Everywhere I Ate In Brooklyn Last Week
Written by Daphne Bryant
Let me preface by saying I am not a foodie. I love NYC, I love my friends who live in NYC, and I like going out for meals, but I’m not really the type to keep track of what I eat, where I eat and when (unlike Vanessa, my chef-videographer-lesbian influencer friend who is always chronicling her adventures). I admire Vanessa’s devotion to food, and was partially inspired by her when I decided to diarize my cuisine journey last week. I didn’t take any aesthetic pictures or videos, but I do have the names (and most importantly, the memories) of everywhere I ate in Brooklyn.
TRAD ROOM W/ ADRIANA – WEDNESDAY NIGHT
The moment my flight landed in New York, I got dressed and met up with my friend Adriana at Trad Room, a cozy restaurant in Bed-Stuy that does izakaya-style dining. I was pretty hungry (I have a bad habit of forgetting to eat when I travel), so I ordered the Drunken Shrimp (marinated in shochu, yuzu koshu, tamari soy sauce, garlic, sake, and butter) and a Wagyu Beef Burger, accompanied by a cocktail named Hanayome.
Adriana and I spent about two and a half hours catching up—it had been almost a year since our last outing and I’d missed her so much! It’s funny: when I first met Adriana we had dinner as well, and at the time I couldn’t tell if it was a date or not a date. It was driving me crazy because I had a bit of a crush on her (we’ve teased each other about this on multiple occasions). Now here we were in an intimate setting, talking not as attractive strangers but good friends.
TRAD ROOM WINS THE AWARD FOR: BEST MENU
SUNRISE/SUNSET W/ RACHEL – THURSDAY MORNING
Rachel and I met in college years ago, and she’s been living and working in New York for a little bit now. I’ve loved keeping up with her via Instagram (there is literally no one who knows how to curate an IG post better than icon and former DWG Marketing Director Rachel MF Chuuu)!
At the end of this month Rachel’s heading back home to Hong Kong, so I’m really glad I caught her before the big move. She suggested we get breakfast at Sunrise/Sunset, which is within walking distance of my friend Grace’s apartment (I was staying with her).
Did you know Sunrise/Sunset is lowkey open all day (8AM-12 AM)? I literally just found this out, but apparently it’s a quiet café in the morning and transforms into a bar at night. I can’t speak for the bar vibe, but I really appreciated how cute and calm Sunrise/Sunset was when I went around 10 AM. I ended up getting a yummy doughnut dusted in sugar and chatting with Rachel about all kinds of things, from our recent accomplishments to the difference in our love lives—I’m in a weird FWB situation, she’s in a four-year-long relationship–to the way we both overworked ourselves at Emerson (because that’s just what Emerson kids do). It was a super chill hang with someone I’ve known and loved for a minute, and the perfect way to start off my very busy Thursday.
SUNRISE/SUNSET WINS THE AWARD FOR: MOST CHILL VIBE
SAINT STREET CAKES — THURSDAY AFTERNOON
Anyone who knows me knows I’m a sucker for a sweet treat; I love cake and cupcakes and cookies and a bunch of other C-words, but I wasn’t planning on hitting up any bakeries this trip. The clock had just struck noon. I was meeting my friend Lida in Fort Greene for a photoshoot, though she was running late so I explored the block and miraculously stumbled upon Saint Street Cakes.
The very popular bakery is mostly known for their dreamy custom cakes, but I opted for a salted chocolate chip cookie that satisfied every damn taste bud. Saint Street Cakes’ interior, with its cherry red window frames, pink curtains and vintage vibe, was super cute as well; I’ll definitely have to come back!
SAINT STREET CAKES WINS THE AWARD FOR: KINDEST EMPLOYEES
KATT CO @ PLEASED TO MEET YOU X DWG – THURSDAY EVENING
In case you didn’t know, the only reason why I was in NYC was because I had work! I was commissioned to moderate an industry panel and generate cross-promotional content for Pleased To Meet You, a community events organization. The networking event took place from 6:30 pm-10:00 pm at Selva, and one of the vendors Katt Co caught my eye. I honestly don’t remember if I bought Avocado Toast, Chicken Salad or something else entirely (my brain is on autopilot at events), but let it be known that whatever I got, it was definitely the freshest meal I had all week.
Katt Co does mostly pop-ups, but if you’re ever in town when she’s vending you should 100% go and try out any of her menu items. The food was delicious, made in real time, and a great portion for the price!
KATT CO WINS THE AWARD FOR: HEALTHIEST MEAL
Since Thursday was such a crazy day for me, I spent the next morning relaxing and ordered in. BK Bagels is a family-owned bagel and coffee shop in Bushwick, and from there I got two cinnamon raisin bagels (toasted, obvi) with cream cheese. When I was in high school, bagels used to be my go-to breakfast food, so eating them always feels really nostalgic for me.
The BK Bagels were so yummy and filling (NYC literally has the best bagels in the whole world, argue with the wall), and I liked eating them on Grace’s green couch while watching YouTube reactions and doing a whole lot of nothing.
BK BAGELS WINS THE AWARD FOR: MOST COMFORTING
LOS BURRITOS JUAREZ W/ MORGAN, ALEXA AND JADEYN – FRIDAY AFTERNOON
After chilling for a couple hours I took the train to Two Bridges and got a tattoo from @samberryinks, and after that my younger sister Morgan texted me and asked if I was free and down to get lunch with her and her friends from Columbia (because yes she’s crazy smart and awesome and goes to an Ivy League).
Of course I said yes! If you’re an older sister, you know just how heartwarming it is when your siblings actually want to hangout with you. We met up at Los Burritos Juarez, a newer restaurant whose mission is to bring classic burritos of the El Paso–Ciudad Juárez border region to Brooklyn. Alexa, one of Morgan’s friends, told me when I arrived that the place was actually founded by someone from her hometown, and that the burritos tasted just like they did back home.
I really enjoyed witnessing Morgan, Alexa, and Jadeyn’s dynamic, and I also know how special bonding with your friends over good food is. I ended up getting the chicharron en salsa verde burrito (+ a glass of agua fresca), and all of the flavors were so tantalizing! A+!
LOS BURRITOS JUAREZ WINS THE AWARD FOR: SWEETEST STORY
ALL NIGHT SKATE W/ TAYLOR AND KELSEY — FRIDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING
I went back to Grace’s after lunch, napped, and called the aforementioned FWB before heading to All Night Skate, a self-described blast from the past and skate-themed bar. As soon as I walked in I fell in love. There were checkered floors, a Black Trans Lives Matter flag on the wall, a disco ball hanging from the ceiling, an 80s-inspired arcade room and FROZEN. DRINKS (my fav) !!!!!
I was meeting up with Taylor and Kelsey, the super sweet founders of Pleased To Meet You, just to chat and get to know them a bit more. They’d probably hate it if I called them this, but they are technically zillennials (older Gen-Z), and I really enjoyed hearing their perspective and thoughts on NYC. I’m thinking of moving back to the East Coast in the next couple years or so, and so any chance I have to chat with people about their experience is one I will take.
As for food, All Night Skate has Mexican street-style tacos in the back—which I devoured in one sitting—and I loved my tropical cocktail (it’s called the Painkiller, and it highkey did cure the pain of running around non-stop that week LOL).
ALL NIGHT SKATE WINS THE AWARD FOR: COOLEST ATMOSPHERE
AYAT W/ HALEY, P, ANGIE, VANESSA, ELI AND SONIA – FRIDAY EVENING
The last place I ate on my trip was Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant serving Middle Eastern soul food. I went to the one in Bushwick with my friends Haley, P, Angie and Vanessa (yes the Vanessa; she organized the whole outing), as well as new acquaintances, Eli and Sonia!
Friday was March 20th, which meant it was also Eid Mubarak! Ayat’s founders say that in every Palestinian household, the air is filled with the inviting scent of freshly baked bread, a symbol of togetherness. The seven of us ate so much bread LOL, but we also ordered a huge meat-based family platter and a seafood side! I really loved trying so many new foods and I genuinely hope to go again.
