Learning Up a Storm at the Food Book Fair

Last week, I had the good experience of (for the first time) visiting the Food Book Fair.  Now in its third year, the Food Book Fair was founded by Chef and artist, Elizabeth Jones with the purpose of “uniting food enthusiasts, chefs, artists, writers and publishers to celebrate the intersection of food, culture and food systems.”

The events throughout last weekend very much stayed true to this mission, as one got to hear from all sorts of people in the food business—not only chefs, but also business people and folks who came into the food world by way of something else.

Over the course of last weekend, I attended a few panels, performances and screenings that helped me come out with useful knowledge when thinking about the food industry and will no doubt influence my future writings and actions.  Here are a few of my highlights:

The Venue:
The Wythe hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, provided a chic setting that was perfectly appropriate for this event.  Although much of the event was held in their basement screening room, I did get to explore the hotel a bit, including the main lobby where their pop-up book shop (and book signings) were held.  The backyard garden area and main event hall were very cool as well, exemplifying the hotel’s simple yet stylish motif which some may call industrial chic.

Food + Growing + Music
The first event I attended was the most lively, featuring a musical duo, Bennett Konesni and Edith Gawler who gave a stunning and interactive performance, showcasing many types of work songs that related back to food.  Paying homage to farmers, foragers, fisherman and various sorts of food purveyors, the songs served as rallying cries for good, honest, hard work and transported us to another world.

The activities that followed were fun as well, and included a walk over to Wythe’s private dining room, where we got to indulge in deliciously hearty, ultra fresh and of course seasonal eats prepared by Chef-Artist, Anne Apparu.

Food + Film
Although a very different event from the former, I found this one most influential, mainly due to the powerful message that came from Fed Up, the feature documentary we watched.  Produced by Laurie David, Fed Up shines a light on why we gain weight by uncovering the sobering effects of the food we put into our bodies from big corporate food producers.  The film was eye opening, a little bit disturbing and scary (maybe a lot), but really empowering as well.  Followed by a Q&A session with Laurie, we found out about the extensive research she undertook to create the film and the amazing people that helped make it the poignant work that it is.  You can view the Fed Up trailer here.  

Food + Social Entrepreneurship
Next came a panel about small food businesses and the entrepreneurs who started them, with the mission of encouraging social change and overall socially conscious practices.  Featuring inspiring individuals such as Ellen Gustafson, Co-Founder of FEED and Food Tank; Christophe Hille, CFO of Northern Spy Food Co. and Fleisher’s Grass-fed OrganicMeats, and Steve Hindy, Co-Founder of Brooklyn Brewery, the discussion moved through lively topics such as maintaining socially responsible practices in an expanding business, strategies for effective brand building, philanthropic efforts that make an impact and more.  Overall, it was great to learn how each one of these individuals helps influence change in their communities, how they got their start and in some cases they even shelled out advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Brew Pub
While we enjoyed all the intelligence mentioned above, at the end of the day, we were so ready to eat and imbibe.  Held at Wythe’s main event hall, the brew pub was an impressive showcase of more than 22 home brewed beers.  From hoppy IPAs to luscious stouts, we got our fix of all sorts of beers that went down well with little bites of Fleisher’s roast beef sandwiches, charcuterie sticks and earthy lamb sausage.  Everyone got to take home a cool souvenir glass from the event, which was a nice memento for this wildly successful event.

To learn more about the Food Book Fair, and the featured authors, artists and purveyors, visit foodbookfair.com

Brooklyn Bowl - As Cool As It Tries To Be

Images from BrooklynBowl.com

First and foremost, thank you Foodista for the lovely reintroduction!

Now, to business.

So, the other night I got a chance to head to Brooklyn Bowl over in Williamsburg for a friend's party. I wasn't sure what to expect and was completely surprised to learn that this place is basically the renaissance man of the bowling alley. Not only does it have 16 lanes--each with lounge style seating--but there's a bar and a decent amount of bar space, a cool concert venue, and most importantly, really, really good food.

As it turns out, the Brooklyn Bowl is owned and operated by Blue Ribbon, so the quality of food should come as no surprise. And because the Foodie gods were probably smiling down upon me that night (someone with the party had a connection to the chef), I was able to try a bunch of items off the menu, including:

• Rock and Roll fries
• Hummus appetizer
• French Bread pizza
• Mac and Cheese
• Fried chicken
• and Roasted Adobo Corn

I have only good things to say about everything I tried, and I do really want to go back--maybe not to work on my high score, but definitely to try some of the other items on the menu. Especially since the prices are fairly reasonable (ranging from about $8-$28).

So if you're ever in the hood and in the mood for a drink, a concert, and/or some good food, I'd recommend checking out the Brooklyn Bowl.

Brooklyn Bowl - 61 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, NY 11211

718.963.3369

L to Bedford Ave/G to Nassau Ave

www.brooklynbowl.com

Motorino Pizza - Neopolitan Indulgence

Motorino Pizza - 319 Graham Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11211
718.599.8899
L Train to Graham Avenue
www.motorinopizza.com

Last night was another Williamsburg adventure--this time with Meg--as we explored Neopolitan pizza at the much-talked-about Motorino Pizza. I've heard so much about this place that my expectations were sky high and I'm happy to report that they were met all the way.

Atmosphere:
Modern, comfortable and trendy, Motorino is all of these things. I was expecting huge crowds based on its popularity but since we came in before 7pm, we had top pick for a table. We chose one in the center of the medium-ish dining room, in front of the large, rustic brick oven. I like that the oven is on display, an appropriate centerpiece for Motorino's "main-event" dish--pizza. Overall, the decor is simple, earthy and classic--you'll see marble table tops, simple chairs, a little bit of greenery at each table and beautiful lemons displayed at the bar, adding color.

Food:
There were so many pizza options and everything looked so delicious, that we had a hard time deciding. We went with a veggie starter, a tasting of cheese, a pizza and two desserts--we just couldn't resist.

Roasted Beet Salad - Both Meg and I love beets so this dish spoke to us. I was surprised at how generous the portion was and I absolutely loved the shaved ricotta salata cheese on top. It gave the sweet beets a salty bite and a hint of creaminess. Lovely fragrance and zest from fresh herbs such as parsley and mint also enhanced this simple salad.

Humboldt Fog Cheese - This is truly a "must" in my book and I'll certainly order it again. Presented beautifully on a rustic "Motorino" cheese board, it was paired with sweet figs, pistachios and honey. The cheese itself was a creamy goat's milk variety, which spread easily on bread and had a luxurious taste with a tang at the end. The inside felt like a traditional goat's cheese but the farther from the center you got, it looked and tasted like brie. YUM!

Soppresatta Piccante Pizza - Fluffy and gorgeous with a lot of char marks, I was really into this pie. The toppings were hearty with just the right amount of kick that tickled the back of the throat. The soppresatta had some heat to it too and it mixed in nicely with the melted cheese. My only complaint was that they burnt the pizza crust a bit--I know that char is part of Motorino's charm but we got too much of it and Meg agreed. I looked over at my neighbors' pie to compare and theirs didn't have black spots, only brown ones.

Bomboloni with Vanilla Custard and Rhubarb - This was a special of the day and naturally, we couldn't turn down homemade donuts with sugar and a rich filling. Because they were homemade, they were super light and not greasy at all. The rhubarb filling was my favorite, slightly sour but also sweet while the vanilla custard was luxurious, dotted with fresh vanilla bean seeds.

Hazelnut Gelatto - A perfect accompaniment to the donuts, this gelatto was everything that it should be, smooth, creamy and fresh. I liked that it was embellished with fresh mint--just another detail that made it more special.

Service and Cost:
Our waitress was helpful and nice. She was knowledgeable about cheese, which proved important when we made our selection. Dishes came out in good time and I liked that the apps came fast and then we waited a little for the entree--it was good to space out the two courses. Overall, no complaints in this department.

Costs are very wallet friendly. For an appetizer, a cheese plate, one pizza, two desserts and two alcoholic drinks we paid $26 each including tax and tip. Buon affare!

3 Mmmms

Sea - Of Madness...Steer Clear

Sea - 114 North 6th Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
718.384.8850
L Train to Bedford Avenue
www.seathainyc.com/

Peter and I went to Williamsburg last week and stopped in for Thai food at Sea Restaurant. We heard good things from friends and family, so we were excited to try it. Sadly though, after our miserable experience we will never go back. Ironically, only after we ate there did I find out that Sea is a Williamsburg tourist trap. We fell right in.

Atmosphere:
What draws you to Sea are its cool surroundings. The building that it's housed in is industrial-looking and spacious--it's very Williamsburg. The ceilings are high and the effect is larger-than-life.

Immediately upon walking in, your eye focuses on the beautiful reflecting pool in the middle of the room with a large Buddha statue protruding from it. There's a wooden boat with gorgeous flowers that swims around peacefully--and if you're lucky enough to sit pool-side as we did, you can watch it float throughout your meal.

Although the aforementioned scene sounds serene, Sea itself is not. Describing it as bustling and loud doesn't do this restaurant justice. Throughout your meal, you'll be distracted by various goings-on, such as frazzled waitstaff, parents running after their toddlers or a loud birthday party.

Food:
Since Sea is sister restaurant to Spice in Manhattan, we had positive expectations about the food. Overall, the food delivered and while not phenomenal, it was tasty and worth the price. Our lunch consisted of:

Tom Yum Seafood Soup - This is my favorite Thai soup and from the description, it sounded like it was packed with seafood. I've only had it with shrimp before, so I was looking forward to this version. It was flavorful and included jumbo shrimp, squid, scallops, and scallions in a lemongrass broth. The seafood was very good, although the shrimp tasted a little fishy. I loved the squid the most and would definitely recommend this starter. Peter got it as well and seemed to love it too.

Black Bean Ginger with Beef - My main dish was a stir-fry of mushrooms, pineapples, scallions, peppers and beef. Overall, I enjoyed it very much but didn't like the way it was thrown at me by a frantic waiter. The beef was on the lean side, the veggies were fresh and the sauce that bound everything together was a little spicy.

Pattaya Noodle with Chicken - Peter's choice was also tasty and consisted of broad noodles, scallions, radish peanuts and chicken. The noodles were especially delicious because they were thick and gentle on the palate. Again, the sauce was wonderful and the nuts provided a nice crunch.

Service and Cost:
This is where everything fell apart. Our waiter seemed confused from the first hello to the last miscalculated check. We ordered things that were never brought to us--like Peter's tea--but annoyingly we were charged for them. Our entrees were thrown at us in confusion and the service overall was so heinous that we sat there with our mouths open in exasperation. And though the food was good, I would never go back due to such disorganization and serious service malfunctions.

The cost of the food was very reasonable at a mere $7-$8 for an appetizer and an entree. While this price is hard to match, we were overcharged on our bill. Being that we were so fed up with the service, we didn't tip at all. The experience was despicable. Steer clear.

1 Mmmm

Marlow & Sons - A Sweet/Salty Finish

Marlow & Sons - 81 Broadway, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211
718.384.1441
L Train to Bedford Street
www.marlowandsons.com

My brother Peter and I took today to explore Williamsburg. We visited a friend's gallery and uncovered various culinary treasures that piqued our interests for future visits.

One such treasure included Marlow & Sons, a rustic general store with a quaint dining room in the back. Since I've been there once before, I knew how wonderful and cozy it was--and I was eager to share it with Peter.

Atmosphere:
What I love most about Marlow is how real it is--the interior has been preserved, showcasing a dark wooden bar, paneled walls and old fashioned chandeliers. I like that the tables are imperfect and mismatched--some are communal and others are smaller yet positioned close to each other. The proximity is comfortable and encourages voyeurism--I wasn't afraid to look over and oooh and ahhh at my neighbor's beautiful oysters or at a huge kettle of stew that was placed on the table behind us.

Food:
We sat down to a nice glass of wine (whiskey in Peter's case) and a hearty slice of chocolate/caramel torte. Since Marlow's menu is dependent on local, good quality ingredients, I knew that our dessert would be nothing short of spectacular. And it was.

Chocolate/Caramel Torte - What sold me on this dessert was that it was sprinkled with coarse sea salt. Lately, I've been loving the sweet/salty combination and I look for it in a good dessert. The chocolate was lovely--it was dark, fudgy and thick--while the caramel was luxuriously smooth and almost buttery. Once your tongue hit the salty crystals, it created the most wonderful sensation on your tongue. Peter put it best when he said that it tasted like a pretzel cake. Fantastic!

Service and Cost:
Our waitress was friendly and accommodating. She gave us her recommendations and I think that we chose the chocolate/caramel torte mainly because she sold us on it. She was attentive and cared enough to see how we were enjoying everything--I know this sounds basic but after the dreadful lunch experience we had, we appreciated the attention.

Two drinks and a dessert set us back $23, which wasn't bad. The wine is especially reasonable at $6/glass for a house red. And might I add that it was very tasty.

I'll be back here in the summer for their famous panini and other seasonal dishes.

3 Mmmms

Bonita - Simple Good Eats in the 'Burg

Bonita - 338 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

718.384.9500

L Train to Bedford Avenue

www.bonitanyc.com

My co-workers and I eagerly ventured to Williamsburg last night, led by fearless-leader colleague (and guide) Virginia. She lives in the 'burg and was happy to introduce us to some famously delicious eateries. Our original plans were to try the quaint Miranda restaurant--serving Latin American and Italian cuisine--but when a private party got in our way, we gladly capped off the day with sangria, enchiladas and tacos at Comida Tipica Mexicana Bonita.

Atmosphere:

Bonita is a preserved 1927 Brooklyn diner. It's located on the ground level of a Brooklyn brownstone--a gorgeous old brick building which brings you back in time. In my eyes, the cool aspects of Bonita are in fact some of its original touches--a long diner-style counter that faces the kitchen, simple stools and chairs that look like they came from your grandmother's kitchen, the high ceilings and the round ball light fixtures that just say the 1950's.

Yet as retro as Bonita feels, it's also very now, very hipster and very Brooklyn. The crowd that hangs here is young. They're trendy urbanites that come by for a drink and some trusty Mexican eats. The space is large and you'll find both, small private tables tucked away in the corner as well as larger ones that accommodate groups.

Food:

The menu is pretty basic and consists of the standbys--guac, quesadillas, enchiladas and a couple of daily specials. I like that the menu doesn't contain too many choices, which could make ordering dinner a stressful task. Interestingly, all the non 'burgies (Kimberly, Katie and me) got the enchiladas and Viriginia went for the fish tacos. Here's the low down on our dinner:

Chips and Guac: Overall, very solid on both the chips and the guac. The chips were thick and crispy and there was lots of 'em. The guac was semi creamy and chunky which was good--a simple recipe with avocados and onions. It had the right amount of salt which is always important and sometimes overlooked.

Braised Beef Enchiladas: I was a bit surprised to find out that these were more like steak enchiladas than braised beef. When I think of braised beef, I think of soft, shredded dark meat that's silky and creamy. These enchiladas were tasty but definitely steak-like. They were topped with cheese, shredded radishes and cilantro. My favorite part of the dish was the sauce, which I'm assuming was a mixture of cheese and tomatoes. Katie got a chicken variation, which she also enjoyed but commented that she would've loved to see some fajitas on the menu.

Fish Tacos: These are Virginia's favorite and she orders 'em almost every time. They consist of a crispy white fish in two soft shelled tortillas, topped with lettuce, radishes cilantro and a house sauce. While I didn't try them, they looked incredibly fresh and appetizing. Maybe next time...

The Sides: It's sort of a bummer that you have to order these separately but even still, they were delicious. We opted for the sweet plantains and the black beans and rice. Both complimented our entrees nicely and the plantains were a big hit. They provided a dessert-like flavor with the savoriness of our main dishes.

Service and Cost:

The service was good and very prompt. We got to Bonita on the early side and occupied one of its many free tables. However, by the time we left, the place was packed and a lot of people were in fact waiting to be seated. Despite the busyness, we were not bothered to leave. In fact, we felt that we could've stayed longer and kept chatting away. All in all, Bonita was very hospitable.

In terms of cost, it's inexpensive to the naked eye but adds up quickly because all the sides and even the chips are separate. I'm a firm believer that Mexican food should be as inexpensive as possible but that's unfortunately not the case in New York City. Appetizers range from $3-$8, entrees from $7.50-$14 and beers and sangria are $5.

2 Mmmms