Dekalb Market in Brooklyn

You’ve probably never wondered what happens to the old shipping containers once they’ve outlived the uses for which they were built?  For Urban Space, the organizers of several of the markets in New York City, it meant launching a design competition using shipping containers as the storefronts for its newest location, the Dekalb Market in Brooklyn.  Yesterday, I dropped by to check it out and to see what was going on over there.

Food. curated with Liza De Guia - Season 2 Sneak Peek

Have you ever wondered about the people behind your favorite artisan and local foods? Liza de Guia does, too, and brings their stories to us via video on her terrific (and James Beard Award-nominated) site Food. curated.  Through this medium, she captures the passion, dedication, and artistry of the people who make delicious things for all of us to eat.  I’m always in anticipation of another installment the minute the one that I’m watching is finished, so that I can see what is the next amazing thing that she’s picked to portray.

Ice Cream Beer Social at Jimmy’s No. 43

A rainy Monday night after a scorching weekend is the perfect excuse to visit Jimmy’s No. 43 for a free Ice Cream Beer Social (part of their Homemade Fare series).  The fact that the website mentioned beer floats being served was enough of a reason to venture out in stormy weather.  As an added bonus, I got to catch up with some really wonderful food folks who make great products that are usually found at the markets around town.

Carrot-Date-Almond Salad with Cumin Dressing

There’s a series of gloppy, mayonnaise-laden salads which date from my 1970s childhood (separate from the sequence of equally disliked Jello salads) which still haunt my culinary memories.  Ambrosia Salad, Waldorf Salad, and the one that I probably despise most of all, although it is tough to pick just one, Carrot Salad.  Part of my dislike is that I’m not a big fan of raisins in things, which I now know is not that uncommon.  Then, there’s the whole globs of industrial mayonnaise, which I also can’t stand as I’ve mentioned previously.  So, put those two things together alone and the dish is not likely to be a hit with me.  Carrots, I think, are the innocent bystander in all of this, as I like those raw or cooked.

Fairway Grocery opens on the Upper East Side

I know, you’re asking, “Seriously?  Really?  The opening of a grocery store is worthy of a blog post?”  My response is, “You betcha!”  Living in New York has its culinary benefits, no doubt, especially when it comes to being able to eat at the top, most innovative restaurants or find the latest hot whatever cuisine.  The most recent food fad either starts here or makes its way here very soon.  Turn the conversation to where folks actually go to by the food that they keep at home, however, and you’ve opened a whole other can of worms.

Visit to Northside Market in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

 

Even the creeping crawl of the downtown Lexington Avenue subway lines and the L line rerouting couldn’t keep folks away from checking out the new Northside Market and taking in the Ice Cream Day at Smorgasburg today.  The hot weather was a perfect excuse to indulge in some creamy treats and to check out some great food vendors.  I came home with a whole bag full of goodies to cook with this week from both markets, well if the next heat wave doesn’t hit us that is.

“Liguria: Flavors between Sea and Sky” at The International Culinary Center

This photo is a bit faded, as it is more than a decade old, but the sentiment it represents, the beauty of Italy and the culinary riches of one of its provinces, Liguria, are registered in my memories forever.  A couple of weeks ago, I was able to attend a seminar called “Liguria: Flavors between the Sea and Sky” about this region sponsored by the Italian Trade Commission and the Regione Liguria.  For a few short hours, as the speakers walked us through the history of the area and gave us olive and olive oil tastings, I was transported back to this stunningly beautiful land where the sea rolls out its welcoming deep aqua carpet while the mountains snuggly embrace the towns along the coastline.