Our Top 12 of 2012: Sandwich Edition

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by in Best of...

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Yes, I am aware that I am posting a Best of 2012 list in February, but so what? You are still going to drool over these fantastic cheap eats. As I was going through the many tasty choices from this past year, I realized that they are almost all some sort of sandwich. Maybe it’s a coincidence, or just maybe sandwiches are the king of all cheap eats comfort foods. Plus, Spud has a little tot in the oven, and her cravings seem to fit between two pieces of bread. Without further ado…WeCouldEat’s Best Eats of 2012:

(In no particular order. Click on the links to read WeCouldEat’s reviews)

The Elvis

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socialeatz

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And for dessert…

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The best BBQ in Queens may be the best in NYC

22 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in american, bbq, down home, long island city

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John Brown Smokehouse started as a little hole-in-the-wall in an industrial area of LIC about one year ago. Since then it has moved a few avenues over to a big lot on a main street in LIC with a large patio with live music, a real staff, and a kick-ass menu with some of the best BBQ in NYC. When I wrote about JBS a year ago, this place was a secret, but now it’s a real destination.

John Brown Smokehouse
10-43 44th Drive, Long Island City

Most of the BBQ meat sandwiches, pulled pork, brisket, pork belly, and rib tips, are $10 or less, with hunks of tender meat between slabs of thick white bread. The amazing burnt ends are $12. But my favorite is  the Reuben ($12.50) house cured pastrami, swiss cheese, coleslaw topped with Russian dressing on a roll. It’s flavored meat, it’s cheesy and creamy, and it’s crunchy. It is unbelievably good. Plus it combines classic NYC deli with really great Southern BBQ. I’m salivating just thinking about it.

John Brown Smokehouse also offers traditional platters of Kansas City barbecue, meat by the pound, and solid sides. They have a full bar, music, and a great private outdoor patio.

Now I regret sharing one of my favorite places with you. Just don’t come here too much. I don’t want it to be ruined. It’s just perfect now.

The Most Bestest Taco Joint

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in brooklyn, mexican

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La Superior
295 Berry St, Williamsburg

La Superior is a great taco joint because it is in Williamsburg, but is not too hipster, is pretty inexpensive, and serves the food you really want to eat. This is not the most authentic, but is one of the most delicious Mexican joints I have found. We enjoyed very good fresh guacamole with homemade chips ($5) and excellent ezquites, corn kernels with fresh cheese, lime and Mexican mayo ($4) to start. Spud loved her Torta de Conchinita, a sourdough baguette with refried black beans, pulled pork, avocado, pickled onions, and habanero pico de gallo ($8). I had a few tacos ($2.50), which were small, but had great flavors. The decent veggie option has roasted poblano peppers and sauteed mushrooms, and the non-fried fish was still crispy and great. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but La Superior is packed with style and flavor. If it was in my hood, Spud and I would be regulars.

 

Eddie’s Sweet Shop: Nostalgia in a Sundae

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in dessert, ice cream, queens (not astoria/lic)

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Eddie’s Sweet Shop
105-29 Metropolitan Avenue, Forest Hills

I am really shocked by both how much I love Eddie’s Sweet Shop and by the fact that I have never been here before. This could be the last authentic 1950′s style malt shop in all of NYC. Nothing appears to have been changed in 60 years, including the little metal stools, the marble countertops, and the classic ceiling and floor. In addition to serving excellent homemade ice cream, they also sell lots of candy as well. But the sundaes are really the stars here. I had one of the best sundaes I have ever had here with cherry vanilla ice cream topped with gooey marshmallow fluff and finely chopped wet walnuts.  I would never have thought it, but this is the best topping combo. Served in a little metal dish with thick schlag and a cherry on top, this is the perfect treat. Much like my last post on Peanut Butter & Co., Eddie’s Sweet Shop is a great treat for both kids and adults. It is definitely worth a trip out to Forest Hills for nostalgia and a sundae.

Peanut Butter & Co: Not Just for Kids

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in american, dessert, ice cream, sandwiches, west village

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The Elvis

Pregnant Lady

Peanut Butter & Co.
240 Sullivan Street, West Village

Everyone has their favorite flavor of Peanut Butter & Co.’s fun jarred peanut butter (mine is dark chocolate), but when was the last time you went to their little West Village eatery? The store does not use organic bread or locally sourced peanuts, like others in the neighborhood, but that’s not the point here. This is kid food at it’s finest. After all, what’s more of a beloved children favorite and a secret grown up treat than peanut butter? The menu here reads like Willy Wonka kidnapped by Skippy: sandwiches such as cookie dough surprise, peanut butter BLT, and fluffernutter, and desserts like PB&J pretzel sundae, and peanut butter brownie blast sundae. We love the signature Elvis ($7.50), grilled maple pb sandwich, stuffed with banana, honey, and bacon. It is a great salty, sweet treat. We also had the Pregnant Lady ($6.25) with pb and bread & butter pickles. It’s an unusual combo, which wasn’t my favorite, but my pregnant lady sure dug it!

PB & Co. is really fun, and definitely underrated. I am not sure why they have not spread all over NYC or even the country, but bring your kids, or just yourself here, and enjoy.

I’m a Sucker for a Good Brunch

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by in american, breakfast-brunch, brooklyn, down home

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Seersucker
329 Smith Street, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Finding a good brunch is the hardest dining puzzle to solve. Nearly all standard eateries serve it, and usually offer omelets, pancakes, and french toast. So when I find a decent one, with menu options that deviate from the norm, plus offer a welcoming atmosphere and service, it’s a job well-done. I hadn’t heard much about Seersucker, because I don’t go into the heart of Brooklyn much, but I think it’s pretty solid. For Brooklyn, the service here was unpretentious, and the neighborhood is beautiful, filled with families, great shops and eateries.

And the food… I had 2 eggs with biscuits and sausage gravy ($11), that does not photograph well, but made up for it with rich and creamy Southern flavors. The biscuits were soft and flaky, as they should be. Spud loved her chili special where the meat and beans were improved with crumbled cornbread, sour cream and scallions, topped with a fried egg. Yes, they have omelets, but they are filled with quality sausage and vidalia onions, and the French toast is a chocolate croissant with a maple bourbon butter sauce. That’s how you do it friends.
***Breakfast served all day!***

Thursday Travels: Eating Charleston

03 Thursday Jan 2013

Posted by in outside metro nyc, THURSDAY TRAVELS

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New York and San Francisco are the undisputed top culinary cities in the U.S., with excellent eateries for every type of cuisine, but don’t overlook smaller cities when searching for food meccas. Pound for pound Charleston, South Carolina may be the top food city in America. I am a big fan of small cities with strong regional cuisines, like New Orleans and Santa Fe, but based on my delicious research, Charleston’s food scene is even more eclectic and serious. The population is only 122,689, which is equivalent to a few square blocks of NYC, yet Tripadvisor.com lists 525 restaurants for the city, which isn’t even big enough to have its own Zagat survey.

Here’s visual proof that Charleston offers unbelievably delicious grub. And these are only the cheap eats!

Best Deal : $9 AYCE in this tiny town 1 hour from Charleston

Best Deal : Dukes Bar-B-Que. $9 AYCE in this tiny town 1 hour from Charleston.

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Everything was great: signature hash, pulled pork, fried and bbq chicken, mac & cheese, hush puppies, greens and slaw, and of course sweet tea. Yup, $9.

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Best Breakfast: Charleston’s Cafe. Waffle and fried chicken sandwich with eggs, bacon, cheese and grits.

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Also at Charleston’s Cafe: Charleston’s Breakfast of eggs on fried green tomatoes with country ham gravy served with chippers & sweet potato biscuit.

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Best Experience: Bowen’s Island Restaurant. A big shack at the end of the road on a small island. This place barely looks inhabited, but open the door and everyone is having a good ole time!

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At Bowen’s Island hundreds of people chow down on huge plates of fried fish and shrimp or platters of shuck your own oysters. Plus Bowen’s Island Oyster Stout. Amazing.

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Best Truly Local Grub: Fried Pork Chop with Spicy Tomato Jelly from The Early Bird Diner. This dish was profiled on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives and is out of this world. The tender fried pork combined with the hot & sweet jelly make for a comfort food dream.

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Also from The Early Bird, country fried steak with butter beans and cheesy smashed potatoes. Yum.

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Best Classy Dish: Pimento Cheese appetizer from Magnolia’s. This dish was profiled by Tyler Florence on Best Thing I Ever Ate and is really a great intro to pimento cheese. The sharp cheddar with hints of pimento, peppers and olives make for a delicious dish. Plus it looks nice too.

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Best Brunch Dish: Magnolia’s banana pudding stuffed french toast with
peanut butter syrup and applewood smoked bacon. This salty sweet behemoth will blow your mind!

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My Favorite: The Big Nasty at Hominy Grill. This place is my favorite eatery in Charleston with amazing Lowcountry classics like She-crab Soup, Shrimp & Grits, Fried Green Tomatoes, and The Big Nasty, fried chicken on a biscuit with sausage gravy. I had it 3 years ago and couldn’t wait to devour it again.

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Best Local Cake: Hummingbird Cake from Hominy Grill. Pineapple, banana and pecans star in this Southern classic, which is similar to carrot cake.

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Best unique dessert: Coca-Cola Cake from Jestine’s Kitchen. Super sweet and cakey.

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Best Burger: Po’s Tavern’s Black Cat with grilled onions, chili, bacon and pimento cheese. It’s a beast.

Expand Your Brooklyn Horizons

25 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by in american, breakfast-brunch, brooklyn

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There are so many fascinating neighborhoods in the 5 boroughs, that even after more than a decade and a half of residing here, I am still learning about new ones. So many have changed in that time, and most for the better, from a culinary perspective. Two years ago I was not aware that Ditmas Park existed. But like so many Brooklyn hoods, it is now popping up in restaurant reviews, real estate ads, and word-of-mouth all over the city. In my two visits to Ditmas Park, I have marveled at the huge free-standing one hundred year old houses on gorgeous tree-lined blocks, complete with yard sales and children playing in the streets. It’s a little slice of suburbia transplanted to the middle of Brooklyn. Two blocks over the streets lined with dollar stores, checking cashers, and bodegas accepting food stamps. Like much of Brooklyn, this neighborhood appears to be fighting an internal struggle for its identity.

The Farm on Adderley
1108 Cortelyou Road, Ditmas Park, Brooklyn

The Farm on Adderley does not have this struggle. As one of the most well-known eateries in the area, it is firmly planted on the hipster-friendly side of town, and has been a favorite here since 2006. As the farm name suggests, it is dedicated to quality seasonal ingredients, and has a nice outdoor space. Naturally, it does a booming brunch business. On a recent visit we enjoyed the Adult Grilled Cheese ($9) of cheddar, apple, caramelized onion, on multigrain. It is a simple, but delicious combo. Spend a few bucks more for the excellent Red Flannel Hash ($12) of red potatoes, corned beef & red beets, sunnyside egg, beet mustard, and salad. While red flannel hash is a breakfast staple in New England, it is unique in these parts. Corned beef and potatoes are a natural combo, but the beets and beet mustard provide a more layered flavor profile, brought together with the runny egg.

Between the garden patio and menu at The Farm, and the amazing architecture of the surrounding blocks, Ditmas Park is worth exploring for an afternoon. Broaden your horizons and push into new neighborhoods, at least you will find good eats.

Smorgasburg: All Sandwich Edition

12 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by in american, asian, brooklyn, dessert, EATING TOURS, sandwiches

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Yes, this is another Smorgasburg post. Yes, we have been quite obsessed with this weekly Brooklyn food festival. But time is running out people, there is only one more week of Smorgasburg for this year. By Thanksgiving dozens of amazing cheap eats will again be dispersed around the city for the long winter. So go now or at least eat vicariously through our photos…

Incredible Schnitzel on Pretzel Roll from Schnitz

Braised Pork Belly Buns from Bite Size Kitchen

Sunday Gravy and bread from Sunday Gravy

Goodwich Ice Cream Sandwich from The Good Batch

Washed down with the best slush I have ever consumed from Kelvin Natural Slush Co.

A Couplet for Coppelia

11 Sunday Nov 2012

Posted by in american, chelsea, diner, latino

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We are so happy to find this new Cuban diner
Their menu is full of comforts for many an all-nighter
The Cuban Nachos ($8.95) topped with meaty short ribs
Made me want to savor the flavor on my fingertips
The Pan de Lechon is a steal for $7.95
It is well worth a long walk, ride or drive
The avocado shake is certainly Spud’s new fave
It’s a treat that she constantly craves
Pricier mains include ropa vieja and lomo saltado
They are so good, they them, you gotto!
We love this new Chelsea winner
It’s a comfort destination, brunch, lunch or 3 am dinner.

Coppelia 24/7 Latin Diner
207 W 14th St bet. 7/8, Chelsea

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