eating bushwick

i love and live in bushwick, brooklyn. i eat and cook. I also make and drink lots of coffee. i own little cafes; one called little skips and the newest one called baby skips which have become the axis of my new york city universe. this is my story, my heart, and my adventure. please enjoy.

[eatingbushwick]

This year has been nothing short of miraculous transformation. Last year was a lot of pushing, falling, struggling, learning always the hard way. But I was planting seeds and setting into motion what I want my life and my SELF to become. I had to become completely over the old me. Soon, the curtain will fall and I will bear by soul because I've realized finally, it's the only way to really BE ALIVE. Here's a sneak peak of a completely nude photoshoot I did with @evanfeltsphoto that we will be 'showing' sometime in the future. Thank you @evanfelts for your trust, talent and guidance. tbc... (at Brooklyn, New York)

[eatingbushwick]

Sometimes we must take a journey within to find truth, strength and courage. We must go into the darkness and pain to face our fears. On the other side, there is bliss, I promise 🖤 thank you @victorjwebstertattoo for your energy ✨🙏 (at East River Tattoo)

[eatingbushwick]

Julian Hunter Pavan

you were born this night at 11:43 at 5 pounds, twelve ounces. oh how you challenged us and everything we had in us. your mother and father both remained so strong and calm. and i was always by their side, waiting for you. marco’s parents said you have eyes of deep dark blue grey pearls. i saw my reflection in them, they were so deep. i saw the universe; the sweet peaceful universe while i instructed you of your mission to save the world. it’s up to you, baby Pavan, to grow up to be a powerful leader, a savior, an incredibly compassionate human being. you will care for others and weep from the sadness we cause ourselves, but not for long, for your cries are your path to compassion. 

thank you for letting me welcome you into this world. thank you for bringing happiness to your parents and for bringing us together. may you be strong, insanely smart and witty and so powerful you will bring peace to the world. find your superpowers, use them intelligently. take nothing and no one for granted. keep your heart open and don’t let this world build walls around you. be vulnerable and free. be beautiful and true, for you are brand new and nothing has hurt you yet. don’t let anything make you mean. be a good human being and take care of others. i love you little guy. here’s to a brand new life together!

[eatingbushwick]

i just got back from the Specialty Coffee Association’s annual event in Seattle, Washington high on coffee knowledge and inspiration. i come back to open a bank account and sign a lease on my newest business--another coffeeshop. it all happened so fast! a month ago, i was sitting at Baby Skips meeting with Claire when Jameson walks in and says he needs to meet with me and that it’s really important. knowing the line of work Jameson is in, i knew it would be an offer on a space he represented. Jameson is a real estate agent.

by now, after over 7 years and 3 businesses, i am not a stranger to people pitching me offers to open a business or rent a space they have available. i didn’t think much of it other than, “of course.” this year has been the year of new possibilities. it was the second feasible project that was offered to me this year and i do believe it is because i am finally ready and have open my heart to new opportunities.

jameson came back later that evening with a crinkled up piece of paper with numbers handwritten on it. it was essentially an informal profit and loss statement of the business he was representing. the landlord, who bought the building from him seven years ago was looking to sell the cafe that he personally built on the ground floor. he was an owner operator and was looking to move on to another project. he had no partners or a manager and worked on the floor at the cafe for the past year and a half since it opened with no vacations. i could totally understand how we is feeling right now. i was there many years ago when i first opened Little Skips in 2010; but the difference was that i had a partner and best friends who worked for me and i still went to southeast asia for a month every year. but the day to day, week to week when there was no vacation, meant grueling 16 hour days, six to seven days a week. i thought about the position he was in and why the offer was so good and i knew that i wanted to give him the relief he wanted with the piece of mind that the space he built would be cared for and loved. so today, i looked into those same familiar eyes, and we signed a ten year marriage agreement, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, til our lease expires.

[eatingbushwick]

Peddler Coffee, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

On a mini escape from New York City, I randomly decided to drive to Philly with my best friend Johnny. Why? Because it’s the closest big city for me to feel like I’m on vacation and know that I will still find good food and coffee. 

My first stop was Peddler Coffee, listed as one of Eater’s top coffeeshops in Philly. Since I’ve never been before, I decided to take myself on a walk from my hotel this sunny Saturday morning. 

The coffeshop is super cozy with exposed brick walls and reclaimed wood counters. I love the raw tree trunk table tops and dream about having tables like these in my coffeeshop back in Brooklyn. I learned that they roast their own coffee nearby and offer a hand-full of single-origin beans that you can get Chemex’d (”pourover”). The espresso is currently a single-origin “Santa Candida” Nicaraguan. I got a Chemex of a naturally processed Ethiopian from Guji Zone. It is “darkish” roasted with a really thick and juicy body almost like a melted dark chocolate. The flavors are well-balanced with notes of strawberry and fig jam and a hint of pineapple on the finish. 

As I sit at the bar in the front window, drinking my coffee, I’m admiring the window decal of their geometric logo and enjoying how unusually warm it is on this February morning and honestly, just really excited to not be in New York City right now. 

After enjoying tasty Cambodian street food (Khmer Grill) at the new Chinatown Square and a long touristy walk around Old City, I gps’d Ox Coffee for a little pick me up. I learned that one of the owners use to roast for Stumptown during it’s original incarnation on the West Coast. Ox Coffee recently began to roast their own coffee as well, of which, I had the Rawandan as filtered drip. It was quite “easy drinking” that I almost chugged my entire mug, with notes of dried apricot, cacao and a hint of blood orange. I like how small the initial place was though it did have more space around the back, including a quaint little backyard. There is no wi-fi (yay!) and the barista was super sweet and knowledgeable and even gave us recommendations for other cool local spots to check out. And of course, nothing is better than a local’s advice on where to eat and drink!

[eatingbushwick]

entering City Bakery on 18th street feels like being transported in time. if you want a tiny glimpse into what “old New York” would feel like, this would come pretty close. the lofted cafe is filled with New York City characters right out of a Woody Allen film. people all around me are talking about everything; business, kids, politics, who they just went on a date with. heavy new yorker accents fill the room like a perfectly pitched cacophony to the jazz playing on the speakers. i got in line to order my americano, iced coffee and spur of the moment “bakery muffin” (that was actually a massive cinnamon bun with powdered suger) and there was no lag in the pace. if you didn’t spit out your order in less than half a second, the dineresque counter workers, with their white paper hats and plain white aprons, would definitely get it out of you and send you on your way to pay the little old man who stole my heart. the funny thing about this place is that though it feels like it’s a trip back in time, the cash registers are all the new iPad based POS systems that swivel around so you can sign directly on the screen. this tiny man rings me up, says “wait for the tip screen” and so i wait and the tip screen never shows up. “ah i did it again.” it’s obvious he’s just learning how to live in the future so i him “don’t worry” and reached for cash from my wallet. “forget about it, just get me next time.” to that i said, “i won’t forget about it” and threw $2 into his obscure tip jar.  i was too shy to ask to take his picture but maybe on another day because i’m sure he will be here, same time next week. 

[eatingbushwick]

coffee inspiration saving time

[iloveyourainbows]

[eatingbushwick]

Here we go, hipsters. Changing your mind about the infamous ugly (Betty) word.

[eatingbushwick]

Little Skips makes the list for "The 10 Best Grilled Cheeses in Brooklyn" with our classic "GCAT" - Grilled Cheddar Avocado Tomato. Feels good to be recognized! Thanks for the love bkmag! 

[akrokus]

This is the view from the counter seats at Little Skips, a way-hip coffee shop in Bushwick on Myrtle & Willoughby avenue. Activity:  Look for the dumpy pig that is totally chillin’.

Thanks for the love akrokus!

[eatingbushwick]

perfecting vegan banana bread

Vegan Banana Bread

Makes: One loaf Takes: About 1 hour and 45 minutes, not including prep 

Wet Ingredients

4-5 very ripe bananas, mashed into a pulp

1/2 cup applesauce (i used 5 bananas once and no applesauce and still yummy)

1/2 cup coconut (or vegetable) oil

1/2 cup vanilla almond milk or vanilla soy milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

2 cup stone-ground whole wheat flour

1 cup brown, raw or cane sugar (I plan on testing out agave nectar soon but it is more expensive and not as sweet so you may have to use more and account for the fact that it is a "wet ingredient" which may through off the current recipe)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder (I use Bob's Red Mill Double Acting, Aluminum-free)

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 tablespoon cinnamon 

1/4 cup walnuts or chopped almonds (i like to layer chopped almonds on top)

  Directions

  Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees F. Coat loaf pan with oil.

Mash the bananas in a large bowl, and combine with the applesauce, oil and almond milk

To the bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir to combine

Pour the mixture into the loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 45 minutes, until a toothpick or knife comes out clean

[rebeccalando]

Nora was a foodie not only before the word became so tiresome and tedious but before it even existed. Nora was a foodie in the best way: driven not by snobbery but by the joy of discovery and eager not to one-up you with her latest bliss, but to share it with you, guide you toward it. Nora was my kind of foodie. … [S]he wasn’t about to let any of life’s greatest pleasures pass her by, and she appreciated food as a pleasure beyond almost any other.

At the Table, Nora Ephron Knew Best - NYTimes.com (via rebeccalando)

Hey Frank Bruni, want to write the forward to my cookbook? Don’t take the unprofessionalism of this shout-out wrong, I’m 100% serious.

[eatingbushwick]

Bike ride from Bushwick to the city. Shanghai Asian Cafe in Chinatown. Soup dumplings. Watercress shrimp dumplings and stewed beef noodle soup.

[eatingbushwick]

Homemade mac and cheese with sharp cheddar, blue cheese crumbles, broccoli and Japanese panko bread crumbs baked in a cast iron skillet for 20 minutes.

[eatingbushwick]

Lok Lak is a traditional Vietnamese (and Khmer) dish consisting of sautéed beef on top lettuce leaf, tomatoes and thinly sliced onions. I like to add watercress for a variation. Use the lettuce as wraps and dip in the sauce made of lime juice, salt and pepper. Oh how this dish takes me back...

[eatingbushwick]

Egg noodles with sautéed kale and shrimp. And as always, seasoned with the same golden mountain sauce my mom used when I was a little kid.

[eatingbushwick]

My favorite easy addition to any meal is to PUTANEGGONIT! Couscous avocado salad with grape tomatoes, anchovies and golden mountain sauce