Work It, Berk: Brooklyn

Showing posts with label Brooklyn. Show all posts

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Eat in New York City: Win Son Bakery

BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich) made with raclette cheese, heritage bacon, and ginger deluxe on a milk bun

Custard Toast

Fan Tuan made with pork rice roll, egg, and cruller

Left: Nian Gao apple tart and Fan Tuan in its wrapper

Right: Cappuccino

I first heard of Win Son Bakery — a hip Taiwanese-American cafe, bakery, and restaurant located on the corner of Graham and Montrose in East Williamsburg — while watching an episode of Eater's Guide to the World that featured New York restaurants open in the wee hours of the morning. This episode followed pastry chef Danielle Spencer as she gets ready for her day of baking at Win Son. I soon realized that the bakery was only a few blocks away from where we were staying in Brooklyn.

We ended up stopping by a couple times on our trip because it was so close, delicious, and perfect for meeting with friends. The first time we visited we tried a few things: the BEC (bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich), the Custard Toast, and a Cappuccino. The BEC was made with eggs, raclette cheese, heritage bacon, and ginger deluxe on a milk bun. It was quite good, my favorite part being the soft milk bun. This was a more delicate version of the BEC we had at Alita Cafe, which was served on a homemade biscuit. I don't remember exactly how the Custard Toast tasted, but I'm sure it was as good as it is photogenic. The coffee was also perfectly prepared.

On our second visit, we ordered two new items to go with a BEC and cappuccino: Fan Tuan and Nian Gao. The Fan Tuan was a rice roll stuffed with pork, egg, and cruller. It was both very flavorful and crunchy on the inside and soft from the rice on the outside. The Nian Gao, an apple tart of sorts, had an amazing flavor and crumbly texture I liked.

I would definitely stop by Win Son Bakery in the future, again ordering the Fan Tuan, a few pastries, and another breakfast sandwich.

Win Son Bakery

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Yelp

164 Graham Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11206

Open: Tuesday - Wednesday 9am - 9pm, Thursday - Sunday 9am - 10pm

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Monday, March 13, 2023

Eat in New York City: Alita Cafe

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich made with honey-glazed Canadian bacon, Sriracha garlic aioli, and homemade biscuits

Along with pizza and bagels, a trip to New York is not complete without a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich (or BEC for short). I tried my first at Alita Cafe, a hip coffee shop found on Grand between Bushwick and Humboldt in East Williamsburg.

Although I'm a neophyte, I suspect that their BEC is not ordinary. It's made with honey-glazed Canadian bacon, scrambled eggs, shredded cheddar cheese, and Sriracha garlic aioli and served on a homemade biscuit. It is large in portion and flavor; I may recommend sharing it with a friend if you're not used to such a big, albeit handheld, breakfast. Just the same, it was quite good. The bacon was sweet, while the aioli added some depth and spice. It's a great way to start your day when you're on the go and need to be sated until lunch.

If I'm back in the area, I would order a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, croissant, or Lemon Olive Oil Cake, just a few of the homemade pastries they serve, along with an espresso drink.

Alita Cafe

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Yelp

797 Grand St., Brooklyn, NY 11211

Open: Monday - Friday 7am - 4pm, Saturday - Sunday 8am - 4pm

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Friday, March 10, 2023

Eat in New York City: Vanessa's Dumpling House

Peking Duck Sesame Pancake Sandwich

Chive & Pork Dumplings

Steamed Bun

Sesame & Peanut Noodles

We stopped by Vanessa's Dumpling House, located on Bedford and S 1st Street in Williamsburg, on a rainy late September day. This casual Chinese restaurant is known for their dumplings and sesame pancake sandwiches and it's very clear why it was recommended by friends.

We tried a few of their dishes: the Peking Duck Sesame Pancake Sandwich, the Chive & Pork Dumplings, a Steamed Bun, and the Sesame & Peanut Noodles. Although it's been a while, I remember everything being quite good and affordable to boot. Vanessa's has turned a traditional sesame pancake into a sandwich and then stuffed it with delicious Peking duck. It was as tasty as it was innovative. We also enjoyed the dumplings, which were perfectly pan-fried and crispy on the bottom, and the Steamed Bun, although I cannot recall the filling. The Sesame & Peanut Noodles provided a nice leftover for dinner later that day and then some.

I would definitely return to Vanessa's Dumpling House in the future, perhaps visiting one of their other locations in Manhattan. Next time I might try some of their dumplings boiled in soup or a Red Bean Steamed Bun for dessert.

Vanessa's Dumpling House

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Yelp

310 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211

Open: Monday - Thursday 12pm - 9pm, Friday 12pm - 10pm, Saturday - Sunday 1pm - 10pm

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Thursday, March 9, 2023

Coffee in New York City: Copper Mug Coffee

Cappuccinos

We stopped by Copper Mug Coffee, a hip coffee shop located on N 4th St between Berry and Bedford in Williamsburg, for a warm drink on a rainy day in late September. I enjoyed my perfectly made cappuccino in their large patio space outside. This seems like a great spot for catching up with friends or having some downtime in a busy city.

I'd definitely stop by the next time I'm in Brooklyn, potentially opting for the Avocado Toast or a Wild Tuna Sandwich to go along with an espresso drink.

Copper Mug Coffee

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Yelp

131 N 4th St., Brooklyn, NY 11249

Open: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 6:30pm, Saturday - Sunday 9am - 6:30pm

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Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Eat in New York City: Simply Nova

Everything Bagel with lox cream cheese

As is required on any trip to New York, we were on the lookout for a lox bagel. We visited Simply Nova, a sleek bagel shop located on Metropolitan and Graham in East Williamsburg.

We ordered the Everything Bagel with lox cream cheese. Although I'm no bagel expert — I'm a fan of most — I do remember enjoying this one. I was also quite impressed by the care in which they put into their work. (They wrapped the bagels in wax paper and placed them in a paper bag, like presents from a department store!)

Along with bagels, they have all the deli dishes you're looking for, from prepared latkes and pastrami or corned beef sandwiches on rye to other varieties of fish and caviar. Next time I'm in the area, I may opt for a bagel topped with one of their many types of smoked salmon.

Simply Nova

Website | Instagram | Yelp

754 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211

Open: Monday - Friday 8am - 8pm, Saturday - Sunday 8am - 6pm

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Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Eat in New York City: Williamsburg Pizza

Sophia Loren made with mozzarella, tomatoes, garlic, and basil

Cup & Char Grandma made with mozzarella, Cup & Char pepperoni, tomato sauce, basil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano

Apple Bacon made with smoked mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, bacon, walnuts, gorgonzola, and apples

In late September, I spent some time in New York City where we tried a lot of good food. After arriving in Brooklyn late at night, we stopped by Williamsburg Pizza for a quick dinner. Located on Union Avenue and S 3rd Street in Williamsburg, this pizza spot serves a sophisticated selection of pizzas, either as a "Brooklyn round" or "Grandma square."

We tried three slices we really enjoyed: the Sophia Loren, the Cup & Char Grandma, and the Apple Bacon. The Sophia Loren, made with mozzarella, tomatoes, garlic, and basil, had the big pieces of melted mozzarella I like and the slice was much bigger than expected. The Cup & Char Grandma had mozzarella, Cup & Char pepperoni, tomato sauce, basil, and Parmigiano-Reggiano, filling the pepperoni craving on our pizza checklist. The Apple Bacon — made with smoked mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, bacon, walnuts, gorgonzola, and apples — reminded me of the funky flavors you might find at The Cheese Board Collective or Sliver in Berkeley, where they combine fresh ingredients in dynamic ways.

If I'm back in the area looking for a quick bite, I would definitely stop by Williamsburg Pizza's location on Union — or one of the four others in the city. I may opt for the Paesano (mushrooms, Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, and tomato sauce) or the Bianco (mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino, and Parmigiano-Reggiano).

Williamsburg Pizza

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Yelp

265 Union Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11211

Open: Monday - Wednesday 11:30am - 9:30pm, Thursday 11:30am - 11pm, Friday - Saturday 11:30am - 2am, Sunday 11:30am - 11pm

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