Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
SADLY, TEKOÁ IS NOW CLOSED.
I love when local neighborhood businesses work together. It’s the story of the Brownstone Brooklyn tour that I lead in the neighborhoods of Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill. On the tour we visit cheese shops, coffee roasters, and bakeries. And they sell each other’s products. It’s a food eco-system and I love it!
Tekoå definitely practices that ethic. Last year, the bright all-day café moved into the former home of neighborhood favorite Ted & Honey. The latter closed for personal reasons but their neighbor, Alex Raij (who owns the adjacent La Vara) picked up where they left off.
The pastries and sandwiches are a bit more experimental than you would think. Chef Raij is inspired by ingredients from all over the world. And more immediately, from her neighbors.
My favorite thing I’ve tried here is a play on a classic egg in a hole. A homemade egg in the hole might have been the first dish I was obsessed with. If you don’t know what it is is, it’s simplicity at its best. The egg is fried in a small hole in a piece of buttered bread. The white cooks over the bread so when you eat it, you can spill the yolk on the bread and sop up the richness.
Tekoá’s version is something very different. They use Syrian spinach pies (from nearby Damascus Bakery) as the vessel. On paper, it sounds strange and gimmicky. But the tender dough and zesty spinach filling make perfect sense with a runny egg. And on the side is a killer homemade habañero hot sauce that is kissed with a fruity sweetness to keep it in check.
Even though Damascus Bakery provided the spinach pie, Tekoá wins this week for their innovative dish. But the real winner here are the residents and businesses of this awesome Brooklyn neighborhood. Price: $8
| TEKOÁ |
| 264 Clinton Street (at Verandah Place), Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (347) 987-3710 |
| tekoany.com |
