So, I thought I would start this off by talking a little about food in my neighborhood which is Williamsburg, Brooklyn. One of my favorite things about Williamsburg is the food and the mix of traditional (mostly Italian-American) bakeries and food shops and the newer (some would say hipster) shops. My area of Williamsburg has a large population of Italian Americans who came mostly from the region near Naples but also a large number of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans. The real newcomers are the “hipsters” who are often people in their 20’s who have recently graduated from college but also might include other young professionals who have moved to the neighborhood in the past decade.

McCarren Park greenmarket

On the weekend, I usually walk to the greenmarket in McCarren Park where there are farmers from upstate New York and New Jersey selling fruits, vegetables, eggs, and meats among other things. Given this was the Labor day weekend, the crowds were light. The vegetables were nice as usual! I find it interesting that most of the people who shop here are those who have gentrified the neighborhood. I prefer the vegetables here because they are fresher and more ripe than those at the supermarket. The peaches have been great this summer as have been the tomatoes and arugula.

The Meat Hook, Williamsburg

On the way home from the park, I often stop at one of the two following places which are examples of the old and new. The first is The Meat Hook which is a butcher shop and kitchen supply store. Most of the people who work here are young and the customers are mostly the newer inhabitants of the neighborhood. They make the best sausages!

The other is the neighborhood fish market where I find a great selection of shellfish such as mussels, oysters, lobster, shrimp, and (occasionally!) even crawfish. Here you see many Italian-American customers but also many newcomers who would rather get seafood here than at the supermarket. It’s owned by an Italian-American family who also operates a butcher shop on the next block and they seem to know most of the customers. Finally after shopping there for 5 years they know me and sometimes throw in a few extra shrimp!

Metropolitan Fish Market, Williamsburg