Author Archives: Mollie

The Food Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

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Hey ya’ll. We feel so lucky that Ridgewood survived Hurricane Sandy without suffering any major damage. Neighborhood folks Ridgewood Beat have tweeted details about A LOCAL DROP-OFF LOCATION FOR DONATIONS. (Oh, and HERE’S ONE MORE.)

In regard to food during the storm: is anyone else on a post-hurricane diet? Here are a few of the things we ate in the 24 hours before, during, and after Sandy:

Snickerdoodles

Monday, 4pm: Snickerdoodles

I grew up eating these cookies but haven’t had them in years. Nowadays I opt for cookies with chocolate, but I didn’t want to go back out and I had all the ‘doodle ingredients already on hand, so the decision was made. I followed this recipe for the most part, with the following modifications: Continue reading →

Ridgewood Thai Delivery and the Gates Burger Mystery

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ridgewood thai pad see ew

Pad See Ew from Ridgewood Thai

We’ve been kind of lazy with food shopping recently, which is something that tends to happen whenever the seasons change. Casseroles are just around the corner, but it’s not quite cold enough yet. So, in honor of our laziness, let’s talk for a moment about food delivery. If you live in Ridgewood, you probably do a fair amount of cooking; Ridgewood is full of young couples and families with young kids, and home-cooked meals are a way of life. Not surprisingly, there’s also fewer food-delivery options in the ‘wood than in many other parts of the city. Yes, everywhere from the corner bodega masquerading as a burger joint (see “A word about Gates Burger,” below) to the Peruvian hole-in-the-wall says they deliver, but when it’s 9pm and we’re tired and hungry, we want something fast and dependable. One place we like for delivery — at least for some things — is Ridgewood Thai. It’s one of only two Thai places in the ‘wood; the other one is really, really, really gross. Sorry, but it is. Continue reading →

Taqueria El Paisa and Other Mexican Options

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tacos from taqueria el paisa

 

Looking for great tacos in Ridgewood? Keep reading and we’ll tell you about our favorites. But first, here’s a quick rundown of all the Mexican (and “Mexican”) eateries:

Authentic Mexican (i.e.,  food like it actually is in Mexico)

  • Guadalajara De Dia #2 (Seneca & Menahan): Serviceable, old school taco joint and grocery. Seems to sell a lot of nostalgia products for folks far away from home.
  • Fresh Pond Mexican Restaurant (corner of Fresh Pond & 68th Avenue): Busy, cluttered, lunch counter–/diner-type spot that sells big Mexican plates. Continue reading →

Fruitti Yummi Opens in Ridgewood

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Fruitti Yummi is finally here! I know we’ve been a little obsessed lately, but we went to the grand opening and here’s the scoop: Bright and cheery with lots of comfy seating, Fruitti Yummi is a welcome addition to the ‘wood. They serve 10 flavors of nonfat froyo, including cookies & cream, pumpkin, cheesecake, coffee, chocolate, and strawberry. Toppings are again Pinkberry-style, with everything from mango boba (tapioca pearls) to trail mix to crushed Oreos. Continue reading →

The Best Soup in Ridgewood at Cracovia Deli

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It’s fall. Time for soup! On our way to Grover Cleveland Playground one day, we had a lucky encounter with perhaps the best soup in Ridgewood at Cracovia Deli. It’s a minimalist, sort of old-timey Polish deli with a surprising amount of homemade goodness for sale. The main draw is their rainbow of soups, including simply prepared sorrel, vegetable, mushroom, red borscht, white borscht, chicken noodle, and pickle — all $2. Continue reading →

Stuff We Like from Parrot Coffee

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Hello again! Welcome to our new regular feature called “Stuff We Like from Parrot Coffee” (working on catchier name). We will periodically share several can’t-miss items from our favorite neighborhood grocery, Parrot Coffee — a modest little storefront on a sleepy stretch of Myrtle that features a dazzling array of homemade and imported goods from Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans. Half the stuff we eat comes from here!

Our top picks from Parrot: Continue reading →

Sfogliatelle from Catania Bakery

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catania bakery lobster tail

 

I am finally getting around to writing our first Ridgefood post! Sorry it’s taken forever!

Friends, one of the very best things about Ridgewood — and what inspired me to explore all the food nooks and crannies of the ‘hood and start this website — is sfogliatelle from Catania Bakery on Fresh Pond Road. Since I’m not into custardy fillings and dry cookies, I don’t usually enjoy Italian pastries. But sfogliatelle (aka “lobster tails”) are sooo good. The bottom is sort of a cross between a cream puff and a croissant, and the top is all these flaky, crunchy layers. Delicious! It’s filled with a version of French pastry cream that is basically whipped cream with powdered sugar and egg white for a bit more body.

FYI: There’s another branch of Catania Bakery at 487 Harman Street (corner of Cypress), a few blocks over in Brooklyn. A few key differences: Pastries are topped with a maraschino cherry (?!), and more importantly, THE LOBSTER TAILS ARE NOT THE SAME. The filling is more custard-like, which I do not enjoy and cannot recommend.

Catania Bakery

64-10 Fresh Pond Road [map]
(718) 417-5700

Snax by Mollie at the Ridgewood Flea

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Ridgefoodies! We’ll be selling various baked goods at the Ridgewood-Bushwick Flea tomorrow at the Onderdonk House! Come say hi and enjoy some snax (by Mollie). So far we’ve baked: black bean, butternut squash, and queso fresco empanadas; Secret Recipe Brownies; and cardamom-lime rice krispy treats. In the morning we’ll prepare chocolate chip banana bread so fleagoers can enjoy it warm. Free mini-Palmona (made from San Pellegrino Pompelmo, $1 at Paula’s Deli) if you mention Ridgefood!

Vander Ende-Onderdonk House

1820 Flushing Avenue [map]
(718) 456-1776

Paula’s Deli (CLOSED)

5533 Myrtle Avenue [map]
(718) 497-7815