Photo by Nicole Brydson

Washington Avenue: Brooklyn’s New Restaurant Row?
“As Vanderbilt Avenue has become the strip for Proho nightlife, Washington Avenue has become the restaurant row… Gen, a Japanese spot; Udom, excellent Thai; and now Rawstar, a Caribbean restaurant catering to the raw dairy-free lifestyle. have all opened between St. Marks Avenue and Prospect Place…Another vegetarian spot, Natural Blend, further up Washington Avenue, serves vegan soy and fake chicken patties.” [NY Observer]

The Borough-Wide Pizza Party Continues
Grub Street reports that a Neapolitan-style pizzeria is coming to Bed-Stuy — it’ll be located at 435 Halsey Street and it’s slated to be called Saraghina. Ed Levine of Serious Eats, visits Roberta’s in Bushwick, shares a ton of pizza porn, and says, “Roberta’s varied and decidedly nontraditional toppings are where this place makes its mark in New York’s hypercompetitive pizza scene.” And on Brooklynian’s Prospect Heights board, BrookFestish spotted a new pizza joint called Cataldo’s at 554 Vanderbilt between Le Gamin and Nick’s.

Going South of the Border in Greenpoint
Got a hankering for huraches? Brooklyn Based hits up all the Mexican and South American restaurants on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint — including Papacito’s, El Encanto Mexicano, Pio Pio Riko, Cafecito Bogota, the New Tulcingo Restaurant, and the Acapulco Deli and Restaurant — to help satisfy your cravings.

After the jump: Octopus that would make Mario Batali proud, a Brooklyn barista brings home the latte art crown, and changes are in store for the Coney Island hot dog eating contest…

Batali-esque Octopus at Fiore
284 Grand Street, Williamsburg; (718) 782-8222
“The usual platters of cured meats and cheese are available, but why not head for my favorite thing on the menu? Possibly inspired by a similar squid dish at Babbo, polipetti brasati ($6) are baby octopi braised to within an inch of their tiny lives in a tomato sauce golden with olive oil. Eating the cephalopods is ecstasy, and I genuflect before chef Roberto Aita for taking a big chance by putting this unusual stew on the menu.” [Village Voice]

Brooklyn Barista Wins Latte Art Throwdown
“To keep the playing field level, designs were strictly limited to rosettas no latte lions allowed and judges rated baristas not on taste, but symmetry, contrast, detail, and style. In the end, only one could claim the crown for most artsy barista, and that was ‘Danger’ Dan Griffin of Williamsburg’s El Beit.” [Gothamist]

Time Change for Coney Island Contest
“The celebrated Nathan’s hot dog contest — the granddaddy of all competitive-eating competitions — will drop from the traditional 12 minutes to just 10 this year… The decision will have profound implications on the man-eat-dog world of gustatory gluttony.” [The Brooklyn Paper]