sunday in brooklyn

sunday, bloody sunday- mezcal, house bloody mix, sambal, high life nip // juanny appleseed- reposado tequila, hot apple cider, cinnamon, brown butter

pecan sticky bun

grain bowl // toasted barley, boiled egg. spicy cauliflower, mustard greens, kale, charred avocado

long island patty melt // caramelized onion, yellow mustard, swiss, sour pickles

I'm all about a neighborhood spot that offers both a feel-good, casual atmosphere as well as fresh and delicious food. Sunday in Brooklyn strives to do just that with a welcoming restaurant, market and coffee counter in South Williamsburg. The owners have taken their favorite day- Sunday!- a day of comfort, adventures, and family, and made it the mission of the restaurant. I was a big fan of Isa, the previous restaurant in this location, so SIB had big shoes to fill in my book. My husband and I stopped in for brunch recently, and are already looking forward to a return trip soon. We started with cappuccinos and a warm, freshly baked pecan sticky bun, which pulled apart in perfect ooey, gooey layers. Since it was Sunday, after all, we indulged in a bloody Mary and spiked hot cider, which were perfectly spicy and sweet. It was hard to decide on entrées as we were tempted by several dishes- the malted pancakes, biscuits & gravy, plus a variety of sweet and savory sandwiches all sounded delicious. We decided on the grain bowl and patty melt, which did not disappoint. And how pretty are the marbled ceramic plates!? Scroll through the photos to see more descriptions of each item. Even better, at SIB it's Sunday every day, so brunch is served seven days a week! Pop into the cute market shop for some ready-made pastries and pantry items, or grab a coffee to-go.

I've also had the opportunity to enjoy dinner at Sunday in Brooklyn, and the meal was fantastic (see below!). I love that they've utilized the upstairs dining area- a space that Isa reserved for private events- because it has such a lush and cozy feel to it that makes it seem like home. Plus the rooftop garden and sidewalk café are open in the warmer months, which is clutch for any NYC restaurant! The spring menu was so fresh, vibrant, and über colorful- the chef knows how to put the season's bounty to good use in the tastiest ways imaginable. Some dishes, like the radishes with koji butter and the beets with nuts & seeds, were truly works of art and just begging to have their photo taken (I was more than happy to oblige, of course). The roasted cabbage with fermented black trumpet mushrooms had such a unique and interesting flavor profile that kept us coming back for more. I'm not even a fried chicken person (I know- who am I?), but the housemade togarashi blend coating the drumsticks really took these babies to the next level- totally addicting! If you can believe it, I didn't get a good photo of our desserts. I'm actually surprised this doesn't happen more often considering how little discipline I have around sweets. But I can assure you that both the goat ice cream with date molasses & bitter chocolate AND the warm devil's food cake with peanut butter ice cream & cocoa nib praline are to die for!  I'm already looking forward to returning soon for an afternoon cocktail in the rooftop garden! 

lilia

 
 

Ever since Lilia joined the New York dining scene, I'd been trying to find the perfect time to go indulge in a what I'd heard was a fantastic Italian meal. Chef Missy Robbins is bringing the best of Italy, think handmade pastas and wood-fired seafood, to Williamsburg, Brooklyn (in a converted auto shop, no less!). Reservations are almost impossible to attain, but my husband and I figured we'd test our luck right when they opened one rainy holiday weekend. No dice. The restaurant was already packed, but they have a lovely caffè with aperitivi and snacks to wait until your table is ready. We were seated pretty quickly, and soon began an Italian feast to remember. My husband got the opportunity to speak to Chef Robbins, as the vast, beautiful kitchen is open and on full display to diners. Her passion and creativity are truly evident in not only her words, but in each and every dish presented. Everything was so fresh and well balanced, not to mention cooked perfectly. As a starter, the cacio e pepe frittelle (think cacio e pepe pasta in a light & flaky beignet-type dough) were literally melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The handmade pastas, specifically the popular & uniquely shaped mafaldini, which is served simply with pink peppercorns and Parmigiano Reggiano, are some of the best I've ever had. Lilia has an amazing wood-fired oven, so it would behoove you to order a meat or fish dish cooked in this way. The grilled swordfish and veal flank steak were both cooked to perfection, with that slightly crisp, charred finish you can't get from other methods. As always, dessert was a must, and I loved the playful, yet sophisticated version of a build-your-own soft serve gelato bowl! We went with vanilla gelato, topped with lemony walnuts and amaretti cookies, however, I can imagine chocolate gelato with salted hazelnuts, chocolate stracci, and candied citrus would be to die for as well. Keep in mind that the caffè is open all day, so stop by for a cappuccino and pastry in the morning, or a sandwich and gelato in the afternoon! The fact that Lilia garnered three stars from Pete Wells, the New York Times food critic, is no surprise to me. I'm thrilled to add another highly impressive spot to my list of neighborhood regulars.

santina

kale sunchoke salad, pomegranate// squash carpaccio, honey agrodolce, crème fraîche

cecina (chickpea pancake), spicy calabrian tuna tartare, avocado salsa verde

The coastal Italian menu with a strong focus on fish and vegetables drew me to Santina immediately. As part of the Major Food Group (think Dirty French, Carbone, Sadelle's etc.), the restaurant joins a list of popular, acclaimed restaurants, and in doing so has high expectations to fill. Upon entering Santina, you're greeted by bright colors and a welcoming, Mediterranean-inspired interior, which is a nice reprieve from the typical dark and gloomy New York restaurant. I love the colorful, hand-painted, and unique dishes used as well. I was excited to try the super creative (and not to mention beautifully plated!) squash carpaccio, and it did not disappoint. The delicate butternut squash was balanced nicely with a honey agrodolce, pink peppercorns, pumpkin seeds, and crème fraîche. The cecina (Tuscan chickpea pancake) was served in the skillet accompanied by a delicious avocado salsa verde, and came offered with a variety of toppings. We chose the spicy Calabrian tuna tartare, which was super fresh. with just the right amount of spice. The kale & sunchoke salad was light and refreshing, perfect before heading into our main courses. There are several seasonal rice and pasta dishes on the menu, and we thoroughly enjoyed our fusilli Santina with Merguez sausage & mussels (the guanciale e pepe rice dish, however, was quite underwhelming).  The Guajillo chicken with eggplant yogurt was cooked perfectly and so full of flavor; the radicchio and frisée added a nice contrasting bite to the dish as well.  We had plans for dessert elsewhere, but I would definitely like to return and taste the sweets, along with many other things on the menu! I love that Santina easily caters to meat-eaters, pescatarians, and vegetarians alike, with many fresh and creative dishes available for everyone. Although the prices are a bit high, it's on-par with the neighborhood, and the solid food & fun atmosphere ensure I'll be returning again soon.  

fusilli santina, merguez, mussels // guanciale e pepe, pork jowl, peppercorns

guajillo chicken, eggplant yogurt

north fork table & inn

 

We drove out to the North Fork of Long Island for my birthday, and spent a lovely evening at The North Fork Table and Inn. We stayed at the Inn for the night, which was so cozy and comfortable. The restaurant offered plenty of seasonal fare, including many ingredients sourced from nearby farms. If you like eating delicious farm-to-table cuisine, this is some of the freshest you can get. It was such a quick and easy getaway from the city too, but felt like a million miles away. The perfect mental reset and escape to nature- I definitely recommend it. Check out some of the nearby wineries if you have time!

 

meadowsweet

 

Meadowsweet is one of Williamsburg, Brooklyn's best eateries- and the Michelin guide agrees, garnering it one star in both the 2015 and 2016 guides. The restaurant offers a delicious New American, Mediterranean-inspired menu by Chef Polo Dobkin. Chef Dobkin first earned a Michelin star for the previous occupant of the space, The Dressler, which was considered one of the great, original Brooklyn restaurants. He is now back as both owner and Executive Chef of Meadowsweet, partnering with his wife Stephanie, who acts as general manager. She also oversees the cocktail program, which uses herbs from the the restaurant's own garden loft, and is not to be missed. Besides being great at what they do, the couple is also extremely generous and helpful. They've been a great aid to my husband when it comes to running a restaurant, offering beneficial advice and support along the way. Furthermore, the food at Meadowsweet highlights my favorite cuisine, and I never fail to fall in love with the fresh, creative, and beautifully-plated dishes.

 

qui

 

Ausin, Texas has become quite the foodie paradise. There is a ton of absolutely amazing food to enjoy, and Qui is at the top of many lists. Last time I was in town, my mom and I managed to get a last minute reservation at Top Chef winner Paul Qui's acclaimed restaurant. She ordered the tasting menu and I ordered the vegetarian tasting menu, so that we could taste everything. I loved the influence of various Asian flavors in all the dishes. Everything was impressive, and I cannot wait to return with my husband!