EATING NOT EATING: JULIANA'S PIZZA

EATING NOT EATING: JULIANA'S PIZZA

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WNW Member #2245 Lauren Hom, the brilliant mind behind Will Letter for Lunch, reveals her most recent chalkboard magic trick. She shares her artistry, and delicious food appears on the table. This time around, it's mouth-watering pies from Juliana's Pizza in Dumbo. Below, Lauren will effortlessly convince you that you need to make a trip to Juliana's.

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I scream, you scream, we all scream for PIZZA! The day I received the email from Juliana’s asking me to letter for pizza was the best day of my life. Owned and operated by the original couple behind Grimaldi’s, Juliana’s is a charming Italian restaurant serving up coal-fired pizzas underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo. It’s named after owner Patsy’s mother too. Adorable AND delicious? Sign me up.

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Since I did a bit more lettering than the typical Letter for Lunch project, I was able to treat seven of my closest friends to a pizza party! We inhaled 4 speciality pizzas and lots of wine over the course of a Sunday afternoon. The No. 1 with mozzarella, scamorza affumicata, pancetta, scallions and Oregon-grown white truffles in olive oil was a rich and salty start to our meal, followed by the very classic No. 2 with cherry tomato, Bufala mozzarella, garlic and sea salt. Next came the No. 3 with mozzarella, sausage, broccoli rabe and garlic, which we all loaded up with red pepper flakes to add an extra kick to an already savory bite. We finished the meal with the No. 4 with tomato, mozzarella, peppery arugula and prosciutto.

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Toppings aside, the dough was what really stole the show. I’m one of those annoying people who usually doesn’t eat the crust of a slice of pizza, so when I feel compelled to finish the crust that’s when I know it’s really good pizza. GUYS, I ATE ALL OF THE CRUST. For anyone thinking about going to Grimaldi’s or recommending it to a friend from out of town, I’d strongly suggest sending them to Juliana’s instead. The decor is nicer, the line is shorter, and it’s the original Grimaldi’s pizza recipe. Spread the word and have a pizza party of your own!

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Juliana's Pizza: 19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (11:30 am - 11:00 pm)

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Eating Not Eating: Chickpea & Olive

EATING NOT EATING:
CHICKPEA & OLIVE

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Vegans rejoice! From her last installment about Souvlaki, WNW Member #2245 Lauren Hom shares her most recent chalkboard creation and culinary review, this time for Chickpea & Olive. A pop up restaurant that travels all over New York, Chickpea & Olive holds it down every weekend in Williamsburg at Smoragsburg where Lauren caught them. With food this good, we're almost convinced that we don't need beef in our burger. 

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Chickpea & Olive is a pop-up vegan restaurant located at Smorgasburg every Saturday and Sunday in Brooklyn. Founded by Danielle Riccardi and Daniel Strong, Chickpea & Olive aims to recreate soul-comforting food with a healthy twist. They source organic and local ingredients and work with amazing New York City bakeries, artisans, and growers. Serving up hearty homemade beet burgers and vegan sandwiches slathered in homemade sauces and melted cheese, Chickpea & Olive could amaze even your most carnivorous friend.

Last Saturday I stopped by Smorgasburg in Williamsburg to lunch at Chickpea & Olive. I was happy to find Dan and Danielle blasting hip hop while grilling up sandwiches for a long line of hungry Smorgasburg-ers. I treated myself to not one, but TWO (calories don't count on the weekend, okay?) of their homemade beet burgers and a coconut Arnold Palmer (half tangy, fresh-squeezed lemonade and half roasted, buttery coconut black tea, as recommended by Danielle herself). I'm not exaggerating when I say this is the best thing you'll drink all summer.

First up was the most decadent sounding item on the menu: the Bacon Cheddar Ranch burger. Served on a pillowy soft bun, this handmade beet patty was topped with cheddar, hickory smoked eggplant bacon, bread and butter pickles, heirloom tomatoes and green leaf lettuce. Oh wait, there's more? You betcha. On top of all that was a generous drizzle of their fresh herb ranch sauce. The star of the sandwich was the eggplant bacon: paper thin slices of eggplant, seasoned, smoked and roasted to perfection. Needless to say, I polished it off in five minutes.

The next sandwich was equally as exciting: the Calexico burger. It had the same tasty beet patty as the previous burger, but this time it was topped with cheddar, avocado, pickled red onions, pickled jalapeños, heirloom tomatoes, green leaf lettuce and chipotle aioli. Talk about a kick! Each bite was delightful: heat from the jalapeños, tanginess from the pickled onions, and richness from the fresh avocado slices. If you're not busy this weekend, head on over to Smorgasburg and bite into one of these delicious burgers. If you are busy this weekend, cancel all of your plans. You're welcome in advance.

Chickpea & Olive: 90 Kent Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11249

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