Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

Photo by Eating in Translation

Now Open: Lia’s Ices
471 16th Street (near Prospect Park West), Windsor Terrace; no phone
“In addition to the Benfaremo ices, there’s also Ciao Bella gelato and sorbetto, and, best of all, mixed in among the smooth and creamy, a handful of notable gelato flavors like cassata, fichi, and zuppa Inglese, each distinguished by an asterisk. What do the asterisks indicate? ‘Oh, those are the ones we get from this old Italian guy,’ explains the young scooper on duty one night. As it turns out, that old Italian guy is none other than erstwhile (and not that old, really) restaurateur Gino Cammarata, who, as ice-cream freaks know, is to gelato what Eric Ripert is to fish.” [Grub Street]

Opening Next Friday: Peaches Market Café
393 Lewis Avenue, Bed-Stuy; no phone yet
One Eater reader reports that Peaches Market Café, “the new restaurant from the folks behind Smoke Joint and Little Piggy in the old Petit Bassam space,” is gearing up for opening day. Eater says: “Further investigation reveals this video interview with owner Craig Samuel from blog Renovating on the Cheap where he describes the restaurant as: ‘an urban farmhouse’ featuring contemporary American with Southern influences, and a menu that will change frequently contingent on the greenmarket offerings.”

Now Open: Ted & Honey
264 Clinton Street (at Verandah Place), Cobble Hill
Chowhounds are chattering about this newly opened cafe in the old Red Deli space. Oolah reports, “They have sandwiches with nice ingredients like La Quercia prosciutto, as well as salads and baked goods, and free wi-fi.” Chowhound jmh says, “The coffee comes from D’Amico (it’s apparently a custom blend), and the baked goods were nice and fresh.” And gangly handful adds, “I’ve had two different egg sandwiches (avocado-tomato-cheese; redneck wrap w/ grits, ham, cheese) and both were delicious and reasonably priced.”

After the jump: The best vegetarian food in Brooklyn, Bottomless Dish disses Kellogg’s Diner, Lost Taco visits Sunset Park, and Tazza opens a second location…

The Best Vegetarian Food in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Based shares some of their favorite vegetarian dishes across the borough — and they’re all served at restaurants with plenty of non-veggie options for omnivores. At Williamsburg’s Roebling Tea Room, they opt for the ricotta and fig paste brunch dish or the $10 beer and veggie brat meal, served on a plate that’s “chock full of sides like cornichons, beets and potato salad.” At Park Slope’s Kiku, they opt for the “ume (pickled plum paste) roll with shiso leaf,” described as a “taste explosion.” Veggie options also abound at Frankies 457 in Carroll Gardens and at M Shanghai Bistro in Williamsburg.

Kellogg’s Diner: Worse Than Denny’s?
514 Metropolitan Avenue, Williamsburg; (718) 782-4502
“Kellogg’s Diner in Williamsburg recently unveiled a shiny new exterior, which prompts the question: Will the food be any better than before? Because seriously, the previous Kellogg’s was like the worst small-town Denny’s ever with food that was three times as expensive. Even though it was open 24 hours, everyone I know would rather starve at 4am than eat the world’s blandest turkey sandwich.” [Bottomless Dish]

Quick Bites
Lost Taco heads to Tacos Xochimilco in Sunset Park and finds some pretty tasty carne asada: “Each little meaty morsel actually had flavor and the protein was balanced perfectly with the generous cilantro, onion, and salsa mix.” …And according to Brooklyn Heights Blog, “Neighborhood favorite Tazza open[ed] their second location at 72 Clark Street.”