Most New Yorkers claim to be ready for adventure but when someone mentions Brooklyn, the typical response is “what a schlep!” Enough is enough, it’s time to hop on the L train and discover our neighbor to the east, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A hood where family establishments stand along side the nouveau. There’s no better way to read a neighborhood’s pulse than by their sandwiches, the true barometer of people’s desire for value and delicious food. We’ve seen what comes out of Red Hook and Sunset Park so when my friend Charlie told me his cousin and Williamsburg expert, Andrea, was ready to open my eyes with a full tour of her hood, I gladly accepted. Part one offers NYCFoodGuy’s take on Bedford Cheese Shop and Marlow & Sons.
Spicy & Mild Chorizo at Bedford Cheese Shop
Sopressata & Cheese Pizza at Marlow & Sons
Front of the room fare - Desserts, Scones & Muffins from Marlow & Sons
This is what a Cuban sandwich is supposed to taste like. Fresh roast pork and sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard surrounded by a crispy garlic-buttered, pressed hero roll. The price for porcine perfection? A mere $4.35. This sandwich is good enough to be at Citi Field, but it lives close enough on the 7 train (7 stops before, approx. 20 minutes) to lure you to Woodside for a taste before or after a Mets game.
El Sitio Cuban Sandwich ($4.35). From Top to Bottom: Pressed Garlic-Butterd hero, roast pork, sliced ham, melted Swiss, pickles, mustard
I can’t speak for any of the other food at El Sitio, which looks a lot nicer on the outside than inside, but if the Cuban sandwich is the litmus test for deliciousness at a Cuban restaurant, El Sitio passes with flying colors. N.B.: Take this sandwich to go because Sripraphai, one of NYC’s best and most authentic Thai restaurants, is just four blocks away from El Sitio. Thanks Steve.
El Sitio Restaurant
6828 Roosevelt Ave
Woodside, NY 11377
(718) 424-2369
Daily, 10AM to Midnight
It’s been a great 200-post run but now it’s time to step things up a notch. There are big changes on the horizon for NYCFoodGuy.com and there’s nothing more important than making sure all you food lovers out there are getting everything you want out of this site.
Ready to attack at Daisy May's Big Pig Roast. Not for the squeamish.
Leave a comment or shoot me an email (lawrence@nycfoodguy.com) letting me know what’s on your mind. What would you like to see reviewed? What kind of features would you want to see in a redesign? Anything that would make YOUR experience on NYCFoodGuy.com better, I want to hear about it. Thanks and happy eating!
Pop the Cristal because it’s a celebration and the milestones are two fold. In just over a year NYC Food Guy has reached the 200 post plateau, a formidable task for one man with a limited budget and an unquenchable appetite. And what better way to bring in the bicentennial than with a delicious discovery: Authentic and affordable Mexican food is alive and well and it lives not in Manhattan but in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It’s the best Mexican food I’ve had since the Red Hook Ball Fields. Read on for a revolutionary Mexican sandwich, awesome tacos and learn how to plan your own food tour in unfamiliar territory…
Authentic & affordable tacos (top) were trumped by delicious discoveries (bottom)
If you’re not going to Citi Field Saturday and if you love barbecue and grilling and you’ve always been curious about what competition cooking involves, get out to Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn this Saturday to watch Smoke In Da Eye defend their Grillin’ on the Bay 2008 title. Sanctioned by the New England Barbecue Society and sponsored by RUB BBQ & Butternuts Beer & Ale, Grillin’ on the Bay is a 4 category (chicken breast, fish, pork and chef’s choice) grilling competition (not slow-smoked BBQ).
This is a great way to learn about competition cooking up close and personal and starting at noon, you can purchase some of the freshly-grilled food. And if that’s not enough, starting at 1pm, $10 gets you all-you-can-eat chili in the “Brooklyn Chili Smackdown,” a people’s choice chili contest. I attended and judged this event last year and if you love grilling and barbecue, this event is not to be missed.
When: This Saturday, starting at 12pm. Chili tasting begins at 1pm. Awards given out at 4:30pm. Where: (Google Map) Corner of East 18th Street & Avenue Z, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, just a 20-30 minute ride from Manhattan on the B or Q train to Sheepshead Bay
For more info: Email Brooklynq@gmail.com, call Robert at 917-763-5062 or check the website. All proceeds will benefit the St. Mark school
The Mets first official game at their new ballpark, Citi Field, is just two weeks away and what better way to heighten the excitement than with a preview of the unprecedented culinary revolution taking place in Flushing? The Mets opened the doors to Citi Field Tuesday to introduce the three Culinary All-Stars behind all the magic: Danny Meyer, Drew Nieporent & Dave Pasternack.
Check out the Culinary All-Stars on the big screen
After the All-Stars received honorary Mets jerseys, a massive tasting began: tacos, pulled pork, frites with dipping sauce, Italian heroes, pizza, sushi, porchetta, mac and cheese with pancetta, skirt steak, burgers, sausage and peppers, fried fish sandwiches, cannolis, and chocolate mousse.
After all that, Shake Shack’s burger, the grandma pie from The Original Cascarino’s of College Point, the Box Frites and the white cheddar mac and cheese with pancetta were my favorite bites.
Stay tuned to NYCFoodGuy.com for a video preview of Citi Field food starring yours truly and Ted Berg of SNY.tv.
NYC Food Guy’s first dim sum experience is complete and what an eating extravaganza it was! I’ll preview each of the 24 different dishes I tasted (in one sitting) and I’ll also provide you with some essential information to ensure you get the most out of your dim sum experience. If you’ve never eaten dim sum before pay close attention to the information I offer or you will be overwhelmed.
If you’re looking for a chance to relive your childhood love affair with dessert, The Crispery and Momofuku Milk Bar are cooking up nostalgia in Roslyn, Long Island and New York City. The Crispery offers 14 different types of Rice Krispie Treats including smores-filled and chocolate cookie-filled versions, each one oozing with sticky marshmallow . Momofuku Milk Bar takes things up a notch with their Candy Bar Pie, featuring the best of all things peanut butter, caramel, toffee, pretzel, and cookie. Both were delicious but only one will make your wallet AND your stomach happy…
There’s still no definitive “best taco shop” in NYC and while Pinche, La Esquina and Pampano Taqueria are quality, they’re not supreme enough to keep me from telling you about the delicious skirt steak taco, tilapia taco, unique guacamoles and perfect churros at Mercadito Cantina. Read on to find out which tacos disappointed and which of the six guacamole choices impressed…
Eye-catching tilapia tacos and a simply delicious, cinnamon-sugar covered churro.
There are a lot of delis in Manhattan, but there are few with the pedigree of Defonte’s, a Brooklyn relic known for their massive roast beef sandwiches and their house made fresh mozzarella. NYC Food Guy was ready for sandwich satisfaction on Defonte’s first day of business in Manhattan, on 3rd Avenue and 21st Street. Read on for delicious food porn and a look at the full menu.
Not that we didn’t already know, but Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop, on the corner of Rivington Street and Norfolk Street in the Lower East Side, is awesome. Seriously spicy chipotle mayo fires up the off-the-menu “Chicken Special” filled with juicy grilled chicken, thinly sliced tomato and onion, crisp bacon, and melted cheddar on a toasted semolina hero ($8.00). It’s the chicken version of the famous “Spicy Rizzak.” Read on to find out about another off-the-menu special and why Tiny’s is equally delicious for Vegetarians…
“Pop the the pretzel-covered sea-salted caramel ($2.25) in your mouth in one bite,” said the smiley counter girl. “You need to contain the liquidy caramel.” I happily obliged and was immediately searching for a counter to lean on. All my energy surged to my taste buds, the better to absorb the transcendent flavor transformation taking place. Salty crunch gives way to smokey caramel and when the dark chocolate appears, the swoon begins, your mind overcome by a chocolate work of art. What better name than “Bespoke”, defined as “custom-made”, for a place where everything from the ingredients, to the selection and even the location, is unique. Read on to discover how to find Bespoke Chocolates plus a look at some other delicious items…
The crunchy exterior provided by a bed of crushed pretzel gives way to decadent, silky deliciousness.
I’m willing to cause controversy by declaring NYC’s best falafel, but when it comes to diners, there are so many in this city that it’s impossible to applaud only one as “the best.” But therein lies NYC Food Guy’s motivation to find diners that are a cut above the rest. Galaxy Diner, on 46th Street and 9th Avenue, is a great spot for late night dining thanks to their mouth-watering “specialty sandwich” menu and their walnut and strawberry-filled whole wheat honey pancakes. Read on for more food porn and a taste of some other delicious options.
NYC Food Guy 