#john-severin

[whatsrlyfood-blog]

Court & (gastro) Spark

Strong Place is officially the most delicious misnomer in Cobble Hill. Its namesake is actually a cul-de-sac 3 blocks west, but lets be real, you're not gonna get walk-by traffic on a dead-end street.

The vibe is elevated gastro-pub; exposed brick, and comfortable smooth-wood booths. An open kitchen (en route to the dining room) is an interesting aspect, for a place that appears at first glance to be a neighborhood bar. But I'm guessing you don't typically get herb gnocchi with your PBR? I'm a very tentative gnocchi eater; i've been burned too many times by heavier-than-lead potato pasta. This one blew me away though. The earthiness of perfectly cooked summer squash, zucchini, and onion, with long slices of parmesan, and subtle local honey worked into the cream, added layer upon layer of unexpected flavor.

Other selections veer more towards bar-fare. Above are mini lobster tacos with mango-corn salsa, guacamole, and cotija cheese. Nice southwestern essences thanks to a tangy chipotle sauce. But if i'm having lobster, i want to know it. Cold preparations like this (outside of a bursting lobster roll) tend to mask the fish a bit, for my taste. I'm a secret New-Englander at heart i guess.

Man oh man, my dudes at Zaytoons have some surprising competition. Possibly the best lamb burger I've ever had; decked out with melted feta cheese and a sun-dried tomato ketchup. Rich and complex, while somehow being as lean and non-greasy as a burger can get. The huge helping of crispy rosemary fries don't hurt either.

Foam is lame right? Universally accepted modern culinary truth? However, its easy to forget the "not-if-its-white-chocolate" clause. In this case it's surrounding a chocolate bread pudding cake, topped with chocolate gelato. In the words of Thom Yorke "everything all of the time."

You can certainly come by just to get your drank on, thanks to one of the most impressive beer lists in the downtown region. They also have their late night menu available til 2am on the weekends. So get gourmet-drunk without hesitation. -JS

[whatsrlyfood-blog]

what i'm (food)fantasizing about today

Our pals at Drunk Era have taken a break from making great mixes today. And are instead indulging me in some lunch-time food-foreplay. Unfortunately, I'm sure whatever garbage I end up eating will not even come close to this...

Salt Cod Gnocchi. An Italian-Argentinian amalgam, and you only have to travel to Buenos Aires for it.

Check out the full guide on First We Feast