Lunchtime With Tillie: La Stalla

Hey there, neighborhood! Van here (and Tillie there) with the latest on dining for the infant and adult set.Before I get into the story of our trip to Mexican/Italian restaurant La Stalla on Myrtle and Ryerson, I’d like to share a brief tale with you, of simpler times, of happier times at that location. I call this, “When La Stalla Was Los Politos II.”

Once upon a time, there was a restaurant called Los Politos II that was really good; I used to even think it was better than Castro’s. Then one day, it became La Stalla, which serves both Mexican and Italian food. I never tried the Italian, but the Mexican was nowhere near Los Politos, yet I still held out hope it would measure up. It never did. The end.

So that’s a little background on where I’m coming from with La Stalla. It’s been hard for me to accept Los Politos being gone, but every now and then I’ll go to its successor looking to recapture the magic of the past. That’s what partially inspired me to take Tillie there (plus the fact it’s right across the street from our house doesn’t hurt!)

Anyway, we went—shells and cheese and a banana in tow—on one of these cool autumn afternoons that we’ve been having. I thought the place would’ve been fairly empty, but there were a few tables filled. We took one close to the window and got some key Tillie ingredients to set us up for success: a high chair and a menu, which our extremely nice waitress left behind for her to play with.

I took a look at my own menu and decided to go with the enchilada. I asked our waitress which sauce had more kick to it and was told the green did, so I went with red because I thought Tillie could have a bite or two of corn tortilla.

While waiting for my order, I decided to start feeding Tillie some of her go-to meal, the old shells and cheese. She had a few bites, and then my food arrived. It came in no time at all, but right away I had some issues with it.

You see, I really don’t get the idea of it being a Mexican/Italian restaurant with separate options. You either do some kind of funky fusion or have two separate staffs working on each side of the menu (which La Stalla might have, I don’t know) or you don’t do it at all. I think both sides are bound to suffer.

So I don’t know if my nose was playing tricks on me or what, but I swear my enchilada smelled like it was covered in spaghetti sauce! It actually took me a minute before I tried it. While I was steeling myself for that, I looked at the rest of my food: a big mound of gummy-looking rice and the skimpiest amount of black beans distributed on Myrtle Avenue. The bean-to-rice ratio was definitely off here!

I got up the nerve and tasted the enchilada, and while it wasn’t spaghetti sauce on top, it wasn’t anything that I’d be interested in trying again. I tried to offer Tillie a bite and she just turned her head away. Smart kid, that one! I wished I could have done the same, but I soldiered through and ate it.

After that, I broke out the banana for Tillie, which she was pretty excited about. I thought to myself, “Man, it must be nice to be happy about something your eating!” Once she finished that, we were off.

I have to give La Stalla this: Its lunch special ($6.95) is one of the best-priced that I’ve come across, and it includes a free soda. The staff there was super-friendly and there’s plenty of space for your stroller (I didn’t even have to fold ours up). The food on the other hand leaves a lot to be desired.

I guess I have to face facts: Los Politos isn’t miraculously coming back and it’s time for me to move on. But I’ll always have the memories.

Lunchtime With Tillie: Myrtle Thai

The Tillie Exotic Experimentation Express keeps on rollin’! And lucky me, I get to go along for the ride!Hey there, Clinton Hillers, it’s Van, and that epicurean adventuress Tillie, with this week’s Lunchtime segment. For our latest neighborhood food stop, we decided to stroll on down to Myrtle Thai, located on Myrtle Avenue. (I didn’t really have to give any direction indicator there, did I?)

My own past with Myrtle Thai used to only consist of ordering pad Thai while I was hanging out across the street from it at Rope bar, back when Myrtle Thai was at its old location between Vanderbilt and Clinton. Tillie’s mom kind of changed my train of thought on the restaurant, though, with her serious Thai background. After college, she joined the Peace Corps and went to a village in Thailand for a couple of years. She still speaks Thai pretty good and makes some delicious dishes: not bad for a gal from Maine!

As I realized there was more to the menu than noodles with peanuts, I’ve grown to become appreciative of the wide variety Myrtle Thai has to offer. Probably now my favorite dishes are the red and green curries. And I always get chicken with the red and shrimp with the green: I don’t know, those options just work out for me, I guess!

Strolling by the new spot one particular day, I decided to stop in. And since I had Tillie with me, too, I figured she should come along as well! This was my first time going there for lunch and what really struck me was the menu: in particular, the price! The lunchtime deal is $5.95 for the entrée, a salad and a spring roll. In these days of joblessness, I don’t know how it could get much better than that!

We went in and were pointed to a seat by the window, which seemed to be the best spot in the new location for a high chair. This seemed to work well with Tillie as it appeared she was completely captivated by the people walking along the sidewalk. But I had to pull her back to attention: Didn’t she know she had Thai food to try?

The waitress came by to take my order, and I decided to go for the green curry with chicken. If you noticed earlier, I said I usually have the chicken with the red, but this time I decided to switch it up. What can I say? I’m a wild and crazy guy! Plus, in consultation with Tillie’s mom, we determined that the green was the milder of the two sauces. I asked if I could hold the salad and instead get an extra spring roll because I saw the salad of our table neighbor and it looked pretty unappetizing to me—just some iceberg lettuce, a couple of tomato chunks and a whole mess of thousand island dressing.

While I’m waiting for my food to come out, I broke out with Tillie’s. I packed her some pureed carrots and grapes—two great dishes that go great together as far as she’s concerned. By the time I gave her a couple of bites of the carrots, my food arrived: a pretty big bowl of the curry, a mound of steaming rice and two spring rolls with a spicy dipping sauce.

After taking a couple of bites for myself, I determined that the spice level was definitely low and enough for the Tillster to handle, so I set aside some of my rice and put the merest essence of curry upon it. Initially, I was worried about my own curry-to-rice ratio because it seems whenever we get delivery from Myrtle Thai, the amount of rice sent along is always skimpy. But I had plenty of grains to spare this go-around!

I paused in the carrot feeding and gave Tillie (who happens to love rice, by the way) a bite of her special treat and she really took to it. She first gives you that look of curiosity, like “What the…?” but if it’s not trickling out of her mouth after the first taste, then you know you’re good!

So after some rice, I was struck by a moment of inspiration and thought, “Why not put a little dab of curry in her carrots? You know, jazz them up Thai-style!” That was a hit, too. I held back from dipping her grapes in the sauce, but only just!

And thankfully for me, my curry-to-rice ratios held up despite Tillie putting a dent in the dish. The food was excellent: chicken and bamboo shoots galore, which I enjoy as it gives the food a nice textural contrast. Plus, the spring rolls were cooked to perfection and the dipping sauce was a nice complement.

Myrtle Thai ended up being a great choice for us. We were the only adult and stroller rider in the place, and it seemed to be a tight fit in this new spot. I’m sure if more people came, they would figure out a way to accommodate the extra load. With the amazing food, great prices and wonderful service, it’s worth trying!

Lunchtime With Tillie: Luz

“How great that you are exposing Tillie to so many ethnic culinary delights!” — Tillie’s mom’s mom, Aug. 24, commenting on an LWT Facebook link I posted.

Those words lingered in my head when trying to come up with a place for Tillie and me to eat. I also wanted to continue trying to impress my future mom-in-law. What can I say? I’m such a suck-up!

Greetings, neighbors, and welcome to another Lunchtime with Tillie escapade. On this particular one, Tillie Bear and I went to another frequent family stop, “Nuevo Latino” hotspot Luz on Vanderbilt between Myrtle and Willoughby.

“Frequent” almost doesn’t do justice to how much we eat there; we go there a LOT. It’s the first thing out of Tillie’s mom’s mouth, it seems, when a going-out-to-dinner idea is bandied about. As a matter of fact, the night before our lunch trip, we had all just been there for a drink and appetizer!  (Tillie’s mom loves the mango margaritas!)

Anyway, after wrapping up a little playground activity on Dekalb, we set off to grab something to eat. I was toting along some pureed carrots and sliced grapes for Tillie in case she didn’t have it up to eat anything out of the ordinary and wanted to ruin my in-law-impressing plans.

There was a ton of options, but maybe it was a case of that being a bad thing because I couldn’t make up my mind on where to go, so I decided to check out Myrtle. We walked down Vanderbilt and saw that Luz was open. I thought to myself (because it would be kind of weird for me to say this aloud), “Hmmm. I didn’t even know Luz was open for lunch. Why not check it out? Tillie always has bites of our arepas, plus her mom gives her tastes of my cilantro mashed potatoes. This could be a winner.”

After that mini-soliloquy, we went in and the place was completely devoid of customers. I had to ask the guy that greeted us if they were definitely open! We pretty much had our pick of where to sit, so I grabbed us a spot where we could easily have room for the high chair and I wouldn’t have to fold up the stroller.

I got a menu and gave it a good looking-over or three because there was so much to choose from, plus remember, I was eating for two as I planned to give Tillie some nibbles. I went in thinking arepas and mashed potatoes, but everything seemed tempting to me. Do I go with one of the sandwiches? I’ve seen other people eat them during brunch and they all look good. But then what would Tillie eat? A yucca fry? That’s no good. The half-chicken with a side of mashed potatoes, and maybe some spinach? Naw, that’s usually my dinner specialty and seems like a lot to deal with.

I decided to go with the arepa de queso for an appetizer and the salmon al pimienton, served with a fried shrimp garnish over cilantro mashed potatoes. I felt kind of weird ordering an appetizer at lunch; I mean, geez, who does that? Luckily I was counting on Tillie to help me out with all that food!

It didn’t take long for the first course to arrive: the arepas! I let T have the first bite, and the way she took to them let me know that they were good to go. The tiny corn cake sandwiches topped with a little feta cheese and a cilantro pesto were cooked to perfection. Tillie missed out on the full flavor of the arepas because I didn’t give her any pieces with the feta or pesto (I’ve been kind of slack in my what-babies-can-eat reading), but she seemed good.

After those were out of the way, I thought it would be a good time to slip some carrots into the mix (hers, not mine). These were mostly her breakfast ones she didn’t eat, but they got taken care of at this time of day, which made me feel good.

Then, the main course arrived: a nice piece of salmon over a bed of the aforementioned cilantro mashed potatoes. It wasn’t your standard lunch fare, but it was tasty, nonetheless. The salmon was glazed with some red sauce I found to be kind of sweet, and it had a nice contrast with the potatoes. And the mashers worked for Tillie, too. My arm was starting to get sore from feeding her so much!

I think she got pretty full as she only ate a few grapes afterward. Usually, I’m feeding her fruit until the cows come home. But I’m glad she was sated; I was, too, so it was check time.

I got the bill and it was 20 bucks (yikes!) — way more than I’d recommend usually spending for lunch. But like I said earlier, the meal was done with both of us in mind. And just because I was a little loose with the lettuce, you don’t have to be. The sandwiches that I touched on earlier — and which are huge! — are only $9, for example. The restaurant’s space is plentiful, plus the staff is extra-accommodating and friendly — big reasons for our family’s return visits: that and the food, of course!

All in all, it’s a great place to go if you want to wake up your child’s taste buds.

And you might get to earn some in-law brownie points, too!

Just Taste It - Fried Foods on Fulton

The space formerly occupied by Fish and Crustaceans at 901 Fulton is currently being renovated.  In its place, Just Taste It, a fried foods establishment will open in its place.

At least that's what I think the owner said when I poked my head in.  She said they were on Twitter, and I couldn't find a user named Just Taste It, so maybe I misheard (was taking the dog for a walk).  Have additional info?  They're slated to open in the next two weeks.

Lunchtime With Tillie: General Greene

If only I’d gone for the burger… Hey everyone! It’s the lord of lamenting, the ruler of regretting, the head of hindsight is 20/20 Van, alongside the highness of high-chair fun, the doyenne of dad-doubting and the guru of great-time-having Tillie, here to tell you about our different experiences at The General Greene, located on the corner of Clermont and Dekalb.

Before I go further, though, let me just make this clear: I am a huge fan of GG and could eat dinner there every night of the week. On some of their dinner-time dishes, it gets kind of hard for me to share with Tillie’s mom sometimes because I want the whole plate to myself. But I manage to overcome my selfishness for the good of the team!

That being said, I had never gone there for lunch because it was hard for me to find something on the menu I thought I would really enjoy. It seems there’s always some ingredient that didn’t fall under my taste-o-meter, and I’d hate to ask for that aioli or pickle to be held because I trust the place to know what they’re putting together — my pickiness be darned.

Anyway, whenever Tillie and I walked by the place, we noticed it was full of people, baby and adult alike, so I thought, “Man, what am I missing?” I said to Tillie, “You know that place on the corner of Clermont where your mom and I take you for dinner sometimes? You know, that place we’re always raving about the steak and macaroni and cheese and collard greens? Well, that’s where we’re going for lunch! I’m going to give it a go!”

I didn’t get an answer back, so I figured it was good by her!

On our way to the restaurant, I stopped and picked up a newspaper. A little LWT fact for you: I always bring a paper when T and I go out, just hoping for that one day when I’ll be able to glance at the headlines to catch up on some current events.

We got to the restaurant and the place was pretty empty, which I was shocked about because usually from the sidewalk view, it’s jam-packed; I guess we caught it at the proverbial calm before the storm. We were greeted warmly and I was asked if I needed a high chair. The waitress grabbed one for us, and while I was setting Tillie up, she wheeled the stroller off to the side, which was most appreciated. I hooked Tillie’s little stuffed elephant up to the high chair, then took my seat.

A funny thing happened then: Tillie was content playing with the toy! I thought I was grasping at straws placing it in front of her, but that – combined with her being totally into the waitresses and other people walking around the restaurant – allowed me to actually get some newspaper reading in! I was pretty stunned and almost too distracted to read because I was starting to feel a little ignored. I felt like I was bothering her when I was trying to get her attention!

While Tillie was busy enjoying her surroundings, I placed my order and went for the pressed pork sandwich, with ham, pulled pork, gruyere cheese, pickles and a spicy aioli for fixins. Going in, I figured I was three out of five on those ingredients, so it might be my best bet. I asked them to hold the pickles and go light on the aioli. I then asked if the sandwich came with a salad or something and was told it didn’t. I felt like I needed something to go with it, so I got a side order of the house whites: chopped Idaho potatoes with chorizo and parsley. A lot of pork on the plates, I know, but I decided I could handle it.

As I was waiting for the food to come out, I still wasn’t getting much Tillie love, so I looked at the paper a little more. I brought some food along for her and was trying to figure out if I should feed her now before my meal came out and risk her being bored while I ate, or try to feed both of us simultaneously. I went for the former, and broke out with her little macaroni and cheese. She’s been pretty insistent on trying to feed herself lately, which is awesome, but isn’t exactly the speediest process. So, I decided to try to feed her and she was completely fine with it, which made my job easier. And she did great, eating most of it with no fuss at all.

Then my food came out, and I wasn’t that captivated upon seeing it. On the menu, it says it’s a “pressed” sandwich, which to me implies the sandwich is going to be stuck together by melted cheese, which I really like. This looked like a little bit of ham, a smidgen of pulled pork, one half-melted piece of cheese and the aioli – in other words, pretty skimpy. It definitely suffered from the too-much bread syndrome. I wouldn’t tell someone not to get this sandwich, but it just didn’t meet the expectations I have of something from the kitchen. The potatoes were better, and plentiful, too, but I wasn’t blown away by them, either.

But Tillie was having a great dining experience. She was satisfied with her mac and cheese, and I had grapes for an after-dinner treat for her. I didn’t cut them tiny enough at home, so while I set my half a sandwich and some of my potatoes to the side to be wrapped and waited for the check, I went back and cut them into smaller pieces. She enjoyed those, and things continued to go according to her plans. Lucky her!

My check came and my bill was $14, which added a little insult to my injury. I guess I couldn’t complain too much about that, though. Tillie had an excellent time, I got to read the paper and the staff was extremely friendly. And it seems you don’t need me to tell you to go as the place filled up as we were leaving. However, I planned on making up for my sandwich experience with some of the best ice cream in town at the Greene Ice Cream stand right outside the door.

I know you’ve seen it: the little cart right outside the door. If you haven’t partaken of it yet, though, please do yourself a favor and get some! I recently kicked a five-times-a-week habit going there, but I know I can lapse back into it any minute. I ordered my usual, a scoop of honey vanilla and one of salty caramel pretzel on a sugar cone. This combination is the best in the business. As I was ordering, a friend spotted us around the corner, came over with her son, who’s Tillie’s age, and ended up getting some ice cream, too. We all headed home in the same direction, enjoying some nice conversation and a pretty sweet treat. It made for a really good summer afternoon.

It could’ve been perfect if I had just gotten the burger!

Lunchtime with Tillie: Zaytoons

I’m Van. She’s Tillie. Together, we do lunch. Hey out there, neighborhood! It’s another edition of “Lunchtime With Tillie” and for this trip, we ended up at Myrtle Avenue mainstay Zaytoon’s for a nice Middle Eastern meal. And we even had a special guest with us this go-around: Tillie’s mom, who was working from home and broke away to join us!

Zaytoon’s crept up on my lunch radar a couple of weeks ago when I noticed its menu posted on the window and saw a special burger section. Among the varieties was something called a “turkey royale,” which was said to be made with apples, and special herbs and spices. Turkey burgers never seem to have enough zing or zest to them for me, so I thought this was something I had to eventually try.

The day we went to Zaytoon’s was a pretty full one already for Baby T. She had a doctor’s appointment that morning, then we had a meeting at the playground with this neighborhood dads’ group I started. After we got back from the doctor’s, she went down for a nap, during which time I spent psyching myself up for the playground/lunch trip, and packing up her little lunch I was bringing along: blueberries, formula and a jar of “spring vegetables with pasta,” an organic baby food dish I picked up that I was hoping she wouldn’t hate and spit in my face!

When she woke up, we said our goodbyes to mom and made our way down to the playground on DeKalb and Carlton. We ended up staying out there a little longer than I thought we would, which then led me to think that maybe we should just grab something close by since she could be crashing soon. But that little voice inside of me that had been thinking about that turkey burger told me to press onward, so-Zaytoon’s-bound we were! On the way there, I called Tillie’s mom and told her we were on our way. She said she would join us for a snack.

We got to Zaytoon’s and the place was super-cool, which was nice having come out of the hot sun. When we walked in, we immediately received one of the warmest greetings I’ve gotten going to a restaurant. Our waitress grabbed a high chair for us right away, and then actually set Tillie up in it for me. She hung around for a minute playing with Tillie, getting big smiles from her. The manager came over and also played with Tillie, who must have felt like she died and had gone to restaurant heaven at this point! The waitress left to get Tillie some crayons and a drawing to color, then tried to show T what to do with it all, which I thought was really thoughtful. Tillie later tried to eat the crayons, but still, it’s the thought that counts!

We were sitting by the front window, so we were able to see Tillie’s mom come up. She entered and as always, Tillie was very happy to see her. As I mentioned, TM was just going for a snack and I thought that maybe I should order a platter, then give her the pita and hummus it came with. But I didn’t want to commit to a platter, plus that turkey burger idea was still lurking in my head. She decided to go with a small order of baba ghanoush. When it was time to place my order, I went in a completely different direction than from what I had been thinking about for days and got a merguez sandwich with a side order of fries. I don’t know what happened, maybe it was the thought the turkey burger wouldn’t live up to how I built it up in my head. Who knows?

Anyway, the baba ghanoush came out first, and it definitely looked intriguing. I never had it before and Tillie’s mom offered me some. I asked her if it was hot and she said no. So I said, “sorry, no dice.” (I have some food issues that would take up a million LWT’s to run down!) Tillie, fortunately, doesn’t have any of my hang-ups and made an eager recipient for the offer, and after the first bite was hooked! I still wanted her to get in some of my scary-looking jar of food I brought along, though. She had some bites, but was all about the eggplant!

My food arrived, and it was a plentiful amount, but I was up for the challenge. I took a bite of the sandwich, and then had to reach for the water right away! It was good, but a lot spicier than I had prepared myself for. The fries came piled to the brim in a basket and Tillie’s mom was able to help herself to as many as she wanted. (I’m always complaining about her throwing off my sandwich-to-fries ratios!)

In between bites of her food, Tillie was busy looking around the rest of the place for someone to give her some extra attention or smiles. The waitress played with T a little more when she came around, and after Tillie was finished with the savory portion of lunch, mom broke out the blueberries I packed along. I have to tell you, it was nice to have a blueberry cutter/distributor along: I was able to battle with my tasty, yet ultra-spicy sandwich!

By the time the blueberries were gone, I was finished, so we decided to call it a day in there. We got the check, which was $20, including the tip. Tillie’s mom picked up the bill, which made the trip even more of a success! I definitely recommend going to Zaytoon’s for lunch: Good food, great service and even greater company made it a perfect afternoon.

Lunchtime With Tillie: The 3 Luigi's

Clinton Hill Blog readers, how are you? It’s Van and his midday-meal companion Tillie, here to tell you about our latest epicurean adventure, this time to pizza joint and all-around Italian restaurant The 3 Luigis on Lafayette and Grand. This spot is a spinoff of the Luigi’s on DeKalb next to Mike’s Coffee Shop, where Tillie and I have a near-daily residency going on. You see, people, I love pizza – I mean REALLY love it! I even find the merits in some frozen pizza, like DiGiorno’s, or some of the big franchises, like Papa John’s. This has pretty much been the case my whole life, and when I moved to New York and found that you can buy pizza by the slice, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Months before Tillie came on the scene, I decided that we were going to establish a weekly ritual, “Pizza Saturdays,” where we roll up to Luigi’s and grab a slice or two. As she’s started to eat a wider variety of food, I’ve been breaking off tiny pieces of my pizza, and I think she’s taking to it. After all, how could she not? She has those Sias pizza-eating genes coursing through her, and in my humble opinion, Luigi’s is far and away the best place in the neighborhood to grab a slice, so it all works out.

On this particular lunchtime jaunt, I had a taste for some pizza and instead of going to our usual spot, I thought we could go to the new place. I’ve had a slice or two there before, but oddly enough, it doesn’t measure up to the original locale to me, even though it’s the same guys going between the two shops. Also, at The 3 Luigi’s, they’re a little more, how shall I say it, adventurous with their pies, as seen by putting Ranch dressing or mustard on certain varieties, which is something I’m never going to try. But I was confident I’d be able to find something there to eat, so after I packed up a little food for Tillie (she did have pizza munching to do), off we went.

Upon arrival, we had to wrangle our way in there because the entrance is a little steep and there’s no ramp for strollers. We made it in, though, with a little assist from someone who was walking out. I grabbed a menu because none of the pies on display were holding any appeal to me. So I ordered a mini pie with tomatoes, which works out to be about a little more than a couple of slices worth, and some garlic knots, thinking that might be an interesting treat for Tillie to try.

I took a seat at a table and kept Tillie in her stroller. (I don’t think there were any high chairs around: I didn’t see any and I didn’t ask, so I can’t give you the definite scoop on whether you have to worry about that or not. Sorry!) T was pretty chill, regardless, taking the time to stuff her shoe in her mouth.

While she was doing that, her mom had actually given me a reading assignment to do, marking off the eating section in “What to Expect the First Year” for 9-month-olds. I skimmed through it and didn’t see anything about pizza or garlic knots, so I figured we were good to go!

The place had a steady stream of business and from where we sat, we could catch all the interactions between the customers and one of the restaurant’s owners. Everyone seemed to have a good rapport with each other, which I think is a pleasant thing to witness. There was even a special guest appearance by Gabby of Still Hip fame, who came over to chat with Tillie and me after placing her lunch order.  She figured we were there casing the joint, but I told her we were a covert operation and couldn’t talk about that!

Anyway, Tillie had some cereal to snack on, but all I could think about were the garlic knots. I was starving and wanted something to eat, too: Why should Tillie have all the fun? Just when I was about to grab some Cheerios, the pizza showed up. The guy who took our order told us it takes a while for the dough to rise to make the knots, so I told him that’s OK since it looked like I was going to have my hands full with this pie!

And let me tell you, I definitely did! It was a nice sight to see: plenty of tomatoes among the bubbling cheese and a dark crust, just the way I like it. I was going to be hard-pressed to share some with Tillie, but I managed. And just like me, Tillie loved it. I would give her a little piece of crust with some cheese and that worked for her. I thought there could be the possibility of taking some of it home, but I guess we had other plans.

After the pizza was all gone, I packed us up and we were off. The bill for this pizza and a soda was only $7, which was a bargain beyond belief for what we just had. Sure, some garlic knots would’ve been nice, but the quality of the pie more than made up for it. It’s a tight squeeze to get in and out of the place with a stroller, but if you don’t mind that, and want some great pizza in a great atmosphere, The 3 Luigi’s is worth it. And now Tillie and I have another stop on our pizza tour!

Clinton Hill Blog readers, how are you? It’s Van and his midday-meal companion Tillie, here to tell you about our latest epicurean adventure, this time to pizza joint and all-around Italian restaurant The 3 Luigis on Lafayette and Grand.

This spot is a spinoff of the Luigi’s on DeKalb next to Mike’s Coffee Shop, where Tillie and I have a near-daily residency going on. You see, people, I love pizza – I mean REALLY love it! I even find the merits in some frozen pizza, like DiGiorno’s, or some of the big franchises, like Papa John’s. This has pretty much been the case my whole life, and when I moved to New York and found that you can buy pizza by the slice, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Months before Tillie came on the scene, I decided that we were going to establish a weekly ritual, “Pizza Saturdays,” where we roll up to Luigi’s and grab a slice or two. As she’s started to eat a wider variety of food, I’ve been breaking off tiny pieces of my pizza, and I think she’s taking to it. After all, how could she not? She has those Sias pizza-eating genes coursing through her, and in my humble opinion, Luigi’s is far and away the best place in the neighborhood to grab a slice, so it all works out.

On this particular lunchtime jaunt, I had a taste for some pizza and instead of going to our usual spot, I thought we could go to the new place. I’ve had a slice or two there before, but oddly enough, it doesn’t measure up to the original locale to me, even though it’s the same guys going between the two shops. Also, at The 3 Luigi’s, they’re a little more, how shall I say it, adventurous with their pies, as seen by putting Ranch dressing or mustard on certain varieties, which is something I’m never going to try. But I was confident I’d be able to find something there to eat, so after I packed up a little food for Tillie (she did have pizza munching to do), off we went.

Upon arrival, we had to wrangle our way in there because the entrance is a little steep and there’s no ramp for strollers. We made it in, though, with a little assist from someone who was walking out. I grabbed a menu because none of the pies on display were holding any appeal to me. So I ordered a mini pie with tomatoes, which works out to be about a little more than a couple of slices worth, and some garlic knots, thinking that might be an interesting treat for Tillie to try.

I took a seat at a table and kept Tillie in her stroller. (I don’t think there were any high chairs around: I didn’t see any and I didn’t ask, so I can’t give you the definite scoop on whether you have to worry about that or not. Sorry!) T was pretty chill, regardless, taking the time to stuff her shoe in her mouth.

While she was doing that, her mom had actually given me a reading assignment to do, marking off the eating section in “What to Expect the First Year” for 9-month-olds. I skimmed through it and didn’t see anything about pizza or garlic knots, so I figured we were good to go!

The place had a steady stream of business and from where we sat, we could catch all the interactions between the customers and one of the restaurant’s owners. Everyone seemed to have a good rapport with each other, which I think is a pleasant thing to witness. There was even a special guest appearance by Gabby of Still Hip fame, who came over to chat with Tillie and me after placing her lunch order.  She figured we were there casing the joint, but I told her we were a covert operation and couldn’t talk about that!

Anyway, Tillie had some cereal to snack on, but all I could think about were the garlic knots. I was starving and wanted something to eat, too: Why should Tillie have all the fun? Just when I was about to grab some Cheerios, the pizza showed up. The guy who took our order told us it takes a while for the dough to rise to make the knots, so I told him that’s OK since it looked like I was going to have my hands full with this pie!

And let me tell you, I definitely did! It was a nice sight to see: plenty of tomatoes among the bubbling cheese and a dark crust, just the way I like it. I was going to be hard-pressed to share some with Tillie, but I managed. And just like me, Tillie loved it. I would give her a little piece of crust with some cheese and that worked for her. I thought there could be the possibility of taking some of it home, but I guess we had other plans.

After the pizza was all gone, I packed us up and we were off. The bill for this pizza and a soda was only $7, which was a bargain beyond belief for what we just had. Sure, some garlic knots would’ve been nice, but the quality of the pie more than made up for it. It’s a tight squeeze to get in and out of the place with a stroller, but if you don’t mind that, and want some great pizza in a great atmosphere, The 3 Luigi’s is worth it. And now Tillie and I have another stop on our pizza tour!

CHB Reviews: Der Schwarze Kolner

Fort Greene's beer garden is open, on Fulton at South Oxford.  I checked it out last night.

On the summer's first true steamy day, Der Schwarze Kolner was perhaps even hotter on the inside than on the outside, despite large, open windows.  It was also loud -- we wondered if the bad acoustics were attributed to the lack of wall decor.  But the prices were not too bad- I had a fancy filtered wheat beer for... $5?... and a kielbasa on a toasted roll for $4.  Both were delicious.

Not bad for being open for just a few days (dude!  cash only, again!).  But before I'd go back, a ceiling fan would be nice -- that is, if summer is here to stay,

Der Schwarze Kolner 710 Fulton St (nr Greene)

CHB Reviews: Umi Nom

On Friday, Will and I hit up the new Umi Nom on DeKalb just past Classon.

I like that they've retained the old laundry sign and added their logo.

Will asked beforehand if I had made reservations, and I said, "Reservations in the neighborhood?  Nawww."  Heh.  Umi Nom does indeed take reservations and when we arrived, there was already a 15-20 minute wait for a table inside the narrow restaurant space.  Not a big deal, but not something I'm used to facing locally!

Umi Nom doesn't have a liquor license for now, so it's BYOB.  (Also, like many new restaurants, it's also cash only.  I've become accustomed to this, but it's still annoying.)

Will ran out to buy some wine, and we chilled out at the small bar in front waiting for our table.

We ended up being seated at the front window.

The menu is small plates, varied in price.  The waiter (who, by the way, was by far the friendliest waiter I have ever encountered in the neighborhood) recommended two plates per person, which range from around $5 to $13 (with one whole fish dish topping out at $21).  We decided on the spring rolls, the jalapeno lollipop wings, pad see ew, and the asian greens.

As a starter, the waiter brought us two complimentary fried crab won tons, which were delicious!

The spring rolls were giant, and came with a sweet / spicy sauce (spicier than the usual orange thai sauce).  The veggies were delicious, slathered in garlic and salt and some other seasonings we couldn't place.  The wings, though, were a bit bland.  They were covered in jalapeno slices and a deep fried coating, but didn't come with any sauce.  We ended up dipping them in the spring roll sauce.

For dessert, we went with the chocolate chili cake.  It was a little twist on the ubiquitous molten chocolate cake, with a little bit of chili spice and a fruity topping.

Before tip, the meal totaled about $48.

Pros: Excellent service, nice variety on menu, BYO (for now) Cons: On the expensive side, cash only (for now)

Umi Nom is located across from the projects and adjacent to fast food takeout with bulletproof glass.  Yet the place was packed.  We definitely felt like we were in the midst of an intriguing sociological crossroads.  (Sputnik and Rustik are both close by.)

Umi Nom 433 DeKalb Ave at Classon 718-789-8806

Is Bonita on DeKalb Closing?

A few weeks ago, it was announced that the original Bonita in Williamsburg would shut its doors.  Now Eater is reporting that the DeKalb location will also close (and might reopen as a Marlow and Sons). I am NOT pleased.

Lunch With Tillie: Mojito

I guess I should’ve realized a place named Mojito doesn’t exactly scream “family fun”! Greetings, fellow Clinton Hillers and surrounding-area denizens. It’s Tillie’s sidekick Van (I guess she’s the star since her name is in the headline) documenting another one of our lunchtime expeditions. This time, we hit Mojito, the Cuban restaurant on Washington between Flushing and Park avenues. And it didn’t exactly work out to be the best of choices for me and the Tillster, but I’ll get into that. First, let me tell you how we ended up there.

On our previous trips, we had gone to a few spots on Myrtle Avenue and another on Vanderbilt. But when mapping out our next destination, I decided that Tillie should get in touch with her Brooklyn roots—particularly, that Wallabout, South of the Navy Yard side of her that comes from me. (Actually, I’m from Mobile, Alabama, but when I moved to BK a few years ago, I used to live directly across from the Navy Yard, next to the Sweet’N Low factory. Shout out to 38 Cumberland Street!)

Anyway, I know that area is starting to really take off with new restaurants, shops and a grocery store opening soon. I picked an old standby for us to go to, Mojito, which has been around for a few years. I had only been there a couple of times, but Tillie’s mom and I (and lil’ T) just popped in a couple of weeks ago one evening for some drinks and empanadas. I took a quick glance at the lunch menu, which I’m prone to do nowadays, and had it in the back of my mind to come back since we had such a pleasant experience.

So on this day, after doing some shoe shopping at the Fulton Street Mall (for Tillie, not me), we hopped on the B61 bus from downtown and made our way to the restaurant. Tillie and I had been out for a little while, and I almost thought of just heading home, but we stuck it out. I had food and a bottle for her, so how bad could things be?

We got in the restaurant and were told we could sit anywhere. The place was roomy enough, so we grabbed a little two-top with space around us and I asked for a high chair. I set Tillie up and while I was doing that, we received our cigar box with the toast and dipping sauce in it, along with the menu.

Let me interrupt myself here, because from this point on, my attitude shifts from optimistic to “ehh” about the place.

After getting the toast, it was at least five minutes or so before the waitress came back to our table. I saw her hitting other tables multiple times before coming to ours. When she did arrive, the first thing I ordered was a glass of water, which I needed after munching on dry toast! With that request made, I went for the pollo varadero—grilled chicken with onions and peppers with a citrus flavor, served with saffron rice and black beans. This lunch special also came with a soup (chicken potato) and a soda. Little did I know that it would be a while again before I saw the waitress!

Anyway, as I was waiting (mainly for that elusive glass of water), I prepared Tillie’s stash of goodies for her, led by the fresh cherries I sliced up for her. From the moment I gave her the first one, she developed this ravenous appetite for them the likes of which I hadn’t seen before! I didn’t want to dump them all out on a plate for her, so I was giving them to her a few at a time. I was afraid she was going to bite her hand off thinking it was a cherry!

My soup arrived, which at least had some moisture for me to partake of, then two bites in, the water—water, at last!—and the soda, then the main course. It was a lot to take in at once with trying to handle the cherry-eating machine that was Tillie, too. Then my waitress was off yet again, not to be seen or heard from until I asked to have my leftovers wrapped up and get the check.

But it wasn’t just our waitress, NO ONE in the restaurant ever came around to check on us: How’s everything? Anything to drink? Aww, what a cute baby! Nothing at all. We were pretty much ignored, which is pretty impressive because I’d think a guy with a baby would stand out among the other patrons!

I have to admit, though, that while the service and welcoming atmosphere was lacking, the food wasn’t: The flavors were exploding in my mouth! I mashed up some beans and rice for Tillie to take a bite of, in between her cherry scarfing, and she seemed to feel the same way, too. It might’ve been one of the best lunchtime meals I’ve eaten around the ‘hood.

But as great as the food was (and cheap, too: My mini-feast was only 10 bucks!), I wouldn’t recommend going there for lunch with a baby. It’s the first time I felt that “Oh great, a baby” vibe, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. But don’t worry about us: Tillie and I will keep plugging away!

New Pequena Location to Open on Vanderbilt Ave

Pequena, the tiny (duh) but delicious Mexican eatery in Fort Greene will open a second location on Vanderbilt Avenue, just south of Atlantic!

The restaurant will open in place of the Barrette bar, which just closed recently on Vanderbilt (at Bergen) in Prospect Heights. The owners are behind the local empire responsible for the original Pequena, Maggie Brown, Olea and Moe's.

Not sure when it will be opening (I actually called them to ask and the woman who answered said, "I have no idea!"), but they have already painted the outside yellow.  Here's hoping they'll be open before summer is over.

Technically Prospect Heights, but still walkable for the southern part of the neighborhood.

(Thanks, Russell, for this tip!)

Umi Nom Grand Opening Scheduled for 7/29

Umi Nom, the long-awaited Kuma Inn outpost on DeKalb just past Classon, originally scheduled to open in May, will open its doors on Wednesday, July 29. Per TimeOut:

Umi Nom Kuma Inn chef-owner King Phojanakong and co-chef Soulayphet Schwader branch out to Brooklyn with this 50-seat bamboo-and-brick-clad restaurant, expected to open July 28.* As at its LES counterpart, the menu consists of small plates based on Filipino and South Asian flavors. Tapas-size items like salt-and-pepper chicken wings and barbecued pork ribs make up most of the menu, along with Asian-American creations inspired by Phojanakong’s mother’s adaptive immigrant cooking, including a bunless burger with sticky rice. While the original restaurant’s name was a play on the Tagalog word kumain, meaning “to eat,” the moniker here is based on the verb for “to drink,” so expect food-friendly sakes once the liquor license clears. 433 DeKalb Ave between Classon Ave and Taaffe Pl, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn (718-789-8806)

* TONY's report lists the 28th, but I was told 7/29 when I called the restaurant directly Sunday afternoon.

Lunchtime With Tillie: Anima

Anima. Wow.

The end.

Just kidding, neighborhood of ours! It’s Van – and Tillie, of course – with another edition of Lunchtime with Tillie. For this dining excursion, we went to Italian restaurant Anima on Myrtle between Washington and Waverly.

Anima actually brings on some special memories in our little household. Tillie’s mom and I had our first date there, when the restaurant was in its previous incarnation. It was then she realized that she met the man of her dreams! (And I met the woman of my dreams, too!) It’s also the first restaurant we brought Tillie to, back when she was just a little drop and not the wizened 9-month-old she is today! I remember Tillie’s mom had her strapped into the Baby Bjorn and I was toting our little Bumbo seat, which we placed promptly on the table. The staff there was completely accommodating to us -- rookie parents that we were -- and we managed to get out of there without too much fuss being made.

Over the past few months as I’ve been home, Tillie and I have gone there for lunch a few times or I’ve gotten takeout from there, but not in a little while. For whatever reason, it just hadn’t really worked out, but now it’s definitely back on my radar. So gather around and let me tell you the story of “Anima Magnetism.”

It was one of the nice-outside days we had this week and I thought of going somewhere we could actually get a little solar exposure. I thought “Why not Anima? I hadn’t been there in a minute. It’s close by and we can sit in the dining room area, by one of the tables facing the sidewalk.” I pitched the idea to T and she was all for it. (Not really, she’s just a baby!)

Anyway, I packed up her provisions, strapped her into her stroller, put on her little hat (which she hates) and off we went. We got there and I noticed on the chalkboard outside that it said “Patio Open.” I decided then that patio it is! When we got out there, I was totally blown away. It had to be one of the most beautiful outdoor dining spaces I’ve come across in the neighborhood. I’ve never been to Italy, or any part of Europe, for that matter, but the space had the feel of what I’d imagine eating al fresco to be out there. And shock of shocks, we had the whole patio to ourselves! I mean, if others knew about this, why weren’t they there?

I took a little table and requested a high chair for Tillie. The bartender, who was also serving us, brought the menu along, but I took the briefest of glances at it: I just wanted to make sure my favorite lunch selection at Anima was still on the menu. And yep, it was: the steak panini (or “panino” as they say it in Italy and Anima).

Now, here’s the deal: You’ve seen me rave about certain dishes at some of our neighborhood establishments. Well, you can definitely add this to the list. It’s hanger steak, spinach and mushrooms, with a hint of lemon, pressed on a ciabatta roll. Yeah, it’s as good as it sounds! It’s served with a salad and handcut fries, which I’m quite thankful for because surprisingly, you don’t really get fries served with many lunchtime sandwiches.

The order was placed, and Tillie and I took the time to soak in our surroundings. It was so nice and peaceful back there, I didn’t feel like leaving. But I figured it would lose its charm for Tillie at some point, so I snapped back to reality. Some bread arrived for us, and I gave her a few little pieces, then broke out with her toy stacking cups for her to bang together and on the table. After all, we had the whole spot to ourselves, so I figured she could have at it!

After a little while, my food arrived, and it was as amazing as I remembered. The steak was seasoned to perfection and that little lemon zest just sets off the whole sandwich. While I was caught up in the rapture of my meal, I heard some squeaking beside me, and remembered, “Oh yeah, Tillie!” Just kidding, I could never forget T-Bear! I didn’t have anything to share with her from my plate, but the formula did her good, along with some cereal.

I couldn’t linger back there forever, so after finishing my meal and scooping up the excess Cheerios that Tillie dropped, I asked for the check and we were on our way. My bill was around $10, but combined with the surroundings we dined in, was easily worth twice that. I would recommend any and all to go there for lunch: great food, plenty of beautiful space in the back (especially for a fold-up stroller!) and an incredibly nice staff that gives babies plenty of attention. What more could you ask for?

And that’s really the end!

Lou Lou on DeKalb: Closed

A reader has alerted me that Lou Lou on DeKalb is closed.  I think I originally "heard" the news via Myrtle Shuffle's Twitter.

Truth be told, I only ate here twice.  I remember it being fine, but not being blown away.  Yet I know it had many loyal followers.

How much will you miss them?

Lunchtime With Tillie: Square Root Cafe

Hello once again, neighborhood. It's Van and his constant dining companion Tillie with another tale of our dining escapades. This time, we decided (Well, I guess, I technically decided seeing as how she’s 9 months old and all!) to go to Square Root Café on the corner or Myrtle and Classon. It’s close by the house, and since I’ve been home with Tillie, we’ve become semi-regulars there. The staff’s always nice to us, and it’s also where I like to go for some “Van Time.” Don’t worry, Tillie is with her mom then; I’m not leaving her to fend for herself!

It was on one those recent VT furloughs when I saw a mom and her kid sitting at the corner table by the couches. The kid was pulling himself up holding onto the table, and I thought to myself, “That’s Tillie’s favorite pastime! I’ll bring her here, she’ll pull herself up and ‘cruise’ around the table, I’ll eat my lunch and we’ll have a good story to tell. Now enough of that: Back to Van Time!”

So one day this week as I was thinking of a place to go, I figured our old stomping grounds would be a good place to go. I loaded up some pureed squash and a bottle for Tillie and off we went. Actually, we weren’t that speedy getting out of the house because here’s a little revelatory fact about me: I’m officially the worst person in the world when it comes to getting out of the house and going somewhere. Back in my working days, I’d have to give myself at least an hour and a half to leave. And that’s with my clothes ironed and a lunch packed from the night before! I don’t know what it is: I missed many a bus back in middle school from walking out the door late.

Anyway, I mention that because by the time we finally made it out it was almost time for Tillie’s second nap. Good thing we were hitting Square Root; anyplace else would’ve been disastrous.

When we got there, people were already sitting in the spot I staked out in my mind for us. No worries, though, we found a seat fine enough. The owner of the place greeted Tillie with enthusiasm, and I was given a menu and a bottle of water. The menu’s pretty full of some appetizing choices and I was about to do a coin toss between a burger or a sandwich, but the burger won out before it got to that point! And what’s a burger without bacon and cheddar, I always ask myself, so I went that route.

The people that were sitting on the couches left soon after we got there, but I already had us set up at this table. I wanted to entertain Tillie somehow, and I remembered that there was a box of toys right next to the phone booth there. (You’d think I would’ve gone for the toys first before counting on her standing up close to a table, but the conventional route rarely seems to work for the Tillster!)

I hope this doesn’t get me pilloried by any parent unions, but I set Tillie on the floor of the place by the toys and gave her a couple of the trains to play with. I know floors are made for walking, but I watched her carefully and washed her hands. Promise!

This actually kept her entertained for a while! I say it kind of shockingly because there’s a whole stack of toys at home that she loses interest in after two minutes or less. She was rolling those train cars around like a conductor born!

My food soon arrived, a big, juicy bacon cheeseburger, cooked exactly how I wanted it, and potato chips. I put Tillie in a high chair and proceeded to feed both of us. I’m telling you, being in this dad game, you really start to pull off some things you never think you’d be able to: like feeding yourself and a baby nearly simultaneously! We washed down our food with a coke and a bottle, and then packed it up. I paid the pretty inexpensive bill of eight bucks, fought off the urge to grab a cookie or two (or three for $1.75!) and we left until next time.

When Tillie and I got home, I read her that book “Freight Train,” which looking back on her time with the trains at Square Root must have helped spark some recognition with the toys, and that was kind of neat to see. All in all, I’d say the lunch trip was a success and maybe I shouldn’t rule out her enjoyment of toys. Standing up holding on to tables can be fun, but there’s nothing like rolling a train around!

Lunchtime with Tillie: Graziella's

Vegetables: They do a body good. And if you happen to throw in a chicken parmesan hero on the side, what’s the harm, right?

Hello out there again, neighborhood! This week’s Lunchtime With Tillie found Baby T and me at Italian eatery Graziella’s , located on Vanderbilt between DeKalb and Willoughby. The main reason we went there was because a friend of mine and I just consumed a festival of fried food the night before—French fries, onion rings, chicken tenders…you name it, we ate it. So when it came to lunch the next day, I figured I better put something good in my body!

I’m not the type to just eat a whole salad for lunch, but I remembered Graziella’s has a real nice side salad they serve with their sandwiches and paninis at lunch. And for this trip, I loaded up some snacks for Tillie to eat as well—some Cheerios and blueberries cut in half. All that, as well as a bottle of formula, would definitely keep her satisfied (at least that’s what I told myself)!

We got there and the place appeared to be pretty busy, but we were immediately seated. When I take Tillie to a restaurant during the day, I usually just let her sit in her stroller, but since I had the finger food for her, I thought she’d be better suited for the high chair. I put some Cheerios on the table for her and took a glance at the menu. My main priority as far as my food went was the salad to assuage my guilt about the night before, so I went from there and decided on the chicken parmesan hero. It was tough because they have pasta and entrée specials, as well.

While I was deciding that, I noticed Tillie’s Cheerios-to-mouth ratio was way off with only about one in three being eaten, so I switched to the blueberries and that wasn’t going much better. I think I picked up way more than she actually ate! Then, I asked the waitress for a basket of bread and tore her off some tiny pieces, but those just ended up stuck to her hand without making it to her mouth. In other words, my little snack plan wasn’t working out like I thought it would.

Soon after, my lunch came out: that salad with the chicken parmesan sandwich, just what the doctor ordered. All those greens, carrots and tomatoes with a nice vinaigrette dressing—yum! The crunch, the freshness … OK, wait, I can’t do this anymore. I really wasn’t there for the salad; I’m just trying to make myself feel less guilty about the night before, especially if Tillie’s mom reads this! The salad was really good, but this sandwich--whew!

This is no exaggeration: Graziella’s actually makes the best chicken parm hero I’ve ever eaten. I ate it once before and was very pleasantly surprised. The bread, perfectly prepared to give it the right crunch; the chicken, nicely breaded and plenty of it; and the sauce, rich and not too much of it, all make for a winning combination. But you know what makes it really incredible to me? The cheese. They use fresh mozzarella on it, which, I don’t know, call me a Philistine or something, but I had never had before on a chicken parm wedge. Amazing!

Anyway, my food was sitting there, but Tillie was totally distracted by the people walking in and out and zipping by our table, and wasn’t really focusing on my carefully planned Cheerios and blueberry snack feast I prepared. She started staring at a couple of guys next to us who were on their lunch break and they gave her some attention. I asked the guys if they could play with her about 20 minutes or so, it would be appreciated! Surprisingly, they weren’t down with that but I did manage to establish a foothold in my sandwich and salad, which tasted as great as I imagined.

Since my little snack plan for Tillie wasn’t working quite like I planned, I had to go into my old-school bag of tricks. You guessed it: the old water from the straw! Plus, I had the basket my bread came in (which she managed to knock to the floor earlier while bread was still in it) and she played with that a while. Tillie did manage to get down some of the cereal and fruit before it was all said and done, and we polished off the excursion with the formula I brought along. I finished up and asked for the check, which was $11 for the salad, sandwich and a soda. While I was waiting for it to come, I did a little cleanup of the baby treats that made their way to the floor. I paid up and we headed off. On our way out, we said bye to our table neighbors and I thanked them for letting me get that all-too-crucial first bite in!

Graziella’s is spacious enough for strollers (there was another guy in there with a double model parked in place) and I’m telling you—you have to try this sandwich! Maybe I should’ve given Tillie some of it instead of the Cheerios!

CHB Interviews: Sarah Peck of Ortine

Clinton Hill resident Sarah Peck opened Ortine, a restaurant in Prospect Heights, last year.   The restaurant now has its own vegetable garden, and will be using harvests for restaurant dishes.  CHB asked Sarah about her business and what she likes best about living in Clinton Hill.

1. How long have you lived in the neighborhood?  What brought you here? Since 2004.  All of our friends were moving here.  Needed more space after we got married. 2. Tell us about Ortine, your new-ish restaurant in Prospect Heights. It's a european style cafe (open for pastry, coffee, breakfast, sandwiches and a few hot entrees all day) with a seasonal, local & homemade emphasis.

3. How did you pick PS as the place to open Ortine?  Why not Clinton Hill? Limited commercial space in Clinton Hill.  Feels like the same neighborhood.  We live in 5 blocks away.

4. You worked as a GM for restaurants for the last decade.  What led you to open your own place?  What lessons did you bring with you from the other places you've worked? Liked working in a restaurant but wanted to couple it with my own ideas about eating locally and sustainably.

5.  Any advice for aspiring new business owners? Make sure you have enough money!

6. Ortine offers a lot of intriguing menu items.  Tell us about some of them. Everything is very handmade.  We work hard to prepare ingredients ahead of time and then assemble them for service in a very small, all electric kitchen.

7. Ortine now has its own garden.  What kinds of vegetables are grown there? So far many greens, tomatoes, beans, watermelon & an herb garden are planted.  Still some time yet for harvest.

8. What's your favorite area restaurant (aside from your own, of course)? A few favs are:  Franny's, Bonita, Geido...

9. What's the best part of living in Clinton Hill? Great infrastructure; big wide streets & huge old trees

10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why? Rhubarb - sweet & tart!

Ortine 622 Washington Ave (@ Pacific) http://www.ortine.com/

Kelso Brewery Hot Dog Cookoff

The season of grilled meats is now fully upon us, and on July 18, Kelso of Brooklyn is sponsoring a hot dog cookoff to benefit City Harvest!

$25 gets you a ticket for all-day hot dogs and all-you-can-drink beer.  And, it's right here in the neighborhood!  Yum.

Think you make the best hot dog in the Hill?  Enter as a participant chef (or sign up on the day of the event to be on the official taste test committee).

To buy tickets or sign up as a chef, visit http://thegreathotdogcookoff.com/.

Last year's event featured hot dog sushi, so think creatively:

Kelso of Brooklyn 529 Waverly Ave Brooklyn, NY 11238

Former Epoca Spot to Open as Aqualis Grill This Week

Aqualis Grill, a Mediterranean seafood restaurant, will be opening sometime during the week of June 29th, at 773 Fulton Street, the former home of Epoca.

I just had the pleasure of meeting Gorian Papa, Aqualis’s owner, and John Tsakinis, the restaurant’s chef. It’s no accident that the restaurant is Mediterranean: Papa was born in Albania; Tsakinis is first generation Greek, his family hailing from the island of Kos, in southern Greece. Kos’s cuisine is known for its seafood and grains; the cuisine also has a Turkish influence given its proximity to Turkey. You may have heard of Kos – it was home to Hippocrates.

Tsakinis has a lot of experience in Greek/Mediterranean kitchens -- first and foremost, his Mother’s -- but also in Manhattan’s Avra, Kellari Taverna and Kellari’s Parea, where he was Chef de Cuisine.

Papa and Tsakinis were finalizing the menu when I stopped by. Here’s an idea of what we can look forward to: several whole fish dishes, fillets, shrimp, scallops, farmer’s market salads, and Mediterranean-inspired appetizers, including spreads with pita.

I can’t wait to stop in for my first meal!

Aqualis Grill

Opening:  Week of June 29th, exact day TBD

Hours:  Tuesday – Friday dinner will be served from 4pm -Midnight

Saturday and Sunday the restaurant will be open for brunch, lunch and dinner

Address:  773 Fulton St.