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Posts tagged ‘small business’

Jun 9

16 Comments

Featured Restaurant-Pilar Cuban Eatery, Brooklyn Small Business

Pilar

Living in Brooklyn is great, and one of the most wonderful things about the neighborhood are the small businesses that have opened. They are part of the fabric of the neighborhood that makes it interesting, friendly and in the case of restaurants and food shops, delicious. One of the restaurants is Pilar, a Cuban restaurant at 393 Classon Ave in Clinton Hill. The Chef/owner is Ricardo Barreras and his wife Lizbeth Moreno, he moved here from Miami and opened this wonderful little bistro. I am a big fan of Cuban food and a real sucker for a good Cuban sandwich and I was not disappointed, it’s really everything a Cuban sandwich should be, thin Cuban bread encasing tender perfectly spiced pork, ham, swiss cheese and pickles pressed and grilled to perfection.While waiting for my food I watched the parade of great dishes going past me and I wanted to order everything. Rice, black beans, plantains and egg (YUM), hand made empandadas, stewed vegetables and rice. Everything cooked to order, homemade and utterly delicious.

Posted outside

i hope to feature local small business from time to time here, in my opinion it’s a great opportunity to spread the word and hopefully send business their way. I have great respect for these entrepreneurs. Ricardo and his wife take great pride in their work, they love what they do and thats evident from the moment you walk into their restaurant. I ordered a Cuban sandwich and 2 Empanadas, spinach and picadillo (ground meat, sofrito, cheese,potato) Ricardo told me he makes his own chorizo and gave me a sample (Delicious!!) I found a great NYT review of Pilar

NYT photo of Cuban Sandwich

Empanadas Spinach and Picadillo

If you live in Brooklyn or are just visiting drop by Pilar and enjoy some truly delicious and authentic Cuban food. You will love it as much as I did, and they deliver!!

May 2

8 Comments

Pickles And The Grinding Truck-Brooklyn Small Business

Clinton Hill Pickles

I love where I live, row after row of historic homes, Mom and Pop businesses, a real sense of community and pride in our neighborhood. Brooklyn, NY, specifically the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill neighborhoods were a well kept secret, not so much anymore, people are moving in by the droves, housing prices have skyrocketed and with that many of the small shops we cherish are no longer able to stay in business because of high rent. I decided to feature two small businesses that still hold onto time honored traditions and offer products and services as they did in bygone days.

Pat in her tiny shop, see all the barrels!!

Clinton Hill Pickles is a tiny shop at 431 Classon Avenue. The proprietor, Pat is surrounded by barrel after barrel of pickles, pickled beets, sauerkraut and other wonderful products that she either makes herself or has other artisans make for her. She greets you with a smile, offers you a pickle to taste and remembers who you are. You see, Pat has been in the pickle business almost all of her life, some of you may know about the lower east side of Manhattan and the wonderful array of foods that you can purchase from pickles to bialy’s to knishes. Pat ran the family pickle business, the famous Guss’ Pickles on Orchard Street until she had to close shop, so she decided to make the move to Brooklyn. The pickles and pickled vegetables are in barrels, reminiscent of old times, I always think of the movie “Crossing Delancey” and the pickle man (great movie!). I remember the shop on the lower east side, it was so charming and I was happy to find her so close to where I live. After looking in each barrel, containing sour pickles, half sours, hot pickles, fresh pickles (very crisp), it was hard to decide, but I finally chose some sour pickles, beets, sauerkraut, homemade sweet pickle relish and some real deli mustard. I can’t believe how good it all is, each item home made no additives and everything is made with love and care.

Sour pickles,beets sauerkraut,deli mustard and sweet pickle relish

If you live in Brooklyn or are just visiting stop in and see Pat, you’ll be glad you did!

Love the sign

Every month or two the green grinding truck arrives on my block, ringing a bell, announcing that he is here to sharpen your knives, scissors,or even lawnmowers. Bob’s Grinding Services has been in business, using the same truck for years and years. He rings his bell to let you know he is there and stops mid block so people can bring their items for sharpening. His name isn’t Bob, I actually think it could be Henry, he greets everyone with a smile and happily sharpens whatever you bring to him, you can tell he loves what he does and it makes me smile when I see and hear his truck moving slowly down the street. We are all so busy with our contemporary lives, and seeing these businesses that are basically doing things the same way they were done many, many years ago makes me want to slow down and remember kinder, gentler times. He was here on Saturday and sharpened my chef’s knife and paring knife and did such a great job, I could split a hair!!

Bobs Grinding Service