Friday, October 20, 2006

Brooklyn Outing



While my parents were visiting we went to Brooklyn for lunch one day. We went to Grimaldi's, Jacques Torres Chocolates, and the Brooklyn Bridge Park. It was a great family outing, in the the D.U.M.B.O (down under the manhattan bridge) area of Brooklyn. You can sometimes find street parking, but there are also two parking garages within a few blocks.

As far as I'm concerned, Grimaldi's is IT for New York style pizza. It's often rated as the #1 pizza in the five boroughs by lots of people who know. The thin crust that is chewy and crispy at the same time is amazing. Because it's so good it's very popular and you often have to wait in line outside to get inside the cramped quarters. I like going on a weekday for lunch. By arriving soon after they open (11:30), you avoid lines and crowds. It's very casual (read kind of a dive), so it's not stressful to have the kids there. The kids also enjoy watching the pizza being made and put into those enormous ovens. Make sure you order try the root beer. It's something with Brooklyn in the title and very good.

From Grimaldi's, Jacques Torres chocolates is just a short 2 block walk toward the river. It's worth it to go into the shop just to smell. Heaven. They have a display case filled with beautiful chocolates and truffles, but I go for the frozen and hot hot chocolate. I love the Wicked variety (chocolate spiked with ancho and chipotle chili peppers). Warning: this shop is not for the casual chocolate lover. It is serious stuff. The hot chocolate is thick, thick and super rich.

1/2 block down and across the street is the entrance to the park that runs along the East River. From this entrance it's a short walk to the playgroud that includes a pirate ship and tire swing. It's a nice spot to sit and enjoy the view while the kids blow off some steam.

8 comments:

Gabrielle of Design Mom said...

Heaven would be if someone would deliver a Grimaldi's pizza to my house in the next 10 minuts.

Liz Stanley said...

There is a Grimaldi's literally two blocks away from our apt here in Hoboken...and sadly we've only been once, but it was awesome (for some reason when we go out for dinner 'pizza' isn't usually something I immediately think of)

jordan said...

Remember at the triathlon when Josh told Liz's brothers that St. George had the best pizza in the world.

Anonymous said...

How in the world do you stay under 300 pounds? You are such a great cook.
sbrodine

Anonymous said...

Oh, man, just thinking about Brooklyn Root Beer makes my mouth water. We haven't decided whether it's so good just because you're drinking it at Grimaldi's or if it's just because it really is that good!

Tania said...

Few things make me wish we still lived in Brooklyn, but this little area is one of them. Fortunately, not so far away from here!

Jenni said...

this is a great outing, i have planned it twice and both times been thwarted...first time, didn't go under the bridge, but all the way to the end of the bridge, second time...my car got hit by a truck...i believe i am not meant to take this outing...but OH what I wouldn't do for a slice of Grimaldi's...I hear the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory is not so bad and fits in nicely with this outing...

Anonymous said...

After we returned to Utah--after our Grimaldis experience--we got a pizza from a new place in Alpine which cliamed to make the best pizza in the world. Not so. We've been ruined! Does this mean we have to go to New York anytime we get a craving for pizza?
Mom