Food & Drink
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Food & Drink / Music Restaurant Playlist: T. Rex, Tom Waits, Cypress Hill and More at Calyer
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 11:17 AM
You can check out most of the playlist on Spotify if you're a member, but for the whole thing — including an old White Stripes jam and Ms. Brown's thoughts on each track — listen below.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Food & Drink / Music The Double Life Q&A: Justin Scurti, Saint Vitus Owner/Primitive Weapons Guitarist/Photographer
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Greenpoint's metal bar, Saint Vitus, is a dream-come-true for local Renaissance man Justin Scurti. When he's not at his custom-made hang-out, which he co-owns with his best friends, he's playing guitar with Primitive Weapons and I Hate Our Freedom, touring the world as a guitar tech, and pursuing his fourth career as an accomplished rock photographer. We talked with him about balancing a handful of dream jobs, cheese steak steamed buns, and whether or not librarian-type ladies can mix with the metal heads at Saint Vitus.
The L: Where in Brooklyn do you live, how long have you been here, and where are you from originally?
Scurti: I currently live in Greenpoint. Been here for 2 years. Before that I was in Fort Greene for almost 2 years, after leaving Long Island City. Originally I'm born and raised in Queens.
The L: Can you tell us a little about your bar and restaurant experience, and how you ended up opening your own place?
Scurti: I started working in restaurants at 17 years old. I worked at a new Italian place in my neighborhood in Queens. My mom got me the job through one of her friends. I learned how to do everything there. Bus, serve, prep, cook, everything. Since then I've worked at the Zen Palate in Garden City, Long Island, Lil' Frankie's and Frank Restaurant in the East Village, Matchless in Greenpoint, and No.7 in Ft. Greene. My friendship with some of the guys at No.7 led to me getting involved with the right people and making my own place, Saint Vitus, happen. My best friends and I were able to finally do what we spoke about during so many late nights, while working at other places. You meet a lot of people in this world and sometimes the right person is listening.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Food & Drink The Double Life Q&A: Nino Cirabisi, Actor and Bartender at the Bourgeois Pig
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Thu, Feb 2, 2012 at 9:00 AM
It makes sense that a bartender with a big personality would be drawn to the performance arts. New York native Nino Cirabisi has done some acting work on the stage and screen, spent several years behind the bar at Brooklyn Social and is now pouring drinks at the Bourgeois Pig's new Brooklyn location. Here, he chats about the colorful beginning of his bartending career, the menu at Bourgeois Pig Brooklyn and the secret bottle he keeps behind the bar.
The L: Can you tell us about your bartending career?
Nino Cirabisi: I started bartending when I was 19. I worked at an Italian restaurant waiting tables and one night the bartender passed out behind the bar from drinking too much and popping pills. I hopped behind the bar not knowing what the hell I was doing and just tried to finish the shift as best I could. I took home a copy of Mr. Boston’s cocktail guide from behind the bar and learned as much as I could.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Food & Drink Restaurant Playlist: Jay-Z, Billy Joel, the Mountain Goats and More at Brucie
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Whenever we dine at Brucie, two things always stand out: the freshness of the ingredients and the feeling that the servers are having more fun than any other waiters in town. “Music is a major reason for why our staff is so tight,” says chef-owner Zahra Tangorra. “I’ve compiled a playlist of songs that are particularly special to us in the kitchen — our anthems, our dance-party starters, and the songs that make us laugh, cry and make tagliatelle at the speed of light! Our entire staff regularly ends up in the kitchen for dancing and singing.” The party atmosphere enlivens their Italian dishes and rubs off on us whenever we stop by.
You can listen to the playlist on Spotify if you're a member, or just check out the tracks, along with Ms. Tangorra’s comments, below.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Food & Drink Can a Native Brooklynite Still Be an 'Invading Hipster'?
Posted by Henry Stewart on Mon, Jan 30, 2012 at 12:02 PM
He doesn't lack for alternatives; probable apocrypha has it that the neighborhood's stretch of Third Avenue holds a Guinness record for bars per square mile, or per capita, or something. But those spots tend toward the sorts of places you'd cruise for chicks with a frat brother or wine and dine the head of the chamber of commerce. There are old, well known, sometimes wonderful places (and their more recent counterparts), but none reflect even a little the new Brooklyn sensibility centralized in the borough's northern precincts; an iconic lunch counter, Hinsch's, only recently, under new ownership, began grilling veggie burgers. They're not places that appeal deliberately to the young, the hip, the creative.
Until, perhaps, now.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Food & Drink The 10 Best Breakfast Sandwiches in Brooklyn
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Nothing against the $2 egg on a roll from your corner deli, but there's breakfast sandwich renaissance going on Brooklyn right now. Whether you prefer yours on a biscuit or a baguette, piled with fried heirloom tomatoes or Kentucky-raised country ham, or smeared with spicy tomato jam or apple-maple butter, there’s something for everyone. Here are our 10 favorites right now, in no particular order. If we've missed any winners, by all means, let us know in the comments.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Food & Drink / Music Restaurant Playlist: Michael Jackson, Hall & Oates, the Roots and More at Mile End
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Mile End server Ari Sadowitz helped us out with our third installment of the Restaurant Playlist. When he isn’t at the Montreal-style deli and restaurant, waxing poetic about the smoked chicken or the trout bisque, you can find Sadowitz teaching guitar and bass or playing with his band, the Smyrk. His fittingly meaty musical selections include Steely Dan’s bass-heavy “Black Cow” and Blockhead’s trippy instrumental “Carnivores Unite.”
You can check out most of the playlist on Spotify if you're a member, but for the entire thing — including tracks from Sixto Rodriguez, Kimbra and Thundercat — listen below.
Food & Drink Beloved Kensington Grocery Store Cheating Workers Out of Wages
Posted by Audrey Ference on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 10:38 AM
- The Market Blog
- Bad!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Food & Drink / Music The Double Life Q&A: Miranda Brown, Touring Musician & Cook at St. Anselm
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 11:19 AM
The L: Where in Brooklyn do you live, how long have you been here, and where are you from originally?
Miranda Brown: I just moved to Kensington from Bed-Stuy a couple of months ago. It's a much safer, quieter scene down here. I moved to brooklyn in October '10 from Austin, TX, where I'd spent the previous seven years, but I'm originally from Greenfield, MA.
The L: Can you tell us about your career as a musician?
Brown: I've been singing forever, but I didn't really start playing instruments until I was in my early 20s. I've worked as a touring musician for the last five years, singing back-up and playing bass, rhythm guitar, percussion, and/or keyboards for the New Pornographers, Crooked Fingers, A.C. Newman, Sarah Jaffe. I've also sung harmonies on a ton of records, most recently on the upcoming "Arrow" by the Heartless Bastards.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Food & Drink Founder of Brooklyn Heights Dive Dies
Posted by Henry Stewart on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 2:15 PM
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Food & Drink / Music Double Duty Q&A: Bassist/Pizza Guy Mike Campbell
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Wed, Jan 18, 2012 at 1:08 PM
For a different perspective on Brooklyn restaurants, we're starting a series of interviews with artists (musicians or otherwise) who pay the bills by working in the food industry. Our first subject, Mike Campbell, gives us some insight on tipping delivery people. (Yes, you've probably been cheaping out.) He also plays bass with Laura Stevenson and the Cans and has been taking a hiatus from restaurant work since the band’s recent release, “Sit Resist.”
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Food & Drink / Music Restaurant Playlist: The Faces, Dennis Wilson, The Dead and More at Littleneck
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 10:53 AM
You can enjoy most of the playlist on Spotify if you're a member, but for the whole thing — including a lo-fi romantic gem from the Len Bright Combo — listen below.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Food & Drink Speaking With Treats Truck's Kim Ima About Her New Carroll Gardens Storefront
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Fri, Jan 13, 2012 at 1:23 PM
The L: Have you set an official opening date for the Treats Truck Stop?
Kim Ima:Probably February or early March. People can check both www.treatstruck.com and www.thetreatstruckstop.com for updates or follow The Treats Truck on Twitter @thetreatstruck. The address is 521 Court Street. We'll offer a breakfast and light lunch menu, in addition to treats and coffee!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Food & Drink Once-Controversial Park Slope Night Club Now "Napa Valley-Style" Eatery
Posted by Henry Stewart on Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 1:49 PM
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Food & Drink / Music The Restaurant Playlist: Garage Rock and Soul at Battersby
Posted by Kara Zuaro on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 11:14 AM
We're kicking things off with a playlist from the good people at Carroll Gardens locavore's paradise Battersby. Wine supervisor Erika DaSilva describes it as a mix of "60s garage, punk rock, and upbeat jazz and blues," adding that Devon Nevola, girlfriend of co-chef/co-owner Walker Stern, helped with the musical selections. You can enjoy the playlist on Spotify if you're a member, or you can listen to most of it below.
Check back in next week for a full review of Battersby.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Food & Drink How Your Champagne Gets Made
Posted by Benjamin Sutton on Fri, Dec 30, 2011 at 3:16 PM
Wow your friends with your new-found champagne expertise ("champertise") as you knock back the flutes this weekend, thanks to this short educational video about bubbly.
(NOTCOT)
Monday, December 19, 2011
Food & Drink Grimaldi's Gets Permit for Illegally Installed Oven, Reopens
Posted by Benjamin Sutton on Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 9:48 AM
Frank Ciolli couldn't have hoped for a better ending to the great Grimaldi's saga of 2011. Things looked irreparably tragic when his son and restaurant co-owner Russell passed away suddenly last month, and the pair's newly installed coal-fired oven at their future location was deemed illegal. And yet, passing the new space at 1 Front Street on Saturday, we couldn't help but notice the familiar smell in the air, not to mention the familiar line of hungry pizza-lovers stretching halfway down the block: Grimaldi's is (re-)open for business.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Food & Drink / News NYC Children Less Chubby
Posted by Henry Stewart on Fri, Dec 16, 2011 at 12:43 PM
While the 5.5 percent drop may seem slight, [the city's health commissioner] said, “What’s impressive is the fact that it’s falling at all.”
The declines were sharpest among white and Asian children, middle-class children, and younger children (like, Kindergarten).
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Food & Drink Grimaldi's Closed, Reopening in New Space Next Week?
Posted by Benjamin Sutton on Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 2:42 PM
Though the restaurant kept serving pizzas well after its lease expired on November 30th—until at least December 8th, when The L ordered five delicious pies from Frank Ciolli and company—this week Brooklyn pizza institution Grimaldi's left its space at 19 Old Fulton Street. On Tuesday Grub Street noted many wine boxes making their way one door up the block to the future Grimaldi's space at 1 Front Street, and this morning all the decorations had been removed from the windows of 19 Old Fulton Street, the metal shutters were down, and the distinctive green awning had been removed.
Food & Drink / News Gowanus Whole Foods Hearing Draws Supporters and Detractors
Posted by Henry Stewart on Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 11:28 AM
