Smorgasburg Winter & Spring Trips

Pure deliciousness.  When I first heard about Smorgasburg, I knew it was the place for me.  For those of you who don't know, Smorgasburg is a flea food market in Brooklyn.  Every Saturday and Sunday various vendors set up booths where you can buy everything from innovative sandwiches, to Asian buns, to thirst-quenching drinks, to creative desserts.  In the Winter, Smorgasburg is held indoors (with Brooklyn Flea), but once the weather gets nicer, it's back outdoors (as of April 5).

Indoor Location (Winter 2013-2014):
Saturday + Sunday (10am - 6pm)
Williamsburg
185 Wythe Avenue (between N5th and N4th Streets)

Outdoor Locations (As of April 2014):
Saturday (11am - 6pm)
Williamsburg
East River State Park (90 Kent Ave at N. 7 St.)

Sunday (11am - 6pm)
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 5

You can get more information here.




Winter
My first trip to Smorgasburg was in February 2014, and I got to experience Brooklyn Flea (an actual flea market selling various goods) and Smorgasburg in one location. It was held in a warehouse of sorts, so the exposed brick and concrete gave it a really rustic feel. And while there was a good deal of people there, I (thankfully) didn't have to wait too long to get my food.

A friend got Red Hook Lobster Pound's lobster roll which looked absolutely scrumptious, but I went with their clam chowder.  It was a tad bit salty for my taste, but the clams were tender and it just tasted so fresh.

Ah, the ramen burger needs no introduction.  I was pleased that there wasn't a long line and almost immediately got my hands on this flavorful thing.  The patty actually surpassed my expectations, and their sauce was so flavorful.  The ramen itself as a bun also worked surprisingly well, and they also had a really cool wrapper that just rolled perfectly around the burger.

S'more Bakery

S'more Bakery had an array of mouthwatering treats, but I decided to go with one of their made-to-order s'mores.  The chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker (with a drizzle of salted caramel) were ready to go, and upon ordering, the vendor would torch the marshmallow before serving the adorable square.  The flavors were delicious, and I especially loved the caramel sauce.  However, I think the bottom cracker got the tiniest bit soggy from the chocolate and sauce on top of it.  My marshmallow also could have been a bit gooier, as only one side was torched, but that's just a personal preference of mine.  S'more Bakery's cookies were also spot on!

BELLOCQ Tea Atelier

Samples of the day.

BELLOCQ had an elegant array of teas on display for tasting and whiffing. In addition to being able to buy teas to take home, they sold a few varieties to be brewed on the spot for sampling. I got a cup of their Little Dickens tea, which is a very popular herbal blend of theirs. It was a wonderfully relaxing brew and perfect for the chilly day. The vendor also mentioned that I didn't have to remove the tea bag since over steeping wasn't an issue.


Spring
I went to their outdoor location this weekend, and it had a beautiful view of the river and Manhattan. There were definitely longer lines this time around, but also a greater variety of vendors!

What a beautiful day!

Lot's of people.

Maine Style Lobster Roll ($16)

Tuscan Style Lobster Roll ($16)

 I finally got a taste of Red Hook Lobster Pound's lobster rolls and they were delicious.  The rolls had large chunks of fresh lobster, the sauce was a great flavor addition to the lobster, and the rolls were toasted to perfection.  I can't say enough good things about these!

For some Asian flair we also got Bite Size Kitchen's pork buns!  At 2 for $7 we got a crispy pork bun and a braised pork bun.  I got the crispy bun and was really glad that the crunch held up!

Ah back to the ramen burger.  While it was still good this time around, I felt that my first burger at the Winter market was juicier as a whole.  

Lemonade is the perfect thirst quencher, but this vendor wasn't just selling any ol' lemonade, he had Maple Lemonade all the way from Vermont!  It was definitely a more natural sweet and less acidic, which is great for sensitive stomachs, yet still refreshing.  Their donuts also looked good quite yummy.  Check our their story here!

Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Raspberry, Dark Chocolate, Passionfruit, and Pistachio (clockwise from upper left).

Macarons are my guilty pleasure, so of course I had to take a box of these from Vêndome Macaron home with me to try.  They were the just the right consistency, with a slightly crunch exterior and a lovely chewy inside.  I just wish they were bigger!

We were so excited to find Bamboo Bites!  Our friends got savory snacks while we picked the classic Mango Sticky Rice.  Served in bamboo half-tube (how awesome is that), the sticky rice was filling and done just right, while the coconut milk added to the consistency.  The mangos could have been more plentiful and sweeter (albeit New York isn't exactly a mango haven), but all in all it made for a perfect finish to our trip!  And their straws were made to look like bamboo stalks.

I'm hoping to return to Smorgasburg soon to try their many other offerings!