|
|
| The Happenings Feature - October 2006 |
Brooklyn Eats: A borough of fine dining
by Mark D Phillips
Shakoor and Marissa Watson of Shakoor's Sweet Tooth with his sweet potato cheesecake.
©Mark D Phillips |
Has Brooklyn eclipsed Manhattan in the restaurant buzz? Talk to Borough President Marty Markowitz and
you may think that way.
With a shout of "Brooklyn is the epicenter of the restaurant scene in New York. Tonight is calorie free!"
Markowitz sent a hungry crowd loose at the 10th Annual Brooklyn Eats™ event at Brooklyn's Marriott hotel on Oct. 3.
Over 60 participants put forward one or two dishes to entice diners to visit their restaurants.
The cuisine was as varied as the borough.
"We were able to pick out ten restaurant rows in Brooklyn," said Ken Adams, president of the Brooklyn
Chamber of Commerce. "Ten years ago when we started this, we couldn't do that."
With a renaissance occurring in the commercial streets around Brooklyn's red-hot real estate, restaurants
were sure to come. Once upon a time, Brooklyn was where you came for Italian food and pizza. Not any more.
"Manhattan had reached critical mass," said Adams. "Manhattan chefs looking for new spaces were forced out. They
took a risk in Brooklyn. They found a neighborhood feel, not filled with tourists, an intimacy with a core
group of Brooklyn residents. They are more risk taking, trying new things. And we have found an ethnic
diversity in the cuisine to match the makeup of the population."
The cuisine was the star of Brooklyn Eats. And it was as varied as Adams said. Our only quibble was that when a restaurant cooks for
hundreds, it usually doesn't present its best entree. Some of the entrees were great, others mediocre. As a result, the winners actually stood out even more
by the end of the night.
Maria Katalina Arias serves Mojitos |
What was the best in show?
The Sweet Potato Cheesecake from Shakoor Watson's Shakoor's Sweet Tooth in Bed-Stuy was
the highlight of the evening. The flavor stopped me in my tracks.
"People are afraid to make it the way they should make it," said Shakoor. "Butter, not margarine. But everyone
wants to cut costs. Make it right and they will pay what it is worth. Our motto is presentation, quality and
consistency."
Maria Katalina Arias from Mojito Cuban Cuisine was the hands down winner of the "drink of the night." Mixing
and serving Mojitos at a frenzied pace, she still found time to promote her establishment.
The most creative handout goes to Rice for the cute round box holding three rice cake-shaped Rice Krispie Treats.
And they were tasty. Not to sweet. Also, their Jerk Chicken Wings were heavenly.
Red Hook's sole representative at Brooklyn Eats, South Brooklyn Network member Liberty Heights Tap Room, presented a Bourbon Chipotle-Pulled Chicken sandwich that is tasty
and moist. Steve Deptula, owner of the Tap Room, greeted visitors to their space and sang praise for his new chef, Josh Jillie.
Overall, Brooklyn's restaurant scene was well represented throughout the room. As Marty Markowitz made his way around the displays, he said, "Brooklyn is establishing our own
niche in the restaurant world. Quality and quantity. When you eat at a Brooklyn restaurant, you don't leave hungry, and the food is as good as any in the city."
We certainly did not leave Brooklyn Eats hungry. Far from it!
 |
Liberty Heights Tap Room serves up Bourbon Chipotle-Pulled Chicken during the 10th annual Brooklyn Eats.
Sponsored by the The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn Eats presents the most comprehensive food guide to Brooklyn's dine-in restaurants. The first event in 1997 featured
20 restaurants. This year's presented over 60.
To access the Brooklyn Eats Guide to over 1,000 Brooklyn restaurants, Click Here. |
|
|
 |
| Our Featured Members |
| Interested in joining? |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
Damico Foods
Roasting our own coffee for over 50 years, D'Amico Coffee is available online through their website. |
|
|
|
Jerard Studio
Jerard Studio makes the cow in "Spamalot" and the pigeons for "The Producers". Learn more about this incredible Red Hook business! |
 |
|
|
|
South Brooklyn Internet
We produce The South Brooklyn Network and can solve any of your computer/network/web needs. |
 |
|
