Bensonhurst
September 22, 2009
BJ's for Bensonhurst?
Joe Sitt, best known as a major landholder on Coney Island, is again making headlines for his plans to build a mall at a bus lot in Bensonhurst. Thor Equities, Mr. Sitt's development company, is hoping to create a 214,000-square-foot shopping center with BJ's Wholesale Club and three other, as yet unsigned, retailers, reports The Observer. Thor has filed for a rezoning of the site and is going through due process with the Department of City planning. Thor has also proposed a BJ's at the former Revere sugar refinery in Red Hook, across from Ikea. GMAP
Sitt Comes Back to Bloomberg for Brooklyn BJ's [Observer]
BJ's on Tap for Red Hookers [Brooklyn Paper]
Revere Sugar Demolition continues [Brownstoner]
City's Coney Plan Approved, Deal with Sitt Near [Brownstoner]
April 8, 2009
Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by Tejal Rao for Gothamist
Coming Soon: Umi Nom
We're so excited that Kuma Inn, a great Filipino, Thai, and Southeast Asian small plates spot on the Lower East Side, is opening a sister restaurant at 433 DeKalb Avenue, on the border of Clinton Hill and Bed Stuy. Gothamist shares a first look at Umi Nom, which is scheduled to open on May 1, and reports that Chef/owner King Phojanakong "recently received some special sake pouring equipment to install at what will become a wood paneled bar where twenty sakes by the glass will be available."
Return of the Red Hook Vendors!
Serious Eats says that the vendors will be returning to the Red Hook Ball Fields on Saturday, May 2. Cesar Fueuntes, executive director of the Red Hook food vendors committee, also told them that "We are close on signing up to be a part of an amazing festival in a very popular and historic Brooklyn location that will soon promise to be one of the most talked about events in NYC. Most of our vendors are planning to be a part of this festival and will be there weekends throughout the entire season. As soon as we secure our participation, we will make it official." Any idea what he's talking about?
Bahn Mi Bonanza
Today's New York Times surveys the best bahn mi joints in the city, paying visits to Williamsburg's Nha Toi and Silent H, as well as Sunset Park's Thanh Da I and II and Ba Xuyen, a favorite in the Brownstoner restaurant files. Plus, Chow points out that you can also get your Vietnamese sandwich fix at Williamsburg's "Mediterranean-accented" Simple Cafe (346 Bedford Avenue at S. Third Street), which "is temporarily rechristened Bep, or 'kitchen' in Vietnamese" every Monday — "when the café crew takes a break, a Vietnamese-Parisian cook settles in."
After the jump: Brooklyn cleans up at TONY's Eat Out Awards, the best Sichuan in the city, and a first look at Williamsburg's Rye...
February 19, 2009
Closing Bell: Boa Constrictor in Brooklyn
As first reported by MSNBC, a 4 ½ foot boa constrictor was found in the cushions of the living room sofa in a Bensonhurst home. Two young boys in the home thought something was up when they "felt something moving beneath them as they watched tv. After shaking out the cushions they found the intruder, which fell in a ball on the floor." The kicker—the snake probably entered the home through its toilet pipes. For the future, please do not flush your live snake down your toilet.
January 28, 2009
Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Photo by Jeff Gurwin for Time Out New York
Pork Nuggets at Char No. 4
196 Smith St between Baltic and Warren Sts, Cobble Hill; (718) 643-2106
"The Midas-like chef Matt Greco lovingly turns his restaurant’s pork scraps into gold. Along with feet and shoulder, Greco slow-cooks bits of house-smoked bacon and ham (delicious trimmings deemed too small for the restaurant’s fancy sandwiches), then recombines the meat with the reduced braising liquid, which has been transformed into a delicious jelly.... And at six nuggets for $4, this is a value meal we can get behind." [Time Out New York]
Bati: Now Open and Already Getting Rave Reviews
747 Fulton Street near S. Portland Avenue, Fort Greene
Clinton Hill Blog asked owner Hibist Legesse to describe the cuisine at this brand new BYOB Ethiopian spot: "Traditional Ethiopian with a focus on nutrition and health. For example, by adding extra teff (type of flour) to the injera (spongy flatbread), we’re increasing the fiber and iron content of the bread... We also plan to expand our vegetarian options." And Chowhound blueberry says it tastes good, too: "I am accustomed to really great Ethiopian food in Washington, DC (where there is a really large Ethiopian population) but I have not found anything in NYC that quite measures up until I ate here!"
The General Greene Expands Hours
229 Dekalb Ave. at Clermont Ave., Fort Greene; (718) 222-1510
This Fort Greene spot is now open on Mondays, and according to Grub Street, "In addition to brunch, it’s now offering weekday breakfast (including drip coffees from Counter Culture) from 7 a.m. till lunch, which starts at 11 a.m. There’s also a late-afternoon bar menu from 4 p.m. till 5 p.m. The menus are here."
After the jump: More openings, the city's best dim sum, another Buttermilk Channel review, and some love for the food offerings (like Rafael Soler's pupusas!!) at the Flea...
July 23, 2008
Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up
The Skinny on 5 New Neighborhood Haunts
Brooklyn Based shares their early impressions of the General Greene, Peaches Market Café, Abigail Café and Wine Bar, James, and Annabelle's. We're intrigued by their recommended cocktail at the General Greene: "We loveloveloved the Clermont Bubbly (a refreshing combo of St. Germaine, pear and Prosecco)." And the photo of Annabelle's backyard (at right, by Melissa Sands) looks so inviting, but Brooklyn Based notes that "the pond, flower garden and multi-level patio out back has potential, but is still a work in progress."
The Times on Peaches Market Cafe
393 Lewis Avenue (MacDonough Street), Bedford-Stuyvesant; (718) 942-4162
"Peaches is Southern with a difference. Smoked country ham is finished with dried plums and arugula, and fried grits are polished with sun-dried tomato marmalade. There’s fried whiting as well as fried Greenmarket vegetables and fried calamari with aioli. Barbecue, like baby back ribs and pulled pork sandwiches, make it here, too. The menu tops out at $18 for a grass-fed ribeye steak." [NY Times]
Underrated Pizza: Sam's and Italia
"Sam's on Court Street is one of those old-school neighborhood perennials that Chowhounds rarely mention, but guttergourmet thinks it belongs in New York's never-ending pizza conversation, right up there with the most celebrated places in Brooklyn and beyond. 'Beautiful pizza, precious place,' guttergourmet writes... Meanwhile, down in Bensonhurst and Gravesend, Brklynbobby puts in a word for another sleeper, the Sicilian pie at Italia on Kings Highway. 'The crust is lighter than air and the sauce is heaven,' says Brklynbobby." [CHOW]
After the jump: A new coal-oven pizzeria for Red Hook, cheap tapas on Columbia Street, a new burger joint and vegetarian eats in Park Slope, news on the Red Hook vendors' schedule, and a Williamsburg bar gets a taco truck right in their backyard...
April 17, 2007
Dyker Heights Moves Closer to Downzoning
Best known to outsiders for its over-the-top display of Christmas lights every year, Dyker Heights is now in the news for being one of the many Brooklyn nabes trying to protect its character and heritage through down-zoning. According to City Planning,
The lower-density and contextual zoning districts proposed – R3X, R3A, R4-1, R4B and R5B -- would preserve the existing scale and character of Dyker Heights' and Ft. Hamilton's low-rise blocks. New, moderate-density residential development would be directed to commercial corridors already defined by three-to four-story row houses with ground floor retail uses – 86th Street, Ft. Hamilton Parkway, 11th and 13th Avenues. Along these corridors, the mid-density contextual zoning districts proposed – C4-2A and R6B – would establish height limits consistent with neighboring apartment houses and would deter development of overly large community facility and mixed residential/community facility buildings.
The Brooklyn Paper reports that the Dyker Heights Civic Association signed off on the plan last week in preparation for last night's meeting of Community Board 16. And there's definitely political support: “This rezoning plan will help protect the unique character of the neighborhood for future generations,” said Bay Ridge Rep. Vito Fossella. Did any readers attend the meeting?
Dyker Downzone Moves Ahead [The Brooklyn Paper]
Dyker Heights/Ft. Hamilton Rezoning [NYC.gov]
Photo by gkjarvis
Latest Restaurant Additions
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Le Barricou
added November 20, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Der Schwarze Kölner
added November 19, 2009 12:00 PM in Fort Greene -
Oak Wine Bar & Café
added November 18, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Mr. Wonton
added November 17, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Casa Rosa
added November 16, 2009 12:00 PM in Carroll Gardens -
Cousin John's Café & Bakery
added November 13, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Elote
added November 12, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Miracle Grill
added November 11, 2009 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Phoebe's Cafe
added November 10, 2009 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Ruthie's
added November 9, 2009 12:00 PM in Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn