Courtesy of Google Maps
I never ate at Richard Yee’s Chinese Restaurant (2617 Avenue U). I always wanted to – the place looked ancient and there must’ve been something awesome behind that longevity. But, alas, it closed up – last year I think. I figured I lost my chance, and I wouldn’t hear about Richard Yee’s again.
Then I got a Google alert. Richard Yee’s Restaurant was mentioned in – of all places – the Miami Herald. A former Sheepshead Bay resident living in Georgia wrote to the Herald’s “Cook’s Corner” column asking for a recipe for a dish he had at his old Sheepshead haunt. The columnist responds with a typed long-form version of a big fat shrug. But maybe we can help this former neighbor out with an answer of our own (which will also allow me a posthumous taste of the restaurant’s dishes).
From the Miami Herald:
Q: I look forward to reading your column, to see what recipes sound so good I have to try them. I have a request and I hope that you can fill it. While I lived in Brooklyn I would take my family to a Chinese restaurant called Richard Yees on Avenue U in Sheepshead Bay. They made the most delicious appetizers. One was Crabmeat Balls and the other was Shrimp Patties. I have looked in every recipe book I could get my hands on but am unable to find these recipes. These are the signature dishes that his father Joe Yees put out more that 50 years ago. I believe he had them printed in one of the magazines, Women’s Day or Family Circle. If any of your readers has come across these recipes I would appreciate a copy.
Sandy Thomson, Byron, Ga.
A: Alas, there no longer is a telephone listing for Richard Yee’s, and I was unable to find any published recipes in various databases I checked. Perhaps a reader will be able to help. Shrimp toasts and crab balls are from an era when Chinese restaurants were less common, and often served dishes designed for less sophisticated palates. I did find a recipe for shrimp toasts in the classic 1972 The Chinese Cookbook by Craig Claiborne and Virginia Lee (Random House); as just an example of how far we’ve come, cilantro is listed as an exotic ingredient available only in Chinese markets or by mail order. The book should be in your public library. This recipe for crab balls is better than any I’ve ever tasted in a restaurant, and is from a friend who learned to make them while stationed in the Navy in Thailand.
We previously reported about Brand Z For Less at 1805 Avenue U closing a few weeks ago and we had no idea what whould replace it. We do now – the last few days saw some renovations and minor construction at the site, and yesterday I saw the new sign go up.
Come this Friday, Value Depot will be open for business! If you’re wondering what they sell, it’s a little bit of everything. In fact the only thing they don’t seem to sell is food. If you want a better idea of what to expect, you can check out the Value Depot on Kings Highway and East 17th Street, or wait ’til Friday!
Reader nolastname was wandering about yesterday morning, and watched as the beautiful weather kicked off with an awesome sunrise. She saw this crane at work in the Marine Park Salt Marsh. Snazzy…
A lot of people have been asking for updates from yesterday’s attempted robbery of Sovereign Bank. From Vos Iz Neias:
Reports from the scene confirm that there are two hole in the roof with a ladder going down into the bank. The crooks crawled through a heating vent but were unable to gain access to the vault and fled empty-handed.
And yes, we ripped off their headline, too. Just one question: why is the Jewish press covering this better than anyone else (including us), and why do both Jewish press sources put the location in Flatbush?
Regardless, we’re not criticizing. They whipped our butts on this one fair and square. Here’s a link to a Yeshiva World News photo gallery that even shows the holes on the roof. Kudos to my khaveyrim.
Sovereign Bank at McDonald Avenue and Avenue U has been robbed. Sometime late this afternoon or early evening, robbers cut through the roof of the bank. According to a reader who passed by and sent in the above photo, observers were whispering that the culprits may still have been inside the bank. Yeshiva World News notes that police from the 61st Precinct were assisted by ESU and K9 units, and that a Level 1 Mobilization has been called.
Thanks to Yury for the tip and photos.
Brennan & Carr (3432 Nostrand Avenue) seem to really love their Facebook page, using it to connect with fans and pump up the rivalry with Roll-N-Roaster. Now, they’re musing on a second location. They asked, “If another B&C was to open up, where would an ideal location be?”
Here’s a screenshot of the status update:
Seems like they’re looking to expand and open a new location outside Sheepshead Bay. A lot of commenters begged for an opening on Long Island or Staten Island, where the residents of Sheepshead past have moved to. A number of them are also saying Florida. As for us, we want to see it across the street from Roll-N-Roaster. That’d really throw some beef on the simmering feud.
But wait, don’t get too excited. We called Brennan & Carr and an employee there told us they have no plans for such an expansion. Despite the extreme popularity of their Facebook page, and the professional feel of it, they told us they have no affiliation with the page and don’t know who runs it. But can’t a boy dream?
If Brennan & Carr opens a second location, where do you think it should be? Should it be nearby, or far away? How about a small location at Coney Island? Maybe a swanky new pad in Park Slope? The city? Out of state even? Let your voice be heard!
A “50 percent off” sale of North Face products caused a mob scene yesterday at Downtown, a clothing retailer on Avenue U and Bedford Avenue. We’re not really sure what the big deal was, but for most of yesterday afternoon and into the evening lines formed down the block. The store was only letting small groups in at a time. According to an employee, the sale will continue until stock is sold out. From the looks of it, it won’t last long.
We couldn’t help noticing that 99 percent of those waiting were Asian. None were able to answer our questions in English, so we couldn’t glean what was so special about this sale that it brought such a large number – and such a homogeneous group – to the location.
So, does anyone know what’s going on here? Why are there so many Asians trying to buy North Face from this location? And before you answer that question, please realize that I’m looking for a real answer, and not race baiting. Stereotypes and idiotic attempts at humor will be deleted more liberally than on other posts.
Courtesy of Arthur Borko
True Perfection Kitchen & Bath Designs has opened up at 3102 Avenue U, in the newly named “Ave U Plaza”. Just don’t tell the store owners that the avenue they’re actually on is Gerritsen Avenue, which kicked GerritsenBeach.net into a kiniption.
Chinar Restaurant, the Russian banquet-style eatery at 3110 Avenue U, has closed shop and will be opening up on Coney Island Avenue next week, the owner told Sheepshead Bites.
According to the owner, their Avenue U location (at Gerritsen Avenue) was just too small. Over the past several years, demand for catered events rose and they provided food and service for a number of parties outside the restaurant. But engagement parties and weddings just couldn’t be done in-house, and with two years left on the lease they began searching for a new home.
Slated to open next week, the new Chinar at 2775 Coney Island Avenue (at Gerald Court) provides a lot more space. With the new location, Chinar will be able to host large private parties including weddings and bar mitzvahs, as well as continue walk-in service. Their phone number remains the same.
Thanks to Alex for the tip.
Armenian restaurant Garden Bay Cafe (1788 Sheepshead Bay Road) has renovated its location and tossed up a new sign. According to a member of the family that owns the restaurant, they’ve also done some work on their menu by expanding the offerings. We hope that doesn’t mean they’ve removed classics like the blackened trout Village Voice gushed over. (UPDATE: Apparently the sign isn’t finished yet. It should be ready in about a week.)
Down the block, Ginger Rose Hair Design Studio (1804 Sheepshead Bay Road) has closed two thirds of its storefront operation for renovations. They’re still open for business and expect to finish the work in about a month.
We also just got word that Chop Stix Stir-Fry, Asian Noodle, Sushi, & Grill … err… Chop Stix (3790 Nostrand Avenue), formerly known as Peking Kitchen, got its hands on a liquor license and is now serving up sake and other booze.
Finally, it looks like Brand Z For Less (1805 Avenue U) got an extension to its lease. The sign that went up a few weeks ago saying “Must Vacate January 31st” now says “Must Vacate February 28th.”
