JACOBS PICKLES and Biscuits and Beer

Disclaimer one, it was 1145 pm on a Saturday night when we got to Amsterdam and 84st. Number two, there was the kind of loud buzz upfront that I would have liked in my youth but the host moved us to a quiet rear table but the college reunion or some kind of reunification with great young people began expanding like Hitchcock's birds and i was jealous of them and a little crowded and louded out..the waiter apologized...and delivered everything in a kindly timely way. And much was good to great..dark tap cider shrimps on a spicy grit soupy bed and mac and cheese in an iron griddle, pickle slaw....fried chicken next time. The only sour note besides the delicious looking sour pickles was the grits side pot.
Watery and lumpy in a steel pot . Dickensian more than My old Kentucky home--ian. Someone in the crew said that happened sometimes. But it seemed like the only thing that needed quality control. Everything else  from decor to beer selection to staff culture seemed right.

MORE please.

And remember riding the ice flow across from ATO?

MORE?? You want more? (runny grits with lumps)

Pickle slaw

The grits sort of worked here because the shrimp liked them.

BROOKLYN CENTRAL...first burst of flavor

289 5av in Park slope near second street was an erratic place til tonight's opening night at Brooklyn Central. A fully wood burning oven and a crispy professional crew have moved in and pre liquor license will addict you to their mohito like limeades and an old world new world dichotomy of pizzas ...and speck and ricotta and olives and salads and cheeses and pickles. But first some praise for the old world DOC with Italian di bufala and maranzano? tomato's. OMG.  Espresso from Australia..smores calzone..coolhaus ice cream sandwiches...so many reasons to go now and also obtain a loyalty card redeemable in the booze on the way.

Pamelas on the Strip for pancakes and a no hitter and ohiopyle bbq and great folk in....Pittsburgh,the other Brooklyn.

The Great Race is our excuse for a great week end in and around Pittsburgh with Andrew Sheehan of KDKR and Abigail and Emmett(10 minutes better than last year)and Eamon. And the BKLYNERS. As for food the Sheehan Home was the highlight but as of this writing not available to the general public.

Firefly Grill in Ohiopyle

Homer Bailey apologizing to the Pittsburgh fans

Frank and Kristen posing in exactly the way Frank Loyd Wright intended

Tim and Maureen before their next home

Andrew ,Abigail, and Kristen

Retro Pamelas

The Pancakes

Pamelas

Roberto Clemente

Pamelas for pancakes on the strip (Obama's favorite), on the other hand,is available and this cross between a crepe and a hotcake is crispy and spongy and totally worth a trip to Pittsburgh from Chile or Belgium.
And in Ohiopyle (formerly Falls city) there is rafting and hiking and bbq.
And at the home of the Pirates you can if you are quiet about it enjoy Cincinnati's Homer's no hitter.

Firefly bbq

DO you have vegi burgers and do they have peas or okra in them?

And then top it off with thousands of runners and wanna bees at The Great Race. Even if you don't know the Sheehans, this place has the charm of Brooklyn and a proximity to mountains and farm stands...though everyone there seems to know the Sheehans...even the kosher butcher turned cab driver.  

Canteen 82...taste of Shanghai..And A new Columbus honor

Lo Mein

2/3 update by sophie age 8 "THE FOOD IS REALLY GOOD! I DONT KNOW WHY IT GETS BAD REVIEWS. I WOULD GIVE IT GOOD REVIEW. IT IS NOT A VERY CROWDED RESTRANT I ALSO LIKE THEIR LOMANE NOODLES."

spicy shrimp

Rice Cakes

Third soup dumpling order

Trudging happily through Central Park I was hopeful as always in my quest for good Chinese food...(park slope is a Chinese food desert). A taste mirage? NO. And of all places,the upper west side of Manhattan, where old poker games were often fueled by greasy glop and chemistry set wonton soup and dough ball dumplings.  Truly a wonderful Columbus Day eve...because at 467(not 1492) Columbus Ave (and 82 st) we found three kinds of soupy dumplings...even vegi...you may know them at juicy buns...xiao long bao..or dumpling squirters..OMG good.  And rice cakes with chicken and shrimp and moo shoo that tastes fresh and clear, not corn syrupy or mushy. Sambah spice shrimp were large and succulent. There are good vegan selections and a warm cousin like vibe from the wait staff. Comfortable and familiar but outstanding...like the first time I had a # One or hand pulled noodles. Sophie liked the  lo mein...that's important. I wish you were all there spinning a lazy susan that could quench you all.

MOO SHOO