This version was made with coconut milk so it was silky smooth. Spiced with coriander and other Indian spices that usually have me running to the nearest restroom. For some reason this gorgeous concoction sat just right in my stomach. I'm a big fan of this soup, not sure if all versions are going to be this good, but I'm definitely willing to try going forward.


Combined with my favorite pretzel bread, this Indian classic made my Seinfeld fantasy come true. Thank you Frenchies, job well done again.

-J

Hearty Lunch

Get used to it...I eat at my desk...a lot. Maybe because its freaking cold outside, or I like my food illuminated by my computer monitor, either way, the point of view you see below is generally mine at lunch time. Today's meal is from Jimi's Market (the link doesn't do it justice, really more than a Chinese food spot). Jimi's is a off the beaten track, hole-in-the-wall type of crap hole that serves really good food on the CHEAP. They don't even have a real door, its one of those sliding barn yard doors with a flimsy handle. The formula there is simple, cafeteria style, one meat, two sides, $5.50. period. Below you will see my assortment of mashed potatoes, green beans, and a chunky beef stew with even more potatoes (what can I say, i was hungry).


The meat was tender, the green beans were garlicky with a nice crunch to them, all and all a great ROI for this desk meal.

-J

Tasty Sangwich

As sad as it may sound, being in the tech industry tends itself to eating at your desk quite often. Luckily for me, I work in between two offices(Dumbo, Brooklyn and Soho) that have pretty great lunch options. This lunch comes to me by way of Almondine Bakery in Dumbo. Almondine is owned by famous Frenchie Pastry Chef Jacque Torres and sits directly across the street from his Brooklyn chocolate wonderland. I probably eat here 2-3 times a week because the sandwiches and soups are so ridiculously good. This one had prosciutto, sweet peepers, artichoke hearts and provolone cheese. As you can imagine the bread there is phenomenal, as Frenchie's really know how to make good bread. To the left is a chocolate chip cookie that midnights as a frisbee, chewy and crunchy at the same time (how do they do that?).



So yes, its very sad to eat at your desk...but don't lie to yourself, you know you do it too. At least I get to grub on a tasty sangwich now and then.

-J

NYC Restaurant Week

This year NYC Restaurant Week brought me to a few lovely places (for those of you who don't know what restaurant week is: its a week or 2 where select places have 3 course meals for $24 at lunch and $35 for dinner, a great deal for NYC standards). One of which was Steak Frites, I ate some decent Frenchy steak and fries while enduring horrible service, unfortunately no photos are available from that meal (and even if they were, I wouldn't deem it as grub worthy).

So the other place I went this season was the River Cafe in Dumbo, Brooklyn. A fancy pants New American spot that sits right under the Brooklyn Bridge and faces the Manhattan skyline. It just so happens to be a few blocks away from my work so this meal made for a very convenient and lavish lunch. Lets start with course numero uno, lamb meatballs with cognac sauce:



Course #2 was a Scottish salmon fillet on a bed of creamy lentils paired with a fennel-apple salad. This was the best part of the meal for sure, the salmon was cooked perfectly, a nice medium rare.



Dessert really did me in; it was a duo of warm lemon pound cake with Meyer lemon curd on top and a miniature baked Alaska with caramelized bananas.



Needless to say, I didn't get much work done for the rest of the day after that meal.

-J