The Who:
Ed Raven is the brains and passion behind Greenpoint Beer and Ale. Raven has worked in the New York beer industry since the 1980's when he first worked as a salesperson for Brooklyn Brewery. Later he began importing classic European beers like Jever and Gaffel under his company RavenBrands. Then came Brouwerij Lane, one of the first beer shop/bar combos in the city in a then-unassuming street in Greenpoint. And then in 2014, he opened a full scale restaurant and brewery, the first of its kind in modern day Brooklyn.

When he opened, Ed brought home brewers Chris Prout and Erik Olsen, who were employees at Brouwerij to make the beers for in house consumption. At the time the restaurant was called Dirck the Norseman which referred to the first European settler in this part of present day Brooklyn. But since 2016, the space and brewery has taken on the more straight-forward name of Greenpoint Beer & Ale.

Chris and Erik have since moved on to other gigs, namely Chris is the head brewer at Gun Hill Brewing Company in the Bronx. And brewing duties have since been passed on to Trevor Schlam.

The What:
Greenpoint Beer & Ale  smells like grilled and smoked meats when you walk in because the nearby kitchen is banging out some rich, hearty pub food like brisket sandwiches and grilled bratwurst. The European industrial vibe along with the filling food pairs perfectly with the rotating beer list, which can include traditional European lagers or funky, yeast-forward ales.

One of the most interesting for our groups to try when we bring them by on the Private NYC Brewery Tours, is the Milk & Coffee which is a unique Blonde Ale that looks golden but tastes of freshly brewed coffee.

You might not notice but all the beer is made in the back of the restaurant on a five barrel system. A few of their flagship beers are canned with cool designs and a handful of kegs are sent out to local craft beer bars. You can also taste some of Ed's traditional imported brands available by bottle.

The Why:
Greenpoint Beer & Ale is one of the lesser-known breweries in Brooklyn, but one of our favorite hidden gems. It's a throwback to the beer halls you would have found in this part of Greenpoint and Williamsburg when German immigrants flooded the neighborhood and opened up their own local breweries. We learn about that history and tradition on our Brewed in Brooklyn tour and are thankful that places like this are bringing the tradition back.

The Where:
Greenpoint Beer & Ale
7 North 5th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
(718) 389-2940

The Who:
Cocktail fans and fellow bartenders cheered when it was announced Broken Shaker would open a New York location. This highly acclaimed cocktail bar is owned by Gabriel Orta and Elad Zvi and first opened in Miami. Before Broken Shaker, the two restaurant and hospitality professionals teamed up to form Bar Lab, a management and consulting company created to help other bars and restaurants. From that, they spun out into the original Broken Shaker.

Another name that is important with this crew is James Beard. That is the name of  the prestigious award given out to the food and drink industry. Broken Shaker has been nominated twice.

The What:
After expanding this serious (but fun) cocktail concept to Chicago and Los Angeles, they have opened a casual rooftop bar on the top of New York's very trendy new Freehand Hotel.

The vibe is reminiscent of Miami with tiki-like cocktails, bartenders in Hawaiian shirts, and lots of bright vibrant colors. It can take a while to get through the line downstairs, but once you do, you're taken to an elevator and into this relaxing oasis.

And the drinks would fit right in on our Craft Cocktail Tour (too bad we don't visit the Flatiron neighborhood) with selections from the original Miami location and a few that were created specifically for New York. One particular crazy new drink that has been garnering a lot of attention is the Poppyseed Bagel Fizz that has gin and aquavit but also a homemade kvass made from Black Seed Bagels and is topped with bitter lemon soda and powdered cream cheese. 

The Why:
While the cocktail community in New York is a pretty tight-kint community, there is plenty of room for it to grow and expand and is welcoming to cocktail professionals from other cities. And why should Miami get all the fun? We're very excited to have another little tropical getaway with priceless views and Award-winning drinks.

The Where:
Broken Shaker at the Freehand New York
23 Lexngton Avenue
New York, New York 10010
(212) 475-1920

The Who:
Before he moved to the U.S. and opened up a now Michelin-starred restaurant in the Bronx, Marco Coletta cooked for some high profile people in Rome like Sophia Loren. Originally from Abruzzi, Marco trained in some of the most strict and traditional kitchens in Italy. He has a focus on quality ingredients and makes some of the most amazing Italian food we've tasted in the city.

Marco hand picks the finest ingredients from nearby shops. For homemade pasta, he purchases the northern style pastas from Borgatti's, the shop next door. He gets his meat from one of the local butchers. And much of his produce comes from the nearby market. It's this kind of food community we  during our Arthur Avenue Food Tour. 

The What:
In Italian, Tra Di Noi means "between us" which can refer to the special food experience that happens between chef and diner. The food that Chef Marco makes is as homey and well-prepared as you will find at any Italian restaurant in the entire city.

Case in point is the exquisite lasagna alla bolognese, which walks the line between delicate and rustic. It's truly the best lasagna we've had outside Nonna's house. Other dishes not to miss are the osso bucco, fried calamari, and linguine con vongole (with clams). But the pro move here is to order whatever is listed as the daily specials. Marco decides on those based on what is seasonal and available. You never know what you're going to get but it's going to be good.
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The Why:
In many ways Tra Di Noi is a culmination of our Arthur Avenue Food tour, where you get to visit the shops that the chefs shop at. After seeing where the cheese, bread, pasta, and fish come from, the only thing that's left is to have a master prepare the ingredients into an unforgettable meal. We often swing by here for lunch after leading the tours and we recommend you do the same (if you have any room left in your stomach).

The Where:
Trattoria Tra Di Noi
622 East 187th Street
Bronx, New York 10458
(718) 295-1784

The Who:
Emma is not the owner of Emma's Torch but actually a reference to Emma Lazarus, an American poet who wrote The New Colossus. Of course that is the sonnet that is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty and is representative of new immigrants arriving in this country. We discuss the journey and hardships of the historic immigrants on our Tenements, Tales, and Tastes tour. But the story continues.

Refugees and immigrants continue to arrive on these shores from places like Syria, Guinea, and Venezuela, and they make up all that's great with this country. But it is far from easy for them. So Kerry Brodie, a trained chef and prior Global Press Secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, decided to create an opportunity for newcomers to receive culinary training and a gateway into jobs in the food world. 

She teamed up with Chef Alexander Harris, who has worked at Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, to create Emma's Torch.

The What:
After a stint as a pop-up at a restaurant in Red Hook, Emma's Torch recently opened their permanent location in Carroll Gardens, steps from where we begin our Brownstone Brooklyn tour. 

Emma's Torch provides free (and in fact paid) training for refugees and survivors of human trafficking. They learn skills like knife techniques, the proper way to chop, and how to work in a restaurant kitchen. After an eight-work period, including 400 hours of culinary training and experience, they also receive help in finding jobs in the restaurant world in NYC. In fact, every single one of the graduates from 2017 have found culinary jobs at places like The Dutch and Dizengoff.

While the students are in training, you can visit their restaurant at brunch and dinner to taste their hard work and help support this program. And the food, which takes flavors from the students' origin countries, is amazing! We recommend the sweet and tangy tamarind chicken wings and the black eyed pea hummus. 

The Why:
This is a restaurant and program unlike anything else in the city. The food is expertly prepared at a reasonable price and when dining here, we know we are helping make a difference in people's lives. Especially with the political climate that exists today and much of the anti-immigrant sentiment in our country, this allows us to support the fabric of America as a home to people from all over the world, while supporting an important cause, and eating delicious food.

The Where:
Emma's Torch
345 Smith Street,
Brooklyn, New York 11231
(718) 243-1222
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