The Ridge Tastes Good (Take 2)

Today I made one of the wisest investments of my relatively short life. I proudly supported St.Patrick's parish by attending their annual event, A Taste of the Ridge. For a meager $12, I helped keep the Church going and was able to gorge myself on the fare of 39 restaurants from around the neighborhood. With the amount of diverse, local gourmets present, I was pleased at how much I got for the price.

Given the quality and variety of the food, it's no surprise that the place was packed. Names like Lai Yuen, 101 and Arirang can draw a crowd. There was still plenty of good food to go around though, even if some had to eat it while standing.

The head count didn't do anything to prevent me from trying as many of the foods available as I could. With so many popular vendors in attendance, I was positive that my favorite dishes would come from the big names. I was surprised to find that the most memorable chow didn't come from among the usual suspects. Rather, they were unexpected delights from two particular stalls I almost overlooked.

Naomi and Jennifer represented their home based company Krazy Lady Cheesecakes. I've had a lot of cheesecakes before, but these were exquisite. The samples, small circles with fresh fruit toppings, were soft but firm enough to provide the perfect amount of resistance against chewing and tasted exceptional. Their selection was wide, featuring the staples strawberry and blueberry, but included the lesser sought after flavors like pumpkin. These easily constituted the best dessert available, effortlessly competing with the Court Street outsider Monteleone's Bakery. Regrettably, these ladies don't have a shop. Instead, they take orders via phone (718-685-9996) and e-mail. They are all business however and will take your orders with all the same seriousness.

When I go to a restaurant, I typically look toward the flavors most associated with it. That's why when I visit my favorite eateries, I usually don't order the buffalo wings. Tom Casatelli from The Kettle Black and his Jameson wings have convinced me to reconsider that stance. This chicken flies right off the plate. Hickory flavoring and a just above mild level of spiciness combine to make a wing you could eat in the summer without issue. While Tom didn't bring anything but two sets of wings with him, that's all he needed. I'll be visiting Kettle Black for the first time as soon as I get the chance. Their selection of wings is diverse, but I know which one I'll be ordering ahead of time.

While I do praise these two for their exceptional offerings, I caution anyone who attends against not making the effort to try as much food as possible. While the task of sampling anywhere from 10-15 different sets of penne can be daunting, it's not unrewarding. There wasn't a single plate at A Taste of the Ridge that I wouldn't have finished. Additionally, even if there's a bit of overlap or a particular dish isn't suited to a person's interest, the assortment makes it easy to just move on. I would regret it if I had skipped over Sofia's just because I already stopped by Pipin's Pub.

The people were friendly and happy. That might have had something to do with the amount of food they were consuming, but that doesn't matter. At the event, I saw nothing but laughter and eating. The staff, despite gouging the price of water ($1 for 8oz bottles) was helpful and eager to assist. Even the volunteer servers were all smiles.

Besides having to pay a little too much for the beverages, there isn't much to complain about. The parish knows their stuff. There's no speeches or lengthy lines to stand in. They don't stand between anyone and satisfying the hunger they came to abate. My biggest gripe is simply that I will have to wait another year before I can stroll by and enjoy the entire thing again.

Originally posted on April 25th, 2010

Hannah, Are You New Here?

If you spend a lot of time around 86th street, you may have seen Hanna's Grocery Store, on 85th, between 4th and 5th. Perhaps, you passed by without giving it a second glance. However, that will be much more difficult now that it has evolved into a health food friendly fruit stand. With its new look (interior and exterior), Hanna's previously overlooked grocery store may now get some much craved attention.

Hiatus Haiku

Summer sun sets now
Winter looms ahead
Pancake with a smile

Translation: Over the summer, your local chew enthusiast took a brief break from the hustle and bustle of food writing. Fear not, however, for the baddest set of teeth on the block has returned to continue bringing the (chewed up?) chow you crave. Articles of all types and sizes are forthcoming. I know some of you just can't wait though, so I found a great recipe to play with in the meantime. It's a surefire way to help you start the day off with a smile. It's not local to Bay Ridge, but how could you say no to this?

Learning to Chew

What constitutes a good restaurant/eatery? What goes into selecting where to nosh? What's worth knowing and what's just garnish? These questions are the basis of this (very) modest publication. To make it clear how restaurants will be evaluated, I've compiled a list of a few things people want to know before they go out to eat.

The Cost: Hungry isn't synonymous with careless. The price, for most people, is more limiting than any other factor when deciding where to munch. As tasty as that steak looks, it's not always cost effective or in the budget. Are there specials available? Another prudent question when lunch time is looming.

The Food: Is it tasty? No one wants to pay money for undercooked or otherwise unsatisfactory food. How much variety is there on the menu? Is it Vegan or Vegetarian friendly? A wide selection makes a restaurant worth frequenting and a place that can accommodate everyone equally is always good to know about. Most importantly though, does something stand out? Best Gyro? Best Hot dogs? Worth knowing about!

The Service: Is the server as likely to spit in your food as to shake your hand? Angry and possibly violent? Did s/he greet you with a scowl? How long after you ordered did the food arrive? Good food can only go so far to make a patron overlook poor service.

The Ambiance: This is typically overlooked by most folks. That is, until they arrive at that great restaurant they've heard so much about with their loved ones and it turns out to be a dump. People don't propose at your local McDonald's (most of the time) either. The way an eatery looks and smells, the sounds inside, are all going to effect how pleasurable your visit is.

Availability: When is the dining room open? Can you only visit during a specific season? A lot of people make the mistake of going out to their favorite diner, only to realize its been closed for several hours. Availability is important because if you can't get in, what else matters?

Posts here will be informative, as well as critical and appraising. I'm not just out to find the best or worst restaurants in Bay Ridge, but to sample everything the neighborhood has to offer. There's a smorgasbord of places to eat between top and bottom which deserve attention. Different occasions demand different things. Got a date? You might want to look up Sofia's. Looking for an amazing milk shake? Maybe you need to take a trip to Hinsch's. There's an eatery here for every situation and I'll help you find it.

Baby Teeth

Welcome, prospective readers, to the Bay Ridge Masticator. This blog is dedicated to providing a simple service: honest, practical information about the various eateries in Bay Ridge. With so many choices, picking your next meal here can be daunting. The aim of articles on this site is to make that decision less intimidating and the experience of eating out more enjoyable.