Recently in Food and Drink Category

Eton is a neighborhood restaurant that snuck right by me. When I first saw the awning on Sackett Street at Henry, I assumed overpriced boutique and went on my way. But oh how wrong I was.

No boutique, Eton is a dumpling shack that is serving up five fresh, hot dumplings per order--in a variety of flavors--for a mere $3.50. Did I mention these dumplings are huge? And tasty? And that the restaurant is open until 11:30pm? It's like I've died and gone to a more accessible version of Chinatown.

Yes, there's a bit of a wait for the fresh dumplings, but you can watch the skins being rolled out to pass the time. And, yes, the decor leaves a bit to be desired--do not lean onto the wall separating the entryway from the counter, it will violently wobble and threaten collapse. But there's a lot of love that goes into a neighborhood joint like this, and it shows in the customer-service details. On the day that I stopped by, the guy at the counter mixed me a to-go cup of sriracha and ginger-infused black vinegar that will be my go-to dumpling dipping sauce for some time to come.

I have yet to try Eton's other offering, shave ice, mostly because I'm so devoted to Court Street Pastry's ices, I hate to cheat, but the sheer number of flavors--and number of people walking out with colorful cone in hand--speak to Eton's popularity in the shave ice department as well.

Does anybody know what the old video store at 389 Court is going to become? It sure looks like it could be a bar ...

See the Brooklyn Paper story. Does this mean Studio B never had a cabaret license??? And just how close to Girls Gone Wild are those Last Night's Party-esque photos? That's my nightlife food for thought for the day.

Those of us who live on the south end of Carroll Gardens suffer a problem (and yes, I'm speaking for all of us). No matter where you live, it's rare to walk any more south. Everything is north: the restaurants, the bodegas, the grocery stores. I do walk one block down to hit Le Petit Cafe (bagels, coffee) and Las Americas (beer, anything else I happen to need right now), but I never go south of Nelson. Until recently, that is. And my walk took me right into the neighborhood's newest wine store, Fat Cat Wines, at Court Street between W 9th and Huntington. I've been there three times in the past week and show no signs of stopping. Two of those times I loved the wine I got, and one it was just so-so, but two out of three ain't bad. The store specializes in wine from small and often organic vineyards with a nice mix from the U.S. and abroad. Last night I picked up a great pinot gris from Oregon that wowed our dinner companions. On Friday, we picked up two reds at $12 each that tasted more like $18 bottles. And while I haven't tried any, I've been eyeing the lovely sake collection.

Also, currently on exhibit is work by Junko Shimizu, who worked as an assistant for Takashi Murakami (flyer below).

Root Hill Café

4^th Avenue and Carroll Street, Park Slope

There's no lack of spots to grab a cup of coffee in the Slope these days. Some are good, some are just OK, but one new spot really comes through on that eternal search for a really good cup of coffee. I'm talking about Root Hill Café on Fourth Avenue and Carroll Street. You know, the spot that used to house the grimy Family Car Service?

The owners of Root Hill have totally transformed the formerly blah space, incorporating small architectural elements (inside and out) like modern minimalist furniture alongside rustic elements like exposed brick and large plank wood floors. Plus, this coffee shop has a Clover—a non-Starbucks one at that. [For those not familiar, the Clover machine is an amazing little contraption that is actually a single cup brewer in a commercial capacity] Naturally, the coffee is kick-ass, and the bohemian employees are charming and feel like good friends after only a few visits.

Root Hill Café recently introduced a full breakfast menu to compliment its Blue Sky muffins and pastries from a 9th Street Patisserie, and I can't stop ordering those homemade cookies. If you need a reason to check it out, consider that the shop has seen some rough times lately--a recent flood wiped out their food and ruined their beautiful wood floor (reconditioned from a barn upstate)—so they could use a little support.

--Read more from blogger Kristen Haas at www.adventuresofagal.com

There will be naysayers--there was one in my head, actually--who will say that the Red Hook Ballfields vendors aren't the same since the Health Department stuck its nose in their business. And those naysayers would be right.

The switch from tables and open grills to trucks has resulted in fewer vendors with less grill and prep space. This means the normally long lines are even longer, and this on Saturday when there was only one soccer game in sight. I will add that the ratio of whities to non-whities was about 3 to 1.

The impromptu nature has been replaced by a much more settled feeling. However, I give it up to the vendors who were there in great spirits and delivering the top-notch huaraches and tamarind drinks that I love so much. Also in the house--papusas, mayo-smothered corn and ceviche.

I was a little disappointed the temp changed from 96 to 95 right before I snapped this pic at the corner of Huntington Street and Hamilton Avenue/the BQE. Still, pretty hot! How hot? Too hot for people to sit outside of Abilene on Court Street below at 6:30pm on a Saturday night. That's hot, people.

I can't not mention it since my review of Applewood (written while at Citysearch) is mentioned. Check it out. Also, the Brownstoner community is fierce ... the post already has 19 comments, and it was posted TODAY. I hope Brownstoner is planning on bottling that excitement and selling it as "online community holy water."

A friend over at Williamsburg is Dead is helping throw a little shindig for the Red Shed Community Garden and you should go! Seriously, $2 dogs, $3 burgers and happy vegetables, what more could you want from a lazy Saturday afternoon?