Brooklyn Crawl – 02.25.2011

Our temporary Texan “brewmaster” showing us how to brew with Chemex.

Baked storefront kind of reminds you of a chocolate cupcake.

Baked’s signature salty caramel cupcake.  Very good, especially the sea salt on top.

A pizza shop in the heart of a Hasidic Brooklyn neighborhood.

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A slice of Brooklyn.

Dominick hard at work.

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The master at work.

Artichoke garlic pie just out of the oven.

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Drooling while shaking the camera.

So it looks better if you were there so trust me when I say you MUST try it.

Making new friends and catching up with old ones over a few brews.

East Harlem Crawl – 02.18.2011

Patsy’s Pizzeria
2287 1st Ave
(between 117th St & 118th St)

El Aguila
137 E 116th St.
(between Park Ave & Lexington Ave)

It was the warmest February day yet  and I decided to do a tour of the ol’ neighborhood with huge Spiderman fan Ethan.  The crawl actually started 12 hours earlier at midnight.  Recognize the food below?  Hint:  midtown.

Gyro, chicken, rice, pita, lettuce, white sauce, and atomic hot sauce.  A NYC classic.

Natural b-boy pose cannot be forced.

Fresh and delicious Patsy’s slice for just $1.50!

Nothing is hidden from view at the Aguila counter

What’s in the giant copper cauldron?

Comida made to order.  Me gusto.

Putting on the finishing touches.

Tacos carnitas and al pastor (L-R).

Patsy’s and El Aguila were the real deal.  Inexpensive and authentic.  Walk up and get 2 quick slices at Patsy’s.  Scarf them down while still hot and stroll over to Aguila for two pork tacos washed down with a cool horchata; all for about $6.  Huzzah!

Grimaldi’s – 12.12.2009

Grimaldi’s
133 Clinton Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-2597
(201) 792-0800

The famous Brooklyn pizzeria has a convenient location for those on the west coast:  Hoboken, New Jersey.  It claims to be the only coal fired brick oven pizza joint in Hoboken, land of a infinite bars and therefore a similar number of pizza shops.  We were starving that evening and on the prowl for pizza.

Immediately upon entering, you feel the heat wave of the oven and the aroma of fresh baked dough with a hint of smokiness.  The pizzeria is cramped but comfortable inside and a lot roomier than the New York location where you would be eating on top of each other.

Fresh salad

Half mushroom/half sausage pie

A slice of margherita

A salad and pizza margherita, and a half mushroom/half sausage pies were ordered stat.  The salad was pretty standard fare but good:  fresh and crisp that came dressed with a vinigrette.  The pizza was delicious.  Thin and slightly charred on the crust, this pizza must be eaten right away (minutes) to truly savor not only the flavors but textures.  Otherwise, the crispness of the thin crust and the moistness of the crust edge quickly become intermingled from the moisture of the ingredients.  Thankfully it wasn’t overloaded with cheese so that the glorious red sauce could come through.  We unanimously agreed the tomato sauce was slammin’, thereby approving of the holy trinity (crust, cheese, sauce).  Not surprisingly the humble margherita pie was the tastiest.

Good
Hmm, the pizza I think.
Serves wine and beer, pizza’s best friend

Bad
The toppings are sparse and not worth the extra cost.

Ugly
Toxic pizza burp from pizza/beer/sausage pairing.

bru

Genuine happiness, not photoshopped.