It’s seldom that I come across someone who’s never seen Edible Brooklyn, but when I do, I’m dismayed. Not because I regard it as required reading (though I’m always delighted when enthusiasts do). Rather I’m troubled that people unfamiliar with our publication invariably assume it chronicles the latest hot restaurant news, as if that’s the only thing a food magazine can do.
While my colleagues and I all adore the passion projects that seem to launch here by the hour, our little matte quarterly has never had any interest in breaking news. Instead we chronicle the pursuit of meaningful food experiences in Brooklyn, which I divide into a half-dozen categories, each of which I try to cover in every issue.
We’re about local food. Spring through fall Edible celebrates the bounty on nearby farms, and even now, in the dark of winter, we bring you stories of New York harvests we love to eat — or drink. As you’ll read in this issue, the Empire State is producing superb sparkling wines and even a vodka that transforms Long Island potatoes into a spirit that’s taken the city by storm.
We’re about history. Today Brooklyn is home to an extraordinary food revolution, but the borough has offered iconic eats for generations. After reading this issue’s feature on Ebinger’s blackout cake, you may feel you were born too late—luckily, many modern-day bakeries offer salve in the form of buttercream frosting.
We’re about the melting pot. With a bus map as your passport, you can travel the globe without leaving Brooklyn, and in this issue’s world tour our stops are Hong Kong, Mexico and Scandinavia — all within an hour.
We’re about healthy communities, and shine our light on initiatives that nourish New York. I hope you enjoy my interview with Joel Berg, a Brooklynite who happens to be one of America’s foremost anti-hunger advocates. I was inspired by his ideas — and by the work of Citymeals on Wheels. I knew the not-for-profit delivers food to the home-bound elderly, but was moved to learn that they offer custom meals for immigrant clients hungry for a taste of home.
We’re about the zeitgeist. We report on singular experiences, from a menu of wild game, to a breathtakingly pedigreed supper club, to the startup boom that’s got many inspired cooks going pro.
And oh yes, we also profile a restaurant we love. In this issue it’s Convivium, a sweet, from-the-heart spot where a husband and wife serve up gorgeous Mediterranean fare with a heaping side of community. The restaurant’s not new, and the story’s a love letter, not a review. Which is just the way we like it.
Happy New Year!
