Easy recipe for Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes! From Kitchn.com

Makes 8 to 10 pancakes

• 1 cup ricotta cheese (we just used nonfat ricotta from Trader Joe's)
• 1 cup flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar 
• 1/8 teaspoon salt 
• 3/4 cup milk 
• 2 eggs, separated into yolks and whites 
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 
• Butter, for the pan

If your ricotta seems to have a lot of liquid, set it in a fine mesh strainer to drain off excess liquid about 30 minutes before you start cooking. If your ricotta seems fairly dry and compact, you can skip this step.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a small bowl. Combine ricotta, milk, egg yolks, and vanilla in a separate, larger mixing bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the ricotta and milk mixture, stirring gently until just combined.

Beat the egg whites with a handheld electric mixer until stiff (we did it with our hands - it's all in the wrist)

Stir a small scoop of the egg whites into the pancake batter to lighten the batter, then fold in the remaining whites with a spatula.

Heat a griddle over medium-high heat. Melt a small bit of butter in the pan, just enough to coat the surface. Use a 1/3-cup measure to pour batter onto the hot griddle. Cook the pancakes for about 3 or 4 minutes, until the undersides are golden and you see a few bubbles popping through the pancakes. Flip the pancakes and cook another 2 to 3 minutes, until golden. Repeat with the remaining pancakes (put a small coat of butter each time).

Serve the pancakes immediately, with maple syrup, fruit jam, lemon curd, or powdered sugar.
We used blueberries and blackberries!

Take a look at the recipe at The Kitchn

Vic's - Comfort food in style...

Vic's is the "somewhat" new restaurant from the team that brought you favorites Five Points and CookShop.  Vic's has taken over the spot on 31 Great Jones street where the beloved Five Points used to hold fort - especially on Sundays for brunch!  The restaurant has been redesigned with a focus I believe more on lunch and dinner...not just Sunday brunch.  Five Points was pretty legendary for many years as being one of the hottest brunch spots in the city. Waits border-lined on epic, and it was ALWAYS crowded.  However, I think they struggled mightily to recreate the brunch business at night.  For a while they tried introducing themed nights - sunday supper, lobster nights, etc., but it just never caught on, and I think in New York, two days a week of stellar business won't cut it.

Introducing Vic's.  Given I was pretty heart broken when Five Points closed, I was a bit skeptical at first.  But boy, in a day and age where I'm actually finding it pretty hard to find new restaurants that stand up to the old tried and tested ones, Vic's will definitely go on my "go-to" list.  The vibe is somewhat of a family restaurant, but in a New York way.  I went on a recent Saturday evening, and the restaurant, while certainly doing it's fair share of "first date" dinners, also had a large contingency of "sophisticated" Manhattan/Brooklyn families -  large tables with generations of a single family. Perhaps because there is something for everyone on the menu. The food is well done - interesting pizza and pasta dishes (I am very partial to the Little Purse - delicious hot piping ricotta bursts into your mouth, slightly cut by the acid from the lemon).  Main courses - the pork and the oxtail were hearty and shareable.  Perhaps the right order is a pizza/pasta + a main course to share with a partner.  Of course you can't miss some of the appetizers...notably the Sweet Crispy Onions - pretty much every table had these. Think lightly fried onion rings dusted in tomato powder with a bit of bite.  Paired with a parmesan dip - it was like the best of onion rings + nachos combined.  Yum.

All in all - the ambiance was relaxed, not snooty or uptight...not too fashiony, nor too cavalier.  Was just right for any night of the week.  I haven't tried brunch yet, but am definitely looking forward to it. 

Highly recommend!

Vic's

31 Great Jones

212-253-5700

My Weekend Brunch

So after my favorite bartender at Maialino jumped ship I've decided to start making brunch at home more often.  My go to is soft scrambled eggs, bacon and challah toast.  Sometimes simple is better.  For two, I usually whisk 5 eggs plus a dash of half and half and cook on low heat - stirring often.  It usually takes about 10 minutes to cook, but out come delicious fluffy scrambled eggs.

Add a couple strips of bacon - cooked on medium heat on my DeBuyer iron fry pan (bacon comes out totally crisp - and the more you use the pan, the better it tastes!)
plus toasted challah from the greenmarket and voila!

I've also started grounding coffee beans and doing french press in the morning as well. Nothing is better than fresh ground coffee...!  I use the Chambord french press - after years of using a plastic french press, I realized of course glass is better - retains the heat and cleans more easily!

Easy breakfast in less than 30 minutes!!

ABC Kitchen's Magical French Toast & Pancakes

So I haven't been lucky enough to try ABC Kitchen for dinner yet, but I have been there for brunch several times.  Whenever I am in the mood for pancakes or french toast - ABC Kitchen is my go to place!  Located in ABC Carpet & Home, ABC Kitchen is fabulously decorated as one would expect courtesy of the venerable furnishing and decor landmark.  It's eco friendly for the glamorous!

Anyhow onto the food.  I am totally convinced there is something other worldly in their yeast, because all of their carb/dough based dishes are super delicious.  Light and fluffy, never leaving you with that "I'm so stuffed" feeling."

The french toast is very eggy and light - typically I take one bite of french toast and I am done, but I can finish theirs in record time and still want more.  Served with seasonal fruit (now it is roasted apples), this french toast is like nothing I have ever had!  Not really bread based, I would say it is more eggy and soft inside with a crisp bite, you can't miss it!

As for the pancakes - again, super light and airy with an egg base - these go down super smooth as well.  No heavy feeling afterwards - in fact, I usually have room for dessert!

Cue up the glazed donuts!

In fact, I am all carbed out by the time I leave...

Make sure to make reservations via opentable, or hope that there is a seat by the bar as this place is pretty much booked every weekend.

ABC Kitchen
35 E 18th St., New York, NY

The Breslin - Wear your best flannel and puffy vest!

So I went to The Breslin yesterday morning for brunch to check out what everyone's been talking about.  Boy was I glad I had whipped out the grandpa cardigan and oxfords! 

The place was crawling with facial hair, flannel, puffy vests - moneyed people outfitted by the adjacent Opening Ceremony, spending who knows how much to look like they stepped out of Goodwill!

The Breslin @ The Ace Hotel

If you ask me it was all a little too much for me.... anyhow onto the food and decor.  A bit too dark for my taste - definitely too dark for brunch, but I suppose the lack of light matched the rustic dark wood decor giving an air of heaviness to the environment.  A heaviness that was certainly matched by the food.

I had the pumpkin pancakes which were quite lovely.  Not particularly light or eggy - more like a multi-grain pancake.  My boyfriend said it reminded him a bit of eating oatmeal, it definitely had that kind of heartiness to it. 

I obviously ordered a side of the house cured bacon.  Now this was delicious.  But definitely a heart attack in the making.  Fatty, fatty, fatty...You definitely need some sort of acid to counteract all that grease and fat.  Perhaps a Bloody Mary?

Our neighbors had the full English breakfast - fried egg, sausage, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms.  $21 bucks! Urmmmm......I don't know about that.

The lamb burger on the other hand was delicious - but just to warn, it is topped with goat cheese (I am not a fan - I know, that's like blasphemy to most people...but just saying...)

Accompanied by crisp steak fries....I definitely felt guilty gorging on this meal while at the same time thousands were running the NYC marathon....hehe

All in all, I probably wouldn't come back to The Breslin - I am not a huge fan of the heavy Irish pub fare, but those true Spotted Pig lovers will definitely appreciate it.

I would however come back to the lounge at The Ace Hotel - if only to people watch!

All the style blogs must capture a lot of people for their street scene shots from here.  Curious location for the hipsters though - 29th/Broadway...not exactly what I think of when I think of where the cool kids play.....

Maybe I'm just getting old... 

The Breslin
16 West 29th (at Broadway)
212-679-1939

Paprika - $13.50 Prix Fixe Brunch

I stumbled upon this little restaurant a couple weeks ago for brunch and found it to be an awesome deal!  $13.50 gets you a coffee/tea, orange juice/mimosa/bellini, and an entree!

And the entree selections - what to choose?  Always a big decision....

• The eggs benedict on Tuscan bread with paper thin proscuitto?
• Green eggs on corn polenta with fresh salsa?
• Pancakes covered with fresh fruit?
• Potato rosti with grilled sausage?

I guess the only solution is to keep coming back to try them all!!

Paprika
110 St. Marks Place (between 1st Ave and Ave. A)
212-677-6563

Permanent Brunch - Breakfast food all day long

Permanent Brunch in the east village opened a couple months ago to much fanfare.  I mean, who doesn't love brunch?  And why is it only on Sundays!  Like "happy hour one more hour," Permanent Brunch builds upon the idea of extending a favorite meal all day long.

I mean, didn't you always want to have pancakes for dinner as a child?  There are many places in the city that serve pancakes for dinner (Clinton Street Baking Company - don't bother waiting for brunch to get their blueberry pancakes - just go for dinner!)

However, Permanent Brunch takes it to another level, serving all kinds of "brunch" food for dinner.  To do so, it means that many of their brunch dishes are more savory than sweet.  In fact there was only one real sweet entree - buttermilk pancakes.

I tried the Baked Eggs with Braised Short Rib Ragu and Duck Fat potato fingerlings.  Delicious, with the potatoes being the best part.  I mean cooked in duck fat?

Can it get better than that?  It was served quite prettily and was just the right portion.

While I did eat it for "brunch," I could definitely see craving it at dinner.

Who said eggs were only for the morning??

Sorry my pictures are kinda muted - but I guess it gives you a sense of the ambiance.  Permanent Brunch is quite tiny and the lighting is club like even in the middle of the day.  Bring your iPod and you can be part DJ, part diner...

I also tried the Chicken and Waffles.  Now the chicken was super moist and juicy - not dried out which is often the case with chicken and waffles.

Done coq au vin style, it's not fried chicken and waffles like you'd normally think.

The waffles are cooked with wild rice and topped with maple glazed bacon.

Crispy, sugary, delicious - the bacon provided the sweet to the savory dish.

Overall, Permanent Brunch has quite delicious food - and most of the entrees are savory and sophisticated enough for dinner.  It's not your classic brunch food, so I guess that's why it makes sense to the taste buds for dinner as well.  To a certain extent "brunch" almost seems a misnomer.

P.S. - they actually don't have brunch during the week during "brunch hours."  M-F they open at 5:30pm, Sat and Sunday at 10:30am.  Friday and Saturday they don't close till 3am!!!  So you can even get an early brunch to ward off that inevitable hangover....

Permanent Brunch
95 1st Ave (At 6th)
212-533-3315

Brunch at Prune - Be prepared for a 1 hour wait...

So I went with my friend to Prune a couple of years ago.  Before it got so popular!

In the couple years since, it appears Prune has pretty much blown up in the foodie world.

Yesterday I got up around 10:30am and I decided since it was before noon to give Prune another try.

I knew it was a busy place, but I thought, hey 11am is pretty early on a Sunday for brunch. 

I mean some places don't even open until 11:30 or 12 so they can serve alcohol.

But man.  11am was not early enough to escape the crowds at Prune.  By the time we were seated it was around 12:20/12:30.  And then, get this, we were out the door by 12:58pm.  They turn those tables fast and there was still an hour wait!  Boy do they do good business on the weekends.

Prune is a really charming restaurant tucked away on 1st st. located between 1st Ave. and 2nd Ave.  With few other options on the street, Prune is definitely a destination place so diners coming there usually stay for the long wait.

Unless they migrate over to JoeDoe across the street.  Which I wasn't likely to do given his hatred towards food bloggers...And from the looks of it, it didn't seem like he was getting much spillover from Prune..

Anyhow, onto the food.  Now after waiting over an hour, I was hungry!  Unfortunately the portions were a bit on the small side, but no bother.

I ordered the soft scrambled eggs, which maybe in retrospect was too safe of a choice.  Very ordinary, the standout part of the dish was the potato rosti which was delicious, if not a bit overly oily.

Butter, butter and more butter abounded on the dish.  Including an overly buttered english muffin.  But you know me, a good soft scrambled egg always makes me happy.

What I should have ordered though is what my boyfriend got.  Luckily he always shares.

He ordered the fried oyster omelet.  Now this one is tricky - it's hidden away on the menu near the eggs and sides.

You kind of have to search for it.

Not sure why they didn't put it on the left side of the menu with the other brunch specials.  It was yummy!  Fried oysters stuffed into a delicate omelet with tabasco on the side.

This is the dish I would come back for again and again.  But maybe at 10am when they open....

One thing to note - unlike Clinton St. Baking Co where it is nearly impossible to get a four-top, Prune seems to be more than accommodating for parties of 4 - I actually saw them in some cases get seated even before parties of two...

Prune
54 East 1st St. (Between 1st and 2nd Ave)
212-677-6221

Breakfast @ The Rhinecliff

I know I wrote a post describing the wonderful dinner I had at The Rhinecliff, but I had to do another post about their amazing breakfast.

Since we stayed at The Rhinecliff hotel for three nights, we got to have their awesome breakfast complimentary 3 days in a row.

And trust me, I could have done 7 days in a row....

Fresh baked croissants, fluffy pancakes (some of the best I've ever had!), delicious frittatas featuring fresh seasonal vegetables and complemented with french pressed coffee table side - I couldn't ask for a better way to get started for the day.

If you are a hotel guest everything and anything you want is complimentary - side, juice, coffee, tea, croissants, fruit, and entree.  A fabulous deal!

Just to get your appetite started - while we were there it was pancakes with fresh strawberries and blueberries and the frittata was local harvested mushrooms with gruyere.

Yum, right???

While I would say the breakfast is reason enough to stay at The Rhinecliff - it's not.  There are so many more reasons.

The hotel is newly renovated and is located right on the Hudson River, approximately 2 hours from Manhattan.  Furnished in a minimal white rustic tone, each room is spacious and sports an awesome bathroom - full jacuzzi and separate shower with a rain showerhead built into the ceiling! 

All in all, it's a great country retreat if you need a mini break from the city.

The Rhinecliff Hotel
4 Grinnell Street
Rhinecliff, NY 12574
845-876-0590

The Grey Dog's Coffee - Go for the home fries!

I went to The Grey Dog's Coffee for brunch today for the first time.

Somewhat chaotic on weekends, The Grey Dog's Coffee serves up great brunch items like omelets and scrambled eggs, and of course their famous coffee.

But what I was most pleasantly surprised with was was the home fries!

More like hash browns, they were really well seasoned, crunchy yet still soft on the inside.

Served in heaping portions - this is not for the carb only dieters.

I went totally traditional and just got their "eggs any style," because I mostly judge breakfast places on the way they make their eggs.

I ordered mine scrambled - and they were just perfect.  More like a soft scrambled egg - they were cooked to just the right temperature - still a little silky.  There's nothing worse than overcooked dry scrambled eggs.

The Grey Dog's Coffee can get pretty crowded on weekends and you must order before the waiter will seat you.

And don't expect to stay too long - this cafe isn't for stragglers.  The antithesis of Starbucks - The Grey Dog's Coffee has a pretty strict "no hibernation" sign discouraging people from spending their whole Saturday afternoon there.

The Grey Dog's Coffee
90 University Place (between 11th and 12th)
212-414-4739

33 Carmine St (between Bedford and Bleecker)
212-462-0041

Isabella's - Classic NYC Brunch on Upper West Side

Part of the B.R. Guest Restaurant Group, Isabella's on the Upper West Side is practically a NYC brunch institution.

I think of it as the uptown sister to Blue Water Grill.  Served only on Sundays - brunch at Isabella's on a summer afternoon on the sidewalk is a classic NYC activity. 

Located near the Museum of Natural History in yummy mummy stroller heaven - expect both a mix of families and ladies who lunch.

Brunch at Isabella's is a great deal - your choice of a cocktail including bellinis, mimosas, champagne or a blood mary + coffee or tea gratis with your brunch entree.

Favorites include a variety of eggs benedict - smoked salmon or crab cakes and fritattas and waffles.

I usually go with either the crabcake benedict or the pecan waffles with blueberries. 

While the food is good - I wouldn't say it's extra special. 

Isabella's is more for the experience and atmosphere.  A truly pleasant no-fail choice to bring out of town guests and family. 

Isabella's
359 Columbus Ave. (at 77th)
 212-724-2100

Brunch at Morandi = Great people watching + rustic Italian

My friend Jillian and I went to Morandi for brunch today.  I have been meaning to go to Morandi's for about two years now and somehow never got around to it.

You know how it is - going to the "it" restaurant often is quite an ordeal.

But now, since Minetta Tavern has taken that spot easily in the Keith McNally empire - it's much easier to go to Morandi!

And since I love Pastis and Balthazar - it was pretty much a sure thing I would love Morandi. 

We went for brunch today and it was wonderful.

Better than I expected actually - prices were very reasonable ranging from $10-$15 per entree with a wonderful selection of rustic Italian entrees.

On a nice day such as today (well earlier today) nothing beats an outdoor table at Morandi - great for people watching in the always fashionable West Village.

I ordered the "uova in camicia" which was 2 poached eggs with speck (prosciutto), spring onions and new potatoes.  Mine also came with fava beans - a delightful treat!

Jillian had the frittata which sported a soft middle - as all good omelets should have! Plus country bread to soak up the leftover goodness...

Other notables include the basket of sweet breads and ricotta fritters.

Brunch was delicious - I'm thinking of going back for dinner next week!  I guess given my track record it might be a while before I make it into Minetta Tavern...

Morandi
211 Waverly Place (at 7th Ave South)
212-627-7575
http://www.morandiny.com/index.php

Clinton Street Baking Company - Changed distributors!

I've posted quite a bit about Clinton Street Baking Co.  The first time I went the pancakes were fabulous - fluffy with fresh blueberries.  Recently I noticed the blueberry pancakes looked a little "bluer" than usual...

Today we headed back down to try them one more time - yep same runny blueberry syrup I noticed last time -so we asked them if they had changed the recipe.

It appears they have changed their food distributor - unfortunately for the worse if you ask me.  Sadly the same recipe with different ingredients doesn't equal the same result.  While the pancakes are still good - they aren't great like before. 

And with the recent 20% markup - I doubt I will be going back anytime soon.

Clinton Street Baking Co.
4 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002
646-602-6263
http://www.clintonstreetbaking.com/

Jane - A classic New York brunch favorite in Soho

I've been going to Jane for brunch since I first moved to New York six years ago.  It's a great place to go for a classic New York brunch.

I think Sunday brunch is a very New York centric activity - before I moved to New York, brunch wasn't really a big deal, much less a focal point for the week.

Here in the city, people take Sunday brunch seriously.  It's all about the long 2 hour brunch with your girlfriends - cocktails included.

Jane is a perfect place for a girls brunch - I say girls, because frankly, I usually see large groups of girls getting together for a casual brunch, bridal shower or even baby showers.  It seems to be a very girl-centric spot.  Maybe because it's conveniently located near all the shops in Soho?  A perfect way to shop off your hangover...

Jane's brunch menu offers mostly savory dishes including a variety of omelets and scrambles.

What makes Jane special in my opinion though, is the many versions of the classic eggs benedict dish.  Favorites include the Benedict Jane - crab and crawfish cakes instead of the english muffin and the Benedict Johnny - poached eggs and maple chicken sausage on corn pancakes. 

Of course, Jane also has a Lobster Benny - you know what that is - lobster + eggs benedict of course.

If you are craving something sweet - or want to do a sweet + savory share with your friend like I always do - Jane serves up a delicious rendition of Vanilla Bean French Toast on brioche bread - nice and thick and sweet.

And what would brunch be without cocktails of course?  At Jane - one cocktail per brunch entree is included - and they aren't just your average mimosa - Choices include Bloody Mary, Mimosa Comsopolitan, Passion Screwdriver, Raspberry Champagne Cocktail, and my personal favorite, White Peach Bellini.

Not quite as good as Cipriani's - but a good darn try - and with brunch + cocktails ranging from $12-$19, I'd say Jane is a pretty good deal, wouldn't you?

Just remember - brunch is only served on Sundays at Jane.

Jane
100 West Houston St (Between Thompson and West Broadway)
212-254-7000
http://www.ctrnyc.com/JANE/index.html

Whym - An Eatery Up the Block

Whym is by the owners that brought us Eatery, down the street on 53rd and 9th Ave.

The menus are very similar, as is the decor - with Whym seeming to target a slightly older demographic.

In any event, the two restaurants are very close in aesthetic and taste, leaving one to question why open two locations just 5 blocks apart?

Whym serves up a mighty good burger - again similar to the Eatery burger.  What makes it so tasty is the grilled bun, which really brings out the flavor of the sesames on the bun.

The burger comes solo so be careful when the waiter asks "Would you like any additional toppings with your burger?"  These are not free - actually far from it.

I added pepperjack cheese and mushrooms - and boom, the burger went from $11.95 to $15.45.

$3.50 for two toppings?  Seems a bit egregious, right?

On the other hand, the baked chicken pot pie is topped with a generous helping of cheese.

Kind of makes you wonder why they couldn't throw it in for free on the burger).

The gravy is the perfect thickness - just enough to make you comfortable full.

One twist on the pie is the added chorizo, which adds a nice sweetness to the overall flavor.

Overall Whym is a good choice if you live in the area, but certainly not a "destination" restaurant.  One thing to note, Whym does serve weekend brunch. Favorites include the Blue Cornmeal Blueberry Pancakes and Biscuit and Eggs - served on cheddar biscuits that rival the Red Lobster ones.  And that's saying a lot, if you know what I mean...

And judging by the crowds tonight, I think the owners may have been a little too enthusiastic opening a clone of Eatery just up the street.

It seems as though one Eatery was enough.

Whym Restaurant
889 9th Ave (Between 57th and 58th)
212-315-0088
http://www.whymnyc.com/index.htm

10 Downing - 10 on a Scale of 20?

A couple of weeks ago I went with a girlfriend to 10 Downing for brunch. Now maybe that was the wrong choice, and I should re-review it for dinner.

However, given the brunch experience I'm not sure it's necessary to go back.

Not that 10 Downing was bad. It wasn't. It just wasn't that great.

And in this day and age with the economy the way it is - opening a new restaurant is a risky venture. It is truly Darwinian - survival of the fittest. Not many will succeed. And in my opinion - trendiness and hype will only get you so far.

What 10 Downing has going for it is a nice interior, positive reviews and more importantly - a trendy prime West Village spot directly across from Da Silvano and it's sibling Bar Pitti. The food is somewhere between New American and Mediterranean. Surprise, surprise - isn't that the market most new restaurants seem to be aiming for these days?

We ordered the 10 Downing Salad with chicories, piperade & manchego vinaigrette. Nice and crisp - the manchego certainly added a new twist to an otherwise ordinary salad. But for $10 bucks, not a bad deal. However...don't expect to get full off of that unless you already ate or plan on eating again very soon.

On the sweet side - the Challah french toast was thick and dense. A little underdone for my taste - super eggy with batter that was raw enough to make you a little nervous. The strawberries and creme fraiche were a nice touch- although they proved too heavy for the underdone bread, resulting in a somewhat soggy mess. Not much points for presentation.

All in all - 10 Downing is an "okay" choice - but why settle for okay when you can get great. Leave 10 Downing for the model types who go there for the salad and head across town to The Smith where you can get a real brunch.

10 Downing Food & Wine
10 Downing St. New York, NY 10014
212-255-0300

Yummy@Home French Toast

Last week I made french toast. Delicious, easy to do french toast. With a little help from Amy's Bread.

Okay. A lot of help from Amy's Bread.

It's pretty much impossible to make bad french toast if you use their delicious cinnamon raisin Challah bread.

All you need is approximately 2 eggs per person.

So for 2 people = 4 eggs + some milk (just eyeball it) + a pinch of salt + a pinch of pepper. Mix it together in a large bowl.

Heat a pan with butter - dip your bread into the egg/milk mix and immediately place on the hot pan. Flip a couple times and your done.

Easy as 1,2,3. A super delicious way to start your weekend off right.

Update- Recession hits the Quality at Clinton Street Baking Co.

Alert- the blueberry pancakes that made Clinton Street Baking Co. worth the 2 hour wait have now been compromised.

It appears that the gloom and doom economic environment has resulted in cost cutting across the board - most noticeably in the pancakes.

No longer served with fresh blueberries - the blueberry pancakes resemble something closer to the IHOP version, which would cost you less than half the bill at Clinton.

In the past the pancakes had a sprinkling of fresh blueberries mixed into the dough - nowadays the pancakes come smothered with "blueberry syrup" - mashed up blueberries that are shriveled up, clearly either canned or frozen.

They are almost unrecognizable as they are no longer the color of a delightful flaky brown, but more like something the Smurfs would enjoy...

A truly disappointing development - especially at $12 a pop. To be honest, I am a little relieved - now I no longer have to devote an entire Saturday afternoon down on the LES waiting for these pancakes.

I suspect others will feel the same...and that 2 hour wait will continue to shrink. My suggestion - go between 6-8pm Mon- Sat for the Beer + Burger $12 special - now that's a deal worth waiting for.

Clinton Street Baking Co.
4 Clinton St., New York, NY 10002
646-602-6263
http://www.clintonstreetbaking.com/

Stone Park Cafe - Brooklyn Brunch Does A Body Good...

Stone Park Cafe - Be prepared to wait upwards to 2 hours for brunch at this Park Slope favorite.

Opened in 2004 by two local residents - "the two Joshes" Josh Foster and Josh Grinker, Stone Park Cafe serves up classic American contemporary cuisine.

Although I have yet to try Stone Park Cafe for dinner - I can vouch for their seriously unbeatable brunch offerings. Dishes ranging from Biscuits and Gravy to Shrimp and Grits to an unbeatable Short Rib Hash and Eggs...this is country cooking styled for the ever hip Brooklyn foodies.

Even the "Cobb Salad" comes with thick bacon - pork belly in this case, and a fried poached egg fit to satisfy the manliest of men.

Popular with both hipsters and families, Stone Park Cafe manages to simultaneously be the restaurant of choice to cure a nasty hangover, while also delivering the goods to the legions of devoted Park Slope "yummy mummies."

Be sure to accompany your meal with one of their mean Bloody Marys or crisp Mimosas...after all there's nothing better than a slight buzz to round out your lazy Sunday.

Tip - get there before 12pm if you want to avoid the crowds. Otherwise get ready for a long and potentially frustrating wait. After all, one can't rush the brunch crowds.
(picture from NY Times)

Stone Park Cafe
324 Fifth Ave. Park Slope, Brooklyn NYC
718-369-0082
http://www.stoneparkcafe.com

Char No. 4 -Smith Street's Modern Twist on Bar Grub

Char No. 4 is a new bar/restaurant on Smith Street in Brooklyn- right off the F train at Bergen.

While Char No. 4's claim to fame is its extensive list Whiskeys and Bourbon, I come for the food.

Deliciously simple, inventive comfort food with a modern twist.

Now I love sitting at the bar to grab a bite to eat- I find it more social and entertaining.

For those of you deuces who prefer a table to dine, one caveat with Char No. 4 is that the main dining room appears to be primarily for larger groups- several long booths await parties of 3 or more.

On a recent night my boyfriend and I came in and were told there was a 45 minute wait for a table but we could eat at the bar. Right after us came a party of 3 who were seated immediately in one of 3 large booths which were empty. Just a warning for those planning on bringing a first date...

As for the food - it is delicious. Portions are on the small side, so while prices are definitely reasonable, it might take several dishes to fill a hungry tummy.

The BLT was filled with thick slabs of fried fatty pork with a kicker of pickled jalapenos and peppers lending it an almost Asian feel.

The Shrimp and Grits were smoky, spicy, with a fresh hint of cilantro to give it that extra crisp.

As a side dish- I recommend the cauliflower gratin with almonds. Creamy and cheesy, its a perfect way to get daily dose of veggies. The almond topping adds that extra crunchy texture that elevates the dish to another level.

For dessert you have a choice of chocolate cheesecake or homemade butter pecan ice cream with bourbon.

As you can guess most of the diners seem to go with the butter pecan ice cream. The strong bourbon is a perfect accompaniment to the sweetness and buttery flavors of the ice cream. The combination is simply to die for.

For those of you die hard Manhattan foodies - Haven't you heard that Brooklyn is the new Manhattan?

At least "The Real World" and "Top Chef" think so.

So venture out on the F train - the restaurant is less than a block off the Bergen stop. You won't be sorry :)
(picture from NY Mag)


Char No. 4
196 Smith St., Carroll Gardens
718-643-2106