SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

For the full pdf version of the Brooklyn Restaurant Week 2010 listing, clink the link below.

Brooklyn Restaurant Week is rolling around again. The dates of the 2010 event are set for March 15 to the 25. Last year we told you that the Sheepshead Bay had slim pickings when it came to participation in the prix fixe dinners and lunches. This year, Clemente’s Maryland Crabhouse does not appear on the list, but there is an added brunch deal, as well as a designation for the few Kosher offerings (look for the ‘K’ in a light blue circle). Below is a list of the local offerings, or visit the ‘Visit Brooklyn’ website and see the full list, in case you are looking to venture out of Sheepshead Bay.

Restaurant Weeks are usually held only on weekdays from Monday through Friday, but the flyer does not specifically list this limitation. You might want to to check with each restaurant, before making your plans. There may be a few of those restaurants that even extend the specials beyond March 25.

Here is a list of the restaurants participating in the neighborhood:

Baku Palace L D
2001 Emmons Avenue
718-615-4700

IL Fornetto Restaurant D and Lunch for 2 special
2902 Emmons Avenue
718-332-8494

Liman Restaurant L
2710 Emmons Avenue
718-769-3322

Osaka Japanese Restaurant L D
2805 Avenue U
718-891-6200

Mark your calendars, ladies and gentlemen, because it’s finally official: Grillin’ On The Bay, New York City’s only sanctioned barbecue contest, is just one month off.

Of course, it’s been “official” for a while. But in our world, things are only official when banners go public. The above banner just got strung up on the St. Mark’s fence over the weekend, and our guts are a’grumblin.

To kick it up a notch, Sheepshead Bites is also making something official – I’ve been selected as a judge for the event.

Meat, meat, meat, meat, meat!

I’m already drooling, and can’t wait to sink my teeth into selections from New York City’s best grill-meisters.

For those not familiar with the annual event, Grillin’ On The Bay is a barbecue competition sanctioned by the New England BBQ Society. The event draws some notable players from city restaurants, as well as barbecue enthusiasts from anywhere within driving distance. Food world celebs have been spotted, including Harold Dieterle, the first-season winner of Top Chef. And the best part is, the citywide fanfare goes to benefit a local school, St. Mark’s, where it all takes place.

Now, that’s not all. The competition is far from closed, and organizers are still accepting applications for teams in the BBQ contest, as well as competitors for the Brooklyn Chili Smack Down, a people’s choice event. You can find out more information as well as get registration packets at Grillin’ On The Bay’s website.

How can I talk about wings without a yummy picture to look at? (Photo courtesy of disneymike via Flickr)

Well, as far as Brooklyn goes, the answer is “No.”

Wheelers (1707 Sheepshead Bay Road) lost last weekend’s “Throw Your Wing Into The Ring” Chicken Wing Competition at Red Star Bar in Greenpoint. But then, that’s not so disappointing – our boys were competing against a bunch of North Brooklyn sheisters who think living in abandoned factories with polluted groundwater is cool. The competition had the hometown advantage, and our brave warriors were no doubt mired in an atmosphere of douchebaggery.

Super Wings in Crown Heights was the choice of the three judges, while Sugarcane in Park Slope was the people’s choice for best wings.

We couldn’t reach Wheelers’ managers for a comment, but we’re hoping they plan to compete in next year’s competition as Red Star Bar has announced it’ll be annual. So look forward to some tweaking to the recipe, and hopefully a future title.

But back to the question in the headline: are Wheelers’ wings the best… in Sheepshead Bay? I’ve never had wings at any of the places in the neighborhood, so I can’t judge. But surely Wheelers need not be our only competitor. What about Roll-N-Roaster? Or Chicken Masters? Perhaps we can also get a place like Sweika to compete and concoct a version of Buffalo wings with an Eastern European twist.

If we can convince more businesses to take part in next year’s wing competition, who do you think should join in?

Sorry Local Broker. Sorry BrooklynQ. Sorry Arthur. I cheated on all of you.

Without a peep to any of you, I slunk off to Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitano (1524 Neptune Avenue) Friday afternoon – Totonno’s first day open since their fire last March. I went with my brother. Neither of us had been there before.

It. Was. Delish.

Continue Reading »

Local bar and grill Wheelers (1707 Sheepshead Bay Road), famous for their No Sushi sign, has entered the “Throw Your Wing Into The Ring” Chicken Wing Competition. Apparently the hipster scum up in North Brooklyn think they make the best wings around. Boy are they in for a fight!

Wheelers is going to be the only South Brooklyn establishment represented in the competition, so we’re calling on everyone from Starrett City to Bensonhurst to rally behind our chosen warrior.

And ladies, your hubby is going to wine and dine you and a variety of other things he doesn’t want to do on Sunday. So give him the perfect pre-Valentine’s Day date. Bring your muchacho to the competition to sample all the chicken wings Brooklyn has to offer and cheer on our neighborhood representative!

Let’s show them who the real chickens are! (Uh, we mean the North “Brooklynites” who moved here ’cause they were scared of “real life” in Omaha or wherever…)

When: Saturday, Februarty 13 at 3 p.m.
Where: Red Star Bar, 37 Greenpoint Avenue (between Franklin and West Streets)
Cost: FREE!

View the flyer

Courtesy of wallyg via Flickr

Not only is Brooklyn home to the world’s best pizza and bagels, it’s also home to two legendary institutions of roast beef. These prodigious restaurants happen to both be in Sheepshead Bay. I don’t even need to name them, but for the sake of the record, I’m talking about Roll-N-Roaster and Brennan & Carr.

Last night, Brennan & Carr called out Roll-N-Roaster on their Facebook page.

“There is a new show on the Travel Channel called Food Wars. Who thinks that Brennan & Carr would beat Roll’N'Roaster in a best roast beef in New York competition?” they wrote.

Woah! Them’s fightin’ words! So what do you think Sheepshead Bay? Who’s got the beef?

Valpak coupon envelope (Scanned image by Ray Johnson)

Valpak representative, Dave Rose, gave us the heads up that there is a coupon for a free roast beef sandwich at Roll-n-Roaster (2901 Emmons Avenue).

Judging from some of their past shenanigans, we wanted to see the coupon for ourselves before posting the information. Sure enough, the coupon is inside the latest Valpak Savings envelope. If you haven’t already thrown the envelope out unopened, you will be rewarded with a 40th anniversary free roast beef sandwich with no purchase necessary.

You won’t have much time to grab this sandwich, because although the last coupon had an expiration of one year (a typo, apparently*), this one expires on February 7, 2010. Plus, the coupon doesn’t say so (the website does) — but, they are only giving out 100,000 sandwiches for free. The language on the offer begs the question: to avoid suspicions about the propriety of this giveaway — how will RnR be keeping track of the the number of free sandwiches given away?

Correction as of 1/30/2010: Dave Rose has informed us that the coupon with an expiration of one year was not a typo. Apparently, it was our misunderstanding. We apologize for the mistaken assumption.

Photo by Ray Johnson

Meet Layne Mosler, a “food pilgrim” and blogger over at Taxi Gourmet. Mosler is on a never-ending journey to seek out the city’s top cuisine, as dictated by those who know New York the best: taxi drivers.

In an article for the food culture newsletter Tasting Table, Mosler rounded up what she and taxi drivers consider the yummiest bowls of soup. On the list? Sheepshead Bay’s Cherry Hill Restaurant and Gourmet Market at the old Lundy’s building (1901 Emmons Avenue).

She writes:

The borscht and the fish soup–with big chunks of salmon, leeks, carrots and scallions–are worth a sit-down at this Russian super-deli in Brighton Beach. If you want to skip the upstairs café, takeout highlights include potato-battered chicken stuffed with mushrooms, stewed cabbage and ‘Caucasian’ salad with roasted eggplant, tomato and cilantro.

That’s right, Sheepshead Bay is apparently now an extension of Brighton Beach. We’ll give her a pass… this time.

Photo courtesy of GerritsenBeach.net

Knapp Street Pizza (2157 Knapp Street near Avenue V) is advertising a generous $1-a-ticket raffle drawing. The raffle will be drawn on January 1 at 3 p.m. The prize? Free pizza every week for the rest of your life! Oh, and some other stuff:

1. One Pizza Every Week for Life
2. 42 Inch Tv
3. Digital Camera
4. iPod
5. $100 Gift Certificate

[via GerritsenBeach.net]

Applebee’s is honoring veterans and active duty military for Veterans Day by offering them a free lunch or dinner.

The Applebee’s website has pictures of the free meals available to those who show any of the following as proof of military service:

•    U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card
•    U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card
•    Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
•    Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW)
•    Photograph in uniform
•    Wearing uniform
•    DD214
•    Citation or Commendation

The Sheepshead Bay Applebee’s is located at 2505 Emmons Avenue (near Bedford Avenue). Call the restaurant directly at (718) 769-4889, if you have any questions about the deal.