Cremini's In Carroll Gardens Honors The Simple Artistry Of Italy's Le Marche Region

Owners Riccardo Massetti and Elena Salati

For the past few weeks, most New Yorkers have probably been fantasizing about where they will have their first meal once New York City allows restaurants to re-open after the Coronavirus  lockdown.
Personally, I have already made up my mind that I will eat at Cremini's, a charming Italian aperitivo spot, which quietly opened at 521 Court Street in Carroll Gardens last summer.

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of meeting owners Riccardo Massetti and Elena Salati  in their cosy bistro, which has stayed open for take-out service. They were so welcoming, the space so in viting, that I can't wait to come back when I can actually sit at one of the tables.

If 2020 has been a slow year for restaurants so far, 2019 was incredibly busy for Riccardo and Elena, as they moved to New York from their native Italy that spring, got married, and opened Cremini's all within a few months.  
Cremini's gave them the opportunity to introduce New Yorkers to the flavors and gastronomy of Riccardo's home region of Le Marche, Italy. Their menu offers Ascolana Olives, pitted olives that are stuffed with meat and then breaded, before being fried, Italian Focaccia bread filled with various ingredients, and pizzette, small pizzas with fresh toppings. It also includes fresh mediterranean salads as well a Elena's special burger and various aperitivo platters. Riccardo will set you up with a special Spritz cocktail or a glass of red wine to pair with your food.

For the time being, Creumini's has switched to a take-out/delivery menu that also includes cocktails to go.  Give them a try the next time you order out and help support this wonderful new dining spot in our neighborhood.  And hopefully, we can all make a reservation and eat at the restaurant very soon.

A note from Riccardo Massetti and Elena Salati on their restaurant's web site:
Le Marche is Italy's land of bounty, the birthplace of artists, composers, and poets. Think of Raffaello, Gioachino Rossini, Giacomo Leopardi. The culinary tradition of Le Marche reflects the beauty and harmony of its natural environment. That unique tradition inspires our carefully crafted recipes, which are married to innovative techniques and bold pairings.

We proudly honor the simple artistry of Le Marche’s regional cuisine every day at our bistro in Brooklyn, and we’ve fallen in love with our home-away-from-home in Carroll Gardens.

We hope you will too.

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Now that Carroll Gardens' Momofuku Milk Bar Is Gone, What Would You Like To See In Its Place?

There was general excitement and quite a bit of press coverage when Momofuku opened a Milk Bar at 360 Smith Street, near 2nd Place in Carroll Gardens in the spring of 2012. The location on the ground floor of a newly constructed building over the F and G train at the Carroll Street station seemed perfect for an outpost of the popular bakery, with its famous Crack Pies and Cereal Milk soft
serve ice cream. Besides, it was a convenient coffee spot for commuters.

In August, we received several messages from readers letting us know that Milk Bar was officially closing at that location.  It came as quite a surprise.

A note in the window explained that after 7 years, the company was moving the staff from Carroll Gardens to its new flagship store at 29th and Broadway in Manhattan, which is slated to open this fall.

The retail space now stands empty, but perhaps not for long since this is such a high traffic corner of the neighborhood. The space is rather small, however, limiting the type of business that can thrive here.

What would you like to see at this corner?  What sort of business would do well and would be useful to local residents?  Would love to hear your thoughts.

Here is a blast from the past, before the building at 360 Smith Street was built. Who remembers the newsstand that stood at the location once occupied by this retail spot?

The corner of Smith Street and Second Place before 360 Smith Street was constructed.

 The former newsstand next to the subway station.

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East Wind Snack Shop Outpost On Smith Street Serving "“Damn Good Chinese Food!”

During the summer, quite a few stores and eateries have closed here in Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill, but some new ones have popped up as well. East Wind Snack Shop, which opened at 253 Smith Street (near Douglass Street) this past June, seems to be a great addition to the area.
The menu features a great selection of Chinese dumplings (pork, dry aged beef, vegetable and shrimp), a pork belly Boa bun, and a selection of rice dishes and stir fried noodles
The small eatery is the second location by this name for its chef and owner Chris Cheung. The first one opened in Windsor Terrace in 2015.

From the web site:As food is the cheapest way to travel the world, it’s also a cool way to go back in time. This shop was inspired by the old Chinatown tea houses and we love it when food brings people back to their fondest memories. For us, the only way to accomplish this is to make the food in the best way possible, from scratch everyday with really good responsibly sourced ingredients. We handcraft the best dumplings and bao and slowly cook all our meats for tender goodness. We’re a small mom and pop shop dedicated to sharing our culture. We call it “Damn Good Chinese Food!”

Have you tried this place yet? What are your favorite dishes? Dumplings?

East Wind Snack Shop

253 Smith Street

Open 7 days a week

12PM to 9PM

​347 889 5717

For those keeping track, the retail space was previously occupied by La Casita Yarn Shop Café.

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Coming To Smith Street Soon: Ichiba Kitchen

Ichiba Kitchen, a Japanese and Korean eatery, has been in the works for a while at 196 Smith Street in Boerum Hill.  Ichiba means 'market' in Japanese, so one can imagine fresh, tasty dishes. The storefront has been clad in wood recently and by the looks of things, a grand opening is not too far away.
Most recently, this location was home to Phil And Anne's Good Time Lounge, the short-lived collaboration between celebrity chef Anne Burrell and renowned bar owner Phil Casaceli, which closed in the spring of 2018.
Before that, the storefront was occupied for seven years by beloved barbecue restaurant/ whiskey bar Char No.5, which closed in 2015.

Do you think Ichiba Kitchen will be a nice addition to Smith Street?

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"Burgerim": Yet Another Burger Franchise For Court Street

One would have thought that a burger place is the last thing Court Street needed, what with Bareburger, Moo Burger,  Nature's Grill, and so many other neighborhood eateries like Two 8 Two Burger, Fawkner and Shake Shack serving this American staple.

Yet, Burgerim, a rapidly growing Israeli-born miniature burger chain, is in the process of opening a franchise at 187 Court Street, at the corner of Bergen Street, in the former home of California Taqueria, which has stood empty for a number of years.

Calling their burgers 'chef inspired', Burgerim allows customers to create their own by choosing between 9 different patties, including spicy mergez, wagyu beef, chorizo, salmon and veggie, two different buns, as well as various toppings and sauces.

From the web site:

"Bursting with flavor, our gourmet burgers apply a unique approach to kicking all of your cravings in one meal. Choose from an uno, duo, trio, or 16 pack of our gourmet 3 oz. patties and customize each one. With a variety of buns, signature sauces, mouthwatering patties, and flavorful toppings, your Burgerim order is custom tailored to satisfy all that you crave."

What do you think, dear reader? Is there room for yet another burger joint in the neighborhood? would you have preffered another type of eatery/ store to open at this location?

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Sumela: A New To-Go Eatery Brings Turkish Cuisine To Court Street

Sumala, a new Turkish eatery just recently opened its doors at 145 Court Street.  Conveniently located near the intersection with Atlantic Avenue and directly across from Trader Joe's, it offers reasonably-priced Kebabs and Falafel sandwiches, wraps and salads.
The two-course lunch special for $12.95, available Monday through Friday, consists of a kebab with the choice of salad, soup or appetizer.
Sumala does seem to be set up mainly for to-go service, but the place offers some tables for eating in.

There certainly is a need for places that offer quick meals at cheaper prices here in the neighborhood and we have no doubt that it will do well here. Its interesting to note that a similar Mediterranean kebab place, Shawarma and Grill, will soon open a block away on Smith Street.
And of course, there is Darna Falafel just a few streets up at 200 Court Street, which has been a popular little lunch place since it opened in 2011.

What do you think about this new opening?

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