Phoodographs and Finds

Friday, December 23, 2016

The Brooklyn Flea + 'Smorgasburg' Winter Market is Phab...Especially The Smoragburg Part

Sandy, Sharyn, Joel and I went to The Brooklyn Flea + 'Smorgasburg' Winter Market last weekend and we happened to have found what the food world touts as one of the 50 sandwiches to eat before you die.
Truly what impressed me the most as the incentive to try these sandwiches was the imported fresh weekly bread from Venice, Italy...ie..."00" unbromated flour.
It's not easy to be a part of this food world at the Smorgasburg. Startups and seasoned chefs alike must all apply on line and go through a rigorous screening and tasting process in order to assure the high quality, healthy nature and flavor of the food and beverage are worthy of a spot at the Smorgasburg.
Check out these sandwiches we loved and the passion behind these Venetian chef brothers that added to this memorable food experience.
I'd be remiss if I didn't comment about the beautiful little orchids served with each sandwich.
Nice touch fellas!

. Pork Me Up
Slow roasted pork with sage (an old recipe from Treviso, Italy), rosemary, sauteed organic sweet peppers, caramelized onions and aged Grana Padano

Is this pride...or what?

Farmers market tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella, oregano and fresh ground black pepper

Veggie Love
Farmers market tomatoes, sauteed peppers, eggplant, mushrooms, caramelized onions and organic cream cheese

The bottom line here...

Between the unique food market, the prepared foods and the very interesting and not typical vintage and craft vendors...this is a day trip worth taking!

Mangia Baby...Really!

Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg are open all winter in their most memorable location at Skylight One Hanson, the majestic Fort Greene landmark in the Williamsburg Savings Bank Clocktower that hosted the market’s indoor winter seasons through 2012.

From November 5+6 through March 25+26, 2017, 100 vendors will sell every weekend at the landmarked interior, with 75 “Flea” vintage and craft vendors in the Main Hall and Mezzanine and 25 Smorgasburg food vendors on the lower level Vault. From the mosaic on Skylight One Hanson’s 63-foot ceiling, to secret iconography hidden throughout the space, the story of New York’s past can be discovered in this unparalleled environment for shopping, eating, and sightseeing.

Location + Hours:

Brooklyn Flea + Smorgasburg Winter Market

Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-6pm

$1 entry, kids 16 and under free

Skylight One Hanson

1 Hanson Place (at Ashland Place), Brooklyn NY 11243

D/N/Q/R/2/3/4/5 to Atlantic Ave.-Barclays Center

C to Lafayette Ave.

G to Fulton St.

Holiday Hours:

Wednesday, December 21, thru Friday, December 23, noon-8pm

Open Christmas Eve Day, 10am-3pm

http://brooklynflea.com
www.tramezzininyc.com

A view coming or going. Nice, huh?

As usual, please feel free to comment. If you have other destinations you wish to share, let's hear about them.
Happy Holiday Season to all...and the best in 2017!
Bert

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Truly Phabulous Phood & Art Phinds in Wynwood, Miami & Liberty Park Up North a Bit

Successful restaurants need to offer delicious and simple fare. Waiters and waitresses with some personality are key...and don't forget extra napkins.
Of course there also needs to be a certain level of creativity in the kitchen to stimulate and surprise patrons with recipes that manipulate and finesse ingredients to reach a level of individuality that sets them apart. Thus...it seems to me that when a restaurant situates itself in the middle of an art district, they must be imaginative enough to create food, to some degree, as an art form.
Food, as an art form, is unique in many ways. While a painting appeals to sight and music to sound...food appeals to most senses all at once. Texture, flavor, color and aroma all play a role in a successful dish and ultimately...the restaurant.
It's with these thoughts in mind that Sandy and I bring to you some of our favorite phood phinds discovered in Florida.
Over the last couple of years we have watched the astonishing growth of the Wynwood Art District* in Miami, Florida. The Wynwood Diner opened in August, 2015 and is home to...so far...3 phabulous dishes. The Mean Bean Burger served on a brioche with pico de gallo, avocado and sweet mustard with a side of kale Caesar salad, The Classic Burger (a blend of angus beef and brisket)...and...the Brisket Sliders (cheddar & caramelized onions) won us over big time. To gracious host and owner Donald G. ...not only will we be back, many others we know will be in to visit.

The Artful Wynwood Diner

The Mean Bean Burger

The Classic Burger

Tea anyone?

Brisket Slider...A Masterpiece

Our Table

Provencale Rose'

There really are sooooo many painted walls that adorn virtually every building and structure in Wynwood, it would be impossible to show them all. Many are cultural and fun...a few scary... and lately the proliferation of political commentary is nothing but Wow!

Here are just a few pics we took...Enjoy.

Helen, Sandy, Noel & Bert

Noel Lovin' Miami

Yours Truly

Coincidence?

Alison at Wynwood Walls

Hello Mr. Cute Purple Dragon

A few days after this visit, we came back with Alison who had never been to Wynwood.

Sandy heard about a must visit relatively new bakery that by any standard turned out to be one of the top few bakeries we have ever experienced and is a must stop for all of you who read this.

This is...Zak The Baker...and there is clearly, undeniably and beyond any doubt an art form a goin' on here!

What was most impressive for me were the healthy ingredients used...and NO BROMATED FLOUR!

That and the passion and the smiles (remember I said part of success is personality?) are why I call this bakery an experience.

We were leaving in two days and Alison's Anniversary gift to Sandy and me was all the baked goods we could carry home. Darn those airport luggage sizers.

Timing would have it that Ashley was there to give me a tour of the baked goods so I could write something for us all to enjoy and, as well, Zak of Zak The Baker fame was also there with his wide smile.

Ashley, Zak & Bert

The Full Wall Menu

There were again...sooooo many delicious breads (the best rye bread anywhere, ever) and baked goods, I simply could not tell you what they are other than the pics you see here.

Ahhhhh...The Breads...I can smell them from here

Another super standout...T.H.E. Babka!!!

Baaaaaaahb-ka

Sandy & Alison at Zaks

More Babka

The Counter

Cherry Danish

Smiling Hmmmm

Yum!

Smiling Govanna with guess what?

You have to understand that as superb as these foods taste, what compounds their enjoyment are the healthy ingredients.

Zak has many other breakfast and lunch dishes he offers with an ever changing menu.

He has a chef who prides herself as "The Savory" Chef and she loves her vegetables like I love my Garlic and EVOO. Meet Melissa!

Savory Chef Melissa

Let's face it...A good looking dish is always more appetizing, especially when it smells great!

Ahhhhh...What a phab looking egg. Simple, Remember?

An appy

Rugelach

Zaks Bakery Delivers...in every sense of the word

Need I say anymore!

Oh yeah...one more thing...Their granola..down to my last 1/2 cup. Want more!!

Thank you to Ashley, Zak and Co. for your hospitality. See you again ASAP...

ps......just a tidbit...The Wynwood Diner proudly serves Zak The Baker breads

To learn more about Wynwood and Wynwood Walls....simply Google www.wynwoodmiami.com*

Next up...Liberty Park Arts and Crafts Show!

Here comes our art find for the year in the name of Kevin Kichar. There is something about folks who find it easy to smile and this artist truly and sincerely has something unique to smile about...

an art form as distinctive as we have ever seen and is now hanging in our home.

Read about Kevin...tell him Sandy & Bert sent you and you'll be grinning too!

Bert & Kevin

One of our favorite stops for dinner and entertainment sits on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and A1A in Hollywood, Florida

For The Taco Beach Shack we need to time the visits based on the type of entertainment for the evening as we prefer music with the Jamaican or Mexican Mariachi styles.

We also time our visits, if possible, for a Monday visit celebrating Margarita Mondays.

An excellent House Margarita for $8.50 turns into a $2.00 treat on Monday. Nuts, huh?

Let's not kid ourselves here. The main reason we come is because the food is excellent.

In my life I have never tasted pulled short ribs like they serve here in their tacos. My favorite dish is the taco bowl served with pico de gallo, rice, beans, a special spicy slaw, chips, guacamole and sour cream.

Ohhh Goodness!