Zagat Liked it on Instagram

On a walk back through Park Slope after enjoying lunch, felt the need for some dessert, but wasn’t sure where to go. Was pretty sure there was a bakery down one of the streets along the way back, it was just a matter of picking the right one. Crisscrossed a couple blocks and found myself along 8th Avenue, the correct street and found Ladybird Bakery – have visited a few times before, just wasn’t 100% sure of the location.

Step inside and there is a small seating area, next to an expansive display case, that greets you. Cookies, cakes, and cupcakes bombard your vision and it usually takes a couple views before deciding what would suit you for the day – there have been visits where a cake looked like a viable option. After a few walks back-and-forth before the glass display, saw these large carrot cake bars – thick-cut slabs of carrot cake, with a healthy layer of icing topping it off.

Brought it home and took a bite, the cake is moist with nuts that add a much-needed crunchy texture, then that icing – the icing melds everything together – one of those icings you could eat with a spoon.

A picture of the Carrot Cake Bar was added to Instagram (@pau_loreto) and, yes, it earned a “Like” from Zagat.

Shrimp Burger

The Monday after Thanksgiving, got back to Park Slope, Brooklyn from Toms River, New Jersey with giant suitcase in tow and some twist ankle ligaments. After getting everything tucked away, needed to grab lunch and with limited mobility, close proximity was a necessity. Hobbled over to Krupa Grocery, a fairly new establishment, with a healthy beer selection and a menu featuring all-day breakfast and various lunch offerings from sandwiches to salads – it was pretty easy making a selection.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the Panko Crusted Shrimp Burger. The menu lists the ingredients as black tiger shrimp, seaweed salad, Korean pickles, and kewpie mayonnaise – it was a lovely setup for what arrived – a delicious treat.

The sandwich was big. The ingredients were stacked high and the shrimp patty was massive and that first bite was an amazing mix of flavors from the crunchy shrimp and pickles to the uniquely-flavored seaweed salad. Paired with fried fingerlings – definitely a welcome change to the typical French fries or onion rings – from beginning to end the meal was fantastic.

Chocolate Pistachio Cake

As the cycle goes, enjoy a drink or two, fill up after a couple courses at dinner, and get ready to go, then, the dessert menu arrives. Actually, the server asks if the dessert menu is of any interest, claim to just “take a look,” and, then, end up ordering something despite being completely stuffed.

This time around, at Hugo & Sons, in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, it was the flourless chocolate pistachio cake that raised eyebrows. Paired with an orange mascarpone cream, it was an amazing – and perfect – selection to end the evening. Given that it’s a flourless cake, it was very rich, but the mascarpone and pistachio served as a good contrast and balanced the overall taste and texture.

While the rest of meal was just as fantastic, a visit would still be worth it just for the cake.

Amuse-Bouche

An evening out for dinner brought along a surprise at Soigne Restaurant & Wine Bar (486 6th Ave, between 11th St & 7th Ave / Park Slope, Brooklyn).

Split Pea Simplicity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A beautifully simple Split Pea Amuse-Bouche, served chilled, was a refreshing start to a delicious evening.