Peaches

This particular morning we walked towards Peaches, a short walk down Lewis avenue in Brooklyn and joined the cheering group of people sitting in front of a massive screen. The speech that was given by the newly elected president Mr. Barack Obama and its response made me aware of how acutely everyone was into this change and into bidding adieu to a troubled past. Peaches is a neighbourhood restaurant located on Lewis Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant and it's fare adds an emphasis on Creole and Cajun cooking with fresh greenmarket produce. The restaurant is a welcome addition to the developing but extraordinarily beautiful neighbourhood that I fell in love with a few years ago.

The name Stuyvesant comes from Peter Stuyvesant, the last governor of the colony of New Netherland. This area was originally settled by Dutch farmers and chartered in 1663 as part of the Town of Breukelen, retaining it's rural character until the present street system opened the way for urban development. The district changed gradually between 1870 and 1920 when block after block was filled with handsome rows of houses. The 1960s and 70's were a difficult time for Bedford-Stuyvesant as one of the first urban riots took place here. This led to a huge decline in an area which had always been a cultural centre for African Americans after Harlem in Manhattan. In the 1970's certain sections like the newly christened Stuyvesant Heights and Weeksville were declared as Historically Land Marked areas and steps for their preservation were undertaken. Beginning in the 2000s, the neighbourhood began to experience a renaissance that continues until today.

(Some of this information was provided by a plaque from the New York Community Trust, 1972 which is erected on one of the beautiful houses of Decatur Street).


393 Lewis Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11233
(718) 942-4162