New York City Tours by Urban Oyster

From farms to pushcarts to markets to the kitchen table, join us as we explore the ever-changing cultural and gastronomic landscape of East Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Once known for its pickles and kosher meat, the neighborhood today serves up herbal teas from Mexico, sounds of salsa, and traditional foods and products from Latin American countries. Based on oral histories with neighborhood residents, this tour explores the history of Brooklyn's "Avenue of Puerto Rico" - once the heart of a Jewish community - and takes an in-depth look at the Moore Street Market, built in 1941 to mark the end of the pushcart era and today a centerpiece of the Spanish-speaking community.  By the end of the tour, you'll be equipped with new knowledge about Latin American ingredients and a booklet of traditional recipes to help you recreate the tastes and smells of the market in your own home. 

Tour Highlights:

• See where Brooklyn's 19th century "Martha Stewart" gave cooking classes to 500 women at a time!
  
• Visit Anibal Meats Market and learn about the history of butcher shops along Moore Street.
• Learn about the spiritual significance of the yuca, Mexican herbal teas, and how to properly select and cook plantains.
• Meet the vendors at the Moore Street Market, sample their foods and beverages, and learn about Ecuadorian, Mexican, Dominican, and Puerto Rican dishes.

Length of tour: Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours

Admission:  Tickets are $39 per person.  Advance ticket purchase is required. Price of ticket includes a bottle of water, a recipe booklet and market guide, several food and beverage tastings, and your tour guide. 

Community Tour Partners:

Special thanks to all of the local merchants, property owners, and neighborhood residents who have made this tour possible.  Without your willingness to participate in interviews and steadfast support for this tour, we could have never gotten this far.  We love your stories and feel honored to share them with the public.  Thank you so very much!

Recent Reviews in the Press:

"One Tasty Tour"
NY Daily News 6/17/2011
Foodways of East Williamsburg
Greenline Newspaper 7/01/2011