Allie’s Adventures in Eating: Seventh Avenue, Park Slope, Snacks

I had the brilliant idea to take my husband for a stroll along Park Slope, Brooklyn’s, Seventh Avenue last weekend. It was a gorgeous, fall Saturday–we were long overdue for a walk around the neighborhood. Predictably, the walk ended up turning into a snacking tour.

Cinnamon Snail, Gouchujang Burger Deluxe with Korean Paste, Sauteed Kimchi, Pickled Daikon and Leeks, Black Sesame Gomasio, Arugula and Sriracha mayo on Grilled Focaccia: Chris and I thought this vegan food truck knocked their burger out of the park. Each bite generated a different variation of a Korean flavor explosion in our mouths, starting with the sauteed kimchi. Arugula added a nice, bitter contrast to the spicy sandwich. We’ve recommended the Cinnamon Snail to everyone we know, as a result–we hope they come back to Park Slope soon.
Pino’s La Forcetta, Grandma Slice: Chris was a bigger fan of this slice than I was. The crust was light and airy, which I enjoyed, but I found the sauce rather bland.
Sweet Melissa, Sweet Corn and Bacon Chowder: Given this patisserie’s reputation for having decadent desserts, I was hoping their chowder–using fresh corn from the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket–would be rich and creamy. It was good, but not great. The consistency wasn’t as thick as I wished for a chowder. Chris wanted more smoky flavor from the bacon, where I thought that was just right.
Zito’s Sandwich Shoppe, Sicilian Potato Fritters, stuffed with Mozzarella, Local Ricotta, Herbs and Pecorino Cheese. Served with Marinara Dipping Sauce: These fritters are a mashed potato lover’s dream. They are relatively light, given the ingredients. I would love to see a rich, brown gravy offered for dipping.
Zito’s Sandwich Shoppe, Buttermilk dredged Pastosa Ricotta Ravioli, Seasoned Bread Crumbs, Sea Salt & Pecorino. Served with Marinara Dipping Sauce: They are pillowy, soft, flavorful, fried pouches of heaven, for which marinara sauce pairs perfectly. I would recommend the fried ravioli to anyone in a heartbeat.

After our tour of Seventh Avenue, we hiked around Prospect Park, eventually circling back near Grand Army Plaza. Chris noticed that some food trucks were parked out front, so we had to indulge in one final snack.

Chris had been looking forward to trying a Phil’s Steak Provolone Steak for weeks after hearing rave reviews. I’m not the biggest cheesesteak fan, but we were in agreement on this–the flavors were fantastic. The steak was layered with spices and the onions sweet.

Taking a snacking tour around Seventh Avenue in Park Slope was a great way to spend a crisp, autumn Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn. This neighborhood is really starting to come into its own from a culinary perspective. More and more restaurants are opening here, because rents in Manhattan and Williamsburg have become ridiculously expensive. I’m sure we will embark on many more of these snacking tours before it is too cold to do so.