Our Labor Day weekend in NYC (you can read about our stay at The Lowell here) was packed with fun, and more importantly loads of delicious meals. While not in chronological order I want to start off with the highlight, an Outstanding in the Field event at the Brooklyn Grange located on a rooftop of one of the buildings within the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Over the past decade we have attended more than a dozen OiTF events, most recently in Montana which you can read about here. I can’t think of a setting more diametrically opposed to rural Montana than Brooklyn, NY and I was anxious to experience this unique event. If you are not familiar with how OiTF works, it is a union of a local chef paired with a farm as well as a local winery/and brewery all working in synchrony to create an unforgettable communal meal.
Upon arrival (via taxi) we followed the detailed directions provided to The Brooklyn Grange, grateful to spot one of the OiTF employees as well as the iconic bus which assured us we were in the right place. We crowded excitedly into the small elevator heading to the roof with some fellow guests, setting the mood for a convivial afternoon.
Arriving to the rooftop farm was such an unexpected surprise, the breadth of it truly remarkable. While you might imagine many things which are located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a full fledged farm probably isn’t one of them. Aside from fruits, veggies and flowers there is even a resident chicken who calls the Grange home.
Guests began arriving at three o’clock and then spent an hour enjoying drinks and passed apps until we were welcomed by OiTF founder Jim Denevan and his second in command. We divided up for short tours of the crops and then it was time to take our seats.
The Chef for the evening was Silvia Barban from LaRina Pastificio e Vino in nearby Fort Greene and it was truly superb. Each and every course was innovative, fresh and incredibly delicious, including the substitutions which accommodated my dietary restrictions (gluten free/vegetarian). OiTF always goes above and beyond to create something just as special for those who may need an alternative dish, you just need to be sure to let them know ahead of time.
Course after course was presented to us along with wines provided by New York State’s Usonia Winery as well as the option of a mocktail pairing. Conversation flowed easily amongst all of the guests and as per usual contacts were exchanged with several new friends we made during the evening.
If you want a truly unique experience in New York City (or any of the other many farms on the schedule for that matter) I would advise you to log on to the OiTF website the moment the tickets for next years events become available (always the first day of Spring, March 20th) and sign up!
Moving on to some of our more mainstream dining experiences…
We were craving Greek and decided to head to Milos, the very dependable standby in Midtown in order to satisfy that urge. Even though it was a holiday weekend the restaurant was packed though the diners seemed to lean more towards tourists than those with corporate expense accounts (the norm). We decided to stick primarily with starters as there are always so many appealing options; indulging in a mezze platter, fried Halloumi, chargrilled octopus, gigante beans, and more. While it was not a revelatory experience, it was tasty and satisfying.
In my husband’s mind pizza is always a good idea, and being in Brooklyn for OiTF made it easy to pop into L’Industrie and Fini for a quick bite before the event. Our first stop was L’Industrie where the line stretched down the block (clearly an indicator of a successful spot) but it moved quickly so it was soon time to order. I was saving my appetite for dinner so opted only for a cup of pistachio gelato soft serve complete with olive oil and sea salt (fantastic) while my husband settled on a Margherita slice which he deemed superb.
While L’Industrie had throngs of pizza lovers waiting patiently for their pizza fix, Fini was decidedly quieter though it certainly has its own fans. I was tempted to try the GF Sicilian slice but it will have to wait for another day. My husband ordered the long hot pepper and shallot slice and found it quite tasty but decided it is not in the same league as L’Industrie.
Sidenote, the last time I had been to Williamsburg was when I dined at Peter Lugers five years ago, (I clearly need to venture out of Manhattan more) and I couldn’t believe the explosive growth that has occurred; most notably the fact that aside from all the super-hipster spots there is now an Hermès in Williamsburg!
For an UES throwback we stopped in at Lexington Candy a luncheonette that has managed to stay exactly the same for a century. I spent countless meals there growing up in the 1970’s and 80’s sipping egg creams and eating grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches at the counter with my mother and grandmother. I was clearly yearning for comfort food so I brought my husband for a quick meal. Although he had never been I had spoken of it frequently enough that he knew just how iconic it was and what a significant place it held in my childhood memories. The good news? It was exactly as I remembered it.
There was no line outside perhaps due to the fact that it was Labor Day but unfortunately there were no counter seats available. We squeezed ourselves into a booth and I immediately ordered an egg cream which transported me right back to my youth. I no longer eat bread or bacon (they do not have a gf bread option- I asked) so I settled on a Greek salad. My husband went full retro with a tuna melt (with Swiss) and was in heaven. I hope Lexington Candy continues to live on in it’s unique time warp and I recommend it 100% if you want a taste of old New York.
SoHo/ Nolita was also a destination, specifically to meet up with my brother, sister-in-law and their dog Simon. After quite a bit of wandering we settled on Rintintin, a Mediterranean Café that had some good choices for us as well as a perfect place to sit with Simon. Would I head there specifically for a meal? No, but it was a pleasant backdrop for a much needed catch-up!
One place I would make a special trip to is the Elizabeth Street Garden which is truly an oasis in the city. You are sure to find serenity in the midst of a very busy and vibrant pocket of Nolita.
Coqodaq is one very hot restaurant that I would encourage you put at the top of your list. A shrine to fried chicken is not where you would necessarily expect to find me, but Coqodaq, which is a sister restaurant to Cote has their finger on the pulse of just what people are craving right now whether it is perfect Korean fried chicken or the ultimate Korean steakhouse. Lest you think there wouldn’t be anything for me to eat, their fried fish (they use a rice flour breading) was AMAZING as were their salads (the Caesar was one of the best I have ever had) and their drinks (Coqtails). The rest of my group gushed over the fried chicken, various sauces, and of course the double-fried French Fries. Incredible food coupled with impeccable service and very reasonable prices (for the quality of the food) made it a true hit. The only negative? The restaurant is unbearably loud, and it wasn’t just me being “older”, my kids and their girlfriends strained to hear one another as well.
Be sure to arrive hungry at Coqodaq, and ask the server’s advice as far as what and how to order to maximize enjoyment. Be prepared to get messy and sticky, and then be sure to take advantage of the gorgeous handwashing station complete with an assortment of luxury soaps to clean up before dessert.
While it may seem that the bulk of our time in New York was spent eating, we did manage to squeeze in a bit of culture with a trip to The Jewish Museum where we viewed the current retrospective of Ben Shahn‘s work which runs through October 26th. I would always recommend a stop at the Jewish Museum, but this show is particularly fascinating.
Our weekend in NY quickly came to a close. As far as highlights? Outstanding in The Field at The Brooklyn Grange was fantastic, my egg cream at Lexington Candy pure nostalgic perfection and the crispiest fried fish I have ever had is worth making a reservation at Coqodaq ASAP. I am starting to compile a list of all I want to accomplish on our next trip to the City…stay tuned!