Ovenly

Sept. 15, 2013

Ovenly is more known for their baked goods than their coffee but it is still worth reviewing because they supply the pastries for many of the best coffee shops out there! They also have a pretty fun blog, especially their 'Pleased To Meet You' series. Although I am posting this in December, I actually visited Ovenly in September and I am learning that they are now offering Wedding Cakes and other wedding goodies! As can be expected of a bakery, their website focuses on selling such things as: a holiday shortbread sampler, snacks, and even a gift box! But like many coffee shops, they are also offering classes but for baking, of course! These classes are being offered at The Brooklyn Kitchen.

A single bench outside for people who want to enjoy the day. I was wondering why they didn't take advantage of the space on the sidewalk more when I discovered a beautiful park at the end of the block! (more on that later)

I love the white herringbone tiles with touches of brass. The pastry display is backed with mirror, which I have mixed feelings on. I feel like it's a little harder to see what's what.

Again, I have mixed feelings about using mirror to write the menu on. It's a cool idea but I think it makes it difficult to read. 

I came at the end of the day as they were getting ready to close and so I had my pick of seating. The solid wall of windows is really the highlight of the space and makes what would otherwise be a small room seem much bigger.

I love how they package and display their signature Spicy Bacon Caramel Popcorn on a metal dowel attached to the counter and held with clips. Also, notice the Time Out New York: 2013 Food and Drink Award for Best New Bakery proudly displayed on the counter? And that's really a great chandelier!

 This whimsical wall-paper gives just the right touch of Mark Twain-iness (not a word, I know) to this otherwise very simple decorating scheme.

 Something about the combination of white-washed wood, dried flower arrangements, brass, and iron gave me the impression of a wild-west/Little House on the Prairie decorating style that was very open and comfortable.

Iced Ginger Hibiscus Tea & Goodies!

Although Ovenly uses Stumptown coffee, I decided to be adventurous and try the Iced Ginger Hibiscus Tea, which (a word of warning) does not come sweetened! haha! This is great for those who do not care for everything to come pre-sweetened (a la: Dunkin Doughnuts) but it's a bit surprising if you're not prepared for it. The ginger is very subtle and really more of an after-taste. The Hibiscus is truly the star of this drink and can be a bit overpowering, but I think this could have been remedied if I had countered it with a little more sweetener.

Super Dark Chocolate Brownie, Pistachio and Dark Chocolate Cupcake, and Salted Peanut Butter Cookie (gluten free)

These were all pretty great, but the Salted Peanut Butter Cookie was my favorite. It had a great texture and flavor and the salt was just right. I feel like you can't really go wrong with chocolate and the Super Dark Chocolate Brownie certainly delivered- my only critique being that it could have been darker. To me it still tasted a bit on the milk-chocolate side, but it was very smooth and not too sugary. The texture was dense and a bit cakey- very nice. The Pistachio cupcake was ok, I'm not a huge fan of icing in general but I could taste the pistachio which can be a challenge in this type of combo.

Transmitter Park

I was not expecting to find this park at the end of the block! It's a bit hidden by a tall fence and some ornamental grasses but what a great surprise! I saw a few other people walking into a small gate and after seeing a few groups go in, I got curious enough to check it out for myself. I was lucky enough to find it at a great time of day when the sun is just starting to set... so beautiful and definitely worth a stop.

Williamsburg Bridge

Milk and Roses

This highly romantic, Italian cafe, located in Brooklyn is agreed, internet-wide, to be a "charming, unassuming gem of Greenpoint", and I would have to agree. My boyfriend and I arrived around 5 pm on a Sunday in early August. It was a very quiet atmosphere and almost everybody was in the back enjoying the beautiful Summer weather in the al-fresco seating area.

Everywhere I turn in this place, I feel like I've stumbled upon a still-life of old European antiquity. It's like I've walked into some kind of Casablanca-esque film-noir.

The inside has a huge collection of books, which I have learned was collected over time by the owner and his wife! I have no idea if anyone ever reads these books, or if there is some kind of lending policy, or if they are just for show, but I'd love to hear more about it if anyone knows!

In the back, you can see a piano that is in use on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends when they feature live music. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to catch the show that night.

Porchetta Panini with Gorgonzola, Mustard, and Caramelized Onions- $12

Unfortunately, I do not remember where there bread is from (although I know they do not bake it on site), but it was amazing.

Chicken Panini with Basil Pesto, Tomato, and CaciocaVallo- $12

Again, I don't know what kind of salad this was but it had just the perfect amount of dressing. It's weird for me to say this about a plain salad but it was one of the best I've ever had.

My iced latte was served in a Hoegarden glass, which I thought was kinda funny given how cute and studied the rest of the atmosphere seemed to be (note the diamond paned jelly jars and the unmarked wine bottle containing water). It was very strong but eventually mellowed in flavor, probably done on purpose to counter the ice melting into my drink. 

The outside seating was not too crowded, with just a scattering of customers ranging from their 20's- 40's, some were working away on their laptops. It's definitely romantic, but also a slightly beer-garden vibe, probably due to the fact that this cafe also serves wines and beers.

Despite the amount of people, it was a very subdued and muted atmosphere, and there was a definite feeling of privacy. You can hear a gentle clink of dishes and running water coming from the open kitchen window. At one point, one of the cooks was standing in the kitchen doorway companionably chatting up a near-by table.

After we were seated, the waitress lit a citronella candle and placed it on the ground underneath our table to ward off bugs. The lemony scent of the citronella gently mixed with the cedar chips carpeting the ground.

Each seating area is sectioned off in some way, with plants. Here we have rosemary, cabbage, sage, and cilantro or parsley in little pots around our table.

I wish I had taken a picture of the menu as it looked like it was hand-written on an old-fashioned envelope with red & white diagonal stripes around the edge. Very old-world. Milk and Honey does not have a formal web-site but there are many reviews online, usually glowing, and there is a link to the menu here.

All in all, I'm still not quite sure what to make of this place. It's definitely on the romantic side, maybe trying a little too hard, but you can't argue with how excellent the food is and the price is not bad considering. BTW- I've read that they have a happy hour from 5-7 during the week. Also, they don't accept cards, so be sure to bring cash! 

I can't help but feel that I am trying to find something wrong with it when there is nothing really to point out. Maybe it is that it is a true cafe and I am used to going to little coffee-shops, but I couldn't quite figure out how I felt about the atmosphere. Was it romantic? Relaxed Sunday brunch with friends? Energetic study session?

Maybe I just need to go back at a time when there is more going on. I just felt like I was catching someone in the middle of getting dressed. Not quite on their game. But, maybe that's the whole point of this place: casual, relaxed, anything-goes.

(photos by: Nathanael Maharaj)

Cup

Cup is a cute and bright little neighborhood coffee-shop located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I was surprised to learn that there are actually quite a few great independent restaurants and coffee-shops in this area. I have spent very little time in this area and Manhattan Ave. (the main drag in that area) seemed very unassuming. Cup is located off of the Nassau Ave stop on the G train. Greenpoint is just North of the oh-so-trendy Williamsburg and, while popularin it's own right, is kind of like the slightly less cool little sister of Williamsburg.

My boyfriend and I went there on a Sunday afternoon in early August and I really had to look for the place, hoping that my Google Maps directions were not leading me astray. (usually my motto is: 'Trust in Google') It did not help that it was a weekend and, as usual, the MTA was having 'issues', but sure enough we found Cup, a bright emerald gem, in the middle of a very quiet and residential block. There was another interesting shop right next door, Brooklyn Mac, and I still can't believe we didn't try it.

There were a lot of cute gardens in the neighborhood and I really got the feeling that Cup was a popular community spot.

Cup's claim to fame is their Cococano (advertised above). It is basically an Americano made with coconut water and apparently a great hangover cure... so of course I had to get one! The barista helpfully recommended adding a lot of milk to help adjust to the flavor. He also said that if you're not used to it, it can be a bit of an acquired taste and I have to agree. I was getting used to it by the time I was about half-way through but I'm not sure I will ever order it again. It's a shame I didn't really like it because I've read other reviews on Yelp that say the coffee there is great and brewed from local roasters! I guess it doesn't always pay to go for the gimmick.

Luckily there was no wait when we got there on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but I can easily imagine the line going out the door with early weekday commuters. The interior is on the tiny side, but it has very cute window seat with a little community library! The policy is: you bring a book, you take a book! Brilliant! They even had a decent selection of children's books!

It's surprising to me that their website is such a basic webpage, rather than the elaborate setup that most of their competitors seem to have, especially considering they have been opened since 2009. Their webpage includes a description, location, hours, and an email to contact them. Perhaps that is because they seem to be a much smaller setup then other chain spots (imagine running a coffee shop out of a garage). Come to think of it, most of the companies with an elaborate site, classes, etc have at least two locations.

Actually, visiting Cup has really given me hope for my own ventures. It can be very intimidating seeing the highly polished cafes that NYC offers but Cup proves that good coffee is really all you need to be successful. 

FYI- Cup takes cash only.

On a side note, we were also hunting for good record stores (it's one of the only ways I can lure my boyfriend into coming with me on my reviews). We were having a nice discussion with the barista and when we told him we were looking for record stores, he recommended a place just two blocks away called: Co-Op 87! Luckily they placed this sign at the corner or we would have had a really hard time finding it. It's very easy to walk past it in this residential area. Incidentally, it's a great record store and the salesperson was very funny and helpful. Definitely a place to check out while you drink your coffee from Cup.