Fresh Fanatic: A Preview

Finally!  Fresh Fanatic, an organic grocery store, will open in the long-empty retail space inside the Chocolate Factory building in Wallabout.

CHB got a sneak preview of the space on Wednesday morning as the groceries were being arranged on the shelves.

Owner Andrew Goldin lives in the building and has a degree in hospitality management.  That experience, combined with world travel to many of the globe's best markets, led to the unique experience that is to be Fresh Fanatic.  Goldin says that the store will eventually boast an impressive range of international foods - Thai, Japanese and even Russian.  They've already ordered bread from Germany.

Fresh and organic it will be, but Goldin promises it will be much less expensive than Whole Foods.  He also promises the most reasonable prices on prepared foods in the tri-state region.

Goldin's hospitality background has certainly influenced the store's features.  Already planned are a fresh pasta counter, sushi bar and an on-site nutritionist.  A seafood counter will feature a tank of live fish that can be killed and cleaned on-site by staff (lobster, crab and possibly tuna is planned for now).  Digital menu boards will display food facts throughout the store, and fresh produce, meat and a gigantic cheese dept round out the offerings.

I saw a little bit of everything going onto the shelves: organic, vegan, gluten-free and regular run-of-the-mill products as well.

The store will also sell garden plants and offer a 24-hour coffee window.

I am really excited to see how this place turns out.  Will it really be affordable?  Will the prepared food really be the best in the tri-state area?  If you live in Wallabout, you are in for a treat. (Or at the very least, a very unique shopping experience!)

As for me, I will probably stick to my little Associated on Waverly for my day-to-day grocery needs.  (A coworker and neighbor wondered aloud this morning if FF would be able to beat the 15-limes-for-a-dollar Associated special.) But if this place is a mini-Fairway with great service, I will be making regular stops.

Soft Opening: today or tomorrow Grand Opening: Tuesday, August 18

Fresh Fanatic 275 Park Ave @ Washington www.freshfanatic.com

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

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.

New Flower Shop for Fort Greene: Stem

The Real Fort Greene mentioned it recently, and someone left a comment on CHB about it - Fort Greene has a new flower shop called Stem!

I walked by this morning and it wasn't open yet.  However, I'm liking their potted-plants-in-old-cans display.

Stem is located on S. Oxford bt Fulton and Lafayette.

Has anyone been inside yet?  What are the prices like?

UPDATE: More coverage on the Local and Brownstoner

Teen Challenge Offering Coffee and Thrift Store?

Teen Challenge might be selling off some real estate, but they're expanding in new ways.  A new Teen Challenge coffee shop recently appeared on Vanderbilt between Gates and Greene. I haven't seen it open, though.  Anyone been in?  Is it open for business?

Next door to the coffee shop, in the non-descript brick building, Teen Challenge appears to have opened a Blessingdales store.  A Google search explains that Blessingdales it a Christian second-hand store.  But there's no store sign.  Not the best promotional idea?

Out With the Old, In With the New

Two local businesses have recently shut their doors. Urban Spring, the tasty but pricy all-natural smoothie and snack joint on DeKalb near the park is no more (via The Local).  Their smoothies were tasty and I really respected their environmental friendliness (cups made out of corn), but man was it expensive!  I only ever went a handful of times, because I could just never really justify buying a small juice for $6.  (A commenter suggests hitting up Karrot on Myrtle near Clinton for a still-not-cheap-but-more-affordable organic juice.)

Up on Myrtle, the well-loved Cafe Martino has shut its doors (via Brownstoner).  I heard mostly lovely things about them over the years, but also that the owners were a bit disorganized.  I'm sure they'll be missed.

Is it The Economy?  Or just the regular business cycle in the big city?  I'm fond of the phrase, "The only thing constant is change."

In more positive news, three new businesses are slated to open on Myrtle (via Myrtle Minutes):

Green In Bklyn (432 Myrtle) is a one-stop green home goods store opening on Earth Day, April 22nd. The store, according to its owner, Ellisa Olin will provide eco-friendly solutions for daily living. Products available will be everything from light bulbs to cleaning supplies to bed linens to recycled paper towels to baby diapers and baby bottles—all eco-friendly, of course. Ellisa has a long work history as a performing artist and caterer. Green living has long been an important part of her life and she is looking forward to sharing that passion with the neighborhood. Ellisa lives on the border of Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill and is excited that she can walk to work and “loves the opportunity to make a difference where I live.” Ellisa’s business plan for Green In Bklyn was a top winner in the 2008 Brooklyn Public Library’s Power Up Business Plan Competition. [Ed. I'm pretty excited about this, both for the plethora of offerings and the fact that Ellisa is a local.  Also cool that another Power Up winner has chosen to open a business in the neighborhood.  Last year's winner, Jessica Stockton Bagnulo, has been working on opening an indie book store in Fort Greene.) Health First Medical Supply (322 Myrtle Avenue) is the business endeavor of owners – fiancés, Emmanuel Alada and Denise Hudson. Having worked in the medical supply business for 7 years prior, Emmanuel began to learn and love the business and thought, why not bring such a business to his own neighborhood. Health First Medical provides home medical equipment: power and manual wheelchairs, hospital beds, bathroom safety equipment and diabetic products, amongst other offerings. Though they are awaiting additional inventory, they are officially open for business. Walk-ins are welcome. They can be reached at 718.596.6204.

Metro PCS (518 Myrtle Avenue) is a new cellular phone business, next door to Blockbuster and the post office. According to a Crain's NY article published two weeks ago, Dallas-based Metro PCS Communications Inc. was "the surprise winner in a 2006 auction of $3.6 billion worth of licenses covering the New York area." The company’s network covers 10 million customers in the New York metropolitan area, including the five boroughs and portions of Bergen, Hudson, Union and Essex counties in New Jersey. Though we have tried to reach out to the owners, including calls to the company’s Dallas-based headquarters, the only update comes from someone waiting inside the store for a delivery a week or two ago, “we thought we would be open by now; we are expecting to have our doors open possibly any day now.”

Thai Restaurant Coming to CH/BS Border

The Real Fort Greene reports that an outpost of the popular LES restaurant Kuma Inn will open at 433 DeKalb Ave, just east of Classon Ave.  Gothamist includes some awesome pics of the currently raw space, which used to be a laundromat. A few Gothamist commenters have questioned the choice of location, but Rustik Tavern and Sputnik are both close-by.

New Gastropub Opening in Fort Greene: Brooklyn Public House

Soft Opening For the Public on Sunday, February 15th, from 5pm ‘til Late! (All are welcome!)

If you’ve been wondering what was happening at 247 Dekalb (between Vanderbilt and Clermont), the answer was worth the wait -- Brooklyn Public House will offer simple quality pub fare, 16 beers on tap, and classic cocktails, all in the first floor of a beautifully restored brownstone. I sat down with business partners Kevin Lunney and Gerry Rooney to learn more about their venture.

(Chris Morgan is also a partner, and Chef John Parlatore will be running the kitchen). The three partners met while working together in Manhattan. Kevin and Chris both live in the Fort Greene area. Here’s what we talked about:

Bar, restaurant, both?

Both. It’s a gastropub so the focus is on the food and the beverages. The front room is more of a bar area; it has a 30 ft. bar, high tables, and two banquets in the windows. The back room has a number of cozy booths and wooden tables, and will have more of a dining room feel.

The food

Comfort food; no pretense, just good home style cooking. The menu consists of straightforward appetizers, sandwiches, lots of burgers and toppings, entrees and salads, such as artichoke dip, fish and chips, pot pies, mac and cheese, and cast iron pizzas (cooked in cast iron pans).

The drink

They’ll have 16 beers on tap, including their own brew, Brooklyn Public House Ale. A note for beer aficionados: They’ll be using a nitrogen port to carbonate the beer on tap, as opposed to CO2, so no flat beer here. There will be classic American cocktails and wine as well.

The décor (and some history)

The main portion of the building dates back to the 1850s, most likely around 1858. The building used to be an old candy shop during Prohibition, and while renovating Kevin, Chris and Gerry found old pulleys used to transport the candy up from the basement.

They also found old posters and newspapers (and even a mirror) dating back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, which you’ll see hanging throughout the pub. If you look closely at some of the walls, you can just make out the text of old newspapers that papered the walls at some point during the building’s history. Another find: Old opium bottles from Behrens pharmacy, just down the block, probably from the mid 1800’s, when opium was legal.

The ceilings in the bar area are the original tin, and the tables in the back room were made using original wood flooring from the building. (Just try to pick one up, they weigh a ton.) The benches along one of the walls in the back room came from an old monastery in Manhattan.

Basic Info:

Address: 247 Dekalb (between Clermont and Vanderbilt), Fort Greene

Phone: Coming shortly

Hours:

On February 15th: Soft opening for the public on Sunday, February 15th, from 5pm ‘til Late. Come enjoy a drink and sample the menu.

Starting February 16th, open every day:

Dinner*: 4pm -2am on weekdays; 4pm -3am on Fridays and Saturdays *Late night menu available from midnight, on

Lunch and Brunch: Coming very soon; within the next week or so

Prices:

Appetizers: $8-$12

Sandwiches/Burgers: $8-$12

Entrees: $13-$18

Cash and Major Credit Cards accepted.

Look for outdoor seating come Spring!

Bati -- Delicious New Ethiopian Restaurant Open in Fort Greene

My husband and I just got back from dinner at Bati Ethiopian Restaurant, in Fort Greene, and loved the whole experience – food, ambience, and service. Bati’s atmosphere is inviting and cozy—dark wood, white brick walls, bright Ethiopian-themed artwork, and the service was very friendly, attentive and quick. The menu offers beef, free-range poultry, and a large variety of vegetarian dishes. (Note: All the vegetarian dishes are vegan as well.) We ate the Doro Wett (chicken stew) and a combination of vegetarian dishes, which were all fresh, delicious and hearty, with generous portions.

Even though it was busy, owner Hibist Legesse made time to talk with me about her restaurant. (Meseret Kibret is also a partner in the restaurant).

Why “Bati”? Bati, the name of the restaurant, refers to a region in North Central Ethiopia known for its sprawling market, to the famous Ethiopian song “Ere Bati Bati”, and to “bati”, a type of music originating in the highlands of Ethiopia. Why Fort Greene? Hibist, originally from Ethiopia, moved to the US in her teens. Trips to BAM when she was living with her family in Harlem sparked an attraction to the Fort Greene area, and she has dreamed of opening a restaurant here ever since. Can you describe the food? Traditional Ethiopian with a focus on nutrition and health. For example, by adding extra teff (type of flour) to the injera (spongy flatbread), we’re increasing the fiber and iron content of the bread. You can see the difference -- the injera is a darker color. And by featuring healthy ingredients, such as flaxseed. We also plan to expand our vegetarian options. Do you have a signature dish? The Ye Telba Fitfit is a special dish, made with lightly roasted freshly ground flaxseed in house dressing mixed with injera. It is packed with anti-oxidants and very good for you.

Who’s cooking in the kitchen? There are a number of chefs in the kitchen, all Ethiopian, and all, as is traditional in Ethiopia, female. This tradition is changing though, with many young men now learning to cook as well. The basics:

Address: 747 Fulton Street at South Portland (right next to Provisions), Fort Greene Phone: 718-797-9696 Hours: Open every day

Starting this week (week of Jan 26th): Lunch 12-5pm; Dinner 5pm-Midnight

Takeout available; currently no delivery

BYOB until further notice (which is not a problem with Provisions right next door and Greene Grape a few doors down)

Welcome to the neighborhood! We will be coming back very soon!

A Xmas Gift to the Neighborhood

Myrtle Minutes is reporting that the Walgreens on Myrtle is finally open!  Hallelujah! Everyone make a mad dash for greeting cards, shampoo, prescriptions and sunscreen.

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At Last! Choice Greene is Open!

After waiting months and months, Choice Market's first offshoot is open.

The inside is fairly spacious (meaning lots of room to walk around, unlike the cozily cramped Choice Market).  They're selling lots of fresh stuff!  Kinda reminded me of a (very) mini Fairway:

And my favorite section:

Lots of fresh herbs!  Yay!

(Choice Greene is Located on Greene Ave at Grand Ave)

Fulton Rising?

A few weeks ago, a reader emailed to tell me there was a new coffee shop on Fulton about a block from Outpost.  When I went looking, though, I couldn't find it!  Maybe that's because I was looking east, instead of west. Brownstoner posted about Desserts by Michael Allen last week, and this must be the place the reader was talking about.  It's at 1015 Fulton, between Downing and Grand.

I made it my first stop on a walking/photo trip Sunday afternoon, and it was absolutely wonderful. The woman behind the counter couldn't have been friendlier, and the interior is warm and inviting.  I met owner Michael Allen, too.

The blackboard menus were announcing that holiday catering orders are being taken now, and they had some wonderful gingerbread houses on display.

I took a custard cup and a mini-cheese cake to go (the cake was AMAZING).

Also received these comments from a reader, which I thought I'd share:

"The mini (gratis) madeleines were yummy (and I'm not a huge madeleine fan) and the eclair - was one of the tastiest I've had anywhere. The croissants (plain and chocolate) looked perfect (will have to try them, um tomorrow!) and they also had soups."

Also, THEY HAVE BREAD.

Choice Opens Third Location on Atlantic!

Received two emails from readers regarding an intriguing building on Atlantic Ave.  This is one of them- On my way to JFK yesterday, driving up Atlantic Avenue, I saw a red building called Choice Atlantic, which seemed to be a coffee shop/bakery. Is this the same people as Choice and Choice Green? It was somewhere around the Bedford or Nostrand intersections.

Could it be?  I checked it out yesterday afternoon.  Sure enough, there's a large, red building on the north side of Atlantic just west of Classon.  I came up on artist Aimee Leigh German painting the signage on the outside of the building.

It IS a new Choice location, and is slated to open in a few weeks. Aimee told me the Atlantic location will be more focused on catering and baking (and some of the current cooking will move from the Grand location here, which is great, because does that mean there will be more seating at Grand??), but will still have a walk-in eatery.

Wow. What will Atlantic Ave look like in one year?  In five?

Shipping Store on Myrtle

Reader/photographer David noticed a new shopping store on Myrtle near Hall and sent me this photo:

I'm intrigued, for many reasons:

1. There's a USPS logo on the outside!  Does this mean we can bypass the local post office??
2. Will they offer PO boxes? (answer: YES)
3. Why exactly is it called "Sandbox?"  That word doesn't particularly make me think of shipping, but whatever.

I had a business breakfast on Smith Street and saw another Sandbox, so it's clearly a chain (new chain?).  There was once a different shipping/mailbox store on Myrtle but it was never open (and closed awhile back).

Myrtle Minutes offers more info, plus a coupon!

BBQ Truck Opens in Bed-Stuy

There's a new 'cue in the BK, and this one's served out of a cool truck!  Kings County BBQ opened just a few weeks ago on Quincy just past Bedford.  Natives of Kansas City, owner Chris McGee and his wife have lived in BK since 2001.  Prices and menu look great, and I love a unique dining experience! It's also dangerously close to the Y, which means it'll be easy to undo that workout

Check out Bed Stuy Blog's in-depth post on the truck here!

I stopped by on Sunday, on my way to the gym.  Owner Chris hooked me up with a small sampler to take with me, and it was delicious!

For now, they have one small table outside with more to come.  Best of all?  THEY DELIVER.  Those of you east side Clinton Hillers should stop by and pick up a menu!

Clinton Hill Co-Op Blog!

A friend and neighbor of mine has started a CHAOC blog to help facilitate communication, announcements and discussion. Check it out here!

New Bar on Franklin!

Received this tip from a reader: have you been to sweet revenge yet? i walk by it with my dog on the daily, but have yet to have some free time and stop in. it's on franklin between lexington and greene (right across from the cupcake shop) and seems pretty cute.

I hadn't heard a thing about this place yet, so I took a stroll by on Saturday afternoon.  I couldn't find it, but there were a few shuttered storefronts, one of which was likely hiding this new watering hole.

Has anyone been? The only thing I could find via a Google search was someone complaining on Brooklynian about how noisy it was at night.

UPDATE: I rode past it on the bus Tuesday night on my way to the Y and it looked super cool!  I'll go this wknd and report back.

UPDATE 2: Check out the gorgeous photos of the bar from Bed-Stuy photog WordBK here!

Greene Grape Blog

Local wine/gourmet food peddler Greene Grape just started their own blog!  Looks like they have general store info, plus food/wine tips and news. I hip up Provisions in July before having a party, and the staff was mind-blowingly helpful.  This could turn out to be a great resource.