Hello sweet friends!
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve given you an update on what I’ve been up to in the world. The front half of the summer has been stacked with travel. The past two weekends I was lucky enough to be in Maine for my and Michaela’s dual-ish bachelorettes, and in Puerto Rico for one of my best friends from childhood’s bachelorette.
York, Maine bachelorette highlights: One thing I’m in awe of in the wedding process is having so many of the people Michaela and I love in one space together. Seeing the people we love get to know each other, and both of us getting to soak in being with our closest friends, is a memory I’m pocketing forever. Foodwise, we were obsessed with pastries from Lil’s (one of everything, pls); lobster rolls, brews and live music at Lobster in the Rough; oysters and lobster grilled cheese at Highroller in Portland.
Puerto Rico bachelorette highlights: Our blushing bride Becca’s mom is from Puerto Rico, so getting to see the island through Becca’s eyes after YEARS of hearing so much about was so stinkin’ cool. We had a yacht day that was nothing short of paradise, and spent great time with Becca’s family. Favorite restaurant was Cocina al Fondo in San Juan :)
NYC food updates
I’m laughing as I write this, because I do not feel like I’m the most up-to-date source of NYC food news. This is one of the things I have forgone in not checking social media as often. Maybe I need a podcast to listen to or newsletter to subscribe to? LMK if you have any recs.
Okay but regardless, I do have scoop for us all today! It’s primarily centered around my neighborhood Fort Greene, bc, well, that’s the news I know most about!! If you have not come to this neck of the woods, it is calm yet energized, with a consistently growing culinary scene. I recommend it.
Saint Street Cakes just opened! It looks cute as heck and the chocolate chip cookies seem straight out of a dream. I’m thrilled for another bakery to bring respect to Fort Greene’s name. I have not yet gone but am planning to this hawt 4th of July weekend.
Sailor, the acclaimed Fort Greene restaurant helmed by April Bloomfield, is expanding into the next door space. This should mean it’ll be easier to get a reservation or walk in. Personally, I like to get there 15-20 mins before open and snag a walk-in table.
If you have not yet been, this is the best selling point for Sailor I’ve seen (from the 2023 New Yorker review): Sailor, in Fort Greene, is a destination restaurant dressed up as a neighborhood spot—which is maybe the best kind of restaurant there is.
This isn’t news, but more of a recommendation: If you are in NYC over 4th of July weekend, go to whatever hard-to-get-into restaurant you’ve been eyeing; walking in will be much easier. Go to Salt and Straw or Radio Bakery; the lines will be shorter. The city is so calm this weekend as people flee to the beach, so take this time to do whatever the f you want to do. There are also some great free movies happening in parks, the subway series at Citi, Liberty playing at home, and fireworks to be watched over the Brooklyn Bridge. Endless magic to be made.
4th of July recipes
In addition to the berry crisp cake below, here are some recipes perfect for 4th of July weekend.
From left to right:
Berry Crisp Cake
I f***ing love this cake. It’s bursting with berries, and has a crispy brown sugar oat crumble that summons berry crisp and a luxuriously smooth frosting.
This is also a very fun cake to make - a perfect activity for the weekend. My favorite part is the ermine frosting. It’s a less-oft-used frosting that leans on boiled milk and flour. It’s not as sweet or overwhelmingly buttery as buttercream. And you get to watch it whip up dramatically in your mixer, which is oh so fun.
I shared the video for berry crisp cake on Instagram here.
Wishing you a great, firework-filled 4th :)
xx,
Maddie
Will forever be cherishing our time in Maine!! Also need to try that Berry crisp cake ASAP!