Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger, Williamsburg Brooklyn

212 Bedford Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211


http://www.wildgingerny.com/



Yelp Reviews

http://www.milwaukeeveganbakesale.com/blog/

This is a Pan-Asian vegan restaurant with a very pretty decor and very good service.  The food here can be quite amazing as long as you order the right thing.  The way they cook seitan is damn near miraculous and this is the only place I had crispy tofu that actually has crunch. And dessert is a must.

The first time we came here, we had the crispy tofu.  Terrific.  Made me consider getting a deep fryer for first time in my life.   When we came there the second time with David's sister and her husband, I believe we got the crispy watercress & soy cheese wontons as well as crispy soy nuggets (my mind is a bit fuzzy on this detail.  Could have been the Sapporo).  Either way the wontons were excellent and I would get that again as well.

I had the General Tso's Soy both times I have been here because how could I go wrong with deep fried tofu covered in a tangy sauce.  I can only hope it's somewhat healthier than a chicken version, but I doubt it.  It is served with ample broccoli and brown rice.  Speaking of the rice, I typically don't care for brown rice but here.... it is hard to explain, but all I can really say how non-bland it is.  Very good.  Ame got the General Tso's as well, and her husband a soy dish that had so much sauce I thought it would overwhelm the meal.  But no he ate it all up.  David liked his meal the second time (lemongrass tofu)  vs the first (tofu and mixed veggies.

The dessert was a vegan cheesecake.  I almost never get dessert at restaurants anymore, but yelp had advised a big old yes to it.  I regret nothing.  Rich and chocolatey and I am simply amazed there is no dairy in it. A perfect ending to a filling meal.  And meant to be shared.

Fette Sau

Fette Sau, Williamsburg Brooklyn

fettesaubbq.com

354 Metropolitan Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Yelp Review

From the L magazine

I'm likely to do 2 vegan/vegetarian restaurants in a row, so I should get this meat fest restaurant out of the way.  Anyone who loves pork and beef should listen up, and those who don't should glide on by.

A couple of notes before I get to the nitty gritty of glorious FOOD.
There has been a Farm to Table dining movement going on the past couple years or so, where one should reduce their carbon footprint and eat everything that is locally sourced.  Apparently this applies not just to produce.  I read in NY Mag a first hand account of a reporter meeting a pig, name and all, from an upstate farm followed him through until put on said reporter's dinner plate.  Here's the article but not for the faint of heart (or stomach).  It's not an aspect of foodie-ism I am particularly interested in, nor do I want to be a on a first name basis with my future bacon, and although I respect animals, and want them raised and slaughtered in humane conditions (as much as it can be I guess...the only humane thing is to abstain)...... it's not really my mission in life in how it finds itself in my belly. Selfish girl.

So what does my wild, conflicted rambling have to do with Fette Sau?  It runs under the same aspect of locally sourced and using the whole pig.  That means  the menu changes all the time, depending on the pig they get and how much everything (and I do mean everything) gets used up.  There are a few beef things on the menu but this a decidedly pork BBQ fiesta.


Atmosphere

Fette Sau lies in Williamsburg, Brooklyn so already the scene is so much cooler than you are.  It has picnic style tables and benches inside and out.  The dining area is about medium sized.  This place is highly acclaimed so don't expect to get food and leave quickly.  It just won't happen.  I waited an hour  in a maybe 12 person line.  And starving because I came straight from the gym.  I smelled like I was on a BBQ spit after I finally left.  The line is a complete snail pace so I read the chalkboard menu over and over to decide what I wanted and to change my mind again.


The Food

Oh to be at the front of the line!  And no wonder it is slow, there is only one person carving and weighing.  I ask for one thing, told they ran out.  Okay.  I ended up getting pork belly, beef brisket and pork shoulder all adding up to a pound.  There is no sauce, it is a dry rub.  For sides, cold broccoli salad and baked beans, and free rolls.  A lot of food and money but good for 2 meals.  As I was home alone for the weekend, I spread the food out and dug in.  The shoulder and the brisket were amazing.  The pork belly was good but very fatty, so I couldn't eat too much lest I get sick.  The cold broccoli salad was kind of weird at first but the more I ate it, I liked the vinegary aftertaste it had going on.  The baked beans were very good, but very rich.

I would very much recommend this place for the solid food alone.  It is amazing Southern style BBQ.  The wait though leaves much to be desired and likely will prevent me from coming here again.  Plus I wouldn't eat here, smelling like a pit isn't that great.  And dammit, I'm outside their delivery zone.