Bozu

Bozu is one of the sweetest spots in Brooklyn, serving Japanese tapas or small plates which can be paired with Bozu's choice array of saki. Bozu (meaning bald or monk in Japanese) also calls itself a kajitsu-shu or an infusion house, offering 20 different kinds of fruit infusions.


296 Grand Street
 Brooklyn, NY 
T. 718-384-7770.

Welcome back to Brooklyn!

After 2 long years in Queens we found an apartment in our old neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant in Brookyn. We were welcomed with a beautifully set tray of mint tea on a chilly February day by our soon to be neighbor, Mr. Mettler. How about that for an auspicious omen? Looking into making many more pots of tea and sharing them with friends. Hurrah for Brooklyn!

Cafe Biba, Brooklyn

Cafe Biba is situated near the beautiful East River park of Williamsburg and views of the sparkling East river through it's windows are part of the menu. It's location in one of the most exciting neighborhoods of Brooklyn, a part of it's sacred charm.  Yet, despite it's proximity to commercially busy streets during the busy weekly hours, one can  still enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with a dash of solitude within its confines. 

I wanted to show my mother, who was visiting us from India, this part of town. After a long walk on the  streets thriving with people, we decided to finish our afternoon with a cup of coffee. Our barista was a Mr. Jeremy with whom we had a long conversation about India and his travels in the Northern parts. He'd been rechristened as Jai Ram ji by the locals in the villages he'd lived in  and couldn't wait to visit India again. 

Address: 101 Kent Avenue, 

Brooklyn, NY

Tel: 718. 887. 8171

George Andre

Dear Sarah, please don't forget about:

1. Children's Fantasy novels

2. Incredible Science Fiction

3. That little glazed pottery jewel for me. Please choose fruit or vegetable.

4. It was really lovely to see you again after 2 years. 

5. No, you don't smell. Too badly.

6. That hole in the front part of your dress was super cute. 

7. Long hair does suit you.

8. I think a blush orange is your color.

9. And David: looking forward to your 'mystery' film.

George Andre is a coffee shop with vintage flair located in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant between Stuyvesant avenue and Halsey street. Owned and operated by a French expat who goes by the name of SuperFrench, it provides a coffee, soup and pastry haven to many friends and neighbors. The hand selected vintage furniture pieces are also on sale in case one wants to buy a sofa or chair along with one's latte.

Address: 558 Halsey Street

Brooklyn, NY

Tel: 347 762 5578

http://superfrenchvintage.com/

Cafe Ghia

Since our move to Queens, the first few weeks were spent unpacking boxes and trying to figure out what goes where. On another note, Lauren and I had been trying to meet over the past several weeks - if it wasn't this 

it was that, 

that got in our way. 

So this Sunday we met at Cafe Ghia, 

through the light rain 

the walk from 

the L train, 

the wide grey streets of Bushwick, 

colors of various murals

on the sides of warehouses,

buildings,

Another cool

Grey spring Day.

Café Ghia is owned by Bushwick residents Scott McGibney and Anna D'Agrosa and is named after Scott's 1970 Karmann Ghia, purchased when he was sixteen, which he still drives. The cafe itself is a cozy square shaped room fully packed during brunch and alive with the Bushwick scene. 

24 Irving Ave, Brooklyn, NY

Tel:718 821 8806

Bakeri

Bakeri was suggested one afternoon by an acquaintance who like me also happens to navigate the currents of the wine business. And yes,
one evening
I did trek
all the way
from Manhattan
to Brooklyn in
order to find this
place which promised
redemption in
the form of a
dark brew.

Bakeri was established in 2009 and has built a reputation for their tasty coffee, teas and wonderful baked goodies. The menu includes salads, sandwiches and a general joie de vivre amongst it's clientele.

150 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
Tel: 718 388 8037

Saraghina

For the tastiest Neapolitan style pizza in Brooklyn.
Atmosphere
and
wine.

435 Halsey Street
Brooklyn, NY
Tel: 718 574 0010

Moto

Going out to dinner at Moto was a wonderful present. The restaurant is named after parts of a bike that have been refitted into the beer taps at the bar,
the interior is a poem
written by
Dostoevsky,
the atmosphere
is reminiscent
of a Gothic novel
set in an
old
forgotten
room
of a castle
where
the Vampyre
Armand lived
a long
long time ago.

This evening I sat with two of my favorite poets, Rabindranath Tagore and Mr. D over glasses of wine, some mac and cheese, a portobello Pannini and the most delightful Date and Toffee cake.

Moto
394 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
Tel: (718) 599-6895

d.b.a

My extremely broke friend and I decided to meet after 6 or 7 years during 'happy hour' at d.b.a. Being enlightened by dire straits and a healthy overdose of technology we looked up open bars in and around the city and found that d.b.a hosts an open bar on Monday nights. So while my friend sipped water (I assume he was more broke than myself) I ordered an Eisbock from Germany.

d.b.a is mostly a beer bar with a very notable selection of International and national beers. They also have an incredible array of bourbons, whiskeys and single malt Scotches. As it was a Monday night, the atmosphere was quiet, there were a few people around and the bartender Gareth was extremely attentive and knowledgeable about his beers, explaining each with the most incredible Australian accent. The space itself is the sister bar to d.b.a in the East Village which is always packed. This branch though has a lovely back garden which should do rather well during the hot summer nights.


where: 113, North 7th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY 11211
tel: 718 218 6006
open bar: Every Monday with a rotating selection of beer and spirits
Can get expensive with certain beers going well up to $ 7.00 and up

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