East of NYC - The Buzz

Cafe Luluc in Brooklyn

Our favorite foodie website in Brooklyn (and also a sister-site of this one), Eating Brooklyn has just posted a review of Cafe Luluc on Smith Street.  To find out what they're saying, follow through on this link.

Collapsed: Vesper Bar and Lounge in Brooklyn

This weekend was far from quiet in Brooklyn.  Vesper lounge, which has a residential building on top of it seemed to collapse out of nowhere on Sunday.  Reports have it that there was work being done on the exterior of the building and the owner had been slapped with violations for visible cracks on the exterior. It's our understanding that everyone made it out alive, although some were injured. 

Book Signing Event: Author Alison Lowenstein at Osprey's Dominion Vineyard on April 25th, 2009

Alison Lowenstein, the author of both  Brooklyn Baby and City Weekends: The Greatest Escapes and Weekend Getaways in and Around New York City will be having a special book signing for her new book City Weekends (a guide for the NY Metro area) on April 25th from 3-5pm at Osprey's Dominion Vineyard in Peconic.  This will be a great opportunity to meet her in person and if you haven't already, we recommend that you pick up her book, in stores now.

Notable Opening: Dallas Jones Barbeque in Brooklyn Heights

By Rob Petrone of our sister-site Eating Brooklyn

Dallas Jones Bar-B-Q has landed in Brooklyn. The Barbeque joint, which has been in Greenwich Village since 1984, has now expanded to Brooklyn Heights (it's on Atlantic Avenue, between Henry Street and Hicks Street). As someone who moved to Brooklyn from the BBQ capital of the world (Memphis), I can't wait to try it!

Dallas Jones Bar-B-Q
87 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11201
{GMAP} 718-855-8821

Tazza in Brooklyn Heights

Our newest contributor in the East of NYC and "Eating..." networks is Jacquelyn Moore.  She's written a fantastic review of Tazza in Brooklyn Heights for our new site, Eating Brooklyn.  You can find that here!  Go check it out!  Now!

Bedouin Tent - Brooklyn

By Sam Jacobs, Brooklyn Correspondent

Few things make me happier on a weekend afternoon than a pits stuffed with sliced lamb, veggies, and yogurt mint sauce...except maybe the chicken version of the same sandwich.

Bedouin Tent on Atlantic Avenue is about as close as you can get to authentic middle eastern cuisine this side of the Mediterranean.  The front looks like a simple pizza shop, but walk to the back dining room and you'll be transported to another time and place reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark, minus the poison dates.

We started with hot mint tea with honey and a plate of some of the best stuffed grape leaves I've ever tasted.  Kristina got the lamb platter, and I (looking to not eat red meat for the 4th time in a single week) got the grilled chicken sandwich.  The chicken was seasoned with a blend of curry and other spices, stuffed into a hot pita dripping with yogurt mint sauce.  When we'd finished our meals they served us complimentary semolina honey cake - which has the texture and density of corn bread, but the sweetness of baklava.

They also offer takeout and delivery.  Next time I may try it at home sitting cross legged in my living room...or maybe I'll just eat it at the table.

~Sam

405 Atlantic Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 852-5555

Smith & Butler in Brooklyn

By Sam Jacobs, Brooklyn Correspondent

Smith & Butler is a new men's and women's clothing store that concentrates on biker style.  Before you start to think greasy old rock stars on Harley Davidsons, read the links and check out the photos, then make your own decisions.

Smith & Butler on Crabapple...

Smith & Butler on Kempt...

Smith & Butler on Refinery 29...

Smith & Butler
225 Smith Street @ Butler Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
shop@smithbutler.com

~Sam

The Jake Walk in Brooklyn

By Sam Jacobs, Brooklyn Correspondent

There is a trend around NYC when it comes to drinking.  Ten years ago, when I first started frequenting non-college bars the trend was to start with vodka, add some sort of juice, soda, olive juice, or Red Bull, drain, and repeat, look cool, vomit later.  Thankfully we've started to move away from that as a society.  The new trend is to bring back the old fashioned way to drink.  Bar tenders have learned to make real drinks again - drinks that require more than two ingredients - drinks that have layers of flavor - drinks we sip, and sometimes enjoy with small plates of food. 

There are a number of new(er) bars or restaurant/bars on Smith Street (where I tend to stay) and surrounding neighborhoods in Brooklyn.  Of the more notable of these along with Char No. 4, the Clover Club, and Brooklyn Social is The Jake Walk at 282 Smith Street on the corner of Sackett.  I wandered in on Friday night after my delicious sushi.  I was pleasantly pleased to find out that The Jake Walk is under the same oownership as my favorite neighborhood wine shop, Smith & Vine and my favorite neighborhood cheese shop Stinky. 

As you may have guessed, The Jake Walk serves a wide selection of wines, and has a small food menu comprised mainly of cheese plates and fondue, plus chicken pot pie, sausages, and skirt steak among other savory dishes.  They also have a large selection of scotches, bourbons, and cordials.  I opted for a mixed concoction called The Jakes Leg made with Rye, Sherry, Ginger Liquor, and Whiskey Barrel Bitters garnished with a large slice of lemon rind.  It was ice cold, and served in a fancy little glass reminiscent of the dishes my mom used to use to make chocolate pudding.  My friend Karyn drank a Champagne Julep made with sparkling wine, cognac, and mint.  And speaking of chocolate pudding, we also shared one of those topped with cream, and served in a scotch glass.

Normally I'd stop there, but I really feel like I should give a shout out to ownership who I've always found to be friendly and accommodating while shopping at Smith & Vine and Stinky.  One of the most important things to me about living in thie neighborhood for 7 years has been the connections I've made with some of the shop and restaurant owners.  It's important, especially when you write about this stuff, like I do.  AND I also feel the need to point out certain points about the decor.  They have these awesome, barn wood floating shelves, and a ginormous* old fashioned mirror behind the bar.

I'm happy about this trend towards real cocktails, real customer service, and real comfortable environments.  You can keep your vodka sodas in another borough.

~Sam

*Ginormous was for you, Karyn

The Jake Walk
282 Smith Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
347.599.0294

www.smithandvine.com

www.stinkybklyn.com

Ki Sushi in Brooklyn

By Sam Jacobs, Brooklyn Correspondent

My fiancee doesn't eat sushi.  Yeah, I don't get it either.  This is why, when she decides to have dinner with the girls, and I'm left to my own devices on a Friday night I like to call my friend Karyn who never (rarely) hesitates to say yes to sushi.

Ki Sushi opened a few years ago and has been reviewed as one of the best sushi restaurants in NYC.  They're not kidding.  We shared a plate of steamed vegetable dumplings, and Jalapeno Yellowtail Sashimi.  They were both fantastic, and the yellowtail was so fresh I knew I'd be in for a real treat when the rest of the food arrived.

For our main course we split three rolls - yellowtail and scallion, which was fresh and delicious, but fairly ordinary.  The TNT Lover - chopped bluefin toro, caviar, tempura flakes, scallion & asparagus, topped with tuna and served with truffle soy sauce.  Again, fresh and delicious and...WOW!  And third we had the signature Ki Roll which is tuna, salmon, and yellowtail topped with spicy crunch king crab, avocado, caviar, and gold leaf.  Yup, real gold leaf.  Why anyone would or should eat gold leaf is beyond me, but the roll tasted amazing!

Ki is priced moderately, and is Zagat and Michelin reviewed, available for dine-in or take-out. 718-935-0575

~Sam

Notable Opening: Morton's Steakhouse in Downtown Brooklyn

To complement their Great Neck location, Morton's Steakhouse has just opened up their first restaurant in the boroughs, by hitting Downtown Brooklyn with their swanky steakhouse.  As they are just opening today, we don't have too much information on their new location, but we do hope that it will be as great as the other Morton's that we have visited over the years.  Dinner is served now, lunch service will begin on Monday, November 24, 2008.  718-596-2700