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#CurrentObsessions: Danny's Pizza

3/25/2018

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The Who:
When Danny Durante immigrated to New York, the neighborhood of Williamsburg was very different than it is today. Danny came from a small town outside of Naples and arrived here in 1976. He was a teenager and didn't speak a word of English. Someone gave him the idea to work at a pizza shop and he managed to learn English pretty quickly.

Danny opened his own corner pizzeria in 1983 and eventually expanded into the space next door with a sit down restaurant and bar utilizing the same kitchen from the pizzeria. Danny still runs this neighborhood pizzeria along with his son Danny Jr.

Another character in this story is the previous owner of the building, According to his daughter, the previous owner supposedly operated a bootlegging operation out of the space during Prohibition. We delve into more stories about bootlegging and gangsters on our Craft Cocktail tour.

The What:
There are three styles of pizza at Danny's and on our Brewed in Brooklyn tour, you get to try all three. The most classic Italian is the margherita (Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil). Danny also makes a thicker square Sicilian slice and a thin crisp Grandma Pizza with fresh tomatoes and a sweeter sauce. 
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Turns out the neighborhood and building are full of history and Danny happens to love history. For instance, he was excited to discover old photographs showing that this neighborhood was largely Italian. When Danny first got here in the 1970's, the population in the area was mostly Latin American. Turns out the current pizzeria used to be an Italian grocery in the 1920's. Danny has collected old photographs of the street and of Brooklyn in general. They are on the menus and hang up around the restaurant.

Both the corner take-out joint and the bigger restaurant are usually populated by locals, some who are brand new to this ever-changing neighborhood and some who have lived in the area for decades. Danny's provides a friendly, comfortable environment to hang out and have some good food and drinks. 

The Why:
We've been coming to Danny's since we launched our Brewed in Brooklyn tour in 2007. It's consistently a crowd pleaser. And while this neighborhood joint might not get as much notoriety as other pizza hotspots in the neighborhood, it's a classic Brooklyn establishment that has changed with the times and also held on to history. Plus it's a mighty fine place to get a pizza and a locally made beer. And we all know those pair together perfectly.

The Where:
Danny's Pizza
239-241 Bushwick Avenue
​Brooklyn, New York 11206
(718) 381-2870
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#MustDo in NYC: March 26-April 1, 2018

3/25/2018

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Female Food Businesses, Greenwich Village Women History Tour, Hunting for Eggs, + A Special Passover Dinner

​​​Click on the title for more info.
Free Talk: Women in Food/ Tuesday, March 27, 2018 from 6:30-8pm
Come to the Essex Street Market to chat with and learn about the experiences of four different women in the food industry. These entrepreneurs, including Anne Saxelby, Rebecca Scott, Leith Hill, and Hannah Goldberg discuss the difficulties and successes of their businesses. 
The New Immigrant, Radical Notorious Women of Washington Square/ Wednesday, March 29, 2018 at 10:30am
This special tour will be led by NYU history teacher Joyce Gold and is hosted by the 92nd StreetY. It will take you through the Washington Square neighborhood from the stories of the incredible women who left their mark in this area. Get ready to hear about the salon of Mable Dodge and see the site of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. 
The Easter Egg Hunt/ Saturday, March 31, 2018 from 10am-2pm
Some people could get lost in Rockefeller Center, so it's the perfect place to go searching for Easter eggs. The family-friendly event will feature prizes, bonnet making stations, and live music. The event is free but we recommend arriving early to ensure you (and your little ones) are able to register.
Balaboosta's 7th Annual Seder Dinner/ Sunday, April 1, 2018 from 6:30-8pm
Tickets are going fast for this tradition at one of the city's best Israeli restaurants. While some are celebrating Easter, owner Einat Admony will be collaborating with celebrity chefs Elizabeth Falker and Claire Robinson to create a family-style Passover meal. There will be wine pairings and live music and let's hope the prophet Elijah makes an appearance.  
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#CurrentObsessions: The Gumbo Bros.

3/20/2018

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The Who:
The Gumbo Bros. aren't actually brothers but good friends who both hail from the gumbo-loving South. Clay Boulware and Adam Lathan were roommates at Louisiana State University. That's where they realized they shared a love for the spicy Cajun stews.

Clay came to New York to pursue a career in acting, while Adam continued onto culinary school. Clay handles the hospitality and operations, while Adam, of course is the executive chef. He learned the art of making gumbo from his great-grandmother Nanny, who gets credit on the menu for their excellent seafood gumbo.

The What:
The guys first sold gumbo to New Yorkers in 2014 when they decided to fill what they saw as a missing dish in New York's large culinary landscape. There were a handful of Cajun restaurants, but nobody making gumbo quite like this. 

They started selling the gumbo at Madison Square Park before graduating on to other outdoor street fairs like Urban Space and earning a Vendy Award nomination. The demand increased and they found a perfect little storefront on Atlantic Avenue to start their brick and mortar restaurant. The cute spot is just steps away from our Brownstone Brooklyn tour route.

For the uninitiated, gumbo is a well-seasoned roux based (flour and fat) stew with vegetables (usually okra, celery, onion, and pepper), and meat or seafood. Gumbo Bros. offer three excellent, warming, full-flavored versions: Chicken & Sausage, Shrimp & Blue Crab, and a vegan option. 

You can also find po' boys here, Southern sides (including fried pickles) and other Louisiana specialities like beignets, sweet tea, and chicory coffee.

The Why:
Now the Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill neighborhood really does have every food you could imagine. The small inviting Gumbo Bros. is a welcome addition to this culinary capital. And whether you're homesick for the Bayou or you are new to gumbo, you'll be pleasantly  surprised by the quality and flavor on offer here. Also it's cheaper than a flight to New Orleans.

The Where:
The Gumbo Bros.
224 Atlantic Avenue,
​Brooklyn New York 11201
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#MustDo in NYC: March 19-25, 2018

3/19/2018

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​​​Click on the title for more info.
Passover in a Mosque/ Tuesday, March 20, 2018 from 6:30-9:30pm
For the third year in a row, you can celebrate the Jewish holiday in the unlikeliest of places - a Muslim house of worship. The Muslin-Jewish Solidarity Committee brings people together with this interfaith Seder. The evening will be led by Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Hermann and hosted by Imam Ahmed Dewidar. Learn more about the Jewish holiday, enjoy a halal/kosher meal, and be part of the continuing interfaith relationship building. 
So You Think You Know Mezcal/ Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 6:30-8pm
This is a great opportunity to come taste five rare agave based spirits and learn about mescal and others that are slowly becoming more popular than their cousin tequila. Hosted by Lou Bank of SACRED, you'll hear stories about the people who make this traditional elixir in Mexico and proceeds from the event will go to help their communities.
NYC Craft Distillers Festival/ Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 12-10pm
This festival is back at Bowery Hotel for another spirited event. A live 1920's-era jazz band plays in a speakeasy-esque environment while you're able to try nips from over 20 different craft distilleries. Many exciting local businesses are featured including Widow Jane, Barrows Intense, and Manhattan Moonshine. 
NYC Food Truck Festival/ Sunday, March 25, 2018 from 10am-5:30pm
From lobster rolls to pizza to mac and cheese, the food truck scene in New York is hotter than ever. Grand Bazaar NYC hosts this annual food truck festival with profits donated to four local public schools. The usual market of over 100 vendors will be on site along with a dozen of the city's best food trucks.
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