Rating: 💋 💋 💋 💋
I have lived in New York City for four years and I found out relatively early on about this magical event called Smorgasburg. It sounded like a magical wonderland. Despite it being an extremely strong goal of mine, it took me four years to get there. In my defense though, I lived all the way up in the Bronx, making the Brooklyn-based foodfest a big trip to balance along with school and organizing friends to go and whatnot. However, I have since moved out of the Bronx and was delighted to find out that Smorgasburg actually has three different locations: the World Trade Center on Fridays, Williamsburg (the big one and only one I'd originally known about) on Saturdays, and Prospect Park on Sundays. When my lovely friend Rebecca visited, we decided we had to make that our Sunday activity and it was well-worth it! We started off with mimosas from the Smorgasburg bar, and they were good if not special, before diving into crowds to find the exciting foods so often rumored about on social media.
For starters, I'd recommend doing a lap or two so you can see every stall and decide your plan of attack before making moves.
As her main course, Rebecca chose this brisket sandwich from Mighty Quinn's Barbecue. Verdict was that it was delicious, but next time she would get the pulled pork. Personally, Mighty Quinn's is on my restaurant list as its own entity, so I'll let you know how the restaurant compares to the food stall when I get there.
I opted to go to Crackd and get a fancy egg sandwich - phenomenal decision if I do say so myself. Look at that cheese ooze! What's not pictured is the chef flaunting his muscles for the camera. He told me not to post it on social media so as not to upset the Mrs - yikes! Rebecca and I were a bit miffed about that one... I can say though that it was super fun watching how they cooked and flipped the eggs in a special pan to get that uniquely fluffy texture, and the whole staff was fun to chat with. The menu itself offered a concise four options and I opted for the egg sandwich with lettuce and truffle cheese on toasted brioche - a fabulous choice. This was my first truffle dish and the fungi melded perfectly with the creamy goat cheese and sweet, toasted brioche. It was a heavenly experience and writing this now I am really missing it. I need another, stat!
John Mulaney once said that ordering French fries for the table is like ordering crack because everyone knows they're bad but loves them anyway. I don't care if they're unhealthy, I do indeed love them and I have strong opinions (steak-cut and waffle fries are ranked highest, love me some sweet potato, and - controversial opinion - I am not a fan of McDonald's and won't eat them). I don't eat fries all the time, but God they're hard to say no to, and at a culinary experience such as this, it's near impossible. Or just plain impossible because I sure didn't do it. Rebecca and I ordered a small (that's a small in my hands!) order of truffle fries, which came with a garlic aioli. Obviously, aioli is never a wrong answer, and it didn't matter that the fries were piping hot and New York City was burning up at ninety degrees, my first ever order of truffle fries was absolutely scrumptious.
(Please ignore my crazy hair - it was hot and humid, okay!)
To finish it off, I finally got to go to Bona Bona Ice Cream. This has been a lifelong goal of mine, you guys. By lifelong, I mean for the past two years, Bona Bona has sent a food truck over to my university during special events, and I have waited and waited in line for this treat, but never once did I get it. That's how long the line was. Then I'd go home and see Instagram posts of classmates enjoying this meringued ice cream and I would weep internally for my loss. Finally though, on this glorious Sunday, I conquered my goal! Patience really is a virtue. In fact, after years of battling the insane line at school, there was no line at all. I stepped right up, ordered a B-Dough (Brownie and Cookie Dough flavor), watched them apply and torch the marshmallow, and took my first, beautiful taste!
All I have to say is, believe the hype. It was perfect.
And that's a wrap on my first Smorgasborg. I overheard some girls complain that the Prospect Park location was too small, but I would have to disagree. Sure, I have not yet enjoyed the phenomenal decadence of the Williamsburg location (though I fully intend to) but I found the Prospect Park event to be manageable, varied in offerings, and absolutely delicious. I walked away so psyched for all of my future visits!
*Judging by all the exclamation marks I used, I think you can tell: I am VERY thrilled about Smorgasburg. Please go.
XX,
MK
Comments