Instead, the tuna belly, king mackerel, and sea trout rest on pottery as colorful as their contents in a 39-degree glass case that controls temperature and humidity. At Osakana (290 Graham Avenue) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn flair meets Japanese tradition in a tasteful marriage of style and utility.
Osakana’s refrigerator is nearly empty—what’s on display is what’s up for grabs. “In the US we catch fish by the net, but in Japan they catch with a rod,” Osakana manager Emma Kramer said. It’s a reality her team must deal with—as a fishing and island nation, Japan will always have the upper fin, as it were. But it’s not a fact that will hinder Osakana’s near sacred handling of food. Continue reading →
When The Meat Hook left the back of The Brooklyn Kitchen earlier this year, the owners, Harry Rosenblum and Taylor Erkkinen, decided on a little redesign to fill up the vacated space. They moved a few shelves around, installed a new butcher counter and along with it, a custom-made fish counter. As long-term area residents—The Brooklyn Kitchen itself developed out of a lack of kitchen supply stores in Greenpoint/Williamsburg—they remember the days of illicit sidewalk fishmongers and know that, besides Greenpoint Fish & Lobster, there are now no places to get local, sustainable fish while also supporting a local business. Now, The Brooklyn Kitchen thoroughly succeeds in its goal of being a one-stop-shop for all your kitchen needs.Continue reading →
Since opening in August, Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co. (114 Nassau Ave.) has become one of the biggest local success stories of 2014. With a fish market counter at the front, and an eat-in bar at the back, it’s their focus on sustainably sourced, simply prepared seafood that keeps customers coming back for more. I live on the same block as the restaurant and it’s always packed whenever I pass by.
Owners Vinny Milburn and Adam Geringer-Dunn receive a new supply of ocean-fresh seafood each day and the menu changes depending on what they get in. Their collaborative group of talented chefs use simple, delicious ingredients to create dishes where the fish is always the star. There’s no freezer on site, which means that when an ingredient’s out, it’s out. “We’d rather be selling out of fish than wasting what’s leftover” says Vinny whose, family has been in the fish trade in Boston for five generations. As a result of his well-connected heritage, he gets first dibs on the best hauls in the area, meaning that there’s usually something spectacular on ice in the window or at the raw bar. Continue reading →
Vinny Milburn, left, and Adam Geringer-Dunn, right
Fifth generation fishmonger Vinny Milburn and co-owner/chef Adam Geringer-Dunn have opened the doors to Greenpoint Fish & Lobster (114 Nassau Ave), their much-anticipated raw bar and market offering seasonal, local, and well-sourced seafood in a quaint corner restaurant setting. Milburn and Geringer-Dunn are passionate about ensuring customers know where their catches come from, and that transparency is embodied in everything from the large, street-facing picture window where passersby can see their team at work to maritime maps hanging in the restrooms. It’s a little jewel box of a space and a two-fold great addition to the neighborhood – a reliable, quality seafood market and quite a nice new date night option.
While crossing over the East River during my daily ride on the East River Ferry, I would often see fishermen cast their lines into the dark polluted waters, hanging out on India Street Pier having a good time, in the rain or sunshine. Some of them were members of Brooklyn Urban Anglers Association, whose fishing derby this year would end with an East River Fish Fry. Continue reading →
Brooklyn Fishing Derby begins tomorrow Sunday October 14 2012 with an opening party right here in Greenpoint at Dream Fishing Tackle (675 Manhattan Ave) from 12-6pm. Fishing takes place along the Brooklyn Side of the East River from the 69th St Pier to Long Island City and includes Red Hook, Dumbo, Williamsburg and Greenpoint. For more information and to sign-up visit Brooklyn Urban Anglers Association Website.
Do you think the biggest hooker will be from Greenpoint?
