Chef Bowien to Curate Brooklyn Taste Talks Festival

July 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment

The Taste Talks food festival will be back in Brooklyn this September 12th-14th for the second consecutive year. Top talent in the food industry from chefs to critics to writers will be gathering to discuss and reflect on the future of taste. It will be featuring three days of workshops, discussions, tastings and symposiums. The festival will be presented by Chef Mario Batali and the Northside Media Group, and curated by James Beard Award winner Chef Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese and Mission Cantina. Last year April Bloomfield (Spotted Pig, The Breslin) hosted Taste Talks and acted as the Master of Ceremonies.

Events that will be hosted by Chef Bowien include:

Mother of Pearl: an cocktail hour featuring an Island Creek oyster and Champagne pairing which will lead into a multi-course sit-down dinner at Villain Restaurant in Williamsburg.

Taste Talks All-Star BBQ: Over 20 star chefs including Dale Talde, Christina Tosi, Alex Guarnaschelli and Andy Ricker amongst others will prepare a barbecue feast along the East River Park.

The panels that will be hosted at Taste Talks include topics such as photography and media, the future of food culture, the future of food magazines, expert food photography for everyday cooks and many others that will be concluded by a private chef’s dinner at Fitzcarraldo in Bushwick. Taste Talks will then migrate to Chicago for the first time on October 4th and 5th and will be curated by Paul Kahan of Blackbird and Avec.

To purchase tickets click here, and to read more information about the festival’s upcoming events click here

 

Filed Under: Events, Local Market Buzz Tagged With:

New Shake Shack Dumbo

July 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment

The new Shake Shack location in Dumbo opens today on the corner of Fulton St. and Water St directly across from the Brooklyn Bridge Park. This location’s décor has a nautical vibe with sailboat images hung on the cedar plank walls that were stripped from old New York rooftop water towers. The burger chain’s new Dumbo location is the first to offer their Frog’s Leap “Shack Red” and “Shack White” wines on tap and not just in bottles. There are also a few other features that are only specific to this location. For instance:

 

  • The “Caramel Carousel,” made with a vanilla frozen custard base with bananas, caramel sauce, sugar cone pieces, and sea salt was inspired by Jane’s Carousel; a nearby tourist attraction.
  • The “Brooklyn Pie Oh My” consists of vanilla frozen custard blended with a slice of Four & Twenty Blackirds pie. Currently the Brooklyn Pie Oh My features a slice of strawberry-balsamic pie; the pie flavors will rotate.
  • Although not convenient in the summer, the gas-burning fireplace in the front window will definitely be a bonus come winter!
  • 5% of proceeds from the location-specific beverages will benefit the nonprofit “Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue.”

 

To read more about the opening of Shake Shack’s new location, click here

 

Filed Under: Local Market Buzz, Openings Tagged With: ,

Marlow & Sons: Retail Bakery, Bar & Restaurant

July 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment

81 Broadway Brooklyn, between Berry and Wythe        Tel. 718.384.1441

IMG_8147

Their Success…Marlow & Sons has been attracting guests for pre-dinner cocktails and oyster tastings ever since it opened in Williamsburg in 2004. Recently however, guests have shifted towards making Marlow & Sons more of a one-stop destination rather than a mere stopover in their evening plans. Although the eclectic bistro-like dining room is ideal for a pre-dinner pit stop, the small but solid menu options have made guests want to settle down for a full meal.

The entrance space hosts a small retail shop serving coffee, baked goods, artisanal jams, homemade granola, dairy products, sundries, and even apparel. The market has a farmhouse feel where guests are greeted by name. The staff are genuinely pleased to be serving the guest, and make sure to create an enjoyable experience for them. This is very inviting to the guest and seems to ensure repeat patronage.

Upon first glance this country-like farmer’s market would not appear to hold such a hidden gem in the back. The entrance space segues into the bar/dining hall through a narrow wooden portal that brings the customer into a very modest setting filled with reclaimed wood, communal tables, a long rustic-looking bar top and mixed antique marble and mirrored décor. The menu is seasonal and focused on high quality ingredients. Main dishes change daily as well as recurring specials that are prepared in different ways.

Originally, Marlow & Sons became popular not only for their wide selection of oysters, but for their smaller dishes such as the house-made charcuterie and pâté, chicken liver mousse spread, assorted crostini, marinated olives and cheeses. As Marlow & Sons began to grow a loyal fan-base the menu also started to adopt some mainstay items such as the brick chicken and the Spanish tortilla. The key to this successful following lies in the simplicity of the menu. As a guest, it is exciting to walk into an establishment for a meal and feel that you can’t wait to glance over at the special’s board, ready to be enticed by the daily chef creations.

Marlow & Sons caters to an area where people truly care about their food and want to know that there is some integrity in what they eat; so the use of local fresh products to create simple dishes at an affordable price is what is attracting locals as well as out-of-towners. A condensed menu gives the customer the sense that they can’t go wrong with their choice and eliminates the ordering anxiety that happens all too frequently in restaurants around New York City.

Take Aways…Marlow & Sons wears many hats: bakery, coffee shop, market, bar and restaurant. They serve only quality, farm-to-table fare at breakfast, lunch and dinner in their casual and old style setting. The daily specials are the stars of the menu and promise to be seasonal, unpretentious and delicious. Guests immediately feel that at Marlow & Sons, they are a part of the community and that the staff strive to make you feel at home. Repeat clientele are impressed with the multi-faceted dynamic brought to them in a friendly and cost conscious matter and keep coming back for more.

Filed Under: Retail Spotlight, Uncategorized Tagged With:

Languedoc-Roussillon in New York City!

June 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Sud de France Développement, a semi public company working for the region of Languedoc-Roussillon in the south of France, has been hosting a festival in New York City since June 9th and will be ending next week on June 30th. The goal of Sud de France Développment is to support regional businesses in terms of export whilst promoting the Sud de France brand. By strengthening sales and promotional approaches they will be able to develop activities both on national and international markets.

The festival has brought New Yorkers the opportunity to experience the culture of Languedoc-Rousillon through participating in different events such as dinners, wine tastings, cruises, and concerts. One of the events that took place in the past couple weeks was a wine crawl atop a double decker bus! The bus had live music and drove around making stops at different French brasseries and bars in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

To read about the past events and sign up for future ones click here

 

Filed Under: Events, Local Market Buzz Tagged With: , ,

Stronghold Williamsburg Verb Cafe is closing

June 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

The Verb Café has been open on Bedford Ave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn since 1999.  The café could not afford to keep their doors open after a rental fee increase of 70% and is now set to close. The Verb was not necessarily known to brew the best cup of coffee, but was more of a popular hipster hangout which attracted many artists and musicians over the past fifteen years. It is uncertain whether or not they are relocating or if this is the final adieu, but either way the Williamsburg locals will always treasure the memory of Café Verb.

Filed Under: Closings, Local Market Buzz, Opportunities Tagged With: ,

Saraghina Bakery is Set to Open in Bed-Stuy

June 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Edoardo Mantelli, from Saraghina pizzeria, is set to open a bakery next door in the coming week. All products including ciabatta, focaccia, bastone, micca and pane di campagna will be made with organic flours and natural leaveners. The shop will also sell fresh pastas, sandwiches, pastries, and coffee to go.

Saraghina Bakery                                                                                                                                                                                                             433 Halsey St., near. Lewis Ave.                                                                                                                                                                           Bedford-Stuyvesant                                                                                                                                                                                                       718-574-5500

 

Filed Under: Local Market Buzz, Openings Tagged With: , ,

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Hosts Brooklyn EATS!

June 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce  is hosting Brooklyn EATS!, the first food & beverage trade show in the borough. The show was created to support Brooklyn’s food manufacturing businesses and create a community of food producers local to the area. The show is open to buyers, distributors, representatives from hospitality companies and interested consumers. Experience tastes of Brooklyn, meet the makers and enjoy a variety of programming over the course of a full day, culminating in an after-show loft celebration. Learn more and register here.

Date: 6/27/2014
Time: 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM

630 Flushing Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11206

 

Filed Under: Events, Local Market Buzz Tagged With: ,

Four & Twenty Cafe at Brooklyn Public Libraray

March 26, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Emily and Melissa Elsen recently opened Four and Twenty Blackbirds Cafe in the Central Brooklyn Public Library. The sisters are the owners and operators of one of Brooklyn’s most beloved pie shops by the same name since 2010. They have been operating a temporary version of the cafe, with a limited menu, since the beginning of the month, but have officially rolled out the full menu at the new space at the library in Grand Army Plaza.

Cafe Hours: Mon-Thurs 9AM–6PM, Fri-Sat: 10AM–6PM, Closed Sunday

Filed Under: Local Market Buzz, Openings, Shopbuzz Tagged With: ,

TERROIR: WINE BAR ENTERPRISE

March 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment

284 5th Avenue at First Street (Park Slope) • 718.823.9463

Terroir

Terroir

Their Success…Terroir may dub themselves “the elitist wine bar for everyone,” but their amiable service and budget-friendly menu paint a different picture. Terroir, the sister outpost to the East Village’s Hearth, currently has locations in the East Village, Tribeca, Murray Hill, Park Slope, and on the High Line. A large majority of wine bars have a reputation for being too wine-centric and not paying mind to the food, often providing only limited snack options. Contrarily, Terroir’s food impresses its guest just as much as its wine. Moreover, Terroir’s food and wine options cater to guests at all price points.

Terroir’s humble interior, reflected through rustic aesthetics and communal tables, is deceiving at first glance. Most guests would assume that a wine bar with such a casual vibe would not be capable of serving rare, exquisite grape varietals and a full-fledged Northern-Italian inspired menu comprised of small plates, main courses, and everything in between. Terroir has proven that incredible cuisine and wine can coexist at a wine bar.

Another way Terroir is thinking outside of the wine bar box is through their varied price points. Traditionally speaking, wine bars offer a handful of crowd-pleasing snacks and tapas. Instead, Terroir has designed an extensive menu that appeals to all appetites, group sizes, and spending preferences. Terroir’s flexible wine menu includes 3oz pours, traditional 6oz. pours, half bottles and full bottles. Their Happy Hour makes headlines given the low price point and high calibre of cuisine and wine. On the low end, sherry pours before 7pm are $2.50 and vins doux naturel range from $3.50 to $4.50. Each location’s menu features slight modifications in design and content, but the one common factor is the boundless possibilities of dining and “wining” experiences.

Lastly, Terroir caters to their guests’ experiences with their target demographic’s location in mind. We were excited to discover Terroir Park Slope offers a kid’s menu and brunch upon visiting. Since families comprise a large segment of Park Slope’s demographic, and Park Slope residents’ favorite weekend pastime is having brunch, this is fitting. Terroir Tribeca’s menu highlights “salads” in large font in the center where it’s impossible to miss, which is appropriate considering Tribeca’s health-conscious demographic. Terroir takes their customized menu model to another level through differentiating the font, design, layout and food categories at each location. Quirky and playful menu categories like “cool stuff you must eat” and “sugar gives you energy” position Terroir in a delightfully unexpected light.

Take Aways…Terroir is the premiere wine bar for everyone. The food consistently complements the wine in calibre. Likewise, the price point and ambiance create an environment suitable to an all-inclusive demographic.

Filed Under: Retail Spotlight Tagged With: ,

Fine Dining in Bergen Hill’s 3 ft x 5 ft Kitchen

February 7, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Carroll Gardens’ Bergen Hill may lack an oven, only have a few induction burners and a sandwich press and measure 3 feet by 5 feet; however, that doesn’t stop Chef Andrew D’Ambrosi and Sous-Chef Anthony Mongeluzzi from churning out delicious, inventive Italian fare. One of the many popular dishes is a squid “tagliatelle”, or squid that’s been shaved into ribbons to resemble tagliatelle, cooked to al-dente perfection. D’Ambrosi and Mongeluzzi honed their culinary sleight at Le Cirque; while the ambiance may be less stuffy at Bergen Hill, the standards are equally high. Both men have taken a humble approach since the restaurant’s opening in September, as Mr. D’Ambrosi contributed to the creation of the Mediterranean-tile tabletops. He has no problem shoveling snow off the restaurant’s threshold as well.

Filed Under: Local Market Buzz, Operations, Trending Now Tagged With: ,
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