Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
Months ago as I made my way to Di an Di for a weekend brunch, I was amazed at how quickly this neighborhood of Greenpoint had changed. It had probably been over a year since I had visited. And it just goes to show how quickly New York City and its neighborhoods evolve.
Thinking that was just two months ago and how many changes have happened (and continue to happen) since is unfathomable.
All of the new hip bars, restaurants, and coffee shops I gawked at are now closed. Some may not re-open. I can’t even imagine how quiet this area of Greenpoint is today.
Di an Di, the restaurant I came here to visit, is also currently closed, but is running a Go Fund Me campaign to help support their staff.
And I remember it seeming like a tight-knit community when I sat in the bright garden area of Di an Di. The waitstaff and chefs had quite a camaraderie or so it seemed. And it all seemed to revolve around the excitement about the food.
Di an Di has been on my list for a while. It’s one of those hip spots that treats Vietnamese food with lots of respect and introduces serious flavors to a younger diverse audience. There are actually a few of these types of spots around the city.
One of the dishes that is on both the dinner and brunch menu really showcases a lot of those Vietnamese ingredients is called Bánh Bôt Chiên and it is an omelette that is very different from what you might get at most New York diners.
Instead of green peppers and cheddar cheese, this omelette is studded with chunks of chewy and savory fried daikon rice cakes, lots of scallions, and fatty crisp bits of lardons (think bacon but better). The egg itself is rather thin and crisp holding all the flavors in place. On the side is a sweet and tangy soy vinegar sauce for dipping.
This is further proof that you can eat eggs for breakfast or dinner. It’s savory and sweet and is very much rooted in classic Vietnamese flavors. I hope when we get through this pandemic, Di an Di is one part of Greenpoint that won’t have changed too much. Price: $14
| DI AN DI |
| 68 Greenpoint Avenue (between Franklin and West Street), Greenpoint, Brooklyn (718) 576-3914 |
| diandi.com |
