Review: Smoke Joint

Lunch at Smoke Joint on South Elliot at Lafayette in Fort Greene.

Iceberg wedge with bacon:

Review: Smoke Joint

Drinks with dinner at Smoke Joint on S. Elliott and Lafayette in Fort Greene.

Drunken Sow (bacon infused bourbon, bitters, dark brown sugar, and muddled orange):

Note: Have I mentioned how fucking awesome their pulled pork topped how dog is?? Best dog I’ve had... ever.

Review: The General Greene

Greene Ice Cream at the General Greene on Dekalb & Clermont in Fort Greene.

Honey Vanilla and Lemon Olive Oil:

Note: both of these get 2 scoops for flavor but the Honey Vanilla did the film-on-the-roof-of-your-mouth thing and Lemon Olive Oil had a weird consistency (separation due to lack of stabilizers).

Review: The General Greene

The General Greene on Dekalb & Clermont in Fort Greene.

Salted Caramel Pretzel:

Blueberry peach blossom:

Note: Tasty but the peach blossom leaves that kid’s cereal film on the roof of your mouth.

The General Greene

The General Greene is a pork lover’s paradise—evident in the wait staff’s “Swinevore” t-shirts (I want one!). Pig is very prominent on this menu of mostly small plates made for sharing. I had an entirely bacon-filled 3 course meal starting with the bacon dates followed by the iceberg wedge with buttermilk blue cheese dressing and bacon. Candied bacon served as my main course as it was certainly substantial enough. Everything was tasty and satisfying. This meal could have been absolutely perfect if only they had their “Elvis" flavor ice cream—peanut butter and banana ice cream with bacon. Alas, it was not on the menu that day (I will continue to call and harass them until ?I find out when it is)... instead I tried the salted caramel ice cream which was divine. 

For a taste of Elvis, try the fantastic peanut butter banana ice cream at Blue Marble on Atlantic. Sadly there is no bacon in their version but it's still really amazing. 

Bacon Exploration

Earlier this year, I asked “Why, NY?” because I could not find and haven’t heard of anywhere in the city that makes bacon doughnuts. NY is filled with prized doughnut shops... the last place I expected to find them is at a fancy midtown restaurant. Atria’s butterscotch doughnuts aren’t your traditional breakfast donuts—which is kind of what I’m looking for—but this dessert looks just fantastic! Described by the Post: “Fresh thyme lends a savory touch to warm butterscotch-filled doughnuts as does smoky bacon ‘powder’ made from bacon drippings, salt and modified tapioca starch.” Yum, that’s what Bacon Salt should be made of!

The Post also has a list of places around the city to indulge in various and delicious forms of bacon. Many of the bacon treats I’ve already tried (PDT, Roni-Sue...) but some I have yet to visit. After Atria, at the top of my list is The Buttermilk Channel in Carroll Gardens for maple & bacon roasted almonds. Then The General Greene in Fort Greene for candied bacon!

Time to plan another night/weekend of research... Who’s coming?! (Obviously not Khary or Eric who couldn’t handle the last bacon exploration.)

A Bacon Filled Weekend

Friday night I had dinner at the Redhead in the East Village. I've heard good things about the food but really... I went for the bacon peanut brittle. It has a spiciness that overpowers the bacon flavor but overall I still say it's a great combination. Every thing’s better with bacon, right? Including the bacon cheese burger I ordered.

Several hours and several bars later, I ended up at the Double Down Saloon for their infamous bacon martini which did in fact come with a slim jim stirrer. Although I very much enjoyed it, I believe this was the drink that did me in. I don’t quite recall the rest of the night... 

With a massive hang over, I woke up Saturday afternoon and made my way over to The Farm on Adderly. Not even a huge side of bacon could get me out of my zombie-like state (damn you, Double Down!). What better way to deal with a bacon martini hang over than with more and more bacon? After a nice walk from Ditmas Park to Windsor Terrace, I stopped in at Hot Diggity Dog for a bacon and cheese dog. Finally I felt somewhat human again. Thanks to Lieh for taking the hot dog pics and for putting up with my pamphagous appetite for bacon!

Sunday should have been my day to rest but there was the Great Greenpoint Mac-Off which I was sure would involve bacon at some point. Unfortunately the 1st of 4 places ran out of their mac & cheese with bacon and the rest didn't include bacon. Stupid Greenpoint... 

Still hungry and disappointed, I headed over to the Smoke Joint in Fort Greene for something to satisfy my pork craving. There was no bacon here but I have never, ever had a hot dog as amazing as their black angus dog topped with pulled pork. Last month I had high hopes for the bacon wrapped, deep fried Chang Dog at PDT. What a let down... but the bacon was not a fault—Crif Dogs are really awful! Guess bacon doesn’t make everything better.