They’ve got la nonna in the kitchen…

‘Comfort in a bowl’, that’s what I like to call a good old bowl of pasta. It’s what you’ll go for at Bianca, and it’s what you’ll return for. Truthfully, it’s also what you’ll be waiting in line for. Yes, the good authentic food here makes you wait…but boy is it worth it!

But don’t stress, Bianca is so cool they have a great relationship with the bar next door! Wait for your table at Von, grab a glass of whatever you like…before you know it Bianca’s hostess will be in to fetch you and let you know your table is ready…AND you can take your unfinished drink in to dinner with you, huh!

You’ll start your meal off with some Gnocco Fritto – fried dough paired with some soft fresh cheese. I also suggest the Fried Calamari. Now, I’ll tell you I’ve been lucky enough to have tried my share of fried calamari around the world…this is truly the best I have ever had. Soft and flavorful – just perfect!

Every single one of their dishes will sound and probably be amazing. Being my first time at the spot I decided to go for a classic. I try to do this when I’m trying new places out – if the classics are good I will probably make my way back to try the rest. So Spaghetti Bolognese it is! Amazing and surprisingly light!

Dessert at an Italian spot?! Tiramisu – my friends went insane on it, couldn’t even get a decent shot…they were decent enough to leave me a few bites though. =) Very creamy, a bit tangy and sweet…exactly like it should be.

I swear they’ve got an Italian grandmother hired and cooking in the kitchen. It’s the only way everything could taste so fresh, homemade and comforting…

Cash only – you’ve been warned.

Che Buona Pizza Bambino!

You’ll be sounding out this title after your first bite…and yes, it will come out in Italian. I’ve been hearing about Grimaldi’s for a while now…a friend of a friend took my lovely friend Celi (starring wide-eyed in the picture above) to try this Brooklyn favorite. Since she knows I’m always down to try the best…’just about anything’…she just HAD to bring me here! The girl knows what I like, and once again – she didn’t disappoint!

They’re hand built coal-fired oven is filled with red-hot anthracite coal delivered directly from Pennsylvania. Why have coal delivered you ask?! Well…let me just tell you why…this particular coal actually burns cleaner and in a more eco-friendly way than gas or wood-fired methods. Intense heat + anthracite = guilt-free evenly baked pies with a perfectly crisp and smokey crust. Deliziooooso!

You may call me Plain Jane when it comes to my pie, if the Margherita is good – the rest can follow! All I need is incredibly fresh mozzarella (check!), kinda sweet / kinda tart / not too little / not too much tomato sauce (check!) and lastly, the perfectly bubbly, crispy but doughy – yet light crust (check! check! check!)

I hear lines can get quite long at the door so I would recommend to make it out on a rainy evening. Head on over to 1 Front St. in Dumbo, right under the Brooklyn Bridge…order plain, order toppings…eat it with your hands, eat it with utensils (don’t judge!)…now pucker up those lips, put your first three fingers together, kiss the tips and say it with me…Che buona pizza bambinooo!!!

Bread – Meat – Bread

There is something about the feeling you get when you take the first bite of a delicious perfectly combined sandwich. At Bierkraft…which translates to ‘beer-force’, that’s what you’ll get.

Walking in, you’ll stride through their beer tunnel, two fridge walls, filled with infinite amounts of all beers possibly imaginable. Not being a huuuge beer drinker, what catches my eye – and where I get lost for ideas – are the super creative labels!

When you get to the end of the tunnel you’ll find their specialty house-made draft beers…which I hear are delicious. Aaaand…look for it…a menu hanging from a post! You will have a choice between 8 already thought out sandwiches, as perfect combinations. Oooor, if you’re having one of those days where absolutely nothing is perfect or sounds scrumptious enough (we all have these once in a while) the guys at Bierkraft have an incredible selection of ingredients which you can mix and match and make into your own crazily amazing bread-y sandwich creation!

As you read through the menu you’ll drool over ingredients like: wagyu beef, hot sopressata, cave aged gruyere, chevre de miel, fig spread, basil marcona almond pesto…cheeeese, meeeeat, cheeeese…note that the condiments are mostly house-made! Mmmm…

Place your order to the super friendly staff – they take they’re time to really make you a perfect sandwich – sit out in the garden with your carefully selected beer and patiently wait for your name to be called!

Now when you go get your sandwich, do not be surprised by the size, these suckers are two in onesers…but if you’re reading this and loving it…you can probably down it in one sitting (like me…jeje)!