Tag: Brooklyn

Whenever I travel to New York I make sure to have time to head to Brooklyn to visit Ferdinando’s Focacceria. They are a neighborhood Sicilian restaurant that has been serving up homemade dishes for over 100 years. They are an institution that almost everyone knows about them.

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I got there right as they opened, so I was able to get a seat right away. The first thing I did was order a cold Manhattan Special. This is a cold coffee soda that is on tap. It is refreshing and a great way to wake up.

The stuffed artichoke was the first thing that came to the table. Of all the times I have visited this place, I never tried the artichoke. That was about to change this visit. The artichoke was covered in seasoned breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. The breadcrumbs were loaded with Italian seasonings, which made the artichoke meat taste savory. As I ate closer and closer to the enter, the flavor got more and more intense. The petals from the artichoke were so addicting.

Whenever I visit Ferdinando’s, I always make sure to order an Arancini. Their rice balls are some of the best I have ever eaten. The are big in size and loaded with meat and peas in the center. The rice itself is creamy in taste. The outside crust had a great crispiness to it. They put a nice amount of sauce on the meat and peas that you do not need any more.

The last must have item is the Panelle Special. Panelle is a fritter that is made from chickpea flour. The dough is formed and fried up. It was placed on a fresh made Italian roll with Ricotta cheese and shredded parmesan cheese.

The bread had a great crunch on the outside and was soft inside. The panelle  had a great crunch to it as well. The flavor is very mild, and it reminds me of a potato pancake. The fresh Ricotta cheese added a smooth texture and creaminess to the bite. It is a filling sandwich and can be messy to eat with all the Ricotta.

The food is amazing at Ferdinando’s. It is no wonder why they are still around. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/category/Italian-Restaurant/FERDINANDOS-FOCACCERIA-287577861134/

Enjoy!

T

I was so lucky that one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Brooklyn, Ferdinando’s, was open for business, while so many other restaurants were shut down. This is because they have a beautiful garden area at the back of the building.

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It was a warm, summer afternoon and they had a wonderful trellis that provided shade on each of the tables. The trellis was covered in thick grapevines with fresh grapes growing on them.

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To cool off I ordered some Manhattan Specials. Normally Ferdinando’s has this on tap, which tastes amazing. But because of Covid they were not able to serve it that way. So, I got bottles instead. It was cold and refreshing. For people who have never had a Manhattan Special, it is a carbonated coffee that is served ice cold.

I already had my mind set on what I would be ordering for lunch, the Arancina Special. This is an enormous rice ball that is filled with chopped meat, peas, and sauce. This mixture is then breaded and fried up. They top it off with ricotta cheese and tomato sauce. Then grated parmesan cheese was sprinkled all over.

The filling was so creamy because of the cheese. The rice was also tender. The flavor from the meat and sauce shined through. The peas added a little sweetness.

The other dish I tired was the Panelle and Potato sandwich. Panelle is chickpeas that have been mashed up like potatoes and then fried like a potato pancake. This was placed on a fresh made Italian roll. Then a potato croquette was stacked on top. Finally, a huge scoop of ricotta cheese and parmesan shreds were placed on top. This is a unique sandwich that I have never seen anywhere else. The flavor is savory and creamy. The ricotta cheese helped break up the starchiness of the panelle and croquette.

The food that Ferdinando’s serves has such a comforting feeling. The homemade nature of each dish makes me feel like I am eating at grandma’s house. It is that kind of feeling that has kept this restaurant in business since 1904.

If you are able to get over to Brooklyn, make sure to check them out. Follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Italian-Restaurant/FERDINANDOS-FOCACCERIA-287577861134/

Enjoy!

T

I am a sucker for fresh made desserts. I got so excited when I walk into a bakery and smell all the sweet treats in the air. That is exactly what happened when I walked into Paneantico in Brooklyn.

This neighborhood Italian bakery offered up fresh pastries, assorted desserts, fresh baked breads, plus homemade sandwiches.

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They have a few tables that you can sit at to enjoy your sweets there. However, I was on the go so I got my treats to go in order to eat them on my drive.

Everything in their cases looked delicious. I easily could have ordered one of everything but I limited it to what would actually fit in one box:

• Cannoli (mini)
• Carrot Cake
• Napoleon
• Black & White cookie
• Éclair

I started with the black and white cookie. I could not wait to take a bite, making sure to get both the chocolate and vanilla icings. The cookie was definitely sweet. The cookie dough was soft but not too cake like.

The éclair was also pretty easy to eat while driving in the car. The chocolate icing on top was soft and gooey. The pastry was loaded with the vanilla pudding. The pudding was creamy and full of vanilla flavor.

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The mini cannoli’s were a nice treat. The shell had a slight hint of cinnamon flavor to me. The filling was a sweet with a creamy texture. There were chocolate chips mixed through out to add a little crunch. The only downside is the filling did not go all the way through the shell. It stopped in the center.

So I took a break from eating everything in the car. I ended up saving two desserts to enjoy in the hotel. Once I got a fork I dug into the carrot cake. The cake was light and fluffy. It had a wonderful spice flavor and was loaded with fresh carrots. The cream cheese frosting was my favorite (it is always my favorite part). It was not too sweet and extremely creamy.

I saved the Napoleon for last. The layers of flakey dough were stuffed with the fresh cream filling. There was also the signature layer of icing that topped off the pastry. It was slightly hardened. When I went to take a bite the cream went everywhere. I ended up dividing it into two pieces, which made it easier to eat, plus using my hands verses a fork helped too.

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I loved that I got to make a stop at Paneantico. Every dessert I had was fantastic. I would definitely make a detour back to Brooklyn the next time I am up in New York. They are worth crossing the bridge.

Check them out at www.paneantico.com

Enjoy!

T

I was enjoying my visit to Brooklyn. There were so many places to eat every where I looked. It rally came down to what tickled my fancy. When I saw people coming in and out of Pizza & Calzone constantly I figured they must be good.

As soon as I stepped through the door I was hit by that wonderful smell of pizza cooking in the oven.

They had several varieties of pizzas to choose from. Their slices were huge.

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After looking over all the options I went for a Sicilian slice, Unlike regular slices of pizza that are cut in the traditional triangle shape, Sicilian pizza is cut into squares.

I also ordered one of their homemade calzones. I got a single one with just mozzarella cheese. What makes their calzones so special and stand out is that they are deep fried. This allows the dough to be extra crispy.

Since I was going to be heading back to Manhattan, I got my order to go. I figured I could eat it in the car on the way back.

The pizza had a super crispy crust. The fresh tomato sauce was amazing. It was sweet and full of the flavors of oregano and basil. Speaking of basil, they also added fresh basil on top for added flavor.

The crispy calzone was also amazing. Although it was deep fried, the outside was not greasy. The dough had a slight sweetness to it but it was masked by the saltiness of the creamy cheese.

Whether you are eating there or getting something to go Pizza & Calzone is a must visit. www.houseofpizzacalzone.com

Enjoy!

T

I ventured over to Brooklyn to check out an Italian restaurant that has been serving up homemade dishes since 1904. I could not wait to check out Ferdinando’s.

It was in between shops and houses. It had that old school vibe both inside and out. From the cool original tile on the floor to the Holy Family statues displayed in the corner, Ferdinando’s was filled with a rich history.

It is a history of feeding generations of families with homemade Italian food, made with love.

I started off ordering a Manhattan Special. This is a coffee soda that is bubbly and sweet. They actually have it on tap, which I have never seen before.

The arancina special was calling my name as soon as I spotted it on the menu. I could not wait to dive into one of my favorite Italian dishes.

This rice ball was filled with chopped meat, peas, and sauce. Because I ordered the “special” my arancini was topped with Ricotta cheese and covered in a homemade tomato sauce. Naturally they also covered the sauce with grated Parmesan cheese.

I was in heaven as soon as I took a bite. The rice was tender and moist. The meat had the right amount of sauce to add flavor not just to the meat itself, but also to the rice. The peas added extra sweetness to the sauce that already was sweet.

All the cheese on top added a creaminess to the sauce and to the rice. This hands down had to be one of the best arancinis I have ever eaten.

I also ordered a Panelle and Potato special while I was there. I had never had this before. So Panelle is chick pea flour that is made into a patty and deep fried (almost like a potato pancake). The potato part of this special was a potato croquette.

These two elements are combined on a fresh made Italian roll, along with fresh Ricotta cheese. The cheese made the sandwich creamy. The panelle added crunch. The potato added the heartiness to the dish that made the sandwich quiet filling. Since I had already eaten an entire rice ball, I only ate half of the sandwich. Luckily I was there with a friend who I could share it with.

Ferdinando’s was an amazing place. It is full of a rich history of feeding hungry families across the generations. You have to experience this little piece of history when you visit Brooklyn.

Check them out at www.ferdinandosfocacceria.com

Enjoy!

T