eat make read

For the first time since we’ve lived in Brooklyn, we participated in Dine In Brooklyn. For those of you not familiar with it, you can go to participating restaurants and enjoy a three course meal for $23. A few weeks ago, I did a little research and settled on two restaurants that we’ve been wanting to try but just haven’t made it for one reason or another.
The first restaurant we visited was Rosewater, a place we’ve walked by a million times but just never stepped inside. The dining room is fairly small but has a nice intimate feeling. We were given a choice of three appetizers, three main courses and three desserts to choose from. I decided to be a little daring and started off with fried ispwich clams, which I’ve never had before. They arrived golden and piled high over a ravigote sauce. I bit into it and got a nice crunch followed by a soothing smooth texture of the meat. Aaron ordered the cauliflower soup which was velvety smooth and delicious as well. We both chose the roast chicken under a brick accompanied by turnips, hazelnut farro and pickled onions. The chicken was very moist with a nice crispy skin and hints of the hazelnut farro in each bite. Unfortunately I learned that I don’t like turnips, but hey at least I tried it!

Dessert is always my favorite course, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint at Rosewater. I ordered the caramelized brioche with ice cream. How could you go wrong, really? It was almost like eating a soft, sweet, melt-in-your-mouth donut with little bits of caramelized crust. If you go, don’t pass it up! Aaron chose cornmeal apricot cookies which were also really tasty. The flavor of the apricots burst in your mouth while cookie gives a nice crunchy, buttery contrast. Both desserts were top notch.

Rosewater is a delightful spot to dine on fresh, local ingredients in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. It’s definitely worth a try and a second trip. We have one other Dine In Brooklyn reservation for tomorrow evening. I’m not going to tell you where it is, but let’s just say margaritas are involved. I can’t wait!