Thoughts & Reflections

Tag: Brooklyn

Tea at the Williamsburg Hotel

On a sunny winter day several months ago, I met up with my friend Queenie for tea in my neighborhood. The onslaught of new construction and gentrification continues in Williamsburg, so the views of glorious open skies have unfortunately given way to towers of glass, steel and brick. Not only are there residential buildings rising up from once desolate streets but plenty of hotels have sprung up as well.

And the Williamsburg Hotel is the first one to actually serve afternoon tea (or what they call “high tea” on their menu, though it’s not at all).

The hotel bar and lobby is beneath street level and one can enter via sweeping stairs descending from the street or through a slender door in the side of the building. The space is cavernous and feels airy when light pours through the two-story windows on a sunny day.

So, onto the food. I had been running around doing errands before meeting Queenie, who was already in the area attending a food fair of sorts. That meant one of us was hungry and the other not. We ended up ordering one “Brooklyn High Tea” to share, and an additional pot of tea for her.

The tea menu itself was a limited selection, sourced from a local tea shop called Tea Dealers. We both ordered the Wild Pear tisane from Korea and it turned out the supplier was actually sitting at the bar. He came over and there was a brief discussion on the teas, which was interesting and nice. The tea was pretty good, made with wild pears and it reminded me a lot of a soup my mother makes using apples or Asian pears.

As for the food itself, it was a varied selection of baked goods and one or two savories. We weren’t able to match everything on our plates to the descriptions on the menu but it was close enough. Alas that the savories all contained cheese, which I dislike very much. It was a little disappointing for me, because I really wanted more savories and there were far too many sweets for me to enjoy it all. Serving butter or clotted cream with the scone might have helped a bit too but in the end, we took nibbles off a lot of the pastries because it was just far too much for even two of us to enjoy. I left wanting savory foods and ended up with some delicious Indonesian food later that day to sate my appetite.

The space was really nice and if one is really into sweets, then this tea is probably good. I found out one of my other friends had visited recently (admittedly through a press engagement) and she enjoyed the food so perhaps it had improved since my own visit. In the meantime, I’ll continue to wish for Brooklyn to offer an afternoon tea as great as those found in Manhattan.

May 8, 2017
Lunch at Little Mo

There was a time not too long ago when getting friends to come into Brooklyn was a difficult thing to do. Even though my neighborhood is literally across the river from downtown Manhattan and just a stop away, not many people wanted to make the trek to one of the other boroughs of the city. But with all the gentrification, Brooklyn is now considered cool and trendy. I suppose that’s a good thing, though I do miss a bit of the quiet now.

One positive outcome of all the economic changes is the influx of new restaurants. With the rents going up, many businesses are cropping up further east of the river. One of these is Little Mo, an Asian restaurant in Bushwick. I’ve never heard of it, but my friend Q invited me to join her for lunch there one recent Sunday. We met up in the West Village after her work shift and took the train back into Brooklyn. Two others were to join us, G and J, but only G was able to make it. By coincidence, he ended up on the same subway as us though we didn’t actually meet up until we all arrived at the subway stop. I hadn’t seen G (or J) in a very long time, so it was nice to say hi and catch up.

Q had learned of Little Mo through a customer at the shop she works at and had been there before, but it was the first visit for me and G. I had taken a quick look at the menu beforehand but couldn’t decide what to order. Q told me she was planning to order pho though I thought the day was far too hot for that. The classic pho is a weekend-only special so that was her reason for choosing it. G and I were debating among the other menu items but in the end, we too ordered the pho as well; at least the restaurant had air conditioning which helped keep us cool while eating hot soupy noodles.

I must admit that the pho was really good. The broth is made of beef and oxtail broth and is very flavorful. Beside noodles were bone marrow, slices of rare ribeye beef and meatballs and the usual accompaniments of bean sprouts and scallions. And on the side were lime wedges, slices of chili peppers, and basil to add in (which I always do). And of course, there were bottles of sauces (hot sauce, hoisin sauce, fish sauce) on the table to make it as spicy, salty or sweet as one wants.

In addition to the pho, we ordered two appetizers as well: fried chicken wings with spicy Thai sauce and spring rolls. The latter were not what I was expecting. Spring rolls usually mean the crispy, fried rolls stuffed with meat and veggies served in Chinese restaurants. What arrived are actually the ones most Vietnamese restaurants around town call summer rolls. The rolls were fine but the chicken wings were definitely a highlight.

The food was really good and we were able to see what the rice bowls look like when they were brought out for other diners. They look just as delicious and G eventually ordered one to take away for dinner. The rice bowl looked very hearty and filling so maybe it was a good thing I didn’t order it for lunch. But I do want to try it one of these days, so there’s definitely a reason for me to return one day.

June 19, 2016
A Visit to Puerh Brooklyn

Coffeeshops are ubiquitous in New York so it’s always a nice surprise to come across a tea shop somewhere in the midst of the city. There is a little cafe that specializes in matcha in my neighborhood but what I’d much prefer is a place that offers a bit more variety.

I learned recently about a tea shop called Puerh that I think opened not too long ago. Browsing their website, I was not disappointed to find that they do indeed sell various types of the namesake tea. My family drinks pu-erh tea all the time, though not as much as when I was younger. My parents used to brew a pot for breakfast and it’s pretty much the standard when one sits down for dim sum in a Chinese restaurant.

I finally had a chance to visit it last weekend with a friend. Even though Puerh Brooklyn isn’t terribly far for me to walk to from home, it’s located on a street that I don’t frequent that often. All I really needed was an excuse to travel in that direction and with a friend visiting the neighborhood, I had my reason.

The shop isn’t very big but it’s filled with a lot of lovely teaware. Along one wall is a tea counter where one can browse the loose tea and tea cakes the shop sells. There is also a little takeaway area to order hot or iced teas as well as small bites such as cookies and chocolate.

There is another shop in the basement of the space that sells clothes, jewelry and some other sundries but the nice part about it the large airy space where it tea tastings and classes are held from time to time. The floor was covered with cushions and mats and there was definitely a stove and a pot set aside there. I’d love to revisit for a tea tasting if possible.

It’s hard for me to visit a tea store and not buy anything. I ordered an iced hibiscus tea (tasty) and then browse some of the pu-erh cakes available for purchase. In the end, I bought a small cake of pu-erh and chrysanthemums (another Chinese favorite). When I showed it to my mother, she advised me to keep it in a dark place for now and like wine, it will be better with age.

I can’t wait to break that tea cake open in the future and see how the flavors have improved.

June 13, 2016
Brunch at Reynard

For all that I live in a trendy, over-gentrified (in my opinion) neighborhood, I don’t really hang around there too much. When my friend Q told me she was going to be in the area to check out a local artists’ market, we ended up meeting there before heading over to the Wythe Hotel for brunch. The hotel is a short walk from my building though it seemed much longer when walking down very quiet streets on a cold, Sunday morning.

I’ve only been inside the hotel once before, to check out a pop-up artisan market in the summer last year or the year before. Reynard, the restaurant located on the ground floor just off the entrance, has always been a place I wanted to try but never had a chance to until now. The interior is very beautiful, with the tile work on the floor and the tall windows that let in a lot of natural light. We were seated at the very back, next to the glass walls that look out over a pretty courtyard. This time of year, there was nothing outside except for the strings of lights hanging along the walls that surround the patio area but I have seen it come to life in the evenings when I’ve been driven past it.

The brunch menu offered some very interesting selections. I was torn between several items but ended up with the Dutch pancake while Q chose the fried chicken. When the food arrived, the pancake was pretty big and not quite what I was expected. There was no description for it on the menu and I had thought it would be served with sweet fillings such as apples. Instead, this was a savory version, with prosciutto and topped with slightly melted cheese. The pancake itself was sweet, with maple syrup drizzled along the outer edges so overall it was a good mix of salty and sweet. It was far too big and I think I managed to eat about three-quarters of it before stopping, which wasn’t too bad considering the size.

The fried chicken appeared to be more lighter in appearance though probably just as filling. The chicken was nice and crispy, and not greasy at all. It was served with a fava bean purée and dusted with za’atar which made the whole thing absolutely tasty. I would definitely order that if I were to visit again; while the Dutch pancake was good it was probably a bit too much food for me.

December 22, 2015
Sunday Morning in Coney Island

It’s been well over two decades since I ventured down to Coney Island. I asked my mother and her last memory of the family heading down there was a visit to the Aquarium. That would definitely be elementary school, and I’m almost certain it was no later than the third grade. So yes, many, many years.

I took the subway down there on Sunday, intending to visit a pop-up crafts market last weekend. An hour on the trains till I reached the end of the line, stepping out of the carriage with tourists, who were the only other passengers I could see. It was a cool and cloudy day and once I started down Stillwell Avenue the first sight that greeted me was the very large (and original) Nathan’s hot dog stand.

There’s been a lot of development in Coney Island but at least some things never change. My recollections of the beach and boardwalk are fuzzy at best so I felt very much like a tourist walking around the area. The craft market was in a large lot that currently hosts one version of Smorgasborg but it was early when I got there and the food stalls weren’t open. As for the craft vendors, there were less than a dozen of them and not very interesting to me, unfortunately. But since I made the journey down, I decided to head to the beach and the water.

The boardwalk separates the amusement parks from the beach. A few of the rides were open early and there weren’t many people on the beach yet. There were plenty of people strolling along the boardwalk though: families, tourists, joggers and fishermen. I really enjoyed the sight of an empty beach and despite inappropriate shoes (I wore flats), I made my way to the sea. There are jetties along the shore and sometimes, one could see gulls perched on the rocks. It was very bright and the sun peeked out through the clouds every once in a while, and the sea just sparkled. It was really lovely.

And for those of us who wanted to get closer to the ocean but not get wet, the pier was a good place to go. Alas that all the good spots were taken by many, many fishermen who leaned their poles all along the rails hoping that something would bite. It was a bit annoying not to reach the every end of the pier but I made do and so did all the other visitors who were to admire the sights and not fish. Also of note was that one one side of the pier was the cloudy beach and sea; on the other a view of nearby apartment towers edging towards the bright blue waters and clearing skies.

By the time I was ready to leave, things were beginning to come to life. It was lunchtime, some of the boardwalk eateries were open for business and Luna Park was finally letting people inside to play or ride. Coney Island was coming to life once more.

September 24, 2015
Summer at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

It’s been a very long time since I last visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, probably over a year. These days, I’ve been spending my time in the much larger New York Botanic Garden in the Bronx, since I’ve spent plenty of time in the Brooklyn gardens over the years.

On Tuesday, I revisited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Without membership, one can visit the Garden for free either on Saturday mornings or on Tuesdays. Sometimes, it’s hard to make it down there first thing on a weekend, especially when there is subway construction. Visiting mid-week, I was also hoping to deal with smaller crowds though there were plenty of schoolchildren and strollers wandering about the grounds.

For me, one pleasant surprise I encountered were the roses. Rose season is past peak but there were still plenty of flowers to be found in the Rose Garden. This is the first time I’ve ever visited when the roses were in bloom so I spent a lot of time leisurely strolling up and down the aisles to admire the flowers.

Something else in bloom this time of year are the water lilies. There were plenty of people taking photos at the Lily Pool Terrace, particularly the really large lotus flowers that rise out from the pool.

The day was warm and humid. Fortunately, the sun was hidden behind the clouds so it kept the temperatures a little cooler in the morning and early afternoon; that made spending time outdoors a bit more enjoyable. And the rain (which wasn’t predicted for that day) held off until afternoon, so I remained mostly dry despite wandering down paths were sprinklers were watering the lawns and plants.

It was really nice to see so many of the great features and fixtures without the crowds. And the best part was being surrounded by peace and quiet, especially on many of the more secluded paths. It was definitely the best way to really enjoy and appreciate Nature.

July 23, 2015
Open Studios at Industry City

Recently, there was an Open Studios event down in Industry City, a complex of large warehouses that have been recently renovated and revitalized thanks to the numerous small businesses that have made their home there. I’ve visited once before for a crafts fair about two years ago but all I managed to see was the ground floor of one building and its courtyard. Many businesses took part in the Open Studio day so we were able to walk around most of the buildings in the complex.

Our first stop was to the visitor center which fortunately was in the same building as what I really wanted to see, the Food Hall. Wandering around the corridors and looking into the various shops (bakeries, cafes, etc.) reminded me a lot of Chelsea Market, before all the hype and tourists took over. There was one particular shop I wanted to visit but alas, it wasn’t open that day so no sweets for me.

So instead, we began with the main building, headed up the stairs and worked our way down from floor to floor. There were plenty of artists’ studios spaces and many of them invited visitors in to come chat and have a snack or drink (there was plenty of alcohol available). For me, some of the more interesting tenants were Knot and Bow and Soho Letterpress; I loved wandering among all the paper, ink and craft supplies.

We went from one building to the next, though there were less open studios in the other buildings; many of them were still under construction in the courtyard and on various floors. Sometimes, we had to take detours within buildings to get from one end to the other due to all demolitions and renovations going on.

Even the exteriors of the buildings were fascinating to look at. On the roofs were the remains of old water towers, with only the bases remaining since there are more modern ways to extinguish fires. The fire escapes around the courtyard may or may not be in use (I read an article recently about trying to rid the city of them) but they looked lovely with fresh coats of paint and add to the charm of these buildings.

And one should envy the large windows. Though the view is less than impressive from the west, where one sees the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, there are fabulous views of New York Harbor from the east.

April 28, 2015
Patisserie Burrow

If one walks to the very back of the lobby of a somewhat nondescript building in DUMBO, there is a reward waiting at the end of corridor. Tucked into the space is Patisserie Burrow. It’s about the size of a jewel box; very tiny but with such delicate and delicious treats.

I’ve had my eye on visiting for a very long time but logistically, it was near impossible until my week off. Burrow was only opened on the weekdays (it just started to open on Saturdays this past weekend) and there was no way I could have gone unless I had a day off. And it’s even better to go with a friend, as I did the day after my birthday.

I love how there are so many tasty delights stacked on the shelves while a few miniature pastries are encased in a small marble and glass counter. When my friend and I arrived, there were slices of cheesecake, a pistachio mousse cake, fig tart and a cupcake topped with a macaron shelf that looked very much like a mushroom found in fantasy realms. We had a hard time choosing what to order but in the end settled on a slice of apple pie (it was so, so very thin!) and the fig tart. The inside of the shop was very stuffy so I also got an iced green tea to help cool down while my friend ordered a coffee. Needless to say, everything was delicious.

And I just couldn’t leave without buying a few things to go. In this case, it was a small sampling of the cookies; they all looked so good. From the many varieties, I chose a chocolate-thumb cookie, a jam sandwich, three nut-based cookies (almonds; hazelnuts; and one with mixed nuts) and a palmier. And they tasted just as good as they appeared.

October 27, 2014
Open House at the Brooklyn Army Terminal

After the fun journey of heading to JFK to see the TWA Flight Center, I traveled in the other direction and across town to Sunset Park to check out the other place I wanted to visit during the OHNY weekend. While OHNY events took place both days, these two sites were only open to the public on Saturday so I had no choice but to make another long journey to get from the outer reaches of Queens to the outer reaches of Brooklyn.

At my subway transfer point, I headed above ground for a quick lunch (at Shake Shack) and then hopped aboard one more train to reach my final destination, the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

OHNY has offered tours of the Terminal earlier this year, but those required reservations, paid tickets and taking a day off from work. I was so disappointed to have missed out on those tours so imagine my excitement when I saw it was listed as an Open Access site for thie weekend. Guided tours were being offered on the hour and I arrived just a few minutes after one began, so I just stayed at the edge and tried to listen and see what was going on. There were a lot more people there than I would have guessed; it was mid-afternoon and there weren’t many people loitering outside the building so I assumed most of the crowds showed up earlier in the day.

The guide (who works for Turnstile Tours) offered a brief history of the terminal, its usage during World War 2 and how it’s been repurposed to house businesses today. The most famous person to have passed through was Elvis Presley during the war, though he missed traveling with his group and booked a later passage to Germany because of all the press and publicity surrounding him.

As our guide rightly pointed out, what most of us really wanted to see was the Atrium.

It was a photo of this that initially sparked my interest in visiting the Terminal. Seeing old railway tracks and platform and even a train parked inside was enough to set my imagination running (I have a thing for old train stations, even one that never actually served as part of public transportation). Overhead, the glass panes from the ceiling have been removed for safety reasons (since maintenance and repair would be costly to the city) but the framework remains, and one can easily picture the glass still there.

There is a train sitting on a set of rails in the atrium but it’s not as old as it appears. The simple brown and yellow color scheme only makes it appear old but in actuality, the carriages were from an LIRR train. At one point, the idea had been to convert the cars into a dining area for the terminal but that plan was never completed so the carriages are now permanently parked inside the building since the other section of tracks have been removed or covered up to convert the area into the Atrium.

The tour itself lasted just under an hour and once it was over, everyone wandered around the Terminal, taking more photos of the Atrium and the balconies that jut out on the upper floors. I think some people headed upstairs to see what was there but I stayed on the ground level since things were far more interesting there. We were all inside Building B, which is just one building inside the much larger overall Brooklyn Army Terminal complex. There’s a lovely view of the ocean outside as well as pedestrian and ferry pier below.

October 22, 2014
MatchaBar

With so many coffee establishments in New York, a new tea place is most certainly welcome for non-coffee drinkers like me. The latest tea shop just happened to open in my neighborhood last week so I went to check it out over the weekend.

Specializing in the type of tea as its name implies, MatchaBar is all about matcha. They sell prepackaged tins of if as well as offering matcha-based drinks to go. And for non-tea drinkers who were dragged in by tea-loving friends, coffee is also on the menu. The space itself is pretty nice; there is seating in the front by the window and a large communal table in the back. I also love the very appopriate leafy print that adorns the wall.

And so what to try from the menu? It was a warm day so I ended up ordering one of their specialty drinks: the iced watermelon and matcha. It seemed to be one of the more popular items the day I went. When I received my drink, the watermelon and matcha were separated in colorful layers that all turned to green once I mixed it up. It was tasty and definitely refreshing, not at all bitter.

They serve hot matcha-based drinks too, which I may try as the temperatures drop in these coming months. Some baked goods were also available as well for those that need something to go along with their drinks; since I went in the afternoon, there wasn’t much variety left but I think I did see some scones and muffins.

September 26, 2014