We’ll be the first to admit it: we don’t spend a great deal of time in Bed-Stuy.  That’s not a judgment call; it’s that the travels of our daily lives don’t often draw us out toward the Brooklyn neighborhood.  On a recent sunny Saturday however, the sounds of savory brunch sang out to us, whispering ‘hey, give this a shot.’  And with our ears ringing, we boarded the C train headed toward Classon Avenue for a mouthwatering breakfast experience well worth the jaunt from Manhattan.

Alice’s Arbor is an adorably charming little bistro nestled quietly onto a relatively quiet neighborhood street, across from welcoming Crispus Attucks Playground.  Outfitted with a rustic interior, the energy-laden restaurant feels as if transplanted from a small country town yet is seamlessly transitioned onto a bustling Brooklyn street.  Decoratively, the place’s natural lighting illuminates the barn wood covered walls, exposed brick and inventive light fixtures and wooden tables placed around the dining room.  The entire setup feels completely comfortable as the easy-going staff seems equally at ease, despite hustling around to serve the crowded slew of table-sitters.

In between the dedicated service however, is a meal that manages to take the notion of an ordinary brunch and keep it inspired.  With much of the fare sourced from nearby farms, the ‘farm-to-table’ concept which has been done to death in New York, just feels fresh here.  Armed with your choice of a horseradish-fueled ‘Bloody Mary’ or a refreshingly crisp ‘Mimosa,’ the $19 ‘Prix Fix’ feels like a downright steal for some of the selections offered before lunchtime.    Take ‘The Jessie’ ($11), a simple croissant layered with egg, avocado, arugula and tomato.  But topped with a Cabot white cheddar and the combination works far greater than the sum of its parts might imply.  ‘The Cubano’ ($12) is equally as excellent, meshing warm roasted pork, ham and gruyere with mustard and tangy pickles atop a flauta.

Even a traditional ‘Eggs Bendict’ ($11) is enhanced when served ‘Carolina’ style- the ‘Carolina Benedict’ ($11) tops scrumptious buttermilk biscuits with the traditionally poached eggs – and some rich pulled pork with barbeque sauce to boot.  And the piping hot home fries are well seasoned and just as distinctive.  The creamy lemony hollandaise sauce atop a serving of fresh ‘Crab Hash’ ($11) and greens also manages to be a big winner, washed down with some of the Arbor’s tasty house brewed coffee blend.  By the time the decadent ‘Apple Strudel’ is served tableside, drenched with a sweet syrupy glaze and topped with fluffy whipped cream – we had admittedly had enough, in a good way.

The service, unexpectedly – was spectacular.  Barely 45 seconds passed before another friendly outstretched arm was filling up our coffee mug, grabbing our plate or asking if we needed any additional condiments.   The food, unexpectedly, despite being reasonable, was equally as satisfying.  Who knew that such quality was available at such an infrequently visited part of Manhattan’s sister borough.  The experience overall though was a commendable one- so much so in fact that Alice’s Arbor moves to the top of the list for places we can bring folks off-the-beaten path, looking for a high-quality brunch from start to finish.

Rundown of the Meal

Plates
Crab Hash ($11)*

Carolina Benedict ($11)*

Dessert
Apple Strudel*

* Meal Highlight

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Rough Trade, Brooklyn, NY
November 21, 2016

The Monday before Thanksgiving is typically met with good vibes- even moreso when Brooklyn record shop Rough Trade welcomed in Minneapolis jazz trio The Bad Plus to Williamsburg.   Touring in support of their latest album- a compilation of fun cover songs called “It’s Hard,”  the standing room floor filled up rapidly as 9 o’ clock approached and the audience filtered through the storefront and into the main show room. As go with the flow as jazz tends to be, bassist Reid Anderson nonchalantly walked on stage followed by his band mates, pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer Dave King and without introduction they went right into their first couple of songs of the night and gave the crowd a good taste of what was to come for the remainder of the set.

After opener “Prehensile Dream,” came the evening’s first cover tune, Cyndi Lauper’s iconic “Time After Time,” a creative and innovative jazz arrangement which enamored the audience with its hook-filled chorus and sheer 80′s nostalgia. From that point on it was a groove laden journey bouncing back and forth fairly evenly between The Bad Plus original numbers and undeniably cool covers. Anderson took to the mic after the third song to introduce each member of the band and explained that if record release parties were still a thing, this is what that would be. He continued to charm the crowd throughout the night whenever he picked up the mic in between songs and engaged in witty banter with his band mates.

From time to time the overall chill vibe in the room would pick up to be a bit more feverish when King went to town on his drums. The distinctiveness of his technique was beyond awe inspiring.  Using foreign objects to alter the sound of his drum head along with a downright epic use of the tip of his drumsticks on his cymbals to create a somehow tolerable “nails on the chalkboard” sound, King was as inventive as he was talented. The intimacy and generally laid back vibe in the room created a real warm and inviting feeling inside Rough Trade, where the band would spend roughly two full hours performing divided by a brief intermission in the middle of the night. Among the uniquely awesome rebranded covers were versions of Barry Mannilow’s “Mandy,” “Maps” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and” The Robots” by Kraftwerk.  Each tune familiar, catchy and brilliantly tailored for jazz.

The Bad Plus is no stranger to covers as “It’s Hard” marks the second album comprised of covers by the trio. Having spent almost the entire month on tour, November 21st at Rough Trade marked the last stop on this leg of the tour for The Bad Plus until they pick back up in mid December, undeniably wooing audiences with unparalleled stage presence and just enough charisma to show themselves off as the coolest guys in the room.

- Jon Asher

Any travel guide will extoll the many virtues of Thailand’s second largest island, Ko Samui. Outwardly, a wonderfully designed and pristine place to frequent- but a place that also celebrates the region’s spirit in its most traditional sense. With similar sentiment, we traveled out to Fort Greene, Brooklyn on a recent weeknight to visit a newly opened eatery with similar distinction. Serving up a modernized take on authentic Northern Thai fare, Samui is a swanky looking, wonderfully decorated restaurant, whose mouthwatering fare manages to exceed its eye-catching ambiance.

A cavalcade of colors are affixed to an otherwise typical looking brick front building sitting on Vanderbilt Avenue.  Inside, intricate and modern chandeliers hanging overhead are also visible from the street outside, where new apartment housing developments are sprouting up around the still up-and-coming area.  The rustic brick decor continues inside the dimly lit, chic dining room where blue banquettes make up a preponderance of the seating areas and the bar area is buzzing with patrons sipping on refreshingly hand-crafted concoctions like the kick-in-the-pants “Chili Margarita” or the far sweeter “Ginger Caipirinha.”  A nearby diner leans over suggesting they’d ‘never been to a Thai restaurant like this’- and for good reason.  Samui is the perfect Thai-style restaurant in contemporary Brooklyn.

Among the many characteristics at Samui to like, perhaps the best is the place’s value, where nothing being served- not even a ‘Large Plates’ section boasting a “Sirloin” ($29) and a “Garlic Branzino” ($29)- exceeds $30.  With the bells and whistles out of the way, it’s time to work our way through an expansive double-sided menu where, appropriately, curries and turmeric dishes sit alongside the likes of noodle soups, manila clams and perhaps the tastiest looking “Crispy Red Snapper” ($22) that we’ve ever avoided ordering.  Fortunately the food works its way out of the kitchen fairly quickly and we dig into a tasty chilled “Salmon Tartare” ($15) touched up by a hint of lemongrass and a memorable “Mussel Pancake” ($12), served piping hot, accompanied by garlic, bean sprouts and chives.  Deliciously decadent, the flash fried mussels are especially tasty, just a notch above the creamy peanut dipping sauce that lathers our “Chicken Satay,” a relative skewer-steal at just $9.

Ordering a saucy side of the “Green Chinese Broccoli” ($8) is an absolute must.  The crunchy and perfectly cooked stems are literally bathed in a sea of oyster and soy sauce, but are about as tasty an accompaniment as one can ask for when enjoying Thai food.  Paired with an order of succulent “Drunken Shrimp Noodles” ($14)- which offer an excellent textural contrast with richly decorated, thick noodle strands woven around more than a half-dozen bulbous and juicy shrimps- alone, would suffice for a single diner.  Not for our hungry party though, who insisted on the “Chicken Bamboo Curry” ($19), a stroke of brilliance considering the dish served before us.  Tender hunks of stripped chicken meat lay in a thick and scrumptious green curry broth.  Slices of kabocha squash served to punctuate the dish’s short dalliance with our taste buds as we reached across the table for anything we could find to sop up the bowl’s green coated remnants.

Soon enough, a table covered in empty plates lay in front of us with our belt buckles now unfastened as our appetites were completely appeased.  Despite a mid-summer opening, Samui never seemed to need to work out any of the new restaurant kinks that we’ve become so accustomed to experiencing- a testament to the talented and friendly waitstaff and an expert ownership team.  Just two miles from the Barclays Center, Samui is as notable a restaurant- with fantastic decor and terffic food- that’s opened up in the Fort Greene area in some time- and it’s one that absolutely warrants a visit.

Rundown of the Meal

Cocktails
Chili Margarita – Tequila, Jalapeno, Pineapple, Lime
Ginger Caipirinha – Cachapa, Canton, Lime

Raw
Salmon, Lemongrass Tartare ($15)

Raw
Mussel Pancake, Garlic, chive, bean sprouts ($12)
Chicken Satay, peanut, cucumber, relish ($9)

Noodles
Drunken Noodles, Shrimp ($14)

Curries
Chicken Bamboo, Kabocha Squash, Green Curry ($19)

Sides
Green Chinese Broccoli, oyster & soy ($8)

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Baby’s All Right, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
June 24, 2016

As the summer of 2016 officially kicked off, Indie rock band Drowners treated fans to an energetic live show inside Brooklyn music venue Baby’s All Right on Friday night. Performing in support of the release of “On Desire,” their sophomore effort officially released earlier that day, the upbeat and boisterous band rocked the sold out and tightly packed room for a full hour. Though the band’s singer has some Welsh in his blood, Drowners is a local band through and through, spawning a half-decade ago right here in New York City.  And as the group gets ready for a slot at Lollapalooza later in July, their show in Williamsburg proved to be much more than just a tune-up.

Friday night’s set showcased fifteen songs, covering nearly the entire new record while also leaning on several cuts from 2014′s self-titled debut. For spectacle’s sake, the stage was outfitted with an array of lights, which quickly went dark as the bandmates strode to center stage without hesitating. The feel good vibe of opening track “Troublemaker” proved to be the perfect choice for the warm weather night, giving fans a glimpse into a highlight from the new album as the first of a five song stretch of new material. The slickly riffed “Cruel Ways” in particular, seemed to get better as the song progressed, replete with a catchy and poppy singalong chorus sandwiched between its smooth and entrancing verses.

Frontman Matthew Hitt meshed a charismatic live persona with some laudable chops as he led the band through a multitude of new material. His bandmates to their credit continued to captivate the crowd, jamming into the 80′s-esque pop song “Conversations with Myself,” which forced the sold out audience to bounce up and down from its resulting melody. Other new standouts like “Human Remains” and “Trust the Tension” gave way for “Watch You Change,” punctuated by its guitar-mimicking vocal lines accompanied by a harmony fueled chorus. The crowd visibly swooned as Hitt continued to demonstrate his smooth and unique vocals alongside guitarist Jack Ridley III‘s infectiously catchy strums.

Although there was little more than a short and emphatic “thank you” between a few of the songs, the lack of crowd interaction was more than balanced by the amount of energy Drowners pumped out per track. With most songs clocking in at just around the three minute mark, the band managed to take the crowd on a lively journey in a relatively short time span. The last half of the show bounced back and forth pretty steadily between both albums affording concertgoers the opportunity to sing along with some favorites while taking in all of the new music the band threw their way. For a band that is a collection of relative newcomers, “On Desire” is a step toward musical maturity- evidenced by the musical talents on display on Friday night. The sold out Brooklyn crowd was quick to warmly welcome the arrival of Drowners to our area as the logical next step on the band’s journey moves from support act to headliner inside some bigger and bigger venues.

- Jon Asher

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
St. Vitus, Brooklyn, NY
April 14, 2016

Devil horns were raised high into the sky Thursday night at a sold out St. Vitus bar, a venue that has beyond proven itself as a true focal point for the Brooklyn’s music scene. To commemorate the space’s fifth anniversary celebration, the venue welcomed venerable rock veterans Corrosion of Conformity back to New York City, returning for the second of two back to back nights. Though the building was definitively intimate, that sentiment would ring even more true during the show because it wasn’t just the room that was tight, there was a tightness within the band that created a family-like vibe throughout the evening.

Throughout the band’s three decades together, Corrosion of Conformity is a group that has almost come entirely full circle. Despite more than a handful of lineup changes since the band’s earliest days as a raucous punk outfit, three of CoC’s four original members, Woody Weatherman (lead guitarist), Mike Dean (bassist, vocals), and Reed Mullin (drummer) reunited to continue pushing forward their collective blend of now more mature southern heavy rock music. Led by the return of longtime frontman Pepper Keenan, who took a hiatus for nearly to ten years to work as lead guitarist in Down with Phil Anselmo (Pantera), the foursome has reformed a once powerful quartet that’s seen them headline shows around the world since the mid-1990′s.

Despite the band taking the stage late into the evening, it only seemed fitting that the foursome would launch into show opener “These Shrouded Temples,” the first track from 1991’s ‘Blind.’ The ominous two minute instrumental would soon give way to another opening track, “King of the Rotten,” a fan favorite from 1996’s ‘Wiseblood.’ It was here that the collective energy simmering in sweaty standing room only crowd would finally erupt, earmarked by pumping fists, banging heads, and mosh pits engulfing the room as CoC began to hit their stride.

Leaning on some of the band’s heavier material, crowd interaction would become an important part of the evening. Following an inspired rendition of “Senor Limpio,” Keenan pressed the vocal audience on which track from 1994’s ‘Deliverance’ that they would prefer to hear played: “My Grain” or “Shake Like You.” Almost unanimously, the sold out crowd chanted “My Grain,” and into it they went- lightning fast and heavy as hell. The crowd joined Keenan’s strained vocals in unison, screaming the chorus aloud so that the entire borough would surely awaken by the rocking sounds inside. Interestingly, later in the show “Shake Like You” would also come up a bit short- this time n energetic rendition of “The Door” would rock the house, with Weatherman’s quick moving fingers serving to slay the live crowd with tasty licks.

As the main set drew closer toward its conclusion, Keenan would introduce set staple “Vote With a Bullet” as “a song we wrote more than 20 years ago but is becoming relevant again.” Even guitarist Kelley Juett from opening band Mothership could be spotted in the crowd banging his head and singing along with nearby fans- a true display of genuine admiration and enjoyment that really got the crowd extra pumped for Keenan and the crew’s rhythmic riffs and baritone vocals. Over the course of the show each of the band’s five albums were leaned upon equally, though ‘Deliverance’ pleasantly received the lion’s share of the set. Though “Paranoid Opioid” unleashed the night’s biggest mosh pit on a crowd that was ready and waiting for one, “Clean My Wounds,” the band’s signature tune once again proved to be a timeless rock favorite as the room filled with Brooklyners once again would sing every lyric and bang heads together in synchronized metal fashion.

- Jon Asher

A LocalBozo.com Concert Review
Music Hall of Williamsburg, New York, NY
September 23, 2015

2015′s biggest breakout band rolled into town Wednesday evening with a show at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, in an evening that served as a precursor to a Thursday night performance at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield. The intimacy of the small club setting fueled ticket sales to a sellout just minutes after their onsale date one week prior as some 500 New Yorkers would welcome Cincinnati foursome Walk The Moon into a sold out, standing room only space. And rather than ‘Shut Up and Dance,’ the audience predictably went wild for the entirety of the group’s nearly ninety minute performance.

The room would reach a fever pitch as the clock struck 10pm on Wednesday and the familiar African inspired sounds from The Lion King’s “Circle of Life” would bring the band front and center in humorous fashion. But in the sixteen songs that followed, there was nary a moment of rest in the bunch as frontman Nicholas Petricca‘s frenetic pace exacerbated the excitable audience with a relentless display of nonstop energy. Evidently Petricca is either pop music’s most physically fit frontman or it’s most tireless- nevertheless, he remained a dynamic catalyst throughout the evening, alternating between playing the keyboard, pounding his standing bass drum and swaying his swiveling hips to each and very upbeat track, while his surrounding band mates followed his lead.

Despite having played two headlining nights at Manhattan’s Terminal 5 back in April, it appears that local fans simply cannot get enough of the charismatic foursome as crowd intensity seemed to further with each passing song. As the lights flashed around the room during opening tracks “Jenny” and “Sidekick,” they would shine upon fan after fan with facepaint smeared along their cheeks, eerily similar to that of the singer standing above them. Though the setting certainly skewed younger, concertgoers of all ages had a hard time standing in place while the energy around the room remained as infectious as the songs themselves.

“Tightrope,” “Aquaman” and latest single “Different Colors” would each follow suit in similar fashion- a sea of arms thrusting overhead pausing momentarily alongside each of drummer Sean Waugaman‘s punctuated beats. Though the entertainment level remained steadily high, the collaborative harmonizing of the bandmates from song to song really allowed their talents to shine. And by the time that “I Can Lift a Car” built the crowd inside to a crescendo, the collective release during the aforementioned “Shut Up and Dance” was nothing short of orgasmic.  The evening changed from a performance to a party in an instant as each cluster of folks dancing inside the space intensified.

Fortunately the audience left some in the tank for the band’s two song encore, of which their first hit single- 2010′s “Anna Sun” was both pleasantly familiar and strangely nostalgic. For the fans though, it was just another in a line of hits that they’ve memorized since the band’s emergence at this decade’s dawn. In an entertaining evening filled with feel-good music coupled with the pomp and circumstance of a Broadway performance, watching the utter delight on the faces of so many fulfilled fans leaving the venue wound up being the night’s most unquestionably memorable moment.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Celebrating it’s 6th glorious year, Taste Williamsburg Greenpoint returned to 90 Kent on Sunday afternoon, in a festive fundraising effort to support the new Northside Town Hall event space. The sprawling outdoor venue- billed as “block-party esque”- allowed for picnic tables, more than fifty local food and beverage purveyors for patrons to peruse and even a friendly game of cornhole courtesy of the good folks at Brooklyn Brewery. In true block-party style, guests were welcomed by the sounds of contemporary bluegrass, lots of sunshine, and of course, a drink or two (or three, or four…). With the summer hot spell finally broken, it was only fitting that the day be spent eating and drinking in excess to get ready for the winter months.

Having a leisurely four hours to get our fill, we did a lap around the U-shaped set-up to scope out the participating restaurants, but not without collecting provisions along the way. Upon entering, guests were handed a booklet of a limited number of food and drink vouchers to be redeemed, in choose-your-own-adventure fashion. And choose wisely, we did. The first stop of the day was to the Espelòn tent where bartenders were serving up a “Es-Pom-aloma,” a refreshing and dangerously light tequila cocktail with pomegranate and lime. This would not be our last stop to this tent.
Looking around, it was obvious that the heavy hitters of the day were very quickly established. Immediately, OddFellows Ice Cream- serving four of their most popular flavors- and The Brooklyn Star- bringing back last year’s crowd favorite- a mouthwatering “Fried Chicken & Cheddar Cheese Waffle Cone”- had lines of at least 10-15 people deep at all times.

Across the lot, Two Door Tavern was serving up the creamiest “Mac n’ Cheese” that ran out not once, but four times due to sheer demand before the chefs finally had to throw in the towel. Crowdpleaser Pies n Thighs offered a “Mini Chicken Biscuit” with hot sauce and honey butter that made an excellent nosh between drinks. Between all of the dashing back and forth in the lot, staying hydrated was key. Le Barricou, boasting the hottest drink of the day, was next on the list. Their “Foggy Dog”- a birdseye chili infused gin with grapefruit- provided a consistent burn, which somehow proved to be comforting when the clouds and wind rolled in soon after. This paired beautifully with the rich “Pâté de Campagne” with stone mustard from Le Fond.

As a comfort food lover, there was no shortage of noshes for us to fill our mouths with. Fabbrica doled out warm “Casoncini,” an empanada of sorts, filled with spinach and cheese and topped with a basil sauce. These greasy fritters cut through the wheat of Brooklyn Brewery’s “Lager” in a pleasant way. Thanks to Phin & Phebe’s, one tasting ticket got us not one, but three scoops of ice cream. If that wasn’t enough to fill us up, MP Taverna came in strong with a spiced hearty “Lamb Slider” and Le Barricou dished out one of the most beautifully plated offerings of the day (no easy feat in a sea of hundreds of hungry hipsters) with their “Fried Artichokes” alongside some colorful, edible flowers. They were as delicious as they were pretty. And we were pretty full.

Walking around, it was notable that a lot of restaurants used this event as their inaugural showing to the neighborhood and were very excited about such a showcase. The Camlin for instance with their “Deviled Egg and Chicharrones” and Lillia, with a “Sesame Bread Topped with Ricotta, Calabrian Sausage and Grilled Zucchini” were two immediate standouts, joined by relative newcomers like Oleanders, Zona Rosa and The Heyward, each of which has been warmly welcomed to the borough.

After making the rounds to more than thirty different booths, the sky opened up unceremoniously. In true community fashion, restaurants and bars ushered attendees behind their tables and underneath the shelter of tents to wait out the blustery storm. In a stroke of luck, we ended up “stranded” in the largest, centrally located tent- fortunately, the one which hosted most of the day’s liquor. To keep spirits up, Tito’s Handmade Vodka was passing around liberal amounts of their mint heavy summery cocktail to the crowd’s utter delight. Patrons and vendors alike cheers-ed with each other and mingled under the tents, sending summer off on it’s last, food-filled legs.

It was great to see so many people come out to support the Williamsburg Greenpoint community, and to see big guns like The Randolph, The Meatball Shop, and Maison Premiere lend their time and resources to a great cause. Every food or drink booth brought their story and their personality to the event, which made for a melange like only Brooklyn can do. The rain unfortunately signified the end of the tasting event, and while everyone trickled out a little earlier than hoped, nobody wound up leaving with dampened spirits.

- Emily Ziemski

The graffiti marked exterior and lone standing ATM are hardly the types of decor that would attract a food-craving clientele to an especially industrialized section of Bushwick. But embracing the Brooklyn neighborhood is part of the charm at Roberta’s, where a small yellow and red nameplate hangs just above the entryway as the only identifiable piece of the local restaurant to the outside world. But as you’ll learn in your first visit to the very quaint, very Brooklyn spot, ambiance matters little in the way of food worth traveling for.

Any legitimate list of New York City’s must try pizzas showcases Roberta’s at or near the top- but the thought of a trip out to Bushwick might be a bit daunting for some. But a few stops on the L train on the outskirts of Williamsburg drops you just a few minutes from the nondescript building, where the outdoor patio should be your sought after dining locale. Inside, white painted cinderblocks affixed with Christmas lighting are purposefully decorated in haphazard fashion, underneath which wooden tables are spaced in close proximity- you’ll hear your neighbors conversation and may even become acquainted with them. But the ‘happy-to-be-here’ vibe inside is infectious from the hipster wait staff to the likeminded folks dining around the room.

Despite all the well-received buzz, the menu at Roberta’s has remained entirely reasonable with nothing exceeding $20. There’s the requisite Italian fare- cheeses and charcuterie, alongside some market salads and sandwiches for some finicky eaters. Even the oil and chile soaked “Squid” ($15) was a fine dish, topped with two long scallions and a touch of meyer lemon for enhanced flavor. But candidly, you’re trekking out to Roberta’s for a taste of their delicious pizzas- offered with no shortage of toppings, adjustments and modifications, catered to your own culinary pleasures.

Cooked in a wood-burning pizza oven, Roberta’s personal sized pies are definitively Neapolitan with a deliciously crispy crust, topped with rich mozzarella cheese, made in-house. Though their are nine ‘suggested’ styles that the restaurant has concocted, more than twenty different toppings are available for some ‘create-your-own’ style customization. Adding capers ($1) and anchovies ($4) to the “Margherita” ($14) was our first order of business. The ripe red tomato sauce splattered atop a light airy bed of dough in a manner that made the pizza almost too striking to de-slice. Where the added anchovy pieces were minimal, each slice itself was intensely flavorful as the gooey cheese and subtle sauce paired nicely with each crunch of pizza crust. Eschewing further modification, we also wolfed down the “Speckenwolf” ($16), outrageously outfitted with salty hunks of fatty speck, sliced mushrooms and red onion slices. The all white pie allowed the toppings to stand out, though each of the pizzas on their own needn’t take a back seat to the likes of prosciutto, taleggio or pepperoncini peppers- all of which can be added on to different pies.

With an on-site garden to grow their vegetables, Roberta’s is a sustainable neighborhood eatery that embodies all that is great about Manhattan’s sister borough. It’s a pizza-focused restaurant built out from an old garage, with an inviting and cool atmosphere that makes the entire experience a fairly unique one. Fortunately, the hand-made and wood-fired pizzas here are outstanding, making the restaurant one well worth going out of your way to travel toward as Bushwick’s signature spot.

Rundown of the Meal

Kitchen
Squid ($15)

Pizza
Margherita ($19)*
The Speckenwolf ($16)*

* Meal Highlight

A smattering of swine and beer vendors gathered at Williamsburg’s Old Pfizer Factory over the course of three weekend sessions which served to satiate the appetites of hundreds upon hundreds of hungry New Yorkers. Brooklyn’s first annual event dubbed The Great Big Bacon Picnic was a seasonal indoor-outdoor affair laid out over a sprawling industrial space allowing for a limitless feast of creative pork dishes, refreshing cocktails and a nice collection of craft brewers. It was difficult to avoid being entirely gluttonous while walking around the setting, where live music provided by The High and Mighty Brass Band and interactive games would serve as a backdrop for the day’s sights, smells and tastes being doled out.

Threatening thunderstorms fortunately would pass over much of New York City as Saturday progressed; the setting sun would signal our arrival at the Picnic’s evening session and for three plus hours, we ate and imbibed with the fear that we’d run out of things to taste. And as a result, we gorged ourselves to the max. We spent the early portion of the session reveling in the warm weather, grabbing some of the insanely decadent chocolate covered slabs of bacon courtesy of Pig Guy NYC. The friendly team- now a fixture at Citi Field and synonymous with any event containing bacon in its title- worked quickly as usual, smoking dozens of thick cut hunks at a time, before lacquering them in sweet sauce and crushed crumbles for textural contrast. Just steps away, a full-on bacon buffet was made available where the likes of “Maple Bacon,” Neuske’s “Applewood Smoked Bacon,” “REAL Canadian Bacon” and Plumrose “Premium Thick Cut Bacon” were among the half-dozen or so options being plated by the hungry hands of patrons around us.

Inside however, the different pork-centric offerings seemed innumerable as the warehouse space was literally transformed into a bacon focused trade show of sorts. Grabbing some beer pours from Greenpoint Harbor (“Summer Ale”) and Coney Island Brewing (“Mermaid Pilsner”), we began making the rounds inside- picking up both small bites and hefty portions along the way. Thin and fatty strips of “Hog Jowl Bacon” from Nawlinz and “Bacon & Potato Chowder” from Midtown’s Le Rivage proved to be especially savory early on- and indicative of the spectrum of bacon uses that we’d encounter as early evening turned to night. Among the more generous portions that we’d enjoy, STREETS would serve a “Tuna Bacon Truffle Sushi Roll” that would encompass a multitude of varying flavors and ingredients that worked together brilliantly. In fact, they’d take home the Judge’s Award for the dish dubbed most Delicious and for use of Creativity at sessions throughout the weekend as a result of their unique offering.

Though there was definitely competition for LocalBozo.com’s vote from the likes of Hill & Dale (“Deviled Egg Topped with Pork Belly”), Halycon (“Pork Tenderloin and House Cured Bacon Crostini”) and Alice’s Arbor (“Green Tomato BLT”), we narrowed the day’s most exquisite eats down to two. Admittedly, we’re suckers for banh-mi style sandwiches and B.B.D.’s (Beers, Burgers, Desserts) “Vietnamese Bacon Sliders” both looked delicious and exceeded expectations on taste. Each bulbous bun was overstuffed with salty bacon strips and surrounded by pickled sprouts, Thai basil and a creamy orange sriracha sauce that delectably meshed sweet and spicy together. The team at Sweet Science somehow managed to match these flavors with an artistic looking “BLT Slider” that appeared to be straight from the pages of food porn. Stacks of fatty, beautiful looking thin-cut bacon strips were enveloped between a diminutive but fluffy brioche bun, topped by crisp lettuce greens and a beefsteak tomato slab for good measure. A dollop of creamy aioli richly married the small sandwich together as its size and flavor profile were both on par with the best dishes that we sampled all day.

We’d be remiss to avoid mentioning the mouthwatering offerings from Alobar (“Slab Bacon with Watermelon Radish”), Slowdonia (“Maple Bacon Welsh Rarebit”) and Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen, whose grilled cheese sandwiches (this one joined apple smoked bacon, cheddar and caramelized apple together) are always a home run. Repeat pours from Pilsner Urquell and Original Sin ciders proved pivotal in our enjoyment of the evening, despite eschewing many of the spirits purveyors doling out small tastings around the space.

Being completely full and nicely buzzed, The Great Big Bacon Picnic served to highlight the many local restaurants and vendors putting their masterful touch on bacon’s vast array of uses and also delivered a terrific value for those of us who love food tasting festivals but hate waiting on lines. The affair was perfectly attended so that guests were able to fill up on dishes and drinks without being frustrated in the process. That’s what gluttony is all about- and at The Great Big Bacon Picnic, it’s not only welcomed- it’s encouraged.

- Dave Gendelson

Food Highlights from The Great Big Bacon Picnic 2015

BacoBurger.com

Pig Guy NYC

Corinne’s Gourmet Selections

Smithfield: “Cherrywood Smoked Thick Cut Bacon”

Peace, Love & Good Food: “Maple Bacon”

Neuske’s: “Applewood Smoked Bacon”

Tip of the Tongue: “Bacon-Gruyere Mini-Scone”

Knife: “Happy Place”

Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen: “A.B.C.- Caramelized Apple, Apple Smoked Bacon, Mild Cheddar”

Stocked: “Bacon Butterscotch Pecan Bread”

Hunter’s: “Bacon Grilled with Tomato and Onion”

Le Rivage: “Bacon & Potato Chowder with New Potatoes and Applewood Smoked Bacon”

STREETS: “Tuna Bacon Truffle Sushi Roll”

Snowdonia: “Maple Bacon Welsh Rarebit”

Alobar: “Slab Bacon with Watermelon Radish Slaw”

Sweet Science: “Mini BLT Sliders”

Hill & Dale: “Deviled Egg Topped with Crispy House-Smoked Pork Belly”

Brooklyn Baked & Fried: “Nutella & Cinnamon Apple Cheesecake”

Halcyon: “Pork Tenderloin and House Cured Bacon Crostini”

Infirmary: “Bacon Wrapped Cajun Boudin Balls”

B.B.D’s: “Vietnamese Bacon Sliders with Pickled Sprouts & Thai Basil”

Redhook Kitchens

Strong Place

Sage General Store: “Chocolate Brownie with Bacon, Hot Chile Pepper & Bourbon Whipped Cream”

F. Ottomanelli Burgers: “Burger Sliders”

Alice’s Arbor: “Green Tomato BLT”

The Bloody Mary has become one of the most widely available and widely distinctive cocktails served from the highest end restaurants to the most reasonably priced New York City boozy brunches. A very special Sunday afternoon in April will serve to crown some of the finest being prepared in all of Brooklyn as the second annual Bloody Mary Fest descends upon Sunset Park for three festive hours. A day of unlimited tasting, live music and tasty fare awaits on April 12th- and Early Bird tickets are both discounted, and available now.

Brooklyn’s got its share of outstanding bars and restaurants and as such, the likes of Pok Pok/Whiskey Soda Lounge, Lucky Luna (2014′s prestigious winner), Black Swan, Beast of Bourbon, Mominette and Cain’s Tavern join twelve total entrants as they vie for Bloody Mary supremacy. Not to be outdone, Williamsburg’s own Delaney BBQ will be on site doling out some hearty smoked barbecue dishes to help ease the repeat pours of each delicious drink. The best part of all though is that your vote counts! Aside from a panel of formidable judges and bloggers making the final call- the People’s Choice Award is the one that truly matters and each guest will cast a vote for the best of the entire day.

It’s affordable. It’s festive. It’s sure to be an outstanding afternoon- make sure to grab your tickets now before February 27th and secure your discount on the 2nd Annual Bloody Mary Fest, crowning Brooklyn’s best made drink. It’s sure to be a ‘Bloody’ good time!

What: The Second Annual Bloody Mary Fest

Where: Industry City, Sunset Park- Brooklyn

When: Sunday, April 12th, 2015 – 1pm-4pm

Cost: $45- Early Bird until 2/27; $50 until sell out

Take a look at our coverage from 2014′s ‘Bloody Mary Fest’ for a glimpse at what you can expect from this year’s festivities!

- Jane Van Arsdale