Saturday Splurge: Rucola (Brooklyn, NY)

Image courtesy of rucolabrooklyn.com

Adam and I went to Italy 2 years ago. Though we did Rome (like any good tourist should do), we found true vacation bliss in a little place called Cinque Terre, five tiny villages along the Italian Riviera. I've never been so smitten with a place in all my life (well, minus my study abroad trip to Fiji, where not much 'studying' went down). In addition to the sights and sounds of Italy, we, of course, were taken in by the food. The Italians are famous for it and there's definitely a reason. 

Though New York is chock full of Italians, it's not quite as easy to find a truly authentic Italian restaurant here that compares to the ones in Italy. So you can imagine my utter surprise when we stumbled upon Rucola in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. It's on a quiet, residential block and it's actually quite unassuming during the daytime. But at night, the place comes alive. For starters, the space is quite gorgeous. The ceiling is made of wood beams (reclaimed wood, I think?). Mason jar chandeliers hang from the ceilings. They've even found a way to make fancy lighting fixtures out of old meat grinders (you heard me right, meat grinders).

Adam started with an old-fashioned cocktail - the New Rider - a delicious combination of rye whisky, Maraschino liquer, ginger and sage. I was having a major hankering for red wine, so I kept it simple with a quartino of Malbec. And since it was date night, we decided to go all out by starting with the chef's selection of cheese, meat and vegetable antipasti. Though the cheese and meat were both spectacular (how could they not be?), the vegetable antipasti was our favorite part by a mile. The chef was generous, including marinated olives, pickled fennel, balsamic roasted beets and eggplant caponata. By the time we were done, I was beginning to get worried about tackling my entree.

Speaking of entrees, we both chose something hearty, to compliment the brisk fall evening. Adam chose the duck breast with wild rice, champagne grapes and romano beans, while I was in the mood for pasta. It was a tough decision because the night's special sounded particularly tempting, but I chose the strozzapreti, a delicious combination of summer squash, green garlic pesto and grana padano. Though we were already full, both dishes were so fantastic that we wiped them clean.

Image courtesy of rucolabrooklyn.com

Oh...and the brussel sprouts! How could I forget those little bites of heaven?!? They were served crispy, drizzled with maple and parsley and topped with thin-sliced apples. I might just be in love with a sprout. For real.

I realize the post is getting lengthy. I could keep going on and on about the food, but I think you'd be better served trying it out for yourself. Maybe tonight? Brunch next weekend?

...But don't wait too long. It would be a damn shame.


RUCOLA
190 Dean Street (at Bond Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718.576.3209
www.rucolabrooklyn.com

Saturday Splurge: Building on Bond (Brooklyn, NY)

I am constantly amazed at how many restaurants surround me in just Brooklyn alone. I've lived in Brooklyn for almost 3 years and have still yet to try all the local spots - plus, they keep popping up by the day, making it very hard to keep up! I've passed Building on Bond quite a few times, as it's on the same street as my old hair salon, but never stopped in. Last weekend, Adam and I decided it was time to cross it off the list. We were doing a little shopping in the neighborhood and it made perfect sense.

From the moment we walked in, I was charmed. The place had the feel of a brunch spot you might stumble upon in Colorado or the mountains of North Carolina. The decor is rustic, with beautiful wood walls, exposed ceiling pipes (painted my favorite color turquoise!) and simple, unassuming touches throughout. The waiters even traded in their normal black aprons for a simple Home Depot cotton tool belt or any old belt they brought from home. It sort of felt like a trendy twist on your grandfather's kitchen or workshop...or something to that effect!

It was the perfect day for brunch. The sun was shining. There was a slight breeze in the air, hinting at the arrival of fall, and dare I say there were a few leaves on the ground (this time of year gets me all a'flutter! can you tell?)?

We started with the usual. A coffee (milk, no sugar) for me and a hot earl gray tea for Adam. Then, after intense deliberation, we both got the same thing, which Adam considers an unacceptable dining practice. You NEVER get the same thing. I'm not even sure why he let this one slide. Maybe because it looked so good that he wasn't backing down and I wasn't about to on my end either.

What looked so good? I'm talking about the BBQ Pork Hash Benedict, a lip-smacking combination of slow-cooked pulled pork, poached eggs and chipotle hollandaise sauce. This dish was such an interesting twist on the traditional eggs benedict, which I'm usually not a fan of. I have to say, Building on Bond won me over!

If you're in the downtown Brooklyn / Boerum Hill area, you should definitely give it a little look-see! Ditch the diner and try a spot equally as comforting. And don't forget... there's great shopping in the neighborhood for walking off that heavy brunch afterwards!


BUILDING ON BOND
112 Bond Street (at Pacific Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
347.853.8687
www.buildingonbond.com