An Effing Foodie

Holiday Gift Guide, 2009: Fancypants Nosh from the BKLYN Larder

I'm an unabashed fan of Franny's, the BKLYN Larder's big-sister venture, so when I got the Larder's newsletter for Christmas goodies, a little involuntary drooling and clapping may-or-may-not have happened.

 

Jasper Farm?

Mast Brothers?  (Going to visit their factory this weekend, stay tuned!)

Neal's Yard Stichelton???

To all who have been sweating presents and are in spitting distance of Park Slope, now's your chance:

• Call them at 718.783.1250 to place your order. (Or visit them in person!)
• They ask that you place your orders by December 20th.
• They are open 7 days a week, plus from 10 AM to 6 PM on Christmas-Eve-Day for to pick up said order.  (They'll thankfully be closed Christmas Day!)

Browse their cornucopia of baskets here.

They're doing catering, too, for all the Christmas cheer with none of the toiling! 

Same rules for ordering apply.  Don't corner or kid yourself--you know if you're too busy to cook!

Little D Eatery, Park Slope, Brooklyn

I get a lot of emails and texts that look something like this: My so-and-so is coming to town, and they're not particularly adventurous eaters, but I want to impress them and not spend a lot of money.  Where should I go?

It's been increasingly difficult to come up with answers for this one, particularly in Manhattan.  But if you're not borough-bound, the answer is easy: Little D Eatery.

But EF, you say, Manhattan is chock-full of great restaurants!  Do we really HAVE to cross a body of water to eat cheaply and well? 

Well, no.  But if you don't like to wait in line, don't have the where-with-all to make reservations, enjoy unshouted conversations and don't like dealing with a lot of 'tude, Brooklyn's a better bet, and Little D has yet to disappoint.

With a red-brick, tea light-lit interior and a garden in the summer, it's intimate without being fussy, and feels right for both special occasions and everyday splurging (which has more to do with the quality of the food, rather than the price point).  Bring your mom, your hopeful third date, or the friends you like best.

Formerly called Little Dishes, this cozy spot does serve up their grub in the ever-popular small-plate format, to favorable effect: You will want EVERYTHING.

Don't bring sickies (no sharing = no fun), and make your choices with a well-made cocktail in hand; my mister and I fell for the Manhattan Sec (Bourbon, Lillet and orange twist).

There's a short, well-curated wine list (all available by the glass) and more than a dozen beers by the bottle to keep the suds nerds happy--the staff has a talent for pairing, so don't be shy about asking.

The hardest thing to do here is not get attached--considering how many times I've been here, I should've tried far more dishes, but I just get stuck on my favorites 'cause they're so effing good.

Monday MONDAY Monday: Goulash Mondays at Cafe Steinhof

 

One particularly unmotivated Monday, my man and I were craving little more than a comforting space and sustenance with a certain fortifying gravity.  (Yep, it was stupid cold out.)

So we poked our heads into Cafe Steinhof, and were greeted with a "Hi! Two for goulash?"

We were little taken aback, but who can refuse an offer like that? 

Franny's is Kind of a Big Deal (Franny's Restaurant, Brooklyn, NY)

Wooof...sorry for the hiatus, folks.  It's been gangbuster nutjob crazy lately.

Times like this, you think of the little things, things that are easy, gratifying, and offer maximal bliss. 

Things like dinner at Franny's.

I know, I'm not the first or the last nosh maven to coo about Franny's...but folks, you KNOW I have an unfettered dislike of places that rise and fall on the Big Hype Tide.  And even I have to put my Hype Hate aside and admit: Franny's is kind of a big deal.

Solely on the merit of their lighter-than-air, wood-blistered pies, you SHOULD be rushing to Franny's right this moment.  But unlike other players in the cult of NY pizza (who rely upon the good will and ducats of single-minded dough fanatics) if, God forbid, there were no pizza available, there would still be plenty of good eating to be had at Franny's.

You could describe their menu as artisanal, market-driven, or localvore-friendly, but all that would be missing the point.  Their food is carefully considered, sophisticated yet unassuming, and ultimately satisfying the way only well-done basics can be.