Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

Yummy Sundays: The Times Hits the Flea
This week’s “$25 and Under” column in the Times raves about the tasty treats available at the Flea. Writer Peter Meehan talks about the “utter scarfability” of the Vaquero family’s elotes (the cheese, mayo, and chili powder-slathered ears of corn that you’ve probably sampled at the Red Hook ball fields) and gushes over the Salvatore Bklyn Ricotta cannoli — claiming that they’re the best he’s had outside of Sicily. He also shares kind words about the offerings from the Kumquat Cupcakery and Nunu Chocolates, and looks forward to forthcoming vendors — like Hot Bread Kitchen, McClure’s Pickles, Korean Restaurant Do Hwa, and Rafael and Fernando, purveyors of the much-craved pupusas and huaraches from the Red Hook ball fields.

What Brooklyn Really Needs: Supermarkets
“Out in Bay Ridge, neighbors are petitioning against the closing of a Key Food on Third Avenue and 95th Street, which is slated to become a Walgreens… Meanwhile, over in Brooklyn Heights, a Gristedes closed by a fire is of such vital importance to the neighborhood that construction crews are working around the clock to get the place back online… You can do without a dry cleaner, and you can do without a cool bar, but live somewhere where there’s no supermarket, and you’re in a tough spot, FreshDirect or no.” [Grub Street]

Homemade Tamales on Sackett Street
“I always wondered about the lady who set up a tent on Sackett near Smith and sells homemade food including tamales. Well, there was a block-long stoop sale last weekend and I finally was able to check it out. Has a really moist and tasty tamale for $1.35. Just a tip for those who can’t always make it out to Sunset Park,” says Chowhound Carol Gardens. Another Chowhound, Puppimus adds: “She’s only there Saturdays. Try her chorizo empenadas — they’re really greasily excellent.”

After the jump: A kid-friendly wine cafe, modest uniforms for Williamsburg beer wenches, Dumbo gets a new liquor store, and Greenpoint caters to coffee lovers…

Bring the Kids: Abigail Cafe
807 Classon Avenue (at St. Johns Place); 718-399-3200
“Ever wonder where you can get a Pinot Grigio and a PB&J? Brooklynites are in luck… Chef Abigail Hitchcock (of Camaje and 85 MacDougal St.) and her husband Jason offer a small, seasonal menu complete with local music and poetry readings. Looks like this is good for date night as well as a bite with (very well-behaved) kiddies. In addition to cheese and charcuterie, the menu offers child-friendly faves like mini burgers and chicken bites.” [UrbanBaby]

Waitresses Change Wardrobe at Radegast
113 North 3rd Street (at Berry Street), Williamsburg; (718) 963-3973
“The costumes, which consisted of a tight-fitting bodice and a short skirt, were vetoed after some of the servers complained that they were being harassed by rowdy patrons. ‘It’s important for us that the servers feel comfortable in what they wear,’ says [owner Ivan] Kohut. ‘Entering the summer they are going to be wearing a black cotton top with a red skirt. We brought in professionals from Czechoslovakia to design something different—a compromise between what the uniform once was and what it is now.'” [Time Out New York]

Now Open: Dumbo’s New Liquor Store
Dumbo NYC reports that J’s Wine & Spirits has opened at 102 Jay Street, but one visitor said, “The guy behind the counter didn’t seem knowlegable about wines.” So, it shouldn’t pose too much competition for local wine shop Blanc & Rouge.

Greepoint: Coffee Lover’s Paradise
In java news, Eater reports that Greenpoint’s Brooklyn Label “is now selling coffee geek favorite, Stumptown coffee.” And the Brooklyn Paper spotted a “$11,000 Clover, the Porsche of espresso machines” with a “Coming Soon!” sign taped to it in Greenpoint’s Cafe Grumpy.