The Brooklyn Flea Market has moved outdoors once again to the lovely, shaded corner of Lafayette Ave. and Vanderbilt Ave. in Fort Greene (and a short walk from Bed-Stuy).
A somewhat well-known secret: The Brooklyn Flea Market carries food and drinks from some of Brooklyn’s finest chefs, and one of the best ways to get to know the edible treats of Brooklyn is to head over to the market and start snacking.
I know, the flea market is for vintage furniture, original design clothing and, porcelains trinkets, but what I’m really thinking as I make my way down Lafayette Ave. is, “I wonder if they’ve run out of Porchetta Sandwiches yet?”
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So this week’s top five list is dedicated to the best eats at the Brooklyn Flea for under $5, so you don’t break your bank while satisfying your taste buds.
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The plantain bread cake from SCRATCH Bread (a Bed-Stuy native) is $3 for a small muffin-shaped cake, topped with mole struesel. The cake itself is moist and soft, almost like bread pudding, with the flavor of mildly sweet plantains. The mole topping goes with it perfectly, adding a chocolatey flavor but no additional sweetness, and an added kick of salt comes from pumpkin seeds sprinkled on top.
Brooklyn Soda Works offers several different kinds of soda, all made in Brooklyn, with organic cane sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors. I tried the Apple Rosemary Soda for $4, which tastes like a sparkling apple cider with a powerful rosemary flavor. Just because it’s a soda doesn’t mean it's super sweet. The carbonation adds a satisfying tingle and keeps the drink refreshing.
The only thing sold at the Porchetta NYC stand is a smaller version of the Porchetta sandwich for $5. The porchetta itself is stuffed with garlic, sage and rosemary, and roasted for 6-8 hours. The result is an incredibly moist, spiced meat, with a crisp outside that could almost be considered a crust it is so thick. The meat is cut up into small shavings and packed into a hearty, slightly dry roll that soaks up all the meat juices.
2.
Representing our favorite neighborhood, Dough brings a Blood Orange Doughnut to the table for $2, topped with candied orange slices. The yeast based donut is fluffy and thick without being too heavy, and the blood orange glaze makes the donut taste almost.juicy? Who knew a doughnut could be slightly bitter, slightly tangy, oddly refreshing and still a doughnut? Absolutely delicious and considering its size, one of the best deals in the market.
Anyone who’s tried Salvatore Brooklyn’s ricotta swears by it, and I can be added to that list. Describing the ricotta as “creamy and fresh” is an understatement. The ricotta comes thickly spread on a piece of hard-crusted white bread, topped with arugula and prosciutto, which is always being sliced from a giant leg at the stand. This dish is a personal favorite of mine, and Salvatore Brooklyn doesn’t disappoint. The combination of flavors will have you reeling for only $3. My only suggestion - buy two.
