can't cook, bike or drive.

Scroll to Info & Navigation

allswell that ends well I remember when food trucks first took to Twitter, using the real-time social media tool to broadcast their location, specials of the day and to shoot the shit with customers. The social media trend has taken hold of restaurants too, with many boasting Facebook links on their websites. Most of these Facebook pages usually do not show high levels of customer engagement, however. What’s worse, most feel like an afterthought. Who has the time to run a restaurant and update Facebook and Twitter, anyway? I always wonder which PR agency they’ve hired to ghost tweet or which overworked employee they have tasked with logging in to tap out 140 characters with overt cheerfulness. So what is it about Allswell’s online presence that I like? They don’t even have a real website. (Gah!) But where they lack a dedicated URL, they have a Tumblr which is updated daily with what’s on offer that night. I love that the colors of their logo changes, too, but not the logo. I admit it: I even like the font they use. They have to print out new menus each night anyway, why not post it online? And Tumblr makes it easy to do so. There are at least two more reasons why Allswell does it for me. The focus is still on the food, the daily-changing menu, but they’re smart enough to let people know about it. Also, their customers are the kind to like being reminded of what’s cooking. Allswell uses Twitter and Tumblr consistently and they’ve made it easy for themselves by linking these two accounts. Every Tumblr posts automatically sends to Twitter.  Using social media to share what’s good, like the chef’s recommendations, needn’t be hard. It just needs to have consistency in the frequency and voice. And if you change up the visuals, even something as simple as the color of a logo, then even better. In the end, a Twitter account with hundreds or thousands of followers will not keep a restaurant in business, but having a grown up version of a spicy McChicken sandwich (their peppery and tender ‘Crispy Chicken Sandwich’ is available during lunch and brunch) and reminding customers what they love about your restaurant even when they’re not inside just might. Allswell, 124 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn (347) 799-2743

allswell that ends well

I remember when food trucks first took to Twitter, using the real-time social media tool to broadcast their location, specials of the day and to shoot the shit with customers. The social media trend has taken hold of restaurants too, with many boasting Facebook links on their websites. Most of these Facebook pages usually do not show high levels of customer engagement, however. What’s worse, most feel like an afterthought. Who has the time to run a restaurant and update Facebook and Twitter, anyway? I always wonder which PR agency they’ve hired to ghost tweet or which overworked employee they have tasked with logging in to tap out 140 characters with overt cheerfulness.

So what is it about Allswell’s online presence that I like? They don’t even have a real website. (Gah!) But where they lack a dedicated URL, they have a Tumblr which is updated daily with what’s on offer that night. I love that the colors of their logo changes, too, but not the logo. I admit it: I even like the font they use. They have to print out new menus each night anyway, why not post it online? And Tumblr makes it easy to do so.

There are at least two more reasons why Allswell does it for me. The focus is still on the food, the daily-changing menu, but they’re smart enough to let people know about it. Also, their customers are the kind to like being reminded of what’s cooking. Allswell uses Twitter and Tumblr consistently and they’ve made it easy for themselves by linking these two accounts. Every Tumblr posts automatically sends to Twitter. 

Using social media to share what’s good, like the chef’s recommendations, needn’t be hard. It just needs to have consistency in the frequency and voice. And if you change up the visuals, even something as simple as the color of a logo, then even better. In the end, a Twitter account with hundreds or thousands of followers will not keep a restaurant in business, but having a grown up version of a spicy McChicken sandwich (their peppery and tender ‘Crispy Chicken Sandwich’ is available during lunch and brunch) and reminding customers what they love about your restaurant even when they’re not inside just might.

Allswell, 124 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn (347) 799-2743

morning at marlow & sons I’d been meaning to visit Marlow & Sons in the morning for their breakfast sandwich but, being one of those relatively attainable, non-urgent life goals, the actual doing of it didn’t happen until today - two years and many urgings (“You have to get the breakfast sandwich…”) later. I walked in and sat in the front room-cafe-boutique shop to wait for my friend, photographer Clay Williams, to arrive, and took stock of all the linen towels, tote bags, cutting boards, notepads, leather goods, t-shirts, vintage footballs (behind the counter), rain boots and fancy hand soap on display that I wanted to own one day. Aspirational lifestyle for sale at one of Williamsburg’s most popular restaurants. Guess my next relatively attainable, non-urgent life goal: (more) meals involving butter-laden food and a home filled with handmade custom goods. Marlow & Sons, 81 Broadway, Brooklyn (718) 384-1441

morning at marlow & sons

I’d been meaning to visit Marlow & Sons in the morning for their breakfast sandwich but, being one of those relatively attainable, non-urgent life goals, the actual doing of it didn’t happen until today - two years and many urgings (“You have to get the breakfast sandwich…”) later.

I walked in and sat in the front room-cafe-boutique shop to wait for my friend, photographer Clay Williams, to arrive, and took stock of all the linen towels, tote bags, cutting boards, notepads, leather goods, t-shirts, vintage footballs (behind the counter), rain boots and fancy hand soap on display that I wanted to own one day. Aspirational lifestyle for sale at one of Williamsburg’s most popular restaurants.

Guess my next relatively attainable, non-urgent life goal: (more) meals involving butter-laden food and a home filled with handmade custom goods.

Marlow & Sons, 81 Broadway, Brooklyn (718) 384-1441

williamsburg at dusk / lamb at dressler I snapped this photo just as daytime faded while crossing the intersection of Berry and Grand on Saturday. After an afternoon of apartment hunting in Williamsburg, Chris and I made a beeline to Dressler because we love it and were in the area. On previous visits, the chicken dish blew me away but, this time, it was outshone by the lamb. We asked for medium rare; it arrived with a center that was deep red and so raw it was nearly sashimi. Intentional or not, lamb, cooked rare, is delicious. dressler, 149 broadway, brooklyn, new york (718) 384-6343

williamsburg at dusk / lamb at dressler

I snapped this photo just as daytime faded while crossing the intersection of Berry and Grand on Saturday. After an afternoon of apartment hunting in Williamsburg, Chris and I made a beeline to Dressler because we love it and were in the area. On previous visits, the chicken dish blew me away but, this time, it was outshone by the lamb. We asked for medium rare; it arrived with a center that was deep red and so raw it was nearly sashimi. Intentional or not, lamb, cooked rare, is delicious.

dressler, 149 broadway, brooklyn, new york (718) 384-6343

maybe someday I met my friend Kate at Five Leaves for lunch on Wednesday. It was her last day in New York; turns out she was starting her week-long cross country road trip and move to Seattle that night. As I get older, I realize I rarely see most of my friends on a regular basis. I’ll meet up with different individuals for brunch or dinner here or there, but there are few that I see more often than once a month. It’s just the way life goes, I suppose. Besides, we’re so connected via Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook, is there such a thing as not being in touch anymore? I only saw Kate every couple of months, but I was still surprised and a little sad when I learned she was leaving not the following week, not after the holidays, not later, but in eight hours. Unexpected as it was, it was also refreshing to be reminded that you can change your mind, life and neighborhood at any time. I asked Kate if she had friends or family out in Seattle and she said no, and mentioned she didn’t have Christmas plans either. To her it wasn’t bleak at all, but exciting. After all, how often does one get the chance to start anew? When I think about it now, days later, I am still amazed at the size of her balls. Most people would make any excuse to keep their routines. Then there’s Kate with bags packed, heart open and arms outstretched for the west coast. She ordered the mushroom toast. I had the Five Leaves burger stacked with grilled pineapple, beet, harissa mayo and a cheddar cheese-smothered medium rare patty topped with a fried egg. It was just as good as I remembered it from writing about Five Leaves for offManhattan three years ago. Some things don’t change and it’s for the better. For the most part, however, we’re lucky that things - and people - evolve and move and grow. Five Leaves, 18 Bedford Ave. Greenpoint, Brooklyn (646) 510-6467 Photo taken with Olympus PEN E-PM1

maybe someday

I met my friend Kate at Five Leaves for lunch on Wednesday. It was her last day in New York; turns out she was starting her week-long cross country road trip and move to Seattle that night.

As I get older, I realize I rarely see most of my friends on a regular basis. I’ll meet up with different individuals for brunch or dinner here or there, but there are few that I see more often than once a month. It’s just the way life goes, I suppose. Besides, we’re so connected via Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook, is there such a thing as not being in touch anymore?

I only saw Kate every couple of months, but I was still surprised and a little sad when I learned she was leaving not the following week, not after the holidays, not later, but in eight hours. Unexpected as it was, it was also refreshing to be reminded that you can change your mind, life and neighborhood at any time.

I asked Kate if she had friends or family out in Seattle and she said no, and mentioned she didn’t have Christmas plans either. To her it wasn’t bleak at all, but exciting. After all, how often does one get the chance to start anew? When I think about it now, days later, I am still amazed at the size of her balls. Most people would make any excuse to keep their routines. Then there’s Kate with bags packed, heart open and arms outstretched for the west coast.

She ordered the mushroom toast. I had the Five Leaves burger stacked with grilled pineapple, beet, harissa mayo and a cheddar cheese-smothered medium rare patty topped with a fried egg. It was just as good as I remembered it from writing about Five Leaves for offManhattan three years ago.

Some things don’t change and it’s for the better. For the most part, however, we’re lucky that things - and people - evolve and move and grow.

Five Leaves, 18 Bedford Ave. Greenpoint, Brooklyn (646) 510-6467

Photo taken with Olympus PEN E-PM1

seemed appropriate to share this at 3:22am Moving anxiety has made me an insomniac and my only consolation is that this means there’s more time to discover and share fun upcoming events, like the Brooklyn Night Bazaar happening in Williamsburg this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I need to get my holiday shopping did (and get some sleep). brooklyn night bazaar, 149 kent ave, williamsburg / dec 15, 16 and 17 from 5pm-1am

seemed appropriate to share this at 3:22am

Moving anxiety has made me an insomniac and my only consolation is that this means there’s more time to discover and share fun upcoming events, like the Brooklyn Night Bazaar happening in Williamsburg this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I need to get my holiday shopping did (and get some sleep).

brooklyn night bazaar, 149 kent ave, williamsburg / dec 15, 16 and 17 from 5pm-1am

more than just a pretty face I shared my thoughts on the Olympus PEN E-PM1 in an unusually long post this morning. Thing is… I have been taking way more awesome photos with my new camera than I’ve been showing you! Better late than never as they say, and it’s never too late to share a dish recommendation with visuals. Behold – the highly photogenic chicken & waffles from Pies ‘n’ Thighs in Williamsburg. To be honest, I prefer the chicken biscuit, but, as I said, the chicken & waffles is easy on the eyes and I cannot resist a good food photo… Pies ‘n’ Thighs 166 S. 4th Street, Brooklyn

more than just a pretty face

I shared my thoughts on the Olympus PEN E-PM1 in an unusually long post this morning. Thing is… I have been taking way more awesome photos with my new camera than I’ve been showing you! Better late than never as they say, and it’s never too late to share a dish recommendation with visuals. Behold – the highly photogenic chicken & waffles from Pies ‘n’ Thighs in Williamsburg.

To be honest, I prefer the chicken biscuit, but, as I said, the chicken & waffles is easy on the eyes and I cannot resist a good food photo…

Pies ‘n’ Thighs 166 S. 4th Street, Brooklyn

small but perfectly formed (finding the right camera) I’m an enthusiast of beautiful photography, but it’s not my profession. (Well, it sort of is.) For this reason I’ve so far opted to make the best of the cameras and phone cameras I have instead of splurging on a “real” one. After all, a good camera can increase your chances of capturing a sharp image, but it can’t make you a better photographer. Still, it seems I was always looking for the next best thing. In a bid to “grow up” and get a real camera two years ago, I sprang for my first (secondhand) $700 DSLR. But I promptly returned it the next day because I couldn’t get the lens to focus and did not have the patience to press buttons to make it do what I wanted it to do automatically, intuitively. After returning the DSLR, I bought a Canon Powershot G10 to act as an in-between a point-and-shoot and DSLR, which worked wonderfully for a while, but I never got to figuring out white balance, low light settings and F-stops. I also couldn’t find an un-ugly case for it. Lately, my go to camera has been my iPhone using the Camera+ app. I love the ease of taking photos on my phone. Plus, as long as I have Wi-Fi access, I can blog from wherever I am. The majority of my Tumblr pics from the past year were taken on my iPhone.  Let’s not forget the Sony Cyber-shot WX9, a gift from Sony, which, aside from short battery life, is one of the best compact point-and-shoots I have used. So far, nothing beats its tiny size. It’s so slim I keep it in one pocket and my phone in the other, and often forget which pocket the Cyber-shot is in. Even with the Sony in tow, however, I would be hit with camera envy when I’d come across a camera that could illuminate a subject at nighttime, catch a baby in mid-laugh or capture the unraveling of cigarette smoke. That is, until Tumblr introduced me to the Olympus PEN E-PM1. This past fall, Tumblr teamed up with Olympus to promote their newest camera and I was one of the lucky 100 to receive one to give it a test run. Pack Small. Shoot Big. - tagline for the new camera. I have been using the camera for about two months now; I love it and even found a $20 compact leather carrying case that’s constantly mistaken for a purse. (Here’s a pic of me and purse.) While I do not understand the mechanics that make a good camera, I know what I want from a camera I use daily for work and fun: small enough to throw in a bag with my MacBook, gym clothes, notebook and a paperback; quick response time; the ability to capture subjects in low lighting; an interchangeable lens(!) for different situations (macro for food photos, to be precise); and video capability with decent sound recording. (I shot a Stupidly Simple Snacks video with the boys of Huma-Huma on the Olympus PEN E-PM1; they’re filmmakers and even they said the image quality is impressive. Fingers crossed I can edit and publish the video before Christmas.) I hope Santa brings you one this Christmas. As for me, I’m not looking for the next best thing anymore. I think I have it. Photo taken with Olympus Pen E-PM1 @ Fat Goose. 125 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg (718) 963-2200 / Genever Cured Wild Salmon with fennel orange salad.

small but perfectly formed (finding the right camera)

I’m an enthusiast of beautiful photography, but it’s not my profession. (Well, it sort of is.) For this reason I’ve so far opted to make the best of the cameras and phone cameras I have instead of splurging on a “real” one. After all, a good camera can increase your chances of capturing a sharp image, but it can’t make you a better photographer.

Still, it seems I was always looking for the next best thing. In a bid to “grow up” and get a real camera two years ago, I sprang for my first (secondhand) $700 DSLR. But I promptly returned it the next day because I couldn’t get the lens to focus and did not have the patience to press buttons to make it do what I wanted it to do automatically, intuitively.

After returning the DSLR, I bought a Canon Powershot G10 to act as an in-between a point-and-shoot and DSLR, which worked wonderfully for a while, but I never got to figuring out white balance, low light settings and F-stops. I also couldn’t find an un-ugly case for it.

Lately, my go to camera has been my iPhone using the Camera+ app. I love the ease of taking photos on my phone. Plus, as long as I have Wi-Fi access, I can blog from wherever I am. The majority of my Tumblr pics from the past year were taken on my iPhone. 

Let’s not forget the Sony Cyber-shot WX9, a gift from Sony, which, aside from short battery life, is one of the best compact point-and-shoots I have used. So far, nothing beats its tiny size. It’s so slim I keep it in one pocket and my phone in the other, and often forget which pocket the Cyber-shot is in.

Even with the Sony in tow, however, I would be hit with camera envy when I’d come across a camera that could illuminate a subject at nighttime, catch a baby in mid-laugh or capture the unraveling of cigarette smoke.

That is, until Tumblr introduced me to the Olympus PEN E-PM1. This past fall, Tumblr teamed up with Olympus to promote their newest camera and I was one of the lucky 100 to receive one to give it a test run.

Pack Small. Shoot Big. - tagline for the new camera.

I have been using the camera for about two months now; I love it and even found a $20 compact leather carrying case that’s constantly mistaken for a purse. (Here’s a pic of me and purse.)

While I do not understand the mechanics that make a good camera, I know what I want from a camera I use daily for work and fun: small enough to throw in a bag with my MacBook, gym clothes, notebook and a paperback; quick response time; the ability to capture subjects in low lighting; an interchangeable lens(!) for different situations (macro for food photos, to be precise); and video capability with decent sound recording. (I shot a Stupidly Simple Snacks video with the boys of Huma-Huma on the Olympus PEN E-PM1; they’re filmmakers and even they said the image quality is impressive. Fingers crossed I can edit and publish the video before Christmas.)

I hope Santa brings you one this Christmas. As for me, I’m not looking for the next best thing anymore. I think I have it.

Photo taken with Olympus Pen E-PM1 @ Fat Goose. 125 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg (718) 963-2200 / Genever Cured Wild Salmon with fennel orange salad.


Amy! Hi, dk if you remember ever talking to me, haven't been active on tumblr for awhile. Anyway, I just moved out to Brooklyn from Portland and was wondering if you had any recommendations in regards to food/restaurants/markets. Just thought I'd try asking you (: Thanks.

Asked by
greenpants

Hi Isaac, of course I remember you. You’re in Brooklyn? That’s great! You arrived just in time for a hurricane :)

Al Di La is a wonderful Italian restaurant in Park Slope. Actually, there are loads of great restaurants in Park Slope; I recommend you walk up and down 5th Avenue to see.

For pizza, visit Franny’s on Flatbush Ave and Roberta’s in Bushwick. Lucali and Di Fara are popular spots too, but I have not yet been!

Williamsburg has its own restaurant ecosystem so those who live there never have to leave for good food, really. Go to Egg (crazy lines!) or Traif for brunch; Saltie for the Scuttlebutt sandwich; Marlow & Sons for lunch; and people swear by Diner for dinner, though I must say the lamb chop I ordered had the tiniest amount of meat on it that I’ve ever seen… On Saturdays, stop by the outdoor food market Smorgasburg for awesome snacks, like fried chicken buttermilk biscuit sandwich from King’s Crumb and salted caramel macaroons from Danny Macaroons.

I haven’t been to Peaches in Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) in a while, but they have wonderful, authentic Southern food, like the cheesiest cheese grits topped with shrimp. You can read my review here.

There’s no easy way to get to Red Hook, but it’s worth it to take a car, bus or the IKEA ferry there where you’ll find hot buttery lobster rolls from Red Hook Lobster Pound and Baked for my favorite cupcakes in the city. I can go on - and we’re only talking about one borough after all - but let me know how it goes with this list. Also, use Foodspotting and download our app on your phone; it’s one of the best ways to see what good eaters recommend wherever you are. The other best way is by getting personal recommendations from friends. See above for those ♥

Donuts And A Show After months of hearing praises for Peter Pan Donut, I finally made it to the venerable Brooklyn doughnut shop with my friend Kristin yesterday. Turns out, it was the first time for many others too - those who’d just read about doughnuts in a particularly popular New York Times article last week. Beside Kristin and me sat a couple who insisted on grilling the server: Did you see you guys were just in the Times? (Nope.) How could you not have seen it? It was one of the most emailed articles this week. Did you see the picture slideshow? Have you seen an uptick in business in the last few days…? “I’ve seen an uptick in business in the past five years,“ replied our semi-amused server who later told us his parents have owned the place for nearly two decades. The scene unfolded while I went to work on my cream-filled yeast doughnut and asked for four more to go. Five doughnuts, five dollars. Kristin had a black coffee with her “old-fashioned” cake doughnut. Two dollars for a sweet snack and hot beverage. That’s less than a subway ride in New York! As the couple got up to leave, the man flippantly apologized for leaving a mess of crumbs. I looked up to see scattered chunks of doughnut on the counter looking like dirt flung from the earth. Maybe they wouldn’t have missed all the good parts had they eaten with their mouths closed. Read A Flowering of the Doughnut Arts in the New York Times. Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop, 727 Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (718) 389-3676

Donuts And A Show

After months of hearing praises for Peter Pan Donut, I finally made it to the venerable Brooklyn doughnut shop with my friend Kristin yesterday. Turns out, it was the first time for many others too - those who’d just read about doughnuts in a particularly popular New York Times article last week.

Beside Kristin and me sat a couple who insisted on grilling the server: Did you see you guys were just in the Times? (Nope.) How could you not have seen it? It was one of the most emailed articles this week. Did you see the picture slideshow? Have you seen an uptick in business in the last few days…?

“I’ve seen an uptick in business in the past five years,“ replied our semi-amused server who later told us his parents have owned the place for nearly two decades.

The scene unfolded while I went to work on my cream-filled yeast doughnut and asked for four more to go. Five doughnuts, five dollars. Kristin had a black coffee with her “old-fashioned” cake doughnut. Two dollars for a sweet snack and hot beverage. That’s less than a subway ride in New York!

As the couple got up to leave, the man flippantly apologized for leaving a mess of crumbs. I looked up to see scattered chunks of doughnut on the counter looking like dirt flung from the earth. Maybe they wouldn’t have missed all the good parts had they eaten with their mouths closed.

Read A Flowering of the Doughnut Arts in the New York Times.

Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop, 727 Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (718) 389-3676

Tres Leches Buttercream Beauty By @Robicellis To be specific, this is their three-milk soaked brown butter cake with velvety dulce de leche buttercream frosting. You wonder why I’m mildly obsessed with cupcakes, but as Robicelli’s Cupcakes co-owner Allison Robicelli always says - cupcakes are not a trend and they’re not going away; it’s the only thing that allows someone to pretend it’s their birthday any day. I celebrate my birthday about one hundred days per year in that case.

Tres Leches Buttercream Beauty By @Robicellis

To be specific, this is their three-milk soaked brown butter cake with velvety dulce de leche buttercream frosting. You wonder why I’m mildly obsessed with cupcakes, but as Robicelli’s Cupcakes co-owner Allison Robicelli always says - cupcakes are not a trend and they’re not going away; it’s the only thing that allows someone to pretend it’s their birthday any day.

I celebrate my birthday about one hundred days per year in that case.