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Does Anyone Remember: Bruno’s Grocery Store?

This is John Bruno of Bruno’s Grocery Store, which was at 17th St. & 6th Ave. Angelo posted this picture of his great grandfather. Apparently, the store was going throughout the 1950s until they took the building for the Prospect Expressway: “That’s when he came to live with us at Ave U and East 5th,” he says. “He passed away in 1957.”

Bruno’s wasn’t the only shop that got razed by the Prospect Expressway. “My parents had a delicatessen (Henry’s) on the corner of 7th Avenue and 18th Street, a couple of blocks away,” writes PSPhoenix. “It also was destroyed to build the expressway. A year later they bought another delicatessen on 7th between 10th & 11th streets. Both now gone, but I still live there.”

Who else remembers Bruno’s and Henry’s?

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Fixing for Some Frozen Edamame?

You don’t have to be a vegan to love this healthy little legume. Edamame is a Japanese cuisine staple that when steamed and sprinkled with a bit of sea salt or tossed into a stir fry is a protein packed delight. Well we’re not the only ones hooked on it. It seems Carmen can “eat the hell out of this stuff and would love to be able to run out and buy some” close to her apartment. We know that Trader Joe’s has it, but that is a bit far away if you go through a bag as quickly as Carmen contests, so where can a girl get her fix?

Kelton Flencher suggest Key Foods on 7th and Quigley names Key Food on 5th, Associated on 5th, Union Market and 5th Ave Deli. Honorable out of bounds mentions go to Costco and Fairway, but where do you get your edamame? Let us know in the comments or join the discussion on the Park Slope message board.

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Talking Turkey Over at the Park Slope Coop

Thanksgiving is almost here and if you haven’t started your grocery list we suggest you get to it! SweetTea is already planning for next Thursday’s feast and as a new coop member would like to know how long she should wait to buy her turkey:

it’s my first year as a coop member, and i’d like to get my (small-ish) thanksgiving turkey there. i gather from the newsletter that you don’t order the turkey in advance. on the one hand, I’m guessing it’s a bad idea to wait until wednesday night to go buy one, but on the other hand, I’d like to minimize the amount of time i have to store the beast.
Anyone have experience on how quickly the suckers sell out?

Pitu, a long time coop member, offered this advice:

From past experience, the small ones go first – but even that varies from year to year depending on how many small ones the purveyors supply.

According to NYkittyNY the coop already has 3 different kinds of turkeys in stock, in all sizes. She also had a chance to speak with the buyer for the market:

I spoke to the guy there who was in charge of ordering them, and he advised to get my turkey by at least the weekend, unless I was hoping to get a heritage bird, which wont be in till next week. (At $3.99 per pound, they are an excellent deal compared to elsewhere, but still pricey.)

Sounds like this weekend will be a busy one at the coop. Do you have turkey shopping experiences to share? Join the discussion over on coop turkey talk.

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Grocery Round Up for Park Slopers

Lizschillare, a new member of the neighborhood, wonders:

“Where’s the best grocery store?”

Well, we’re glad you asked! LongTimeSloper was the first to chime in:

“Key Food on 5th Avenue-it’s far from you, but they do deliver and they have a large parking lot if you have a car.”

Other suggestions include, Steve’s C Town on 9th Street, Pathmark on 2nd Avenue, Union Market on 7th Ave or the one on Union Street, Eagle Provisions on 5th Avenue, and our personal favorite the newly renovated Associated on 5th ave and Union. If you don’t mind a longer trip for excellent produce there is always Fairway in Red Hook or if you rather make no trip at all, there’s the reliable Fresh Direct.

But tybur6 reminds us jokingly of another Park Slope option:

“I’m very proud of this group… 9 replies and no mention of the co-op! Well done.”

Yes, the Co-Op on Union Street. We love to hate it, but it does have an amazing selection if you can stand the membership ‘dues.’ Have another favorite to add to the list, post it on the Brooklynian Message Board: Best Grocery Store?

 

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Best of Park Slope


Red Horse Cafe, Brooklyn

Originally uploaded by 536.

Yavel’s list:

Best Loaf – Lopez Bakery – 5th ave bet 18 th and 19th St. The bread is very good and cheap. I always get the 7 grain. They make a nice loaf, but stay away from the pastry. The bread is baked fresh every day, but the other stuff tends to be stale. Haven’t tried the tamales yet.

Bakery – Two Little Red Hens – 8th Ave. They’re expensive, but so good.

Bodega/small grocer – La Dolce Vita – 7th Ave – Clean store and nice owner, also has a good beer selection

Toy Store – Toy Space on 7th ave around 13th – Nice selection of toys, if a bit overpriced. This place has saved me on a few occasions when I had to get a quick gift for a kid. There’s also a place on 5th ave, but I can’t remember the name.

Children’s Shoes – Windsor Shoes – Prospect Park West – The staff is very helpful and they have a good selection.

Pizza – Pino’s La Forchetta – 7th Ave – classic pizza joint

Coffee Shop – 6th ave and 12th St – Red Horse Cafe – good coffee and not crowded

Sandwich shop – Pollios – 5th Ave – Good hoagies and specialty foods. It has a nice, neighborhood feel.

More lists in the Park Slope Message Boards

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I Did It!


Park Slope Food Coop

Originally uploaded by Mar and Brod.

Con:“I left the (Park Slope) Food Coop. Immediately after leaving, i felt afraid and guilty. Then a couple days later, elation set in. It’s like I’ve left a cult. In fact, I have.” (–sexylegs)

Pro:“I would conservatively estimate that I save a couple grand a year, probably more, shopping at the co-op … I’m not a political fanatic. In fact, I don’t even particularly care about the environment. I just like fancy food and good produce and am cheap.” (–linusvanpelt)

Eh: “I went to grad school so I did NOT have to work at a grocery store!” (–KosherDave)

Everybody else: Park Slope Message Boards

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More Hating on the Park Slope Food Co-op

The Park Slope Food Co-op is quite a high-profile target these days. On Gothamist, Phoebe Maltz claims that it is “taboo to insult the Park Slope Food Co-op. Even if you are not a member, you are supposed to understand that joining is both a good deal and—more importantly—a progressive act.”

“I happen to believe it is neither, and have already made this semi-public by writing about it on my semi-read blog. If revealing this to a larger audience means I will be banished to, say, a townhouse in the West Village, so be it.” Read more…

Discuss: Park Slope Message Boards

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Key Foods: Roach/Rat Sanctuary CANNED

From Dope on the Slope: “Kudos to Key Food for replacing the aromatic array of garbage bags that made the south side of Carroll Street [and 7th] a fly, rat and roach sanctuary with a fresh flower market.”

“Key Foods is a regional grocer, with several stores in Brooklyn. Does this new line of business make them a ‘daisy chain?'”

Ouch.

LINK: Block Beautification Award [Dope on the Slope]

Discuss: Park Slope Message Boards

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Park Slope Food Co-op: “Please Don’t Paw the Persimmons”

From the New York Sun via Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn: “The Park Slope Food Co-Op is thought by many to be a terrifying place, a netherworld of rules and suspensions and withering stares if you forget to bring your own biodegradable shopping bag. The one time I’d gone there, as somebody’s guest, when I reached out to pick up a persimmon only to be scolded by a dutiful member, who must have been following me through the aisles the whole time. “Excuse me,” she said. “Guests aren’t allowed to handle the produce.”

Richard, leader of a recent Sunday afternoon orientation session, was so determined to present the Co-Op’s gentler side that he had set up a table with organic treats such as carrots and humus and peach nectar for 30 prospective members. Before getting into anything as off-putting as regulations or free-range ethics, he started off the meeting by telling us how much the Co-Op has improved his life. “My ingestion has really changed,” he said. “I’m juicing now!” Read the full text of this article…

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