378 Metropolitan Ave, Williamsburg

If I had to describe my palette, I could pretty much just list of the ingredients in Saltie‘s sandwich menu. Beets. pickled eggs, sardines, capers, olives, pickles, oh my yes!!!

Most importantly, though the sandwiches equal more than the sum of their parts. The flavors are balanced and the pillowy bread is a perfect compliment – after all nothing is worse than a good sandwich with a bad bun.

I had to give the Captain’s Daughter a try as a huge fan of sardines but rarely ever finding them on menus. With a green salsa, pickled eggs, parsley and olive oil, it was spectacular. One of those meals that makes you kind of dance around with joy with the first bite.

Jim, whose palette is decidedly different than mine ordered the Scuttlebutt. Packed with beets, feta, olives, capers and more – it was excellent. Even Jim was a huge fan despite the powerful flavors that are usually not to his taste (he used to consider salt too spicy).

Daily specials looked amazing – on the day we were there: an egg bowl featuring roasted turnips and some of the most fluffy and appetizing looking scrambled eggs I have ever laid eyes on. They also have baked goods that I’ve not tried yet.

I had been meaning to go here for months and months and now only regeret I never made it sooner. I can’t wait to eat my way through the whole menu and then start again. There’s lots of hype from foodies about these sandwiches, but they live up to it.

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Posted on December 23, 2010

205 Grand St, Brooklyn

Makoto Suzuki, the man behind Bozu (one of Brooklyn’s most unsung best restaurants) plus the chewy deliciousness of Udon equals Samurai Mama – the perfect new spot for Jim and my first date night since baby. We arrived early before the crowds and snagged one of the few private two tops – the cozy and simple wood and brick space is dominated by a huge communal table. Udon is the name of the game here and offered in many varieties – in hot soup, dipping style, and bukkake (nothing dirty – just sauce slathered) all with different topping options from veggie to pork belly.

I opted for the traditional soup with the pork, Jim the same but as a dipping dish. Both were great, with thick, perfectly cooked noodles and a nice, sweet broth that I spiced up a bit with the red chili spices. The pork was tender and as good as it is in Bozu’s fabulous pork betty platter.

But there’s more to the menu than noodles, and you should come hungry so you can sample a bit of everything. The sushi comes in a taco form (with the nori acting as shell) and both the tuna avocado and eel avocado were outstanding. The gyoza arrived like in a surprising puffed baked appearance and was miles away from the frozen appetizer we all know so well from most Japanese restaurants. The list of sakes was varied and I opted for a smokey Suehiro glass. They had an unpasteurized bottle available (the drink I most missed while pregnant) but am really not at the point yet where I can drink half a bottle of anything.

Already garnering great local reviews and praise on yelp, Samurai Mama is sure to become another neighborhood fixture and a particularly welcome one as the nights get colder and colder and a steaming bowl of Udon beckons.

(Thanks mom and dad for the babysitting).

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Posted on November 17, 2010

160 Berry Street, Brooklyn, NY

I’ve been hearing raves about the California transplant, Blue Bottle Coffee for some time, so it seemed like the perfect destination for baby’s first stroller outing. Being prematurely judgemental, I was expecting a staff of snobs, maybe because the coffee is taken so seriously here (they have several preparations and types which can be read about in great detail at their website), but was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by very chipper, courteous people who didn’t even scoff when I tried to order an iced tea for Jim (which they don’t serve FYI).

We both tried the New Orleans, a light, sweetened iced coffee that still has me majorly buzzing hours later (a very strange feeling after being strictly decaf for months and months). This beverage is way strong and way delicious but if you don’t want the jolt that hard core coffee can give you, you might want to opt for a weaker neighborhood option. However, if you long for the kind of coffee that coffee lovers rave about, this is your place. It’s super pet friendly too, so you can sit with lots of local dogs as you take advantage of the outdoor benches while the weather continues to please us.

There are several locations in San Francisco, but so far, Berry Street is the first in New York.

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Posted on November 13, 2010

229 S 4th St. Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Absolutely delicious! If Traif is to be my last nice meal out for some time, there wasn’t better company or food for the occasion. Located in a strange hidden corner of Brooklyn, off the BQE and Williamsburg Bridge, the months old small plates restaurant is a (somewhat) secret gem in the borough landscape of high end, interesting eating.

Two small plates per person was recommended by our waitress which works out perfectly as long as you come hungry.The website calls the cuisine “celebrating pork, shellfish, and globally inspired soul food” so, appropriately the seafood and meat dishes: spicy tuna tartare (a table favorite, though I couldn’t try it myself), chorizo and lamb meatballs, bacon wrapped dates, spicy sweet glazed calamari (my favorite dish if absolutely forced to choose), duck confit lettuce wraps, razor clams, seared scallops, and bacon donuts (yes, bacon donuts!) were truly outstanding. But don’t ignore a balance of veggie plates too – starting with a rich, creamy amuse buche of onion soup we also ordered a fresh brussel sprout salad and a citrusy beet and cheese dish.

Amazingly, all this was lovingly prepared in the smallest of open kitchens, just on the other side of the slightly cramped bar. I am always in awe of chefs that can work with so little space, and these guys were working wonders.

While I couldn’t partake, I did take a delirious sniff of Mike’s cocktail that included rye, chocolate bitters, ginger liqueur and a flame roasted lemon rind (could anything make me miss cocktails more?). A unique selection of beers and good priced wines are also available (as well as iced tea for those of us nine months pregnant and eliciting looks of horror at my big belly from neighboring eaters). From their incredibly positive yelp reviews, it’s fair to say that Traif has found the exact perfect balance between tastiness, price (about 40 a person with drinks and a very satisfying meal) and dim lit ambiance. It is certainly worth seeking out (even if the recommendation makes it impossibly crowded) and while you can, take advantage of what looked like a lovely lush backyard. One of the best meals we’ve had in a long time, so excited to have it near by for future special occasions.

Click here for the rest of Traif

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Posted on October 8, 2010

620 Lorimer St

If Italian manly testosterone could be harnessed into energy, Lorimer Meat Market could not only be the greenest restaurant in Williamsburg, but probably light the entire neighborhood. Both staff and patrons bellow with wise cracks and ayes! and it is very little surprise that they really, really know how to make a big beautiful meatball sandwich. It’s curious how some small spots make the radar of “must eats”, and if it were any way up to me I’d add this one to this list.

The photo almost does it justice. The meatballs are soft, clearly made with quality meat and huge surrounded by just enough sauce to partially soak the bread, but not overwhelm. The cheese is gooey and there’s enough that it’s presence is noticeable and key to the deliciousness.

The corner shop which has been in the neighborhood for many years (though this was my first visit) and has a huge menu of sandwiches if meatballs aren’t your thing as well as meats, salads, pastas, and more.

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Posted on August 8, 2010