You all know I love the retail resurgence in Greenpooint. Today Eastern District opened down the street claiming tasty beer and cheese. A bit too early for beer, I popped in to see if I could score a sandwich 4 hours into their official opening. Two were on the board. Beth took me through the specifics of each one. A cured ham and cheese sandwich was the first. The second, and my choice for obvious reasons (uhem-Anello with an “O”), was prosciutto with Salvatore of Brooklyn ricotta on fresh foccacia peppered with some kalamata olives. The shop has a full case of cheese, a pantry area with some jarred provisions and a beer/growler area at the back. On a quick look before my stomach told me to “Pay and go eat”, they seemed to live up to the beer and cheese description staying focused with relevant beer and cheese accoutrements. Some cheese knives, jams and jellies and a selection of hard to find imported six packs filled the freshly painted shelves. My favorite is that there were huge half wheels of cheese piled atop the glass case. That always begs a tasting.
Back to the sammie. It may sound simple and look a little skimpy BUT you’d be missing the point. The ingredients are pure and fresh. The prosciutto was just sliced, the cheese just made, the bread just baked and the olives seemed a day out of the brine as they added a delicious texture and taste to my snack. Needless to say I was pleased as punch. As I swallowed my last bite I realized the real excitement in Eastern District opening it’s doors, one of the largest selections of domestic cheese in Brooklyn only five blocks from my apartment. Having these options so close only means my kitchen will turn out even tastier dishes during the next REEL TASTY. This will certainly be a tasting winter.
