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

My favorite chais in Brooklyn

Brooklyn

I'm not a coffee drinker (shocker) but I love chais and try them at most coffee shops.  These are my favorite three I've found so far in Brooklyn.

Kos Kaffe

This place is wonderful!  Huge windows and sitting on the corner of 5th and Garfield Place allow it to be filled with sunlight.  They have a large seating area and their chocolate croissants made and brought in from a local bakery are to die for.  The staff is kind and after only having been there a few times one summer we were living in Brooklyn they knew my order. 

Southside Coffee

This is your quintessential neighborhood coffee shop for South Slope.  Located on the corner of 19th street and 6th avenue it's small and quaint and if we would have lived in this neighborhood we would have been regulars.  I've walked 20 minutes to this shop just to get the iced chai.  The people working were always super nice and welcoming. 

Connecticut Muffin

The name might make you think it's not a local NYC spot, but its flagship store opened in Park Slope.  The one in our old hood, Windsor Terrace is perfectly positioned on the corner of Bartel Pritchard Square, across from beloved Prospect Park.  One time I hired a babysitter to come sit at our apartment while Myra Grace took one of her 20 minute naps and woke up crying because of her reflux or dairy allergy, just so I could go across the street and sit, drink a vanilla chai, recharge and return when she began crying.

  

Enzo's

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn 

The first night after we moved into our cute garden apartment in Windsor Terrace, 

we walked around the corner and ate at Enzo's.  

Along with warm welcomes to the neighborhood they served us homemade warm focaccia bread.  We were hooked. 

I ordered Penne alla Vodka and it was amazing.  My mother-in-law ordered a spinach strawberry salad and it was amazing.  

I can't even begin to describe how the people who own and work at this place became our family and their restaurant became an extension of our dining room.

When I was nursing Myra Grace and she had 3 severe allergies they would cook something special for me (penne alla vodka without the heavy cream or grilled chicken primavera) to be able to eat.

When the three of us would go there to eat and she would begin screaming because of her allergies or reflux, the waiters would walk her around so my husband and I could finish our meal. 

Have you ever given your baby a lemon to watch their reaction?  We did that to Myra Grace sitting in the front room and instead of puckering, she loved it. 

We took everyone who came to visit to eat there and when we go back we always have to go visit, reconnect with our friends and try the new specials.  Brandon's new favorite is the shrimp parmesan risotto.  

When we were working there this past March with almost 200 staff and students they catered for our groups and it was AMAZING.  

Our friend Nader

Our friend Albert

The view over my shoulder at the neighborhood

Our favorite area: the back patio (you can see our window from here above the 

Meat Market- grey building 3rd floor, 3 windows wide)

On summer project celebrating our friend Jason's birthday

Nader meeting Mackey

Albert holding Myra Grace again (she's a little bigger this time)

So, if you're visiting NYC and wanna experience our version of Cheers, go eat at Enzo's and tell Guy, Albert, Nader and Carlos we said hi.

Windsor Terrace Meat Market

Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

I have to begin with United Meat Market in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn.  Why?  Because we lived above it, the butchers were our landlords and the two years we lived in Brooklyn it's where we bought all of our meat and other things.  We were on the 3rd floor and below is a picture of our windows that faced Prospect Park West.  Don't worry my fond memories of living here did not cloud my judgement on the quality of food.

Things I love about this place:

*the people who work here are our friends, we are on a first name basis (even though we've moved out of state, we stay in touch and go by for hugs every time we're in town)

*the weekly specials are posted on neon paper on the doorway so you can see from outside if there's something "special" you'd want to buy

*when I was on a dairy free, soy free, corn syrup free diet because my daughter was allergic I would live off of these Dancing Deer cookies they conveniently had right by the checkout (they don't make these, I am just thankful they carry them)

*they sell homemade pastas and frozen dinners (that are YUMMY like seasonal raviolis) 

*their whole milk mozzarella cheese is THE BEST

*a lot of their meat is grass fed

*they sell Boar's Head meats and cheeses for sandwiches and have a huge variety

*even though the store is small they sell basic supplies- milk, eggs, bread, some local produce and of course anything needed to make Italian food (noodles, canned diced tomatoes, etc)

I love this place, not just because it feels like home, but because of the quality of service and product.

31 Days of NYC food

I'm joining in on the Nester's challenge to pick a topic and blog about it consecutively for 31 days.  I have recently had friends visiting NYC and have LOVED giving them suggestions and ideas of places to eat.  I thought I'd spend the next 31 days sharing my favorite places to eat and celebrating food that originated in NYC.  Here's to happy eating or at least happy thoughts.  I will post a link after each day listed below as they become available.

Day 2: Windsor Terrace Meat Market
Day 3: Enzo's
Day 4: Alice's Tea Cup
Day 5: Grimaldi's 
Day 6: Jacques Torres
Day 7: Food Trucks
Day 8: The Chocolate Room
Day 9: Song: My Favorite Thai
Day 10: 7th Ave Doughnuts
Day 11: Street Snack
Day 12: Chinatown
Day 13: Cafe Lalo
Day 14: Dumplings & Things
Day 15: DUB Pies
Day 16: One Girl Cookies
Day 17: Dizzy's Diner 
Day 18: Serendipity 3
Day 19: #1 Garden
Day 20: Shake Shack
Day 21: Corn Dogs and Orangeade
Day 22: Amy Ruth's Harlem Soul Food
Day 23: Little Italy
Day 24: Hill Country Chicken
Day 25: Didn't blog- my mom's in the hospital
Day 26: Junior's Cheesecake 
Day 27: Sugarcane Caribbean food
Day 28: Kombit Haitian food
Day 29:
Day 30:
Day 31:

Serendipity 3

I love Serendipity 3. I love everything about this place. The decor with Tiffany glass lamps give the perfect ambiance.

It lives up to its name as a "pleasant surprise." Most people have heard of it from its appearance in the movie Serendipity, where John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale's characters share the famous Frozen Hot Chocolate.

When I first visited this restaurant in 2006 I thought frozen hot chocolate sounded weird, so I ordered something different, and although it was good, after one taste of my friends famous frozen hot chocolate, I've never ordered anything different for dessert. You just have to taste it for yourself.

The three owners (hence the name Serendipity 3) have Southern roots and much of their menu reflects that. The chicken nachos with chili are AMAZING!

If I were in NYC the next few days

Saturday, March 31st

Brooklyn Bridge Park Spring Fling 10:30-1pm located in the Empire Fulton Ferry section of Brooklyn Bridge Park: Egg decorating, music, dancing, yoga, face painting, egg roll

Upper West Side East Egg Hunt  10am-noon located in Riverside Park kids can enjoy arts & crafts and face painting

Sunday, April 1st

Luna Park  in Coney Island opens for the season- the first 100 people in line at the Cyclone, get a free ride!

A reading of children's book Lily's Victory Garden by author Helen L. Wilbus at Macy's 7th floor at noon.

"Talking Fiction, Talking Fact" series at the Brooklyn Heights Historical Society with writer Colm Toibin about his novel Brooklyn, whose protagonist travels from Ireland to Brooklyn in the fifties.  *I just finished this book: wonderfully written and gave a great picture of Brooklyn and Ireland in the 1950s. 

All weekend: take a spin on the Prospect Park Carousel for its 100th birthday as it opens for the season: $2