With the arrival of some more consistently gorgeous weather, it is the perfect season for Mad Sq Eats to come back to town. You can still catch this food-centric pop-up market for another couple of weeks. I’ve passed through it a few times when errands and appointments have put me over in that part of town.
List of Vendors
There’s some vendors who have sold there in the past as well as a few different ones, bringing new and delicious flavors to this gathering. The bright colorful Marimekko tabletop decorations and umbrellas add an extra air of festivity to the area and make this an almost vacation-like oasis at the meeting point of busy downtown several streets.
Mighty Balls – Pork Slider with Spicy Feta and Jalapeno Jam
Looking for a quick, hearty, spicy snack? This photo was taken at the Dekalb Market, but I’ve had these at quite a few food events since I discovered how tasty their combinations are. Definitely stop by the stand for Mighty Balls and grab one of their sliders.
Arancini Bros. selection
Another great quick bite to have is the crunchy, pillowy, filled rice balls from Arancini Bros. These Sicilian street snacks come in sweet and savory flavors and are easily eaten on the go.
LaSonrisa – Coconut Curry Chicken Empanada
LaSonrisa empanadas are other delicious portable edibles to check out. I’m a fan of their pulled pork one, however, the vendor there encouraged me to try out their popular Coconut Curry Chicken. Tender chunks of meat dressed in a juicy, tropical-scented, lightly spiced sauce all stuffed inside of a crispy shell. I think this one might be my new favorite of their product line.
Asia Dog – Slow-cooked Pork Slider with Ginger BBQ Sauce and Slaw
Usually when I stop by Asia Dog‘s stand at any market, I pick up the Vinh, a combination of heat and tanginess sort of like a mock banh mi in hotdog form. This time, however, I decided to go with something different: the pork slider. It somehow felt a bit more like barbecue weather. Tender pork with spicy, zippy sauce and topped with crunchy pickled cabbage. This hit all the right flavor notes. Why not grab a beverage from Brooklyn Soda Works, which they are also selling at Asia Dog, to go along with it?
Red Hook Lobster Pound – Maine-style Lobster Roll
Sweet, briny chunks of Maine lobster, dressed in mayonnaise placed on a grilled, top-split roll with a bed of cool, crunchy lettuce. This is an ideal summertime meal, capturing the essence of the seaside in every bite. I could have almost been at the beach, if not for the honking horns and screeching brakes in the background.
Roberta’s Pizza – Kale and Ramp Pizza
I’m almost embarrassed to confess that I’ve never been out to Greenpoint to Roberta’s to try their amazing pizzas. Part of the reason why is that I’ve been able to sample them elsewhere when they fire up the portable ovens and bring their pies to other parts of the city. This Kale and Ramp one combined two of the “it” farmers’ market products of the season for a pizza that had a garlicky kick with a carpet of green over dollops of creamy, sharp pecorino.
Danny Macaroons – Sea Salt Caramel Macaroon
While doing my initial pass through the food stalls, my eye spied a display of Danny Macaroons‘ sweet treats. The folks at Birch Coffee have trays filled with several of Danny’s flavors. They also sell their cold-brewed coffee in growlers (jugs) for those who would like to stock up for the warmer season.
People’s Pops – Shaved Ice with Red Plum Syrup
Did you have a Snoopy Sno Cone machine growing up? Yeah, neither did I. So, seeing the folks at People’s Pops shaving the ice by hand and then drizzling them with syrups made from locally-sourced fruits and herbs. I went with the sweet-tart Red Plum version to cleanse my palate.
Steve’s Ice Cream – Strawberry-Ricotta
Last summer, I discovered Steve’s Ice Cream. They’ve closed up their shops in Brooklyn and Manhattan, so I was thrilled to see them here. As it’s just turned into strawberry season, I went with the tart-tangy Strawberry-Ricotta which was like eating the berriest, strawberry milkshake ever.
Umbrellas at MadSqEats
This is just a small sample of all the terrific food items at Mad Sq Eats. It’s a great spot to drop by for lunch (plan to go before or after the rush of office workers), a late afternoon snack, or even a quick dinner. It closes on June 1, so you only have a few more weeks to get over there.
Buon appetito!
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