Brooklyn Piggies & More. Smorgasburg 2013.

June 21, 2013 ~ Jill ~ 1 Comment

Yup, that’s right. Pigs in a Blanket. From Piggies at Smorgaburg in Brooklyn last Saturday. We usually get out here a few times each year, like in 2011 or 2012. We started out with these, then shared nachos and a brisket sandwich. I almost forgot we finished this all off with a bit of s’mores pie from Butter & Scotch.

And there was even a Lumpia Shack! We devoured these at my friend Anna’s last summer. And now they’ve made it to Brooklyn. I had to get more Granola Lab granola. It’s really good and goes fast.

Out to Brooklyn for Mast Brothers Chocolate

February 17, 2013February 17, 2013 ~ Jill ~ 3 Comments

For Valentine’s Day I gave Mark some Blue Bottle TCHO chocolate (must have been a collaboration between my favorite coffee place and the San Francisco chocolatier) and Mast Brothers. Awhile back, I thought their hipster chocolate thing in Brooklyn was a bit much. Two guys making chocolate, beards, and those Williamsburg caps sailing to South America to get beans….

So I’ve been converted. They have nailed the product, packaging, story and marketing. They sell the bars all over New York, and I’ve seen them in the Stone Wall Kitchen in Connecticut. We ate the Serrano Pepper one on Thursday, and I suggested we go out to Brooklyn to see where they make the chocolate.

Mark tried the marble brownie. Delicious. Rich and moist. And I love a good brownie and hate hate hate to be disappointed with a bad one (Fat Witch, sorry). Let’s say I sampled my way around the store. I may have had just a few pieces of the Vanilla & Smoke.

All of it is dark chocolate, retailing at about $9 a bar, but it was 3 for $20 at the wholesale location. And they were in the back, wrapping chocolate bars. I’ve been enjoying the Mast Brothers Chocolate Cookies at Blue Bottle, but would go back to try the cake here.

We had the Brooklyn Blend at home. Nice flavor, dark chocolate, hint of fruit. I liked!

BusinessInsider has a good video on them. They temper the chocolate to give it a nice “crack” sound, when you dig in.

Taking the Cole Haans out to Brooklyn

October 29, 2012October 29, 2012 ~ Jill ~ Leave a comment

These were a gift to me back in February of this year. Cole Haan Lunar Grands – a leather wingtip upper and funky Nike sole in bright green. Comfortable and stylish! Of course, I’ve been in search of the right pant to wear with them. I finally found a pair of cropped pants I like this week. I just had such issues with how they fit in the waist, hips…

Anyway, I wore these with a pair of “matchstick” jeans from J Crew. Not skinny, but slimmer at the ankles.

I took this look out to Williamsburg, Brooklyn for dinner. Note the plaid shirt. Mark made us reservations at Le Comptoir. It was so quiet when we got there, but was busy busy soon after. We shared the charcuterie with cheese and had the foie gras creme brule on the side. Savory and sweet!

And then we finished off the evening with drinks at Hotel Delmano. A thyme infused beverage for me, and a spiced apple one for him.

Amy & Robbie, Brooklyn NY

October 16, 2012October 16, 2012 ~ Jill ~ 2 Comments

Our last wedding of the season. And we stayed local for this one. Well, we did have to travel to Brooklyn. This is a pretty cute story: Amy & Robbie met when they were 8 years old at summer camp. Robbie knew then Amy was his girl. It just took a few years to bring us all together for their big day. They made a stamp of a picture they had taken back in the day at camp.

There was a weekend of events, very casual, bringing friends and family together. But on the big day, we followed a marching band from the art gallery to the Brooklyn waterfront. It was so Brooklyn. And the gaggle of people watching this and taking pictures was fun to watch.

Down with the band at the waterfront. I loved that Amy wore a slinky red dress!

The yamakas were stamped with Suki (Amy’s little pug). And here we are on our way with the parade!

A few more pics tomorrow.

Rose @ Thirstbarvin

May 26, 2012May 26, 2012 ~ Jill ~ Leave a comment

Ahhh, the unofficial start of summer. Memorial Day weekend. What better way to kick off a weekend than with a glass (or 3) of rose. We read about this unassuming french inspired restaurant in the New Yorker. And I bookmarked it in my To Try list on Foursquare. It’s really simple, seasonal, local. And well, we do like that. Lots of wines as well. We shared a dandelion salad, tart and lentils with lardons to start. Then shared a main, the pork and chard caillettes. And no, I did not know what this was when we ordered it. It came recommended and was described as sausage like. Sign me up.