Butcher Paper Dinners are Back at the Brooklyn Grange

Another thing I love about the summer is the ample amount of events held all over Astoria and LIC.  I also love it because LIC's Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm is in full swing, bearing a bounty of fresh produce for all of us to enjoy.  Aside from the raw veggies you can get at their Farmers Market, they're also bringing back the series of Butcher Paper dinners.

Allowing us to enjoy the facilities of the farm, including the awesome open air atmosphere of the rooftop, the Butcher Paper dinners bring together the community with a great local restaurant or food producer. The beauty of these dinners is that they're truly communal, hosted on the farm's massive reclaimed wood table, enabling guests to mix, mingle and share not only food but experiences.  Here's more info about their first event, which takes place at the end of this month.  I hope you get to experience it!

Butcher Paper Dinner: Summer Eats with Momo Sushi Shack
Sunday, July 20th at 5 p.m.
$80/person - get your tickets here

Momo Sushi Shack is bringing some asian flair to the farm with seasonal seafood and ever-popular pork belly, all in very finger friendly formats. The guys making the magic happen, Phillip Gilmour, Chance Johnston, Ismael Alvarez  and Makoto Suzuki, opened Momo Sushi Shack in 2010, combining fresh American ingredients with traditional Japanese technique. 

The result is a tremendously popular spot in Bushwick that has received rave reviews from Yelpers (a true achievement), as well as a Michelin Guide recommendation. Their food is enough to win anyone over, but we love them even more for their commitment to sourcing locally from places like Heritage Food, Bushwick Campus Farms, and Brooklyn Grange!

So pop on up, ready your palate, grab a brew from Queens Brewery or some chilled white wine courtesy of Boundary Breaks, and kick back for a summery Sunday Butcher Paper Dinner!

MENU: 

Wasabi Shrimp and Oyster Cocktail
Tako (Octopus) Tacos with Lobster
Pork Belly and Scallop Skewers

Yuzu Curd with Animal Crackers

Queens Brewery Beer
Boundary Breaks Wine

SCHEDULE: 

5pm - 6pm: Arrival, farm tours, cocktail hour. Wander and enjoy!
6pm - 6:30: Appetizers and Farm Salad
6:30-8:30: Dinner is served! Sip, savor and enjoy the sunset

The Brooklyn Grange Farm - 37-18 Northern Blvd LIC, NY 11101
347.670.3660
R Train to 36th Street
brooklyngrangefarm.com

Bareburger Ditmars Celebrates 1 Year

Well...I can hardly believe it, but Astoria's second Bareburger location on 31st Street and 23rd Avenue (Ditmars nabe) is celebrating its first year in business.  There's no doubting how successful the Bareburger franchise has proven to be, spreading its wings into other parts of Queens such as Bayside and Forest Hills, as well as Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Don't miss their special anniversary celebration this Thursday the 20th.  Come by and enjoy:

All day food and drinks specials, including:
1/2 priced snacks and essentials
$3 individual grizzly sliders (beef, turkey and veggie)
$4 any 16 oz beer, $5 any 25 oz beer
$6 pitchers of Lionshead Lager

Bareburger - 23-01 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105
718.204.7167
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.bareburger.com

Fall Preview Menu at Bear

A bit bummed out that summer is over, I have to face reality and embrace the upcoming fall season.  But it's not all bad, as fall is a nice time of year with mild temperatures and some interesting seasonal eats.  I love that some neighborhood eateries are adjusting their menus to reflect this seasonal change, and Bear is of course one such early adopter.  Their fall menu looks quite enticing...full of root vegetables, mushrooms, and tons of protein.  Just take a look:

Fall Dinner Menu:
Borscht – a creamy beet and tomato bisque, served with garlic dumplings...$6
Summer Squash Bisque – end of summer, bisque with sage and caramelized apple toast...$6 Green Cabbage Salad – peppers, ginger, apples, pears, scallions, sesame seeds, extra virgin sunflower dressing...$7
Stewed Forest Mushrooms – wild mushrooms, stewed with dill, garlic and cream, served with a poached egg, a blanket of cheese and brioche croutons...$9
Pate and Mousse – a plate house made seasonal pate and chicken liver mouse, marinated mushroom salad, grilled country bread...$11
Grilled Squid Salad with Baby Spinach...$9

Seared Diver Sea Scallops with pattypan squash, thyme, and cherry tomato...$MP
Long Island Duck Breast with roasted apples and seasonal fruit...$25
Lamb with cauliflower puree, and brussels sprouts tempura...$MP
Whole baked branzini stuffed with vegetables...$21
Wild Arctic Char with zucchini spaghetti and beet salsa $21
Prime Steak and fries...$MP
The Grizzly Burger – our signature burger served with Bear fries...$15
Rabbit Fettuccini in a creamy rosemary and garlic sauce...$18
Mushroom Stroganoff - perciattelli pasta with aged white cheddar and truffle puree...$18 Pumpkin Gnocchi in a brown sage butter sauce with toasted sunflower seeds...$16
Cod in white wine and ginger, served with braised leeks, turnips, and pears...$MP
Whole Roasted Chicken dinner with seasonal sides...$MP

Peaches and Plums Tart/Sweet calabaza squash pudding with halva cookies and winter berries/Apple Pie

Fall Brunch Menu:
Chowder – freshly made from seasonal ingredients...$6
Green Salad – mixed greens, seasonal vegetables...$7
Pumpkin Latkes...$9
Roasted Beet Salad with day-pickles, cucumbers, sweet red onions, dill-yogurt dressing...$11 Stewed Forest Mushrooms – wild mushrooms, stewed with dill, garlic and cream, served with a poached egg, a blanket of cheese and brioche croutons...$9
Deviled Eggs and Pate – a plate house made seasonal pate and chicken liver mousse, deviled eggs potato salad, grilled country bread...$11

Eggs and Caviar – poached eggs, squash puree, baby arugula, salmon caviar...$15
Seared Diver Sea Scallops backed into a sunny side omelet...$MP
Long Island Duck Breast in a pot with roasted apples, potatoes, mushrooms, and a 6 minute egg...$25
Organic Chicken in a basil-pesto sauce on artisan sandwich bread...$15
Ricotta omelet with tomatoes, fresh dill and aged white cheddar...$12

Whole baked Branzini stuffed with vegetables...$21
Shrimp Stew in fresh tomatoes, chilies, turnips, rice and okra...$17
Prime Steak and fries...$MP
Bear Breakfast – sausage, salmon, eggs, hash browns, toast...$17
French Toast – made with challah bread, fresh berry puree and crème fraiche...$12
The Grizzly Burger – our signature burger served with Bear fries...$15
Breakfast Fettuccini in a creamy rosemary and garlic sauce, crispy bacon and fontina cheese...$18
Mushroom Crepes with sour crème..$18
Beer Battered Fish Sandwich with house tar-tar sauce...$MP

Bear - 12-14 31st Avenue, Long Island City NY 11106
917.396.4939
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.bearnyc.com

Vesta's Feast of the 7 Fishes is Back

It's been a while since I mentioned Vesta, but they're alive and kicking, and stronger than ever.  Not only does it continue to be a popular "must-try" restaurant in Astoria, it's now frequented by locals as well as city folk.  So I've heard...

Back at it this holiday season, they'll be serving the Italian signature, Feast of the 7 Fishes feast on Christmas Eve.  It's a festive meal that promises a lot of variety and deliciousness.  Just feast your eyes on these yummies:

Saturday, December 24th from 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. 
Prix-Fixe $55/person (+ $20 with wine pairing) 
‘La Vigilia’ menu is for the entire table

Antipasto
Oven Baked Sardines, Orange Segments, Fennel Fronds
Butter Poached Lobster Bisque, Tomatoes
Fried Shrimp, Roasted Tomato

Primo
Salt Cod Fettuccini, Potatoes, Parsley & Cream

Secondo
Pan-fried Skate, manilla clams, Caper-Sage Butter Sauce
Braised Hake, Anchovy, Fennel Seed, Garlic, Chili

Dessert (choice of)
Baby Jesus Cake
Creme brulee

For tables not selecting from the prix fixe menu, a portion of the a la carte menu will be available.

A La Carte Menu
Margherita...$12
Roasted Squash Soup, spiced butter & vin cotto...$8
Poached Egg Salad, frisee, arugula, mache, balsamic vinaigrette & crostini...$10
Rigatoni, blue cheese cream & seasoned bread crumbs...$13
Lasagna, three-meat ragu (Sunday Dinner Style)...$15
Vintage Bavette Steak, sweet potato puree & asparagus...$24

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue 
www.vestavino.com

Roberta's - Where Not Only Pizza is King!

It's been nearly four months since my friends Bo, Meg and I have been trying to go to Roberta's restaurant in Brooklyn.  Known for their amazing brick oven, Neapolitan-style pizza and fresh veggies, grown from their own garden, to say it's a foodie's dream would be putting it lightly.

Atmosphere:
Located in Bushwick, Brooklyn, I was a tad unsure about exploring this part of the nabe, which I've heard is a little sketchy.  However, that wasn't the case at all, as when I got off the subway, I was welcomed by a cutting-edge hipster vibe that was a lot less in-your-face than Williamsburg and overall, it seemed like a chill, up-and-coming neighborhood, which I'd love to explore more next time.

A short five minute walk from the subway, Roberta's is located on the quiet Moore Street in a very inconspicuous building that's easy to miss.  Once you step inside, you can't help but take a deep breath, as the smell of fresh pizza dough, bacon, cheese, and all other things delicious envelop you.

The dining room is long and rectangular with a casual bar at the end of the room and the dining area itself filled with long picnic tables, promoting a communal vibe.  A heated outside area they call "The Tiki Lounge" is situated just to the left of the main dining room, and even though it looked inviting as well, we preferred the warmth and coziness of the main room.

Food:
We came for the pizza mainly, but discovered a whole lot of other interesting options on the menu.  Trying out two pizzas, a veggie app and also a small dessert, it was just enough food and at a great value.

Squash Salad - So tasty during this time of year, we were eager to try the squash salad with three different types of squash, perfectly roasted with a nicely charred crust.  Paired also with pumpkin seeds, aged gouda and mizuna greens, the salad was wonderfully fresh and vibrant.  It was a nice thing to share to tide us over, but in all honesty, thought they could've given us more, especially for three people.

Pizza - All the pizzas sounded wonderful and we had a hard time deciding, but finally settled on the Banana Hammock and the Purple Nurple, both really fun, whimsical names whose ingredients intrigued us.  The Banana Hammock had a bechamel base, lightly speckled with fresh mozzarella cheese, sausage, banana pepper, red onion and cilantro.  The overall taste was really mild and a nice way to start our pizza experience.

After tasting this first option, our tastebuds were in for a treat with the Purple Nurple, a spicy pizza embellished with chunky slices of deeply colored eggplant, basil, mozzarella, ricotta cheese and chili.  I preferred this one by far, as it was packed with sharp flavors, and the eggplant was roasted so perfectly, pairing beautifully with a homemade tomato sauce base.

Both of the pizzas had superior, airy dough with gorgeous char marks on the crust that really made it live up to all that hype - and then some.

Dessert - We definitely saved room for dessert, ordering a gingerbread cake with really good quality vanilla ice cream.  The cake was soft and moist, with ginger flavoring that really shined through.  While some of us really enjoyed the ginger, others thought it was a tad strong - depends on your tastebuds really, but this cake packed a mean punch.  Yum!

Service and Cost:
I loved the service here, which matched the relaxed yet legit atmosphere.  Our waitress was very "Brooklyn" - fashionable, hip and interesting, and at the same time she knew the menu backwards and forwards and gave us just the right amount of time to decide about our food.

Costs are moderate and include:

Appetizers - $5 - $19
Pizza - $8 - $17
Mains - $13 - $28
Dessert - $5 - $8

3 Mmmms

Roberta's - 261 Moore Street, Brooklyn NY 11206
718.417.1118
L Train to Morgan Avenue
www.robertaspizza.com