Where to Go for Coffee in NYC

In New York City, there are plenty of places to go when you need a coffee pick-up.  But when we need help waking up, we'd prefer not to get watered-down deli coffee nor anything from the ubiquitous big coffee chains.  Don't get us wrong.  In a pinch, we'll drink anything with caffeine; however, when we have time or are in the neighborhood, we would rather check out the following great coffee shops.

The Newcomer:  Stumptown Coffee Roasters in the Ace Hotel - Stumptown Coffee, the famed coffee wholesalers from Portland, Ore, opened their first spot in NYC at the renovated Ace Hotel.  We loved our cappucino ($3.30) with its silky foam on top of the nutty espresso.  The stylish staff were incredibly friendly and though there aren't any seats within the coffee shop, the lobby of the Ace hotel makes for a cool, relaxed area to hang out and enjoy your coffee. 

The Perfectionist:  Joe The Art of Coffee - You know that person in high school who got straight A's, was extremely well-liked, and volunteered as much as possible?  S/he would be the personification of Joe The Art of Coffee.  In addition to charity work (currently a canned food drive for Food Banks) and community activities (running club), Joe The Art of Coffee is an expert in coffee-making.  Our iced espresso was strong and full of flavor!  There are currently 5 locations around Manhattan, and if you bring your own to-go mug, you get 10 cents off each drink!

 

The Original:  Ninth Street Espresso - Opened in 1991, Ninth Street Espresso was the first specialty coffee house in NYC.  It has since grown to 3 locations, but the simple menu remains the same.  There are only 7 items on it and they all celebrate espresso.  We had the Macchiato ($3.50) which was perfectly smooth and creamy.

The Futurist:  Roasting Plant - Using pumps and tubes to move the coffee beans around, the beans are both untouched by human hands and roasted on the premises.  The result was a pretty good coffee and a fun experience.  There are currently 2 locations in NYC.

The Homebody:  Second Stop Cafe - With rustic ambiance, free Wi-Fi, and laid-back service, this is the place where you can spend a few carefree hours (if there's a free spot) never wanting to leave.  The baked goods are homey and in addition to good cappucinos, there are old-school favorites like egg creams.  

The Classic:  Zibetto Espresso Bar - When we think fondly of European trips, we often think about the great food, drink, and cafes.  This double espresso ($3) we had at Zibetto reminded us of those trips abroad.  It had a rich and smooth crema - definitely one of best espresso bars in the city.

The only other coffee shop in NYC we've been meaning to try is Gimme!.  We hope to check it out soon to see whether it would make our list.  Have you tried this (or any of these) coffee shops?  Are we missing any others?  We'd love to hear your suggestions!

    

 Joe The Art of Coffee is located in NYC, at

141 Waverly Pl

9 East 13th St. (btwn 5th Ave and University Pl)
405 W 23rd St. (at 9th Ave)
44 Grand Central Terminal
514 Columbus Ave (at W 85th St)

Ninth Street Espresso is located in NYC, at

75 9th Ave (in Chelsea Market)

700 E 9th St (btwn Aves C and D)
341 E 10th St (btwn Aves A and B)

Roasting Plant is located in NYC, at

18 Orchard St (btwn Broome and Grand Sts)

75 Greenwich Ave (btwn W 11th and Bank Sts)

Second Stop Cafe is located at

524 Lorimer St. (at Ainslie St) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Stumptown Coffee Roasters is located at

18 W 29th St. btwn 5th and Broadway Aves. (in the Ace Hotel) in NYC.

Zibetto Espresso Bar is located, in NYC at

6 Avenue (at 56th St.)

102 Fulton street (at Williams St.)

Fette Sau: Best BBQ in Brooklyn

When a restaurant's name means "Fat Sow" in German, we knew we would not leave the premises hungry.

We met up with friends at Fette Sau, a great barbecue spot in Brooklyn where vegetarians should never tread.

Fette Sau features an ever-changing BBQ menu using organic and/or small family farmed heritage breed animals.  The meat is smoked with a blend of locally sourced red and white oak, maple, beech, and cherry wood.  And it all happens in a former auto repair garage in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Draft beers in mason jars (Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold, Ramstein Unfiltered Pils, and Blue Point Oatmeal Stout).  The coolest part of getting these beers were the taps at the bar:  antique butcher knives.

This Espresso Coffee Soda ($2) from Manhattan Special was rich and made for dark roast coffee lovers.

The cafeteria-style restaurant, with long communal picnic tables, was very busy.  Pricing is by pound, which was a little confusing, but the guy at the counter was very helpful in suggesting the right amounts. 

 

Couple #1's tray.  We loved the Organic Beef Brisket because it was incredibly juicy and tender.

 

Couple #2's tray.  We tried the Habanero sauce here and it was very, very spicy.

 

Our tray - It looks like our friends' trays, but we also added the Berkshire Pig's Tail and lots of Berkshire Pork Belly. The pig's tail uncurls when it's cooked, so it was longer than expected it to be.  Though it was tasty, it was difficult to separate the meat from the cartilage.  The Burnt End Baked Beans was rich and comforting, with chunks of beef in it.   Though the Hand Pulled Berkshire Shoulder was tender, but we preferred the fattier Organic Beef Brisket and Berkshire Belly.

 

Our overall favorite was the Berkshire Pork Belly.  It was juicy and meaty, with a nice seasoned coating and good char on it. 

 

Fette Sau is located at 354 Metropolitan Ave (btwn Havemeyer and Roebling) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Marlow & Sons

 

Good food should be simple and straightforward with natural flavors heightened by a little seasoning.  This was why we've been eager to check out Marlow & Sons in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Beyond the small retail space (selling coffee and pastries) is the intimate, wood-paneled bar

So with an aperitif in hand (Aperol Spritzer, a cocktail of aperol, muscadet, and soda), we enjoyed a quick bite in this casual spot.

 

Oh, oysters...When they're perfectly shucked, with ample seawater and plump meat left intact, they are divine.  We enjoyed two types of oysters (at $2.75 ea): Old Salt's from Virginia and Fisher Islands from New York.

 

Spicy Sopressata ($9.50):  Crispy bread, newly sliced meats, and provolone cheese is all we need to make us happy!

Marlow & Sons is a great laid-back spot with an ever-changing menu.  The next time we head out to this area, we'll definitely come back and also check out its sister restaurant next door, Diner (where dinner menus are often decided half an hour before dinner starts).

 

Marlow & Sons is located at 81 Broadway (at Berry St) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Eurotrash: New food truck in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

While exploring Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we walked by a former empty lot and found a new food truck, Eurotrash, parked in its place.  It looked out of place, but with an eclectic menu featuring bangers and mash, Swedish meatballs, and deep fried Mars bars, we decided to take the plunge and order a few items from the truck.

 

Here's the makeshift restaurant with the kitchen in the truck, a covered picnic table for seating, and an ATM in front.

 

The complete menu.

 

Corona battered Fish and Chips ($5):  We thought that this was a very generous portion for only $5!  The cod was nice and crisp but because of the wind, we had to quickly eat both large pieces before they got cold!  The chips were plump and addictive as well.

 

Deep Fried Mars bar ($3):  After hearing much about this dessert, we finally decided to try this indulgent treat.  The coating was thin and chewy  - once we took a bite, it easily slid off the bar.  By frying the Mars bar, the chocolate was nicely melted and the caramel sticky and gooey.

 

Eurotrash is located on N 3rd St. (btwn Berry and Wythe Sts) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Around the World with Cheese!

There's nothing like a wedge of cheese, some charcuterie, and (lots of) red wine to make us feel that all is well in the world.  

This is probably why, when we walk about and come across a cheese shop, we inevitably sample to our hearts' content and always leave with a few new cheeses to share at home.

Here is our ode to the cheeses and cheese shops we've recently enjoyed!

Whenever we're in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we make sure to stop off at Bedford Cheese Shop.  The shop is charming and despite the large variety, is never over-whelming.  Perhaps it's because the staff as always been friendly and easy-going in offering samples and suggestions.

 

We came away with these 3 cheeses.  The Ossau-Iraty (also known as Istara) is a creamy, nutty French sheep's milk cheese.  The Zamorano is a hard sheep's milk cheese from Spain.  It's a sharper, nuttier, and richer cheese versus Manchego.  For dessert, we had the Lemon Baked Ricotta, which is a religious experience in itself!  If you like lemon and airy cheesecake, this cheese is for you!

 

We've posted a few times about Despana, a Spanish stores that features a large selection of authentic Spanish food and drink products.

We chose two Spanish sheep's milk cheeses.  The Roncal (left) was nutty and chewy and fairly similar to the Manchego, our usual sheep's milk cheese selection.

When we visit Toronto, we make sure to stop off at A Taste of Quebec.  This Quebecois cheese shop shares it space with an art gallery, making the area itself a fun and interesting destination.

Le 1608 is from Laiterie Charlevoix in Quebec, Canada.  What's interesting about this cheese is that is uses milk from Champlain cows, whose ancestors were brought over from France in 1608 (also when Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City). This was a very stinky cheese (some would call it "earthy", others would say "barnyard") with a nutty taste.

 

We loved the dramatic black rind on Le Chevre Noir.  It's another Quebecois goat's milk cheese made by Fromagerie Tournevent.  This was definitely different as this was cheddar-like in style versus the usual crumbly or creamy goat cheeses.  It was buttery, with a touch of caramel sweetness and a very long finish.  It would go well with a light, fruity or country-style wine...and we thought it would also go well with espresso.

A Taste of Quebec is located at The Distillery District, building 32 (off Distillery Lane) in Toronto, Canada.

Bedford Cheese Shop is located at 229 Bedford Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Despana is located at 408 Broome St. (btwn Lafayette and Cleveland Pl) in NYC.

Five Leaves - Lunch in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Records instead of mp3s and mason jars instead of water glasses - this was the retro, laid-back scene at Five Leaves in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

We decided to visit this tight Australian-influenced restaurant (which we later learned was partially financed by the late Heath Ledger) for a quick lunch at the bar counter.

Loved the old-school taps (and that we could order a shandy - mix of tap beer with sprite)!

Steak Sandwich special ($13):  We loved our rare steak with spicy arugula and tomatoes on a crunchy baguette.  It was one of the best sandwiches we've ever eaten. 

Five Leaves Burger ($14):  This grass-fed beef burger came topped with a pineapple ring, sliced homemade pickled beet, spicy mayo, and sunny-side up organic egg.  It's an Australian specialty that's sweet and savory all at the same time.

The space was pretty tight and the service was a little slow, but overall, the food was fresh, tasty, and satisfying!

Five Leaves is located at 18 Bedford Ave (at Lorimer St.) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

al di là Trattoria - great Italian food in Park Slope, Brooklyn

al di là...the name sounds like a whimsical song, but it's actually the name of a fantastic Northern Italian restaurant in Park Slope.  It's usually busy (they don't take reservations), but we easily grabbed a table without waiting during the long holiday weekend.

With floor to ceiling windows and a small, but rustic and elegant dining space, al di la trattoria is the perfect spot for a cozy, romantic meal.  After walking through the burgundy curtains and seeing all of the delicious-looking meals around us, we were eager to start our lunch at this neighborhood gem.

Zucchini Salad ($8): This was a wonderfully tangy and crunchy zucchini salad with mint, red chilis, pecorino, and lemon juice. We first taste the lemon, and then the chili heat kicks in. An excellent fresh summer salad.

Crispy Pork Belly Sandwich ($9.50): The pork belly was nice and crunchy and went well with the arugula salad and pickled onions. The pork was not dried out and the onions were refreshing.

Sauteed Wild Mushroom ($12) - Our server said that this was the most popular dish on the lunch menu. We enjoyed the mix of creamy yet light polenta, braised kale and grated parmigiano with the mushrooms. We had a nice glass of an '07 Barbera to go with this (there is a decent but small wine list).

Cherry Compote on Ricotta Cheese ($7): The saltiness of the delicate ricotta with the bright sweetness of the cherries was a nice touch to end the meal.

al di là Trattoria is located at 248 5th Ave. in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Launch Party for Brooklyn Brewery's Detonation Ale

Meat, dumplings, and of course, beer...my husband enjoyed all three at the Launch Party for Brooklyn Brewery's newest beer, Detonation Ale. Enjoy his post!

Last week I attended the launch of Brooklyn Brewery's Detonation Ale at Prospect Park's Audobon Center at the Boathouse in Brooklyn, NY.  The event was also a fundraiser for the Prospect Park Alliance and it was well worth it.

It poured for the first hour and was incredibly humid out, but luckily the beer tent was only a few feet outside the hall. I went for several fill-ups of The Detonation Ale at the outside tap.  The Detonation Ale is a hoppier and maltier (i.e. bigger) version of the popular Brooklyn Blast, with seven kinds of hops and is about 9.2% ABV.

Inside the hall, pours were available of some other great Brooklyn beers:  Sorachi Ace with citrusy Sorachi hops (I liked this year's stronger version better); the Belgian-style Local 1 (a personal favorite); and Local 2 made with wildflower honey.

Snacks were provided by The Meat Hook (who used the hand torch to cook slices of sausage).  The Austrian-style Kasekrainer sausage from the crew at the Meat Hook should be a staple bar food anywhere -- they brought about 13 pounds to slice up for the guests -- and was gobbled up by everyone enjoying the Detonation Ale.

There were also homemade spicy vegetable and spicy meat dumplings from Connie Sun of the Dump School with her own dipping sauces.  The dumplings paired well with the Sorachi Ace and over 300 of the delicious dumplings disappeared in about 30 minutes.

I really liked the delicious spicy and bacon popcorn treats from Ovenly.  They surprisingly had a good fiery kick.

Brooklyn Detonation Ale should be available this week and like most of the Brewmaster’s Reserve Series is draft-only for now.