Sunday brunch with the gang at Saint Germain in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

Where: 8303 3rd Ave (between 83rd St & 84th St) , Bay Ridge

What: The Eggs Benedict- runny eggs on soft brioche with either ham, spinach, or salmon.

When: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm

Why: Delicious French brunch staples like Croissant Sandwiches with silky Bechamel sauce,  all served with coffee/tea, juice and amazing French desserts (plus brunch cocktails for $3!!!)

Website: http://www.saintgermainfb.com/

A New York City staple, brunch is the time to nurse our hangovers, boast conquests and rue defeats from the night before, and eat a heaping helping of the delectable menageries that arise from the simple, yet glorious, union of breakfast and lunch. I know that sent you running for your nearest menupages.com, but I’m here to help – in a hyperlocal, microcosm type of way. Below you’ll find the top spots, well known and obscure, to eat this satisfying meal in the still-grungy (and therefore more awesome) South Slope/Gowanus area of Brooklyn.

1. SIDECAR $$ (560 5th Ave., Brooklyn, 11215)

Inside this industrial-type space, you’ll find a long bar and high wooden booths (slightly uncomfortable, but something’s gotta keep you upright today, eh?) by the left wall. Waiters are cute, young and scruffy, which is just how I like them. And the menu features New American favorites like frisee lardon salad – if you’d like to treat your tired liver to thick, home-style bacon – corned beef hash and eggs, and Southern creamy shrimp and grits. Oh, did I mention the Deconstructing Mary (infused horseradish vodka, tomato, pepper and celery)? Heaven in a glass.

2. La Boulangerie Lopez $ (647 5th Ave., Brooklyn, 11215)

Just down the street from SIDECAR, is this unassuming Latin bakery-turned-café. And, if you’re looking for a cheap alternative in the ‘hood, this is your place. They may not serve alcohol, but the pumpkin spice lattes are like catnip.  They’ve got everything from eggs benedict to chilaquiles and eggs. And, fresh-baked pastries, of course. Best of all, they totally treat you like family!

3. Bar Tano $$ (457 3rd Ave., Brooklyn, 11215)

Hidden on the outskirts of Gowanus, Bar Tano is a dimly lit contemporary hideaway with Italian roots, perfect for hearty meals in the company of your fellow yuppie-urbanites that dared take residence by a canal in Brooklyn. No “breakfast specialty” exceeds $12, and we’re talking capicolla, egg and mozzarella panini, baked eggs (take your pick between di Parma, with prosciutto and fresh basil, and Pietro, served over country-fried tomato bread), and frittatas, all served with home fries or chips.

4. The Bagel Factory $ (612 5th Ave., Brooklyn, 11215)

The only thing that tops a bagel shop in Brooklyn is a bagel shop in Brooklyn with tons of house-made cream cheese varieties and a full lunch menu, all within three blocks of your apartment. If you’re in dire need of a breakfast sandwich, jalapeno cheddar cream cheese, French toast, or a Bagel Factory Omelet (nova lox, red onion, caper), these guys will set your vitals straight, quick. Eat in at one of the lunch-room-style tables or drag it home like a caveman/woman and devour in the privacy of your dark, hangover-soothing abode.

5. Korzo $$$ (667 5th Ave., Brooklyn, 11215)

An entire wall of windows invites you to try the peasant-style, nourishing foods of Central Europe, with a local, seasonal twist, at Korzo. Hungarian sausage makes its debut in spicy paprika sauce and two sunny-side-up eggs, while a giant potato latke sits under two poached eggs and grilled home-cured kielbasa. Not your style? Try the spaetzel, German sausage hash, or the Hungarian fried flatbread in egg custard batter, with fresh banana slices and, Lord help me, Nutella. They also brew their own beer and mix a mean brunch cocktail – try the Radler (Julius Echter heffe weisse, fresh-squeezed lemonade and lime). Just a warning, this comes in a BIG glass.

A flickering lantern beckons you inside Antibes Bistro, and once you are inside, you will be glad you came. The food is delicious and the ambiance is warm and relaxing. Bundles of dried lavender hang from exposed brick walls, and the rustic wooden tables are decorated with little bouquets of dried flowers. Everything from the wooden chandeliers to the slow French music makes you feel like you are in a little resort town in Provence. The service staff is friendly and the food is both excellent and economical.

I’ve been to Antibes Bistro a couple times; once with my mom, and once with a group of friends, so I can say with authority that the food at Antibes is absolutely delicious. My only problem is that it’s hard to decide what to order when everything on the menu sounds so good, but luckily my dinner companions are always willing to share, so I got to try a little of everything. If you aren’t so lucky the servers are quite knowledgeable and always willing to help you make the tough decisions.

After mourning my inability to eat everything on the menu, I ordered the seared tuna steak with saffron parsnip puree, artichoke hearts, and caramelized leek. The tuna definitely hit the spot, and I’m a sucker for parsnip puree so this was basically my ideal meal. Short ribs, however, are another scrumptious option, braised in Guinness and served with potato gratin, spinach, and a saucy braising reduction. It’s the ultimate in modern cuisine; comfort food cooked on a fancy plate that speaks to both your heart and your stomach. If you’re looking for something a bit healthier but just as flavorful, the slow-baked Atlantic salmon is another wonderfully composed dish, with cauliflower puree, ratatouille, phyllo crisp, and harissa emulsion. The taste of the ratatouille and fish really highlight this restaurant’s devotion to the flavors of the Cote d’Azur.

The portions are on the smaller side but, if you see this as a problem, let me remind you that this means you won’t be too full to order dessert! All the dessert options sound delectable, but one that particularly called out to me was the banana bread pudding with vanilla gelato and poached strawberries. Pair this with a frothy cappuccino or a glass of bubbly and you have the perfect ending to a delicious meal.

SPEEDWALK

Where: 112 Suffolk Street, between Delancey St & Rivington Street, NY, NY (212) 533-6088

What: Seared tuna with saffron parsnip puree, artichoke hearts, and caramelized leek: rustic Provencal fare with a modern refinement.

When: Tuesday and Wednesdays for live jazz, or weekends for brunch.

Why: Your taste buds will thank you, and so will your bank account.

Website: antibesbistro.com

We ordered the run of the menu, starting from mouthwatering foie gras (on brioche with caramelized peaches), the trio of beef short ribs (with truffled sauerkraut), the curried quinoa with wild mushrooms, which comes inside half a roasted acorn squash (!), and capped it off with the American Kobe steak (I know, paradox, but you’ll just have to wait and see for yourself), and a dizzying selection of sides. The sparkling wine was flowing and the reaction was positive on all fronts; I can’t say that this is the pinnacle of culinary art, but it was consistent and represented New American flavor at its most concentrated, with local, organic ingredients like pasture-raised meat and vegetables that didn’t travel far until they hit your taste buds. And, when it gets warm out, their foliage-canopied patio is fair game.

EAT

WHERE: 339A 2nd Street & 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11215

WHAT: American Kobe Culotte Steak with goat cheese mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and caramelized onion soubise

WHEN: Half-price bottles of wine on Mondays – just sayin’..

WHY: Friendly staff, reasonable prices and romance, romance, romance

Where: 235 Park Avenue South, New York

What: 15 juicy Blue Point oysters for $19

When: Any day between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Why: A New England foodie escape within New York City, featuring fresh seafood and stellar service

Website: www.citycrabnyc.com

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Photo Credit: http://standupforcharity.com/pastshows.html#pics1

On Wednesday, October 26, some of the biggest names in comedy gathered at the Kaufman Center’s Merkin Concert Hall to raise money for The Joshua Morales Fund for Children with Transverse Myelitis.

Stand Up For Charity, a live celebrity stand up comedy show, attracts household names in comedy, politics, television, film and music to donate their time to raise money for selected charities around the country. Last Wednesday, the line-up was especially incredible; Jim Gaffigan
Todd Barry, Judah Friedlander, Jim Norton, Dave Attell and a special appearance by Macaulay Culkin .

The night started with a set by the host, of MTV’s soon to be premiering Guy Code, Andrew Schulz. His physical and very funny routine included jokes about what woman find fun; i.e taking jumping pictures and pictures of their feet in a circle (on the moon, that’s a space dolphin). Following the host was Todd Barry, who started off somewhat slow but picked up with some self-deprecating humor . Jim Norton followed with jokes about being a pervert and being unable to make small talk, erupting the room into laughter. Following Norton was Jim Gaffigan whose ode to Mcdonalds comedy routine had one pregnant audience member laughing so hard she almost went into labor.

After Gaffigan, a brief raffle was held by none other than the party monster himself, Macaulay Culkin. This was the highlight of the night for me. If you’ve seen my Macaulay Culkin nail post (amongst other Mac dedicated ones),  you already know.  Seriously, Macaulaywas the cutest thing on stage, first calling out Betty White’s name as the winner before proceeding with the actual names. Unfortunately, I did not win, but being 20 feet away from Mac was ( get ready for super, creepy, weirdness people) the real prize. Le Sigh.

Moving on from my creepy Mac obsession, the next comedian to take the stage was Judah Friedlander. To be honest, his rehearsed jokes fell flat however what Friedlander excels in is improv. Once he started interacting with the audience, the entire room was in hysterics.

The last comedian of the night was Dave Attell. You know how you know a comedian is extremely funny? When every other comedian is standing in the back of the room watching his set and laughing. Entering the stage super scruffy and kind of resembling a homeless hippie New Yorker, Attell took no prisoners as he made fun of everything and everyone. Witty, cynical and with a no holds barred attitude, he was definitely the highlight of the night.

For more information about the charity, how to donate, or to find out when the next Stand Up for Charity event is being held, click here.

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Although I was lucky enough to be able to attend an early Bastille Day Festival in Brooklyn last Sunday, I’ve got some great ideas if you want to get into the spirit but don’t have any festivities going on where you live. If you can’t make it out to a French restaurant (which will surely have something going on) or would just rather do your own thing at home, here are some tips to make the day extra festive.

Food and France are synonymous, and nothing is going to put you in a French mood like cooking and eating a great French meal. Why don’t you grab some friends and make it a cooking party, and then enjoy the fruits of your labor. Some super yummy (but easy-ish) recipes include:

• Apple Clafouti
• Gougères
• (Easy) Bouillabaisse
• Ratatouille tart
• Salmon Rillettes
• Fondue! (or should I say fundue…)

Petanque originated in 1907 in the south of France and is currently played by over 17 million people in France. The game is a form of Boules, a collective game played with metal balls that resembles bocce. The point of the game is to get your metal balls closest to a small wooden ball or “piglet” as it is translated. Having witnesses Petanque last Sunday, let me tell you, Petanque players take this game very seriously. If you can find a Petanque tournament online, it will definitely put you in the French mood.

Of course, most of us know that “Champagne” is a sparkling wine that comes from the Champagne region of France. But do you know what Lillet is? Lillet is a popular brand of the French Apertif wine, consisting of 85% Bordeaux wines and 15% macerated liqueurs. An Apertif is a wine that is usually served before a meal to stimulate the appetite and as it turns out, both dry Champagne and Lillet are common Apertifs in France. I’m definitely a Champagne fan and nothing makes me feel more Fancy and/or French than a glass of bubbly Champagne. (Am I right?)

But hey, if all else fails, grab some good French Wine, some good French Cheese, and some good friends, and create your own French celebration! Because really, I know you’re just looking for a reason to have a party on a Thursday night.

Bastille Day, celebrated early on Smith Street in Brooklyn, is the French National Holiday celebrated every July 14th commemorating the uprising of the French people in the late 18th century during the reign of Louis XVI. The storming of the Bastille in 1789  lead to the abolition of feudalism and the proclamation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. As such, this holiday is celebrated by French citizens and those of French heritage worldwide. Of course, not being one to pass up a good festival, I met with some friends and commenced celebrating the French uprising. The festivities on Smith Street included Pétanque, Lillet, guillotine replicas, and lots of french accents. As I didn’t get a photo in the guillotine or try any Lillet, I’m already looking forward to next year’s celebration.

Anyone else celebrating Bastille Day this week?

x

Miss Coney Island, Tattooed Girls at Beer Island, Coney Island Veggie Tacos, Wonder Wheel Ticket, Aerial View  of Parade Goers on the Boardwalk

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I walked down the Brighton Beach Boardwalk towards Coney Island to meet some friends and check out the new Luna Park. Along the way, we stopped for a late lunch at Le Soleil Draft Barn, a German inspired beer garden type of restaurant right on the boardwalk and overlooking the beach. The restaurant had an extensive, three page menu of beers. I settled on some Bitburger, memories of my trip to Germany a few weeks ago flooding back. My boyfriend got a Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier which we agreed wasn’t very good. We also ordered some Calamari and potato pancakes with goat cheese, both were delicious with the calamari especially hitting that fried foods summer boardwalk spot. We took our time; talking, laughing, taking pictures and looking at the ocean waves and passerby.

That was last week though. Yesterday, as the boardwalk was filled with teenagers celebrating Brooklyn-Queens day, an unidentified gunman opened fire. Killing a 17 year old girl and injuring 4 others (including one critically) the boardwalk erupted with violence. Some speculate that the incident was gang related, however, no one is in custody.

One week earlier I was in the same spot, at the same time of day, eating right near where someone else was shot yesterday. It’s surreal. Having worked for 4 summers on that very boardwalk when I was younger, it really hits close to home. The boardwalk has always had tragic summers but most of the time they can be attributed to drownings, something that, although tragic, happens at every beach. This was different, this happened because evil people exist and because guns are way too easy to get. If you want to read more about what happened, check out Sheepshead Bites, they’ve got some good coverage of the events that transpired.