Exploring Brooklyn, NY

This past week Ted went on a business trip to New York and I tagged along since I have nothing to do this summer (yes, I know I’m sure you hate me–but it’s definitely one of the perks of being a teacher!). I did a little bit of sightseeing but mainly checked out the food scene in Brooklyn 🙂

Our first night out in Brooklyn we went to Sociale, which was a couple blocks from our hotel. After having dinner here it really set the bar high. Service was impeccable and the food was beyond delicious. I ordered the burrata salad with baby beets, endive, and pancetta crumbs (UM PANCETTA CRUMBS?! YES, PLEASE) Amazing. Ted got the braised short rib and root vegetables as his appetizer. Our entrees arrived and they were almost too beautiful to eat. But luckily, that didn’t stop us! I had the hangar steak special with pea puree, spinach and mushrooms and Ted had the fresh pappardelle with rabbit ragout.

I met up with a college friend of mine, Ward, who directed us to an awesome dim sum place called Ping’s Seafood in Chinatown. We pigged out on all the items they rolled by our table on small carts before we managed to drag ourselves out of there. Despite stuffing ourselves, we then found a cute bakery (I can’t remember the name sorry!) and ordered some custard buns and bubble tea. We then walked over to the new World Trade Center area and visited the twin tower memorials.

Another day Ted and I took the subway into Manhattan and visited Chelsea Market after he had finished with work one day. Did you know it used to be the old Nabisco factory where the Oreo cookie was invented and produced? Pretty cool. Now it’s a big food hall on the lower level with small bakeries, gourmet grocery stores and cute small restaurants. After much going back and forth to different menus of places we decided on Takumi Taco. It is Japanese inspired Mexican food….wait whaaaaaat?? But it was surprisingly tasty! We got the chicken teriyaki bowl and bento box with charred corn salsa, mixed greens, and beef curry and spicy tuna tacos.

Apparently the 3rd floor of the Chelsea Market building houses the Food Network NY Headquarters?? I so badly wanted to hop in the elevator and take a peek.

Also checked out Sarabeth’s Bakery at the Chelsea Market and looked into the back….YUM!

We took a peek at Spices and Tease where they had tons of different teas (below) and spices you could buy.

We went out for dinner another night to a cute little restaurant called Gallito’s Kitchen. I had the chipotle spiced plantains, a taco al pastor and a Negra Modelo battered fish taco.

We ended our food adventure by meeting up with some of my friends from college at a place called Rucola. It was pouring rain on my way to the restaurant but running in the rain was definitely worth it. It was a small intimate little Italian restaurant and we shared little appetizers (like the Veal Spiedini) and their arugula salad, which is the namesake for their restaurant).  For my entree, I ordered a whole fish! Yes, it was a small trout but delicious just the same.

I hadn’t seen some of them in a couple years so it was awesome to catch up with all of them! We had an awesome meal and talked until almost closing time. Hopefully we won’t wait as long to get together again next time. Miss you all already!

All in all–a wonderful foodie adventure through New York. Here are the places I visited below!

Rucola                                                                                                                                    190 Dean St                                                                                                                 Brooklyn, NY 11217

Sociale                                                                                                                                   72 Henry St                                                                                                                             Brooklyn, NY 11201

Gallitos Kitchen                                                                                                                 140 Montague St                                                                                                                   Brooklyn, NY 11201

Takumi Taco                                                                                                                            75 Ninth Ave                                                                                                                           New York, NY 10011

Ping’s Seafood                                                                                                                         22 Mott St                                                                                                                         New York, NY 1001