For city gastronomes (we won’t say chowhounds), there are three reasons to be excited about Borough Food and Drink, the Jeffrey Chodorow and Zak Pelaccio gastropub opening this week. First, there’s Z-Man’s return to the kind of freewheeling, Eurocentric fare that he used to do at Williamsburg’s Chickenbone Café, back before he became an Asian-food guru. (Pelaccio created the menu and trained the staff but will not be cooking at the restaurant.) ">
For city gastronomes (we won’t say chowhounds), there are three reasons to be excited aboutBorough Food and Drink, the Jeffrey Chodorow and Zak Pelaccio gastropub opening this week. First, there’s Z-Man’s return to the kind of freewheeling, Eurocentric fare that he used to do at Williamsburg’s Chickenbone Café, back before he became an Asian-food guru. (Pelaccio created the menu and trained the staff but will not be cooking at the restaurant.)
Second, the place’smenuis packed with goods from outer-borough markets, personally picked by Pelaccio. Brighton Beach’sM&I; International Foodsbacon is braised and served with morels and a spring-pea salad and purée; cured beef from Astoria’s Bosnian Black Bull market comes as a carpaccio with celery hearts and pickled green beans. Meanwhile,Peppa’sjerk chicken is served Brooklyn style, with rice and peas and a traditional Jamaican hot sauce, andCalabria Pork Storesausage from the Bronx simply comes with rigatoni. And the third good thing?BFDhasDIYpossibilities as well, since most of the ingredients will be for sale at a retail counter at the front of thehouse.
12 E. 22ndSt., nr. Broadway;212-260-0103
Earlier:Chodorow Redeemed? Spotted Dick Out, Zak PelaccioIn
Update, 11:47 a.m.: China Grill Management has called us up to stress that the menu above is still being tweaked and is subject to change between now and Thursday’s opening. Count on being able to read it here on Grub Street the minute it isfinalized.
