Before summer could slip through my fingers, I took a day off work and headed to the High Line to explore. The park, stretching 20 city blocks on an abandoned elevated train track, is one of my favorite places in New York, but I don’t get over there nearly enough. I was pleasantly surprised to find tons of new food vendors, including The Porch, operated by Chelsea Market’s Green Table.
The menu is super basic, and is all about creating the most delicious food with the fewest, locally-sourced ingredients. Take for example my three-ingredient sandwich: raw cheddar, pickles, and mustard. This sandwich actually had the most ingredients of all the offerings. Washed down with a lemonade (or a New York state wine or brew), it was perfect summer fare on a hot afternoon.
Everything The Porch serves and uses is compostable, a nice touch for a High Line eatery. It really is the perfect place to spend these last few summer days.
Mooncake is my new favorite restaurant in my work neighborhood. The cafe is bright and minimalist, the prices are cheap, and the Asian comfort food is delicious. It’s all made from scratch and is as healthy as possible; there are no woks, fryers, or microwaves in the restaurant—a true feat for a diner. Lucky for me, there’s also a Mooncake in my Soho neighborhood, and one in Chelsea.
From top: Pulled pork sandwich with curry lime BBQ sauce, seared tuna and arugula salad with soy lime vinaigrette, spicy roasted pine nut hoisin fish tacos.
**This post is dedicated to Miss Meggie, who first introduced me to the amazingness that is Mooncake.
Smorgasburg is an all food market in Williamsburg from the people behind the Brooklyn Flea. It hosts 100 food vendors—a mix between prepared food stands and greenmarket farmers. It is paradise.
For this venue, SCRATCHbread wanted to do something different—“play with food,” as owner Matthew Tilden put it. And so, TOASTbar. The menu is always changing, but we’ve had inventive open face sandwiches, griddled chai sticky buns, and an assortment of the classic baked goods. We partner with other vendors to seasonally enhance our offerings.
Smorgasburg has been open for just one month, so things are constantly evolving. I highly recommend you come by for lunch—take the new East River Ferry, which just started running yesterday and will drop off right at the market entrance.
Cooking garlic in olive oil for tomato dunking sauce
Fresh ingredients
Chai sticky buns soaking in vanilla bean creme anglaise, waiting to be griddled
MOZZtoast: Rosemary and sea salt focaccia, stuffed with homemade-that-morning mozzarella, basil pesto, a squeeze of lemon
The Double Bourbon: bourbon wheat bread, a slab of butter, and orange bourbon marmalade from our neighbors at Maiden Preserves
The Garlic-ness: whole roasted garlic bulb with olive oil on sourdough
With friends in town for Memorial Day Weekend, we headed to the Brooklyn Flea for a massive chow down.
Rampwurst (ramp and snap pea slaw on sausage) from Brooklyn Bangers. Super flavorful and juicy brat, inventive topping, soft potato bun. Exactly what summer should taste like.
Lobster roll from Red Hook Lobster Pound. Just look at those huge chunks of lobsta, justifying the $16 price tag. Here’s a fascinating piece New York Magazine did last year about the NYC lobster roll craze.
I’ve been resisting new vendor Dough all year, but finally splurged on one of their donuts (Chocolate Earl Gray). These are serious treats—they were huge!! Loved every last bite and even had to go back for the donut holes!
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This classic brunch spot is a consistent favorite of mine. From the cheddar scone the eggs benedict comes on, to the smoked salmon club with egg salad, to what my dad proclaims to be the best fried chicken he’s ever had, it’s brunch done right.
Last weekend I indulged in the Griddled Cheese Sandwich (it was one of those mornings—you know what I’m talking about). Piled with smoked bacon, cheddar, apples, and grain mustard, the sandwich was not only what the doctor ordered, but innovative, too. Definitely sure to be a repeat order. Happy weekend brunching!
