Shaved Ice topped w. Red Bean, Grass Jelly, & “Bar Nuts” finished w. Sweetened Condensed Milk & Mango Sorbet ($5)
This Asian version of a snow cone is made from a big block of ice planed, to order, into snowflake-like shavings. It’s top with your choice for three toppings and finished with sweetened condensed milk and a scoop of ice cream. Toppings include staples such as fresh fruit and Asian classics like red beans, mochi, and grass jelly. But some of the non-traditional toppings such as bar nuts and malted caramel corn sets The Shaved Ice Shop apart from others.
I got a few of the classics but was told by Tania, the girl taking my order, to try something a little different. Unfortunately by the time I arrived they were out of the malted caramel corn so I went for the bar nuts. It may sound a little weird at first but the combination of sweet, salty, and even a little spicy really works. As the weather gets warmer, I’ll definitely have to come back a little earlier to try some other combinations of this perfect summer snack /dessert.
This is Calvin and till next time, you stay fatty New York.
485 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
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(Above) Grilled Cheese - Shelburne Farms Cheddar, Solebury Orchard Apple Butter, Apple, Sullivant St. 7-Grain Pullman w. Bacon ($7)
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I stumbled upon this place while waiting to have brunch at Buttermilk Channel a few weeks back. At first I just thought they were a small local grocery store, but after a few moments I quickly remembered reading about their sandwiches online. So of course, I had to try one.
The menu here features less than a dozen sandwiches but they all sound pretty amazing. I was going to have brunch soon so I opted for something that, at least in theory, sounded a little lighter.
While I personally believe grilled cheese sandwiches are one of THE MOST overpriced things you find on a NYC menu, I will admit this one was pretty damn good. It was extremely rich and buttery but the 7-grain bread held up well and the sweetness of the apples provided a nice reprieve from the greasy goodness. And at $7 ($5 without the bacon, which in this case, a rarity in my opinion, you can probably do without) it’s not an absolute bank-breaker.
You can definitely tell that this place was a neighborhood favorite — locals were popping in and out either taking a sandwich to go or sitting down in their little dining area to enjoy their treat immediately. I’ll definitely have to find time to venture back and try the rest of the menu.
This is Calvin and till next time, you stay fatty New York.
2725 86th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11223
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Over the last few years L&B has become a staple in my restaurant repertoire in Brooklyn. It’s often my default choice for food when I can’t think of anything else to eat. Pizza in general is one of my favorites and no one does it like L&B Spumoni Gardens. Oh, and their desserts are great too.
L&B has both a restaurant and pizzeria. While the restaurant seems to do pretty well and has a number of regulars, I’ve eaten there numerous times and have been unimpressed by any of the food they serve. I go almost exclusively for their Sicilian pizza. Their square slices don’t look like any other. The sauce, a family secret recipe I hear, is on top of the cheese. I’ve seen plenty of pies come out of the oven but I’ve never seen them make one from the beginning. I suspect the crust is blind baked (without any toppings) which is typical of any square pie. Next I would venture to guess that shredded mozzarella is sprinkled over the pre-baked and cooled crust followed by liberally spreading their sauce on top. Its finished with you a dusting of parmesan cheese. One of my favorite parts of the pizza is the toasted parmesan that lands on the outer crust.
You can’t leave without a little dessert. I typically alternate between their home made spumoni or the chocolate-vanilla twist soft serve. While soft serve can be found all over the city, the one served here taste extra rich and creamy. It’s a perfect way to finish off all that pizza. In the summer they also offer an orange creamsicle flavored soft serve. Another great option is their spumoni. It’s definitely more unique and I haven’t found another place in New York that serves it. The texture is different from traditional ice cream. It’s hard to describe, but to me it’s less creamy and resembles more of a super fine and smooth Italian ice, which they also have. I did also try a spoonful of their new home made hazelnut ice cream today. It tasted like Nutella without the chocolate.
It’s a little bit in the middle of no where and hard to get to, but if you haven’t been to L&B, it’s absolutely worth the trek. When the weather is warm the tables outside are packed with customers ranging from little league teams to the local police and fire men. The pizza is definitely best eaten on site straight from the oven piping hot. I have, however, been known to bring home a half tray and keep it in the fridge during finals time.
This is Calvin and till next time, you stay fatty New York
