Kombit Haitian Food

Crown Heights, Brooklyn

I love Haiti.  I love Haitian food.  I found this gem of a restaurant back in 2006 while on summer project.  Ever since then every summer we've spent in NYC with a group of college students we take them there.

Kombit- Haitian Kreyol for community.  You will certainly get a taste for more than just the food.  The artwork, music, and Haitian brothers and sisters who own this place, make you feel as if you're in Haiti.

Me and Pascal (one of the owners)

We always order family style and Pascal and I preorder the food.  For appetizers we get accra (root vegetable grown in Haiti), sweet potato (not like ours in America...so much better), and fried plantains (they're double fried- you haven't had the best til you've had these).  If you like spicy then you have to try the picklease on the table.  It's like a Haitian slaw but hot.  It's awesome on the accra and sweet potato.

Summer with Haitian sweet potato, akra, and plantain

For our main course we get griot (fried pork), diri ak pwa (rice and beans), chicken in sauce, and legume (yummy vegetable stew).

Yummy Haitian food

To drink you have to order the ju citron.  It's basically Haitian limeade and it's my favorite drink ever.  OF ALL TIME.  They also let us try the cola champagne (sweet orange Haitian cola).  Pascal brings out sugarcane for our students to try at the end of the meal.  It's amazing!

Expect to have a true brush with Haitian culture and experience the laid back atmosphere (i.e. if you're with a big group, you will wait on your food).  If you're not Haitian ask the owners about their culture, the music, the artwork, the food...they love their country and love to talk about it.

Also, if you visit in the winter months, ask if they have SoupJouMou.  It's an amazing squash vegetable soup, but it's only available when the squash is.

Junior's Cheesecake

My favorite cheesecake is New York style cheesecake.  My favorite NY cheesecake is Junior's.

My favorite Junior's cheesecake is the Chocolate Mousse.  It's perfect because the tartness of the layer of regular cheesecake balances out the sweetness of the chocolate mousse cheesecake.  And then of course the side is loaded with mini chocolate chips...how could you go wrong!?!

My hubby once threw me a surprise birthday party at Junior's after seeing Jersey Boys on Broadway. Friends of mine who were on summer project with us in NYC met us there for cheesecake.

My surprise birthday party in 2007

My 26th birthday

One time after seeing Rent on Broadway we went to Junior's for dessert afterwards and saw the lead in Rent eating with his friends- how fun!

My friend Charlotte and I with our Junior's

The original location is on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, across from Long Island University-Brooklyn, one of the schools we worked at when we lived in NYC.  It's near the Brooklyn Promenade, NY Transit Museum and Brooklyn Bridge.  There's a ton of Brooklyn memorabilia at this location.  

Brooklyn location corner of Flatbush and Dekalb

There's also a Times Square location and one located in the Grand Central Dining Concourse.  Oh and while you're there...you have to try a famous Brooklyn Egg Cream.  That deserves a blogpost all of its own.  

*If you're looking for something cool to take home as a souvenir that's not a touristy item they have awesome coffee mugs and saucers and cookbooks.

*If you get home and you just can't live without this amazing cheesecake, you can order them online and have them shipped to you at home.  

Hill Country Chicken

Madison Square Park

One day during a lunch break for a conference we all were craving Shake Shack.  We got there and didn't have time to stand in the line before some of us had to leave.  So friends of ours suggested walking a block to 25th and Broadway and eating at Hill Country Chicken.

Yummy, yummy, yummy.

The fried chicken was moist and tender on the inside and perfectly crunchy and crispy on the outside.  I got a fried chicken breast and easily could have split it with my hubby.

They have amazing homemade pies.  You can purchase by the slice or a 3 inch pie cup.  I've tried the lemon meringue and the cowboy pie and both were great.

Happy eating.

*Hint: if you're with one other person I suggest getting tap water, one fried chicken breast and a 3 inch pie and splitting it- you'd be able to eat for $10!

Little Italy

Little Italy in Manhattan used to be where the Italians lived in NYC, now the "real" Little Italy is on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.  This blogpost is about the Little Italy in Manhattan: the one most visitors want to see.  Although some restaurants are still run by Italians here, a lot of it is touristy.  But, I still love taking visitors here.

Little Italy is located on Mulberry Street right off of Canal Street (Chinatown).

After you turn onto Mulberry from Canal, Positano's is a little restaurant 1/2 a block up.  They have yummy pasta dishes and reasonably priced as well.

Positano's my 1st visit in 2005

Keep going down Mulberry Street and you'll hit cute and quaint Cafe Polermo on the right, home of the "World's best Cannoli."  Trust me, it's amazing and deserves the title.  They also have great pineapple sorbet here.

Samantha and Rebecca eating the world famous cannoli

Go up to Hester Street (on the left you'll see the Italian-American museum- opened in the last few years and tells the story of the neighborhood) and take a right.  You'll see the general store which has been open since 1910.  My favorite thing I found there was old photography postcards for sale.

E. Rossi & Co. Since 1910

Next door to the general store is Ferrara's, established in 1892!

Ferrara's established in 1892

 Look at this dessert case and I won't have to explain.

The gelato is good to the last drop

Shake Shack

Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Mets

The original location of Shake Shack is amazing, all outdoor seating in the heart of Madison Square Park. 

With the foliage on the roof you would almost miss it if it weren't for the long line.

On their website there's a link to be able to see the live camera feed of the line so you can adequately plan your lunch break or snack time.  One great thing is the long line is almost always for the hot food line.  The cold line (drinks or concretes) is always short. 

Summer Project 2010

The ShackBurger is amazing...why?  Grass-fed, no hormone added meat, patted fresh with the signature Shack sauce.  Amazing.  Tip for tourist: burgers are prepared medium unless you ask for something different.  My friends who love mushrooms and/or are vegetarians love their 'Shroom burger.

Now, let's talk about their custard ice cream.  OH MY WORD.  Every day chocolate and vanilla are available along with the "flavor of the day."  This is what is so fun.  Examples of flavors in the fall: Cinnamon Pear Crumble, Waffles & Bacon, Salty Chocolate Peanut Butter, Candied Apple, and Pumpkin Pie.  Mouth salivating yet? 

They have cones and milkshakes available but let me educate you about their specialty: The Concrete. Think McFlurry but 10x better.  Made with dense, rich custard ice cream and mix-ins.  You can customize your concrete or get a signature one (different at each NYC location).  

At the Brooklyn location they offer Brooklyn Whoopie Pies but with Shake Shack custard ice cream in between the layers of yummy chocolate cookie/cake.  

Things to do around each location:

1. Original location: Madison Square Park, Flatiron Building

2. Grand Central Terminal, Lower Level Dining Concourse.  Upstairs in Grand Central there's a 

     Pylones Store and a annex of the MTA Transit Museum Store (both great for gifts).  

3. UWS (Upper West Side): American Museum of Natural History, Central Park (Belvedere's Castle,       Shakespeare Garden, Boat House) (All indoor seating)

4. UES (Upper East Side): a few blocks from Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenhiem Museum, and     Central Park (all outdoor seating)

5. Battery Park City: 9/11 Memorial, St. John's University, Borough Manhattan Community College, 

    City Hall, Brooklyn Bridge 

6. Theater District: right in the heart of everything, specifically close to Minskoff Theater and Port 

    Authority.  

7. Brooklyn: close to Polytech, City Tech, Borough Hall, Transit Museum, Brooklyn Tabernacle, and       Fulton Mall.

8. JFK (Terminal 4)

9. Citi Field (Mets Stadium) 

  

Chinatown

Dumplings and ice cream

There are actually more authentic Chinatowns in Flushing, Queens and Brooklyn.  The Manhattan Chinatown is known as Canal Street to tourists.  Canal street is the tourist Chinatown but if you want the actual neighborhood where the chinese markets are and yummy food you have to get away from McDonald's and Burger King on Canal Street and head towards the Lower East Side.

Fried Dumpling is an amazing hole in the wall which has yummy dumplings and they're only 5 for $1! There are no seats but walk down the street to Columbus Park and enjoy the neighborhood.

Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is a fun place to go and get ice cream in uncommon flavors like green tea, NYC cupcake, and chocolate bacon. 

Also, dear friends of mine make their first stop at Nice Green Bo, near the Ice Cream Factory, when they first arrive in NYC.  I haven't been yet so I can't write about it, but it comes recommended from multiple people I trust.  

Great Street Snack

Nuts 4 Nuts is my favorite street snack. Their yummy warm almonds, cashews and peanuts are the perfect high protein + candied snack.  They come in little bags so I love to buy an extra bag and keep in my purse.  I've also bought them to bring to my father-in-law (who loves cashews and peanuts) for a gift.

Hint for tourists: if you're buying them in Times Square they're twice as much. If you buy them in Chinatown or basically anywhere other than Times Square they're only $1 a bag. 

Happy snacking!

Grimaldi's

DUMBO (District Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass), Brooklyn

The best pizza we have tried is by far Grimaldi's. 

Perfectly crisp thin crust and fresh toppings. The thing that makes it special is the coal brick oven where it's cooked.  New Yorkers claim (and I agree) the thing that makes their pizza and bagels the best is the NYC tap water...it's the special ingredient.

It used to be in a hole in the wall which had lots of charm but always had a long line because of the small size.  

It moved just up the street to 1 Front Street.  It's a three story location and makes the line almost non existent.   

My favorite thing to order is a pepperoni and sausage pizza with an Olde Brooklyn root beer to drink.  

A couple of summers ago when we were living in Brooklyn for work with cru, Mackey had his first slice of pizza ever.  Of course it had to be Grimaldi's.  He demolished it.

Tips for first timers:
*Upon getting to the restaurant, do not go inside to place your name on a list.  Just get in line. There's an older gentleman who will come out and ask how many are in your party.  You don't give him a name, he doesn't want to know.  He's been doing this for years and he has it down to a science.
*Do not ask how long the wait.  You want to remain in this man's good graces.
*It is cash only.
*Do not ask them to split checks...just put your cash together and figure it out.
*Do not linger when done, they are busy and they are all about efficiency.
*If you get the waiter JP, he's awesome with kids.
*Brooklynites are proud of their pizza and their borough...let your waiter know it's your first time, ask what their favorite pizza is, if they grew up in Brooklyn, etc.
*The slices are large but they're thin- I can always eat at least 3.
*Have a great time!

Celebrating our 5th anniversary

Introducing a group of students to Grimaldi's after a long day of ministry

My wonderful father-in-law enjoying his first slice

NFT

Not For Tourists guide to NYC.

This little pocket size book is a must before visiting or moving to NYC.  This resource book is updated every year and is broken into boroughs and neighborhoods.  It includes fold-up subway and bus maps that are more inconspicuous than the large maps available in the subway stations.  Each page is marked with coffehouses, restaurants, shopping, bagel shops, schools, banks, ATMs and lots of other helpful hints.  Before we moved to Brooklyn, my friend Sarah, bought me the NFT for Brooklyn.  I memorized the neighborhoods and got the "lay of the land" before I showed up.  When I was on craigslist.org looking at apartments, I recognized the neighborhoods and eliminated a lot of posts without even having to click on them, thus saving a lot of time.

You can purchase a hard copy at Barnes and Noble or if you have an iphone, you can purchase the app for only $2.99!  The NFTBrooklyn and NFTQueens are not available as an app but can be purchased through Barnes and Noble.