| March 19, 2007 | to | March 30, 2007 |
Now, that’s not really true. The Brooklyn Borough President’s Office and the Brooklyn Tourism and Visitor Center have glossily announced (almost an 8 x 10 double-sided four-color glossy under my windshield wiper) this year’s restaurant week, running from March 19-30.
Now I’m told that at “over 175″ participating restaurants in Brooklyn, with $21.12 in my pocket (times 2), I will be able to get three courses of “quality food” (which I do not doubt) with “no attitude on the side!”. Whoa!!!! Stop!! What is that about? Now some PR person is trying to be funny (I think??). But, no William Tell, s/he!! I submit friends, the mark has been missed. Supposedly, I can choose sides of macaroni and cheese, collard greens, marinated eggplant, glazed beets, but not a single side of spicy attitude? Now, if I was supposedly as simple (and maybe I am) as Jesse B. Semple (Hughes, L.), maybe, I might take a little offense! But just the facts ma’am just the facts. So I will leave that line of inquiry for another day.
I digressed, because I’m still hungry and I still have to find a place to eat. Now reference to the no-attitude-on-the-side flyer (new name) might be a lost cause. Being in Bed Stuy, I might actually think (according to the no-attitude-on-the-side flyer ) that I am limited to two (although very good) choices where I can satisfy my hunger: Soule, a Southern and soul food restaurant (www.soulerestaurant.com) located between St. James and Washington avenues (Map) and Food 4 Thought Café (www.food4thoughtcafe.net) a health food juice bar café at 445 Marcus Garvey Boulevard.
Now, if I had already eaten my one health-food meal for the week and it was a Southern soul food dish (yes, it does exist), I would be out of luck, no?
No. Among the many objects of his blog, will be to publicize the many excellent choices of places to eat (and more) within Bed Stuy. No aspersions to the other Brooklyn neighborhoods. No, indeed. In fact, my handy dandy no-attitude-on-the-side flyer tells me that of all the 175 participating Brooklyn restaurants, I have all of 4 choices in Clinton Hill, and 15 in Ft. Greene.
All kidding (or at least some) aside, I don’t know what it takes to “participate”, but you Bed Stuy restaurant owners who did not participate in this year’s Dine In, you are on notice that the Bed Stuy online community needs to know the good, the bad and the ugly of who you are and the quality of food you offer. This online community is growing, we are hungry and we need your food—all of it. Time to eat.
Soule is actually in Clinton Hill!
well, there you go. 50% of the listed Bed Stuy restaurants are actually in Clinton Hill. Thanks for the update.
Factoidjoe, I think we should visit Bed-Stuy restaurants during No-Attitude-on-the-Side Week and order dinner, give them $21.12 when the check comes and tell them they’ve just participated in Brooklyn’s Restaurant Week. Think that’ll get them involved or just angry?
Hey Lesterhead, we remembered reading your thorough review of Soule some months ago. Can you believe that in all of Bed-Stuy we have only ONE restaurant participating in the event?
The Changeling, “J’accuse” (sic). A very intriguing idea. let’s do it. We also, should let the Borough Prez’s office know.
Seems pretty unbelievable to me. Do you think the other restaurants just weren’t invited? Or didn’t want to be involved?
Bed Stuy has Brooks Valley Cafe at 415 Tompkins and Hancock and Pettit Bassam on Lewis ave., Le Toukouleur on Bedford and Quincy, Bush Baby on Fulton near Bedford, Folukie on Bedford near Madison, Doctors Cave on Marcy and Putnam, Common Grounds on Tompkins near Putnam and Solomons Porch on Stuyvesant and Halsey. I was not aware of the event and I will honor the $21.12. We also have Shakoor’s Sweet 2th and Food4Thought.
Brooks Valley Cafe has organic and vegan dishes. Le Toukouleur has upscale decor and an upscale Chef
Brooks Valley Cafe 415 Tompkins ave, Common Grounds at Tompkins bet. Putnam and Jefferson, Bassam on Lewis and Macdonough, Le Toukouleur on Bedford and Quincy, Folukie at Bedford and Madison and Solomons porch on Stuyvesant and Halsey.
Unbelievable? That was my take, as well. But the answer to your question may be economic, political or combo. We shall see what the restaurant owners in Bed Stuy say.
Charmaine, it’s great that you are honoring the Dine in Brooklyn special price. What establishment do you represent?
Real Estate Guy and Brooks, thanks for mentioning all of these establishments in Bed-Stuy. Can’t wait to try them. Stay tuned as I will make it a point to ask them directly why they weren’t a part of Restaurant Week.
Charmaine is the owner of Brooks Valley Cafe and encourages everyone to have more than one healthy meal a week, so please support me and Food 4 Thought more often than that.
It’s great to have a selection of neighborhood restaurants that serve food that is delicious AND healthy. I’ll get over to your restaurant in the near future. I’ve got a feeling that I may become a regular.
I’m loving this exchange. I would love to take advantage of restaurant week in my neighborhood. We in Bed/Stuy have to start living like we want our community to viewed. We do have a lot going on, let’s highlight the good.
On June 2, 2007 I will host Bed/Stuy’s first annual pet show in Fulton Park. I will start registration in April 2007. Stay posted.
Madeline, if you send me the details ASAP, I will make sure it gets on the events calendar for Bedstuyblog.com.
Hooray Madeline! I, along with all of the other animal lovers in Bed-Stuy, thank you for organizing a pet show. I will definitely be there!
like charmaine i ll be more then happy to have $21.12/dine in brooklyn
i was aware of the restaurant week mea culpa pardon
le toukouleur restaurant
1116 bedford ave corner quincy
I’m putting Le Toukouleur on my to do list right now. I saw it last week when I was visiting the YMCA.
Charmaine, Brooks, jeannette, if you would let The Changeling, Zengine or me know who to contact at your respective restaurants, we would like to come by, take some photos, chat, and sample your food.
My chef, and my wait staff are aware that starting tonight till the 30th, we are having a Brooklyn dine in for $21.12/per person, which will include appateizer, main course, and a dessert.
you could contact me at the restaurant 718-622-0607 jeannette at le toukouleur
thks
jeannette, i’m calling next week! my husband and i are excited about visiting your restaurant.
great by the way on friday we will have live music
at 8 00 pm
hi guy s
on friday 30 th we will have live music at le toukouleur restaurant
1116 bedford ave corner quincy
@800pm
Thanks for bringing live music into the neighborhood!
i just want it to be a pleasant place to leave i love bedstuy
i m planning more artist for the future
u re welcome changeling
We also have the Jazz Spot on Marcus Garvey at 375 Kosciuszko St. Fri., Sat. and Mon. nights. Folukie at 1168 Bedford near Monroe, Common Grounds on Tompkins bet. Putnam and Jefferson, Drs. Cave on Marcy and Putnam and Brooks Valley 415 Tompkins.
Leo, you’ve just set up my dining calendar for the month of April. Thanks!
I waited tables with one of the restaurant owners on this site. Our former employer often neglected to pay her employees. We worked for Brawta Cafe. When I reported it to the media, my former collegue turned restaurant owner called me and tried to berate me for doing the right thing.At the time, I was a one semester away from completing my masters. I was able to find other means of employment. Our former employer not only neglected to compensate us but also exploited the undocumented cooks and help staff. She thrived on their fear of being reported.
Now that my former colleage is a restauranteur, I pray that her employees are the same manner that her customers are accustomed to.