Fake Chicken is Real Good at Stir It Up

Yup, that’s some fake chicken on that plate, and it was delicious. We visited Sonia Gordon’s Caribbean spot, Stir It Up (514 Atlantic Avenue at Third Avenue, 718-643-3716) in hopes of trying her highly recommended goat roti, but the kitchen was fresh out of goat during our lunchtime visit. Thankfully, a sip of the housemade ginger beer washed away our disappointment. Cool, slightly creamy, and just spicy enough to cut through the hazy July heat, the ginger beer alone is worth a trip to this brightly decorated Boerum Hill restaurant. Their top-knotch Caribbean menu and surprising selection of vegetarian dishes offer reasons to stick around…

We decided to compare a real plate of curry chicken to a serving of fake jerk chicken. Both dishes were served with a large helping of rice and beans, a pile of tasty stewed cabbage, and the impossibly sweet caramelized plantains that we ordered as a side. The golden currired chicken was complexly spiced and incredibly tender, but the real surprise was the fake jerk chicken. It was molded into a poultry-esque shape, and while the hearty soy-meat wouldn’t fool a carnivore, it could definitely perplex someone who is used to softer, mushier tofu products. Slathered in an incredible, lip-tingling jerk sauce, it might be the best vegetarian meal in the borough.

We can’t wait to go back and sample the rest of the menu — can anyone recommend what we should try next?