Tiny gourmet grocer stacked with small-batch pantry gold (Sicilian olive oils, funky cheeses).
LOCATION: R&D Foods on Google Maps
Brooklyn
City Guide: Where the Chef Ate Like a Local King
Brooklyn was my home base—recipe–testing by day, bakery–to–bar hop by night. This borough proved you can circle the globe on one subway swipe, and these are the spots I still crave (and revisit whenever I’m back). Open the Brooklyn City Map linked below, pin everything, and let the grazing begin.
View on Map
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R&D Foods
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MISI
Missy Robbins’ pasta temple—spinach-ricotta tortelli and wood-roasted veggies that make produce the star.
LOCATION: MISI on Google Maps
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MISI Pasta Shop
Same crew sells their fresh shapes and sauces to-go—lifesaver for weeknight dinners.
LOCATION: MISI Pasta on Google Maps
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Patti Ann’s
Midwest-inspired pizzeria from Greg Baxtrom: fried-chicken pie, plus a cheese-and-scallion biscuit worth the detour.
LOCATION: PattiAnn’s on Google Maps
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K’Far
Israeli bakery/café—Jerusalem-bagel sandwiches, pistachio sticky buns, and cardamom-spiked coffee.
LOCATION: K’Far on Google Maps
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Mekelburg’s
Half specialty-foods shop, half craft-beer bar—duck-fat potato knish + rare sour ale = bliss.
LOCATION: Mekelburg’s on Google Maps
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Ozakaya
Laid-back sushi and Japanese comfort plates; hamachi-jalapeño roll crushes late-night cravings.
LOCATION: Ozakaya on Google Maps
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Prospect Butcher
Whole-animal shop sourcing from upstate farms—grab a dry-aged rib-eye for grill night.
LOCATION: Prospect Butcher on Google Maps
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BKLYN Larder
Artisan deli & market: impeccable sandwiches, imported tinned fish, and Brooklyn’s best yogurt parfait.
LOCATION: BKLYN Larder on Google Maps
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Bien Cuit
Deeply caramelized loaves and textbook croissants from a James Beard–nominated bakery.
LOCATION: Bien Cuit on Google Maps
Chef’s Quick-Fire Tips
- Walk it off: Cross neighborhoods on foot—10 k steps earns you that second croissant.
- Carb crawl: Hit three bakeries before 11 a.m.; lines are shorter and pastries are hot.
- Subway hack: The G train to Metropolitan zips you from Greenpoint ice-cream to Williamsburg pasta in minutes.
- Bagel protocol: Order “scooped” if you’re cutting carbs—nobody judges in Brooklyn.
Save, share, and snack your way across Kings County. Ready for the next city?