Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

Bravo Signs Brooklyn’s Hip Hop Chef
Roblé Ali, the ‘hip-hop chef’ from Avenue, has his own show in development with Bravo, says Grub Street‘s Daniel Maurer. The Hollywood Reporter says, In ‘Roble & Co.,’ chef Roble Ali tries to conquer the catering world with a new Brooklyn-based company that features high-profile clients. Check out Roble rapping, cooking, and skateboarding to Fairway in this teaser video. Thoughts on this concept? Promising or painful?

Recently Reviewed: Strong Place‘s Beef-Free Burger
Chef Kenny Tufo at Strong Place in Cobble Hill has created a lamb burger ($11) that is the picture of structural perfection. A thick grilled patty, charred on the outside but juicy on the inside, is served on a sturdy Balthazar bun smeared with feta, with lettuce, tomato and pickles on the side. The meat, from Los Paisanos on Smith Street, is seasoned only with salt and pepper. It’s the Platonic ideal in a hamburger — juicy, meaty, and redolent of the animal from which it hails. [Kristen V. Brown for the Brooklyn Paper]

El Beit Branches Out
El Beit, one of the big coffee snob hangouts of Williamsburg, is opening up a second location in the neighborhood near the corner of Berry and North 3rd. In addition to serving premium coffee drinks and baked goods, the new spot will also rock a full menu of market-inspired Mediterranean fare, made in a full kitchen space with a wood-fired brick oven, says Greg Morabito for Eater.

After the jump: Babka, a culinary cross-cultural experiment in Crown Heights, and more wine for Smith Street…

Where to Buy a Babka
It’s hard for us to think about chocolate babka without quoting Seinfeld (If we can’t get the babka, the whole thing’s useless.) But the Chowhounds aren’t joking around in this thread about Oneg Heimishe Bakery in Williamsburg (188 Lee Avenue, near Rutledge). Here, the babka is made with high quality chocolate swirled into a nice loaf. Its expensive (something like 15$ for a whole loaf), but worth it… I been coming here for over ten years. It may seem a bit unwelcoming from the outside, but everyone who works there is super sweet and loves to talk, says Chowhound driggs.

Keeping it Kosher in Crown Heights
Frank Bruni returns to the New York Times with a lengthy piece about Basil Pizza & Wine Bar in Crown Heights, which isn’t just another kosher restaurant: It’s also a cross-cultural experiment, trying to promote better integration of, and communication between, groups in Crown Heights that haven’t always mingled much or seen eye to eye. Although its food and wine are strictly kosher, Basil isn’t located on what is known as the Jewish side of Eastern Parkway, the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare and dividing line. It’s on the West Indian side and, with its deliberately diverse staff, courts the black residents there. Can anybody comment on the quality of the food here?

Smith and Vine Expands
And last but not least, Pardon Me For Asking shares some photos of the newly expanded wine shop at 268 Smith Street.