I am just going to come right out and say it. Russo's in Park Slope, whether it's their 7th Avenue location or their 5th Avenue location*, makes the best vegetarian Italian sandwiches in Brooklyn. Oh wait, Lorimer Market in Williamsburg also makes the best vegetarian Italian sandwiches in Brooklyn. Their "Mikey Bags" is all eggplanty and delicious. So stay tuned for a post devoted to Lorimer Market. But this one is for Russo's.

Russo's fresh mozzarella is heavenly. And they do wonders with their garlicy sauteed broccoli rabe. We always share two sandwiches when we go, and bring them all the way back on the G to Greenpoint. That's dedication to a sandwich. We're specific like that. One fabulous sandwich is broccoli rabe, fresh mozzarella, sun dried tomato. The other fabulous sandwich is broccoli rabe, portabello mushroom, artichoke. The guys who make the sandwiches are so nice. Then again, the guys who make the sandwiches at Lorimer Market are so nice too.

So we're pretty lucky to live in Brooklyn with all these great vegetarian Italian sandwiches that are under $10 and are large enough for dinner. I should probably close with a hashtag. #brooklynrocksforfoodandstuff


Russo's Mozzarella and Pasta
363 7th Avenue (10th/11th Streets)
Park Slope, Brooklyn
718.369.2874
*their East Village location doesn't make sandwiches

Mozzarella, pesto & tomato sandwiches before they are pressed. Additional flavor: balsamic reduction, tomato bruschetta, black pepper. The bread is garlic focaccia. All in all, pretty delectable. To go with the souped-up vegetable and lentil soup.

We just enjoyed free tacos @DomoTaco @Diesel pop-up in Williamsburg. They had veggie! The slaw was Japanese-esque. Beans, avocado, tomato, and very saucy. He was like dōzo and I was like dōmo (arigato). Well that was an unexpected treat!

I tried a new lettuce from the farmer's market this Saturday. I wish I could remember the name. It was similar to a Bibb or Boston -- soft and mild and easy to work with. Maybe they'll have it next week and I'll write it down. I used it immediately with heirloom tomatoes, red onion, feta from Astoria and a truffle balsamic glaze we got from The Tasting Room in Greenpoint. Greenpointers, if you haven't gone to The Tasting Room yet, go check it out. It's new-ish, located in the mini-industrial area on Dobbin Street, and chock-full of Italian specialty foods from Puglia. And yes, there are many free tastes to get you in the buying mood. ‪#‎wegofarandwideforouringredients‬


The Tasting Room
108 Dobbin Street
Greenpoint, Brooklyn
718.389.7246
Hours: Mon-Sat 10-6

Husband, I made a Greek Cuban. That's what I'm calling it. Pressed mini pretzel roll, grilled veggie baloney, a thin slice of feta, lots of mustard (both sides of the bread), and for the pickle since we're out of pickles, a pickled jalapeño!! It's really good! I will make you one!

Alas, as of today, we can no longer do this on our George. Grill a sandwich, that is (nothing to do with the grapes). Time to buy the Griddler. (Sounds like the Grimace crossed with the Riddler.)

The Griddler by Cuisinart, around $99, has reversible plates
It's a combination panini press/griddle

I did a mini survey on FB, asking my friends if anyone owns/likes/dislikes this panini press? Or if they had another they loved, to let me know. Well thank you FB! Lots of people responded in favor of the Griddler. We've had the George (Foreman grill) for 11 years, and it is finally breaking. So sad. We use it so much for sandwiches (especially the simulated mozzarella in carrozza pictured above), heating up bagels,heating up Vietnamese sandwiches, grilling tofu sausage, making things on tortillas. We totally need a replacement, and fast.

Do you want to know the thing that finally broke on our George? The On Button! We then pulled the physical button out (it was rubbery plastic) and have been using a chopstick -- jabbing it into the "On Hole." But now the hole isn't lining up with whatever's underneath. I would love to excavate to deeper layers to get to the "Essential On Button," but fear electrocution. Thus a new model is in order. Really, I'd love to simply get it fixed. But you can't get anything fixed these days. Sad you have to throw the whole thing away. Whatever.

TG potatoes -- they worked! tasty, but blurry
I made red, purple and white. A true experiment.

I wrote about this on the Dollhouse blog last week, but it warrants repeating here. These fasinating potatoes were fun to make, and they totally worked out like Pinterest said they would. Healthy potato chips. I think the purple potatoes turned out the best. [found on Pinterest. Have you ever tried Pinterest? Kinda cool]

Salade Niçoise.

I'm not a literalist if that's a word which it probably isn't. This is my variation on a theme. Instead of all the usual ingredients, this one has arugula, artichoke paste, tomato, grilled zucchini, chickpeas, purple potatoes, and of course, tuna! Really really really good tuna! From Spain. Ortiz! In a jar.

The approach of TG gets me in the mood to cook and try new recipes. Not recipes that I'll use for TG exactly, but perhaps ideas I may adapt in some way. This soup was inspired by a similar version we had at Luzzo's the other day, along with a buffala mozzarella pizza with tomato sauce and basil. The pizza was amazing! The soup, well, I thought I could do better in the bean department. And the price department. Seven bucks for soup that contained only about ten beans was not what we were envisioning.

Mine definitely went in a pasta fagioli direction, which is exactly what I was envisioning.

Well at least there is blogging until the phone and computer connection fail. Pre-emptive blogging! And now pizza! Tonight's pizza à la Irene includes artichokes, fresh mozzarella, zucchini, fresh basil and other goodies.

Saturday afternoon we dined al fresco. Thanks to the bounty of Jersey tomatoes and fresh basil we bought at the Greenpoint farmers market Saturday morning. The onion rolls are courtesy of my Mom from Anthony Bakery. They were delicious. And fresh mozzarella from The Garden. Now I want another sandwich.

An orange and a red Jersey tomato.


Rolls from Anthony. I want more.


Bounty from the farmers market.


We each get our wrap of choice.


Dining al fresco.

This was one terrific pizza that my husband made. Artichoke, zucchini, fresh mozzarella and a bright garlicky tomato sauce. And probably some other secrets like two spicy olives or three almonds chopped finely. How I miss it. I wish I were eating a slice right now.

[image via ABC Kitchen]

I went to ABC Kitchen for lunch today. At last a chance to try Jean-Georges Vongerichten's organic farm-to-table restaurant at ABC Carpet & Home. Yes, definitely a pretty room -- all white with a mix of matte and lacquer-like finishes. And bleached branches. I definitely liked what I ordered. I decided to go with three small plates, which worked out to be a lot of food. I tried the Roast Carrot And Avocado Salad crunchy seeds, micro greens, sour cream and citrus (sans sour cream). Super delicious. A strange salad, yes. But ingredients I love. Then, Line Caught Tuna Sashimi marinated with ginger and mint. Delicate yet substantial. Then, a Whole Wheat Thin Crust Pizza of Jersey Tomatoes buffalo mozzarella and basil. The buffalo mozzarella was pillowy and perfect. I ate one slice, and took the rest home.

So all in all, the ingredients were very nice. I left feeling good, not overly full. But were the ingredients, each excellent, combined in transformative, mind-altering ways? Well, no. Everything was great, and nothing was less than good. But it didn't rock my culinary world. That sounds so mock-snobby. And I don't mean to come off like that. It's just this: I look to award-winning restaurants for flavor combinations that are clever, masterful, delicious, exciting and new in a catch-you-off-guard sort of way. I felt that for its reputation, ABC Kitchen would deliver more solidly on the artistry. As I said, everything was great, and nothing was less than good. I'll just leave it at that.

You would think that anything made of eggs, like say an omelet, would not travel well. Especially in this heat. Especially across two subway lines and three boroughs. But in fact, when packed in a certain container, and when on the other side of the journey is a paper plate, a microwave and a warmed corn tortilla, an omelet totally travels well. Which is good, because I am hooked on my new creation. Enough to travel with it tomorrow too.

So here it is. 1 egg + 1 white (for extra fluffiness), diced zucchini, cubed feta, crumbled tofu (don't knock it, tofu makes it souffle-like) black beans, Indian coriander chutney. Served with Valentina (Mexican hot sauce) as it cools, a corn tortilla and some avocado. Heaven.

The first Ruben: Veggie Ruben at Foodswings -- rye bread, faux swiss,
sauerkraut, mustard, the works. oh, and grilled tempeh.


Foodswings, Grand Street, Williamsburg


The second Rubin, 17th Street, Manhattan


Mongolian mask, 19th century, lion protectorate deity


This one was made of coral.

My gazpacho, pre-good-tomato-season, but hey, at least it tastes good.


Gazpacho Pop Experiment, July 7 & 8, 2011


Success!

It really is delicious. Very gazpacho-y. No veggies were harmed in the making of this popsicle. Extra peppery first bite sets the tone.

Soup and "corn dogs" but not real corn dogs (see below) of last night

Last night I made soup with random ingredients in the fridge and blended it up with unsweetened almond milk. Tastes great! Carrot, onion, kale, celery, Indian yellow lentils, black beans, Valentina hot sauce, chipotle powder. Spicy! And good! And what goes great with soup? Corn dogs! Except not corn dogs. Grilled tofu sausage with lots-o-mustard and rolled up in a corn tortilla (and grilled on The George).

2 kinds of lox + sliced grape tomatoes, sliced red onion

The scallion tofu cream cheese from Pinnacle Bagel is the best. 3rd Avenue/45th St

Reminder to all: 2 days until Acme Wholesale Fridays! Don't forget! Get yourself some nice-looking lox and have a bagel party. Yes, I think I will do just that. Acme opens at 8am.

The #10 from Paris Sandwich is delicious!

The #10 from Paris Sandwich in Chinatown* (Grand Street, Manhattan) is my current favorite Vietnamese vegetarian sandwich. What did they do to the tofu? Is it char-grilled? So much flavor! And yes, just $4.25. That's more like it.

My other tofu sandwich favorite is from Nicky's Vietnamese on Atlantic Avenue ($5.50), and my other-other favorite is from An Nhau on Bedford Avenue (N 7th/N 8th) in Williamsburg ($5.50), just in case you want to hit all the tofu hot spots. I have 4th, 5th and 6th favorites, but we'll save that for another post on another day.


*Not to be confused with Paris Baguette in Koreatown.

[image via Experience Parisienne blog]