Flood's On Draft [01]

Just give me a crisp, light pilsner please

Sep 08, 2024

One of the best feelings in life is being a “regular” at your favorite neighborhood place — sitting in your favorite corner booth, on a first-name-basis with the staff, in extreme (fictitious?) cases ordering “the usual”. There’s true comfort in belonging.

I’d love for you to be a regular at Flood’s — subscribe below and you’ll be well on your way:

What’s On Draft?

This isn’t a question that’s usually met with much positivity or enthusiasm. The likely response is a less-than-subtle eye roll from a bartender. Worst case, they’ll point in the general direction of a chalkboard — humiliating. The best outcome, I suppose, is a quickly rattled-off list of beers — almost certainly forgetting a few.

Today, I’m posing the question so you don’t need to. And I’m honestly delighted to answer.

Flood’s On Draft is a recurring segment offering light reads and high utility. Recommendations that are easy to take action on — whether it’s visiting these spots tomorrow or bookmarking for your next trip. It’s sorta a behind-the-scenes of how things go down at Flood’s — a glimpse into the latest and greatest explorations in food and music.

This leading section will feature a story, a thought on dining + hospitality, or an occasional travel update. It’ll be followed by the regular sections: Recently Added, Best Dishes, Flood’s Hi-Fi, and Up Next.

That’s what’s “On Draft”.

Recently Added

The newest additions to the Flood’s hit list

SUKH Fort Greene, Brooklyn
There’s a new Thai restaurant that opened near me called SUKH. It’s pronounced “sook” just in case you happen to get stopped by a street interviewer asking you about your favorite places to eat spicy Thai food in Fort Greene.

This place is legit. Not necessarily in a destination-worthy way. But in a “god damn it feels good to have a really good Thai American restaurant in my neighborhood” kinda way. I’ve dined-in a few times, and carried out a few more — both equally great approaches. The classics are well-executed, and the creative dishes have some serious pop. The one consistent order across visits has been the highly craveable somtum papaya salad — spicy, acidic, and refreshing.

Perfect counter for papaya salad consumption

Cafe Mado Crown Heights, Brooklyn
What a winner concept. Cafe Mado is an all-day cafe that nails the balance of approachable and upscale. They just get the details so right. Highly seasonal plates and sandwiches — fresh produce and bright flavors. Supported by perfect breads and baked goods from their bakery, Laurel.

Whether you’re just having coffee and a pastry, or going in on a full-ass meal, the greenhouse dining space is a room worth hanging in — I could post up in there all day (which I’ve been informed is not the intent of an “all-day cafe”, misleading). Per usual with the Redwood restaurants (Place des Fêtes, Oxalis), it’s an absolute hospitality masterclass — warm, welcoming, and thoughtful. They take some reservations, but I’ve had no issue walking in.

Upscale lunches are a new(er) frontier for me. But I’m finding a proper meal on a sunny Sunday afternoon to be an enjoyable focal point of the day.

Bean dip & the best caeser salad in Brooklyn

Best Dishes

Some of the best things I ate (or drank) recently

Partanna Slice — F + F Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
F+F is a sneaky little hit of a pizza parlor attached to Frankie’s 457 in Carroll Gardens. It’s the slice shop you wish you had on your block. No lines no fuss. Just slices that hit the mark. “Partanna,” with sweet onions and spicy Calabrian chiles, was the runaway favorite. Crisp on the bottom, little chew. A damn good NY slice.

Sweet and spicy partanna; that sicilian slice is no joke either

Roast Pork — Great N.Y. Noodletown Chinatown, New York
Huddled around an 8-top in a no-frills Chinatown restaurant on a damp Friday night is what I consider good living. Like most fast-paced, chaotic Chinatown dining situations, you absolutely can go wrong with your order. Thankfully I was joined by a slew of former Shanghainese ex-pats who gladly took ownership of the process. At the end of the day, “Roast Pork” from the “BARBECUED ITEMS” section of the menu was the dish worth coming back for. Juicy, caramelized, sweet & savory pork loin. Would I have landed on this item on my own? Probably. Was it a blast to be at a table of Americans rattling off Mandarin? Absolutely.

Flood’s Hi-Fi

Artists and records for moving and grooving

Tourist - Memory Morning (2024 album)
It almost feels wrong to develop an opinion on a Tourist record this soon after release, considering his past albums have aged like fine wine. But ‘Memory Morning’ has an immediately captivating soundscape that’s light as air. Each of Tourist’s records is a time and place memory for me. ‘Wild’ takes me back to hiking at Glacier National, ‘Inside Out’ was on repeat last summer in Europe. I’m excited to see how this record grows with me.

Parcels - Live from Red Rocks, Colorado (live set)
Despite having tickets to this early summer shindig, I was sadly unable to attend. Thankfully, the Berlin-based-Australian-indie rockers decided to upload the full 2-hour 12-minute set to Youtube.com. Excellent. Turn down the lights, turn up the volume and you’ll more than certainly be dancing around your living room like I was. This set has it all— jams, ballads, a bluegrass moment. Fingers crossed for a 2025 album and US tour.

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