Showing posts with label Boerum Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boerum Hill. Show all posts
12 May 2018
02 August 2017
The Gumbo Bros
LOUISIANA USA 🇺🇸
The popup to bricks and mortar phenomenon has taken hold quite a few times in New York City, but is rarely the type of experience written about here on these pages. One 8-month old restaurant in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn has convinced us otherwise though, offering a very simple menu of gumbo and po' boys, the staples of Louisiana cuisine these "brothers" grew up on.
The simplicity of the menu is also its strength. And in all serious, who really needs more than the three items listed on the storefront: gumbo, po' boys, and cold beer? The third item in that list is catered to mostly by Abita, Louisiana's favorite brew.
During a couple visits last month, it was apparent that the early hubbub from the New York Times review had died down, but the tiny restaurant had settled into a rhythm of catering to its neighbors. A diverse group of Americans were coming in for orders, mostly for takeout.
The name of the establishment gives a good hint where to start with an order. The gumbo comes in two meat options and one vegan. On the menu, they note that the vegan version is important for Good Friday fasting in Catholic households across the deep south. A quaint story for sure, but the call of protein won out on this order of cajun chicken & sausage gumbo ($12, below).
The creamy dark base of the stew comes from a much-loved two day roux, an oil, flour, and fat thickener. The sausage adds the most taste to the mix, but shredded hunks of chicken are definitely not afterthoughts. If the heat scale is dialed back too much for New York City palates, handy bottles of Louisiana-made Crystal hot sauce are on every table.
The tastes that hit your mouth while eating the catfish po' boy ($12, below), are all straight from the south and very familiar to those who grow up on them. For me, there was no emotion biting through the bread shipped in from a New Orleans bakery, the Mississippi-raised catfish, or the South Carolinian mayo, but I could get excited for those that would feel more. In New Orleans, if your po' boy did not have the right kind of bread, an emotional person might slap it right out of your hand. Luckily there is no risk of that here.
The fried fish is obviously the highlight, and should be just like the fried shrimp in the other version they offer. The only complaint might be about the underwhelming iceberg lettuce and pale tomato that could be removed if they were not carrying so much of the good mayo. The fish is done very well, ready to magically melt in your mouth. The spice seems to come from the crispy fried batter, but again that little bottle of Crystal is ready just in case.
Our tiny bowl of $6 crawfish mac n' cheese (below) was enough to probably not order sides in the future. The tiny pieces of crawfish were scarce, everyone took a bit or two and returned to their stews and sandwiches. On another visit requiring a side, a short inquiry to the chef might be wise to see what is better on the day.
The location is convenient enough for people working in the government buildings of downtown Brooklyn or on jury duty. I have found that I rarely have time for the delicious Yemeni restaurants when I am around here and usually end up at The Soul Spot. Having another option for a great lunch is definitely an improvement for downtown and Cobble Hill customers.
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸
05 January 2011
Mile End Delicatessen
CANADA 🇨🇦
(QUÉBEC)
(QUÉBEC)
Mile End Delicatessen certainly hit the ground running when it came to Brooklyn. It generated the right amount of hype before opening and then got mostly good press. Ever since, it has been a popular place and people wait for the four small tables and counter space for hours sometimes. My expectations were probably around medium, but I was very satisfied on my visits.
In cold weather, the places is cozy and has some nice hot beverages to choose from. Stumptown Coffee is $2 and mulled apple cider is $3. The environment is very crowded, but somehow the place does not feel stuffy, the tables are large and there is plenty of legroom. No one rushes you when you finish.
They get their bagels from Montréal, and apparently this is a big thing, but to be honest I never heard anyone talk about bagels in that city despite many trips. There must be a niche. The bagels are good, but I guess I still prefer my puffy and sweet New York style. Add the smoked whitefish salad ($9, below) to one though, and it does not matter if the bagel came from the freezer section. This salad is amazing, the fish combined with celery, chives, and asparagus, minus the mayonnaise.
Be sure to get a pickle ($1.50, above) to the table as well!
The smoked meat is one of the big reasons to come here, so on the breakfast side of the menu, be sure to try the smoked meat hash ($10, below) during weekends. The delectable pulled pieces of meat are layered on top of very well-cooked potato cubes and then covered with eggs, a dish that could compete for my heart with regular corned beef hash.
Also using the smoked meat as a centerpiece and more of a Québécois specialty is the poutine ($11 with meat, below), the best rendition of the dish I have had here in New York. For me the most important part is the cheese curds, and these are excellent. Combined with a generous helping of fries and delicious gravy, this will always be a favorite.
As any deli should, Mile End also has some sandwiches named after people. The Ruth Wilensky ($7, below) is tasty enough, but actually is better on paper. The toasted onion roll is very good, but its contents have a hard time standing next to the other dishes. This would be a good quick takeout lunch though maybe.
Baked desserts probably vary each day, but on one visit we tried the twice baked challah ($4, above) which we had termed "junk on toast" before we knew what it was. It came with lingonberries which combined with the almond topping to really melt in your mouth. While you might not feel like you are in Montréal, apart from the waitress's Canadiens jersey, Mile End is a successful place and keeps its food at a very good price point. It is no wonder that people will wait for a seat.
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11 November 2008
The Soul Spot
UNITED STATES
Mmmmm... chicken and dumplings, macaroni and cheese, collard greens. This soul food restaurant is one of Brooklyn's best! I am pretty sure one of the meals (a main and two sides, $9.50-$10.50) can feed two normal-sized people.
Chicken and dumplings with corn.
Meatloaf with mac & cheese and stewed okra.
Everything is on a steam table, so just make sure not to order what has obviously been sitting around all day. They also have decent no-frills lunch specials from $4.99-$6.99.
On more recent visits, I have noticed that the menu has added and now leaned more towards the Caribbean side of soul food, but sticking with the southern classics has yet to fail me. They look better and fresher on the steam table anyways.
On more recent visits, I have noticed that the menu has added and now leaned more towards the Caribbean side of soul food, but sticking with the southern classics has yet to fail me. They look better and fresher on the steam table anyways.
Et Halal Int'l
YEMEN
Please note that this small steam-table restaurant keeps changing names (its most recent name was simply Halal Int'l, before that it was Sabaa), but the people, address, and most importantly food, stay the same. The gigantic gyro sandwich ($6.50) comes from the beautiful spits and is loaded with lamb or chicken, lettuce, peppers, onions, and a beautiful white sauce.
The steam table is always filled with tons of fresh offerings, and the place has a constant stream of halal seekers coming in and rapid-firing their orders, constantly proving my intuitions wrong. Taxi drivers in the area double park and fetch meals to take along, while neighborhood Muslims leaving the mosque a few doors down sit at the tables and enjoy food and conversation.
The steam table is always filled with tons of fresh offerings, and the place has a constant stream of halal seekers coming in and rapid-firing their orders, constantly proving my intuitions wrong. Taxi drivers in the area double park and fetch meals to take along, while neighborhood Muslims leaving the mosque a few doors down sit at the tables and enjoy food and conversation.
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