The time had come to call to order the first international DINNERGEDDON board-meeting; which sadly required those of our UK correspondents who had free time to make the trek out to some small town called New York City... have you heard of it?
We flew on a plane!
Once we had the business chatter out of the way (we shredded the notes; take THAT Patriot Act!) there was nothing to do but eat and drink.
"Anybody know any good places to eat around here?"
Fortunately for us, DJ Kneedriver did.
Roberta's - Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Now, we realise this looks pretty spooky, but rest assured, this place is the perfect way to ease into Brooklyn. You know why?
PIZZA.
You walk through that imposing door, behind which you'd expect Carey Elwes to be doing some messed up stuff, to be greeted by the enveloping hum of friendly yammering, heavenly smells, and a real open-fire stone pizza oven.
Behold our blurry action shot!
We ordered up a Specken Wolf, a Chicken Of The Sea, a Da Kine, and a Millennium Falco.
Four funny names; four serious pizzas.
Roberta's even take the time to feature a real herb garden in the back (cared for by Mrs. Kneedriver, we should add) which provides not just fresh herbs for the toppings, but an open space to cool off in, away from the white-hot heat of that bad-ass oven.
After our trip across the Atlantic, illegally stowed-away in the cargo-hold of an industrial freighter jet, we felt a little stone-baked ourselves.
Would you like to see a picture of a pitcher?
BANG. Bet you didn't see that one coming.
This beer was "Six Point Sweet Action", and New York friends, you take this stuff for granted. This Brooklyn-local brew is both smooth and sweet (as the name would suggest) and was the ideal tonic for our jet-lagged metabolisms.
Reeling from the buzz of pizza and beer, we ended our night as we would every night to follow... chilly bottles of Magic Hat.
Morning came.
We felt fine about it.
Ever had Red Velvet Cake for breakfast? It sorts you right out.
So creamy and luxurious (again, as the name would suggest.) We will shortly be attempting a home-made version which will hopefully get its own post, so KEEP YOUR PEEPERS PEELED KIDS.
A heavy day of pilgrimages to locations used in Crocodile Dundee II set us up for more of that geographical oddity that is, the NYC Ale.
This is Dead Guy Rogue.
Not dissimilar to some eastern beverages such as London Pride or Sussex Best, but just, well... different. Colder, that's for sure; with a sweeter, more acidic edge that gave it a much lighter finish.
It was the perfect appetiser for MORE BEER. A thirst that could only be quenched at the source...
BROOKLYN BREWERY = The Source.
Every friday night, the Brooklyn Brewery; in the heart of Williamsburg, opens its doors to the masses to enjoy their fine product in its natural habitat. Rows of picnic benches line the factory floor where you can swap money for tokens and get crunked on the freshest hops in town.
Check out this gear!
Mega stuff.
DINNERGEDDON took it very seriously.
What does one do when they feel a snack coming on?
They get Snacky!
This neon-themed Japanese joint is small, homey, and has a kind of Hunter S. Thompson vibe to it... The feeling that we had just stepped through "the looking glass" pervaded, and we began to feel light-headed.
Fortunately these Garlic Soy-Drenched Greens arrived just in time to keep us grounded. Leaping upon them the same way that a mother jaguar leaps upon those that seek to harm her cubs, we ate most of these before our camera could even take the picture (hence the scarcity of the portion on display... trust us, there was a mountain of them.)
The steamed leaves retained a nice crunch, and the sweetness of the dressing made for a rich and satisfying start to our Asian odyssey.
This is Snacky's own version of a long-established DINNERGEDDON favourite, the Bi Bim Bap, and is as good as any we've ever had. Just as always, it stirs together into a big heaping love-in of deliciousness, and because the food continues to cook itself while you eat, each bite really is different from the last.
Of course we took full advantage of a deal that pairs a chilly bottle of Tsing Tao beer with a crisp shot of Sake for a bargain price.
It's combinations like this, that lead to combinations like this...
KIM CHEE HOT DOG!
Some of us had never tried Kim Chee before, while others at the table we seasoned connoisseurs of this vinegary/sweet pickled cabbage. Not dissimilar to Sauerkraut, just A LOT more full on, it is kind of a berserk choice for a condiment, yet oddly appealing in a way that is difficult to describe. We will be acquiring some of our own shortly...
A good night's sleep left us feeling refreshed and completely not-at-all jet-legged.
Honestly. Not even a tiny bit.
Fancy an insanely strong coffee?
Man, that is a work of art. The people at Blue Bottle Coffee in Williamsburg really know what they're doing.
Utilising the power of what can only be described as a COFFEE BONG (see above) Blue Bottle roast their own beans and drip their own brews to bring you the richest, most natural cup in town. Quite the eye-opener, and perfectly matched to a Lox Bagel on the river-front.
We now find ourselves lacking an appropriate segue into dinner, so let's just use a Segway.
Smoothly done.
This behemoth is the Diner cheeseburger, and it is no exaggeration that I would readily crawl all the way from England to New York on my hands and knees just to get another one. I might need a snorkel for the middle part of the journey, but it would be worth it.
All the meat for these burgers comes fresh from the grass-fed organic butchers right next door, so what you're eating is nothing but the highest quality steak, in patty form. I asked for mine rare, and it came just how I wanted it; pink in the middle, full of flavoursome juices, and big enough to demand two hands to complete the task.
We toasted to Diner, as it remains in our minds the single best meal of the trip. Look at the intense face DJ Kneedriver is pulling in the background... that's what this much red meat does to you.
We will finish this epic post (have you made it this far?) with a breakfast place that is one part greasy-spoon, one part Cheers bar, and one part backyard clubhouse:
JIMMY'S
This place is so much fun. Check out the decor!
Colour me charmed.
They aren't shy up "Irishing" up your breakfast either, should you so desire...
Classy touch. We placed our order, and were promptly brought complimentary cinnamon donuts to enjoy while we waited.
I know they are a simple pleasure, but holy mackerel! I can't believe they give these beauties away free, fresh from the fryer! Awesome.
CHEESE GRITS AND FRESH CORNBREAD
Grits are very much an American phenomenon; being a kind of savoury porridge made with bacon-grease, but man oh man, they are no laughing matter. Just an intense flavour hit with every spoonful, and a perfect pairing with some slightly sweet cornbread for mopping up with.
MADE-TO-ORDER SPINACH, GOAT'S CHEESE AND HAM SCRAMBLE
If you wanna "have it your way" at Jimmy's, they are more than happy to oblige, with an extensive list of scramble ingredients to throw in the mix. Check out the occurrence of more grits and cornbread on the side too! That is out of control.
PULLED-PORK HASH WITH EGGS
You'd think something like pork, potatoes, and eggs would basically be the same everywhere you go, but Jimmy really knows how to handle the humblest components and elevate them into a thing of greatness. Nobody is leaving his place with room for dessert, that's for sure. (Although to be fair, you've already had your dessert with those free donuts. Oof.)
Highly recommended.
...and with that, we reluctantly packed our bags, knowing full well that we were likely to exceed our weight-allowance due to a little extra food-induced "baggage".
Thanks a bunch New York. I hope we didn't eat you out of house and home.
Next DINNERGEDDON board-meeting in the UK? I'll get the Jellied-Eels in!
