Last night we enjoyed our first quick meal at BARK, a small, nouveau hot dog joint in Brooklyn. (My plan for cooking during the week sometimes falls through when “I don’t feel like it” rolls around.”)
The NY Times says they’re closing in on the gap between “artisan chic and fast food.” That’s a pretty accurate description of what you can expect here. They serve quality food (from local farmer’s, no less!) in an environment that feels hip and trendy.
The menu is a mix of classic dogs with new, innovative ideas.
John had the classic “Bark” dog — sweet pepper relish, mustard, and onion (left) — while I veered off and tried the veggie dog — chickpeas with roasted mushrooms and a garlic aioli (right).
I can only imagine what some of you are thinking as you look at the veggie dog: it looks like… well, you know. But trust me, it was good! The chickpeas were still in some sort of casing that made it feel like a hot dog, and the roasted mushrooms added a warm, earthy flavor. My favorite part, however, was the bun. It’s griddled (probably with lots of buttah) and felt similar to a lobster roll. It was the perfect accoutrement to both dogs.
John’s dog, on the other hand, was more of a classic. Though they offer all beef dogs, this was a mix of beef and pork, I believe. I’d like to get one of each and compare them side-by-side. (Over dinner last night, John and I were reminiscing about the days when all we ate were Hebrew National… now that’s a quality dog!)
And of course (for good measure) we tried some fries. They’re fantastic, by the way. What I refer to as “dirty fries,” simply because they leave the skin on. I spent the remaining time after finishing my dog picking through for the extra crispy fries. Those are my favs.
In other exciting news, one of my friends from grad school is coming to visit this weekend! Actually, two friends. One is spending the day with her boyfriend who lives in the ‘hood, while the other has been tricked into helping me cook all day. (Don’t feel too bad for her — she’s being paid in food, wine, and an abundance of kisses from my dog.) Can’t wait to show you what we create!
BARK
474 Bergen Street
Park Slope, NY 11217
718.789.1939
