On this blisteringly hot day, dozens of vendors were set up inside and a few more, under tents, set up shop on the sidewalk in front. I headed into the air-conditioned space, paid my $5 entrance fee, and took stock of my surroundings. Most of the vendors were in a back room, in three cramped aisles, and I believe half of Brooklyn was there in support — and to sample the wares at most of the booths.

My first stop, naturally, was Macaron Parlour, a new bakery but three months old, specializing in, well, macarons. Only, instead of the usual chewy almond cookies encasing a sweet ganache, Macaron Parlour also creates flavors like… candied bacon. With maple cream. I assure you, this is deliciously wrong as a macaron. And you want it.

Still so, so wrong was the Peanut Butter Cup, aptly named with a healthy dollop of creamy peanut butter covered by chocolate. This was a perfect macaron to showcase the creative abilities of Macaron Parlour.

Part of what called me to Gowanus was the promise of $2 cans of Brooklyn Lager, I’ll admit. I am The Beer Boor, after all. These indeed existed, but proved unwieldy while navigating the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of the main exhibition floor, so I stopped after one — once I also realized I hadn’t enough hands to carry a beer can and sample AND make my way through the narrow aisles.

I then found my way to Robicelli’s Cupcakes for a special reason: Allison and Matt Robicelli have a cupcake named — drum roll, please — the YVOnne, named for, yes, The Feisty Foodie herself! That there is a cupcake made with riesling, and buttercream “topped with blueberry-thai basil compote” — in other words, a mouth full of awesome. Just a great melding of flavors in each bite. I took home another of these, and an Iona, far more savory with pear-olive oil cake, blue cheese buttercream, port wine reduction and candied walnuts, which tasted like a greens-free salad: very interesting, in a good way, as a cupcake.

McClure’s Pickles enjoyed a big stand by the entrance to the back room, and since I’ve long enjoyed what they pickle, I dropped in to restock. The spicy pickle spears are far hotter than they have a right to be (this is a very good thing), and for kicks I also tasted, then bought, a jar of relish, made from their popular garlic-dill pickles. The pickles aren’t cheap, but they are about the best jarred pickle you can find in the city.

Crop to Cup Coffee takes the Fair Trade idea a step further, and contracts with individual family farms in Uganda and, more recently, Burundi. Their crops are shipped to Crop to Cup for roasting and selling.

One blend specially for iced coffee — it’s less bitter and more rounded — was on offer for sampling while I learned about the operation. Right now the coffee is in a number of local restaurants, and is available online. The Uganda Bugisu (also sampled) was on the thin, fruity side, more like a South American bean, while the iced coffee blend had a fiuller, richer coffee profile. I opted to buy a bag of the Burundi Bwayi beans (labeled as tasting “Floral Honey Caramel”), for home use. Again, not inexpensive, but I fully expect the flavor is worth it.

Still thirsty and warm, my final stop in the Bell House led me to P&H Soda Co., specializing in homemade soda and syrups. The flavors in the picture are but a small sampling of what they create. I was pleased to note that they too use a Sodastream to carbonate water in small batches…

… though you can see in the picture above, to the left, they still have some CO2 cartridges to run through before being completely weaned off the seltzer bottle. I kind of want those. Still — the syrups are pungent, and really, a pure soda made with actual fruit juices is far superior to the store-bought copies, though, yet again, you have to pony up for that sort of quality. P&H made quite possibly the best lime soda I’ve had to date. And I love that they’re just regular people who discovered they could do what they really enjoy doing in life and maybe make a few dollars along the way. Who doesn’t aspire to that?

There were so many booths I didn’t have time to visit: chocolates, organic ice cream, organic vegetables, pastries, jerky, kimchi, knives… something for everyone, truly. I wasn’t concerned about the nominal entrance fee, as there was plenty to sample if I so desired, and it isn’t like it won’t be put to good use. UnFancy was well worth the experience, and the people I talked to clearly enjoy what they are doing. I’ll be back next year for sure. Support local businesses in your eating adventures!

© BeerBoor for The Feisty Foodie, 2010. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: coffee, cupcakes, Macaron, pickles, soda, unfancy food show

I actually wrote about this place once before nearly 5 years ago, but that was then, this is now.  Haaa, no, honestly, I wrote then about the Manhattan location that has since closed.  The Sheepshead Bay location, though, I’ve been going to since summer 2003.  BF and I used to go to the Sheepshead Bay UA all the time (as it was a pretty nice theater, and a pretty quick drive from us; now, well, on this occasion, it smelled like mold/dampness from carpet that had been soaked and then let air dry, disgusting, plus old/sick people bad breath, blegh… $12 for that?!), and we tended to grab a bite at Roll-n-Roaster before or after the movie… It’s a place that holds many fond memories for both of us. 

On this occasion, we decided to revisit the Sheepshead Bay location before watching The Losers.  Our order has become pretty standard, with few deviations: fresh squeezed lemonades and/or root beers, order of fries with a cup of cheez on the side (sometimes two orders of fries, if I’m hungry…), corn fritters, and two roast beef sandwiches: his plain, and mine with cheez. 

The fresh lemonades are always tart, slightly sweet; the fries, chip-style and crisp, and the corn fritters are crunchy nuggets filled with creamy bits of delicious sweet corn.  NOM.  And the roast beef sandwiches, tender slices of roast beef, melt-in-your-mouth tender. 

I’ve always just added cheez, but this last time, I noticed ‘grilled onions’ was also listed as a free topping.  It’s probably always been there, but I just never noticed it… so this time I included that.  Now I’ve always quite enjoyed this roast beef sandwich with just cheez – like a cheesesteak with a different kind of bread, really – but the grilled onions brought it into this amazingly wonderful territory OMG… sooo good, I could eat one right now just thinking about it (and brings it even closer to cheesesteak territory).  Mmmmmmmmm.  (I sometimes take pickle relish and slather that all over too, and you’d think pickles with cheez would be weird, but y’know, it isn’t?) 

Yvo says: I love this place, if not for the memories and delicious food, then for the prices, which haven’t changed the entire time I’ve been patronizing Roll-n-Roaster.  It’s still about $20 for the two of us, give or take some cents.  The food is good and consistent, and hasn’t changed in this time, either… nommylicious!
recommended for excellent roast beef sandwiches!

© Feisty Foodie for The Feisty Foodie, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: roast beef, sandwiches

I was recently at Brooklyn Flea for the SOS Bake Sale and took the opportunity to eat my way through the market. 

At the Red Hook Lobster Pound’s stand, I tried unsuccessfully first to get lobster grits (sold out!), and then went back a short bit later to get some chowder, but in the meantime, they’d sold out of that as well!  Boo!  Someone told me they use the tomalley in the grits, which means I TOTALLY have to get my butt there earlier to get some.  I love lobster (and crab) guts.  Essence of the animal, if you ask me… *drool

SpB told me she and the girls had really enjoyed Asia Dog when they’d gone a few months ago (I’d unfortunately had to miss the excursion – was it because of school or I was away, I’m not entirely sure…).  So we headed over there and grabbed two dogs. 

I’m pretty sure SpB got the Sidney, which she loved and told me I had to try (next time; I don’t want to share hot dogs!).  I personally opted for the Wangding because um, it has pork belly on it.  But I thought mine was only alright; looking at the menu, next time I really need to try the Vinh too!  Banh mi style!  Either way, though, I think $3.50 for a hot dog is a bit outrageous… at a stand… but I think that’s just me being a grumpy bee-yotch because I’m sure I’ll pay more when I get to Hot Doug’s or if I ever go to Crif Dog’s to actually eat. 

We both wanted elotes because something about eating coated corn on the cob while wandering around a flea market… I don’t know, it makes me feel all cozy inside.  Perfectly spiced – not too much, not too little, the kick was there which was nice on this slightly chilly day (what wasn’t nice? the stuff falling off and flying everywhere… into my hair… haha).  NOM!  I think that was $2. 

Next up, these delectable prosciutto+homemade ricotta open face sammies from Salvatore Brooklyn.  Generous prosciutto slices, arugula spicing the sandwich nicely, a drizzle of olive oil, all atop a slice of crusty bread… but wait, what’s this?  HOMEMADE RICOTTA.  Insanely soft, fluffy in my mouth, this amazingly creamy texture… I wanted to buy a big tub of it just to bathe in.  I wanted to make lasagna.  I wanted.  I WANTED IT.  But then I thought it would be a waste to actually cook this ricotta, so amazing was it on its own… I could just drizzle a bit of really good honey (no, not clover, ugh) over it and stuff it in my mouth, big spoonfuls of it, big overflowing honkin’ spoonfuls… over and over again… till the whole tub was gone… and that was when I realized that I should not purchase a tub unless my BF was there to pry it from my fingers before I cleaned it out.  So I didn’t

As we were preparing to leave the market, SpB and I noticed meatloaf sandwiches.  Um, you know how I feel about meatloaf sandwiches. 

This one was atop a brioche bun and boasted bacon ketchup.  WTF?  Yes, please!  SpB and I split one, and it was absolutely delicious.  Cheap, too – I think it was $5 or 6?  I wish I remembered the name of the purveyor, but I do not… but I promise you, you need to get this.  Perfectly cooked; not overly juicy (I mean, it’s on a bun, I don’t want it running down my hand while I’m at a market!), and not quite hamburger-like – this is definitely meatloaf – awesome.  Plus they wrapped it nicely for us when we said we were leaving.  Great people! 

Last, and sort of least, we picked up two cannolis from the same place as the open sammies – yes, the ricotta people, since cannolis are filled with ricotta.  I was really excited for BF to try this, but it turned out that he didn’t like it that much, saying that the ricotta didn’t taste right.  I’m going to go ahead and guess that what I loved about the ricotta in the sandwich application is what didn’t work for him: too fresh, too soft, not what he was expecting in a cannoli (since most cannoli places probably don’t use super fresh ricotta).  Oh well.  Can’t win them all. 

Yvo says: I’m not big on shopping at flea markets but I will definitely be back to this one, just to eat my way through the entire market, omg!  So good!  Pretty cheap, too; most things seemed to be in the $5ish range (or less, really).  Awesome!
recommended

Brooklyn Flea for location details

© Feisty Foodie for The Feisty Foodie, 2010. | Permalink | 6 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: hot dog, sandwiches

Dear friends, do you know what that is?

This is a $6 slice of Red Velvet cake.

This is a $6 slice of Red Velvet cake with walnuts. 

Oh, my.

Is that not gorgeous? 

A friend of mine (BB, for those keeping score at home – YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!) just moved very close to Cakeman Raven, so when BF and I went to her housewarming party, I had to swing by and grab a slice of cake or two and introduce the BF to the joys and wonders of the Cakeman.  Moist but light, super rich in flavor, amazingly fluffy cream cheese frosting that isn’t cloyingly sweet, and just… fabulous.  This is my favorite Red Velvet and I can’t even imagine what could make it better.  WOW. 

Yvo says: It took me a few days to eat each slice so $6 really isn’t that much to pay for a HUGE slice of cake - especially when this will easily be the best slice of Red Velvet you’ll ever eat (until the next one you eat, of course).  Mmm, I wish I had a slice right now… Oh, did I mention they actually also ship all over the country?  So all my non-NYer fans… you can eat this too
highly recommended

© Feisty Foodie for The Feisty Foodie, 2010. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cake

I’ve totally raved about Robicelli’s cupcakes before, but here’s some beauty shots of my recent trip (after eating at Ba Xuyen) anyway. 

AWL’s pretty raspberry lemonade cupcake!

My totally awesome chocolate turtle cupcake.  Oh my gosh, when I bit into this, it was like I died and went to heaven.  I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fluffy, cloud-like frosting that so far, I’ve only found at Robicelli’s.  Mmmmmmmmm.  Amazing. 

I don’t think Keywee is quite as good as Layla (any Cupcakes Take the Cake readers will recognize the reference!), so I kept mine in the upside down cup to protect it.  Honestly, she didn’t even really try to sniff the cup.  I think she KNEW. 

“Rawr! Give me cupcake!”

“I will be all EMO and hope getting this shot encourages you to give me CUPCAKE.”  (It didn’t.  Dogs shouldn’t eat people food, imo, and definitely should not be eating chocolate, which is toxic to most dogs.) 

If you’ve been reading my blog for more than a minute, I’m surprised you haven’t yet gone.  They recently added a couple of tables and stools to one side, creating a cafe area for those of you locals to sit and eat and enjoy their wonderful prepared-foods!  Go and enjoy! 

Robicelli’s
8511 3rd Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11209
718-748-6804

Allison’s amazing butternut squash soup

Wonderful spread of cheeses – I forgot the name, dammit, but the one on the bottom was incredible!!! Completely spreadable and delicious!

Lamb chops crusted in pinenuts… tender and another hit

Roasted brussels sprouts, eggplant, broccoli salads.  All very good.

Sicilian egg salad sandwiches… I stupidly forgot to try these but they sound super tasty

Pork belly BLT… I did NOT forget to try these, and they were outta this world

Still warm apple cider donut – $1.50

A little less cakey than I prefer but still incredible.

Bananas Foster cupcake… mm, mm good – $2.50

I can’t get over how creative this is… banana split cupcake – $3 – banana cupcake topped with vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate frostings, when you buy it, they ask you if you want “the works” then top it with whipped cream, crushed cookies (not shown on this one), and a maraschino cherry.  I’m going to assume it was good, because after I snapped a photo, my boyfriend inhaled one, then bought two more to take home.  Yeah, that’s an endorsement from him if ever I’ve heard one

Honestly, if you read my blog ever, you should already know how much I adore Robicelli’s.  It’s in Bay Ridge, on the exact opposite end of the train from me, and yet I’ve been there, hmmm, maybe 6 times in 6 months?  THAT’S A LOT FOR ME.  I just don’t go to Brooklyn!  Ringing endorsement.  If you haven’t been already, you are seriously missing out. 

And look – there’s even a dinner special currently going on for $9.99 – so for those who want to try a bit of everything, here’s a way to do it without breaking the bank.  You’ll thank me later because everything is delicious. 

Happy One Year Anniversary to Robicelli’s, and here’s to many more! 

The above pictures (up to the donut) are from the one year anniversary celebration at Robicelli’s, to which I was invited.  The donut & cupcake photos are from the day of the 3rd Avenue Festival in Bay Ridge, to which I was invited by the Robicellis such that I could guest-judge their sandwich competition.  Competition was fierce – and delicious – but ultimately, the best sandwich won out – a delicious concoction from Sarah of The Main Ingredient, and I urge you to go and get one yourself, as it’s now on the menu for the next year. 

© Feisty Foodie for The Feisty Foodie, 2009. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cupcakes, keywee