Egg Class

The incredible, edible egg! 

I used to hate the suckers growing up, mostly because I couldn't handle the stinky, hard-boiled yolks. But now in my adult life, most recently due to my insane deviled eggs affliction, I gobble them up nearly everyday!

I had signed up for this Egg Class at The Brooklyn Kitchen a while ago, when I was tired of overcooking omelets on Sundays and in need of a few impressive breakfast tricks up my sleeve. The instructor, Bettina, knew her stuff and was very patient and calm in temperament. The class consisted of 7 people and was very hands-on, as we all whisked our egg mixtures, flipped own omelets and poached our own eggs.  One misconception about eggs is that they are easy to cook. Technically, some egg dishes ARE easy to cook, but you need to master timing, which means having your eye on the clock at all times. I found myself constantly looking at the clock, which for the chronically late(Moi!)is a good exercise in time management.

A few suggestions:

• Our class was pretty quiet, you will get more out of the experience, if you come with a ton of questions.
• No need to make plans for dinner. You will be eating plenty and consuming at least a half a stick of butter. 
• Do not wear long, drapy sleeves. Luckily, the folks at Brooklyn Kitchen had a few binder clips around to pin my bat-wings up and I averted an eggy fashion mishap. 

Overall, I learned some nifty cooking techniques on how to handle eggs and acquired some tasty brunch dishes for the weekend.  Have a good weekend!

The Brooklyn Kitchen

616 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
P 718.389.2982 / F 718.389.2981

Comment Card: Momofuku Ssam Bar

Buttermilk Biscuits! Sift the flour, roll the dough...

If I kept a top ten list of most annoying things about New York, "brunch lines on weekends" would rank somewhere among the top, between "open sidewalk cellar doors" and "reckless delivery guys on bikes that dont give a shit if they clip you when you attempt to cross the street". But for some reason, this Saturday, my friend, Patricia, and I were struck with luck and managed to snag 2 seats at the counter at Momofuku's Ssam Bar with no wait. Whoopee! The menu seemed to address our appetite levels, featuring a combination of Asian dishes and hearty eggy brunch fare. We ordered the following and split both dishes:

• Steamed pork buns
• Buttermilk biscuit with scrambled eggs and country gravy with ham

First, a word to the caffeine dependent--coffee isn't served here. You can easily buy a cup of joe at their sister bakery shop, Momofuku Milk Bar, next door, but I was too lazy to walk over. The steamed pork buns did not disappoint. I found them fairly similar to the buns served at the Momofuku Noodle Bar, with no glaring differences. I'm a big fan of these fatty treats. The Buttermilk biscuit with scrambled eggs was heavenly brunch choice--a real standout. The big highlight of the dish for me was the gravy-- deliciously creamy, featuring savory bits of ham. Sopping up the rich gravy on my plate with my crispy biscuit was probably the best part of my meal. Overall, the meal wasn't terribly expensive at all. We left with our bellies full and smiles on our faces.

Brunch Wrap-up

Food: Hearty and satisfying
Service: Very fast and friendly
Ambiance: Bustling.
Price: Not too bad ($25/person includes 20 tip )
Verdict: Great brunch choice. Sit at the bar!

Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 Second Avenue at 13th Street

Had to add this hilarious video, which might be better than the original. Sir Mix-A-Lot could not be found on the YouTube.

Comment Card: Diner, Brunch

Diner is emblematic of the "East Coast of Berkeley" Brooklyn Food Movement, serving meals made with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, with deftness and informal charm. The restaurant's culinary ethos steers the ever-changing, seasonal menu  (written out by the server on the paper table cover) of very hearty, rib-sticking, yet simple fare. Today, I decided to meet my friend (who has a very particular palate) in Williamsburg and sample the brunch at Diner. There was a bit of a wait for a table, which is usually the case, but, we stared down some folks and successfully secured two bar stools at the counter.  We ordered: 

• A fried egg sandwich, cooked sunny side-up,  including a pickled red-onion, lettuce, and bacon on a brioche. Served with a side salad with a vinaigrette. 
  
• A frittata with chorizo and other savory bits. Served a side salad with a vinaigrette. 
  
• A bloody mary, a beer and coffee 
  

To be honest, I personally wasn't bowled over by the frittata, but my friend thought it was tasty. I thought it was under-seasoned, a bit thick and too firm for me, like a new yellow bath sponge.  I would have liked a bit more chorizo and savory bits. Several spalshes of tabasco sauce made it more appetizing for me. 

The fried egg sandwich, on the other hand, was delicious and gratifying.   The salad provided a nice counterpoint to the fattiness of the bacon, egg and brioche. It totally hit the spot for me.

The bloody mary was good, had the necessary kick and jolt, I needed to get through a  down-beat Sunday. 

I think this place deserves repeat business, but be forewarned you will have to wait. No reservations! 

Food: Good
Service:  Friendly and Informal
Ambiance:  Hipster Chic
Price: Slightly Spendy
Verdict:  Hop on the L to try out this place

Diner 

85 Broadway

Brooklyn, NY 11211

Phone: (718) 486-3077
Subways: JMZ to Marcy or L to Bedford 
Directions: http://maps.google.com
Open Daily 11am until 2am
Lunch Mon - Fri 11am - 5pm 
Brunch Sat & Sun 11am - 4pm 
Dinner Sun- Thrs 6pm - 12am 
Dinner Fri & Sat 6pm - 1am
Owners: Mark Firth & Andrew Tarlow
Executive Chef: Sean Rembold