The Savory Little Snack

And a guide to Greenpoint's best

Sara, 

“Nothing bad will happen!” God those are words to live by, and not just when salting your beans as per your awesome guide. Honestly, I’ve never felt that nervous about correct bean preparation. I think it’s because on the scale from “Baked Beans Only at a Barbecue” to “I Grow My Own Rancho Gordo Variety and Soak Them in Evian” I’m probably somewhere in the middle. Your recipe is so versatile and foolproof, I can’t wait to try all the craziest possible variations!

Okay, I have to share my latest food obsession: The Savory Little Snack. I think you remember from living together, I’m a little perplexed by snacking. I’m just a meals girl all the way. My ideal midday snack is a small bowl of last night’s leftovers. Or a teeny tiny version of what I’m making for lunch. Snacks also tend to be so stuck in the chips, pretzels, candy, pastries variety. Listen, I love all those things, but if I’m trying to snack it means I’m hungry so for me only a tiny meal (and no not dessert!) will work.

As usual I am horrified by the AI interpretation of “Savory Little Snack.” From this, I take that it must be a mystery meat sandwich, extra points for a toothpick.

When I’m home, it’s no problem. I concoct whatever strange minuscule dinner I’m craving at 2pm (ex. One chicken nugget, three tater tots, and a pickle). But when I’m out and about and need to nosh, only a Savory Little Snack will do. In the sea of chips and candy, I’ve formulated the perfect way to find what I need. Here is the criteria: 

• Has to be under $5: Outrageous, I know, I’m with you. What have we come to? But hear me out, a sad protein bar can be up to $5 these days. And the subway is now basically $3! Sara you might’ve missed that piece of news…

• More or less handheld: By this, I mean no utensils required. Ideally no plate but as we know some of the best, most flavorful foods will be messy. Doesn’t need to be Snickers level of grab and go but somewhere close. 

• Substantial protein and/or veg: Satiate me! That is all I ask. This is likely my biggest gripe with the traditional carby or sugary traditional snack selection. 

• Size is just right: Three to four would make a great meal. Two of them is a side. But the size of one? Optimal Savory Little Snack.

I realized while they are not absolutely everywhere, these little guys aren’t too hard to find. Here’s five from my neighborhooh as some inspiration. 

Savory Little Snacks of Greenpoint

Cheeseburger - Jubilee - $2.55 
This small but mighty little burger comes out of my awesome local grocery store, Jubilee. It’s getting a lot of well deserved love in New York. It’s a made to order smash burger, slathered in sauce, gooey cheese and caramelized onions. Honestly, the price and quality inspired this whole list for me. Shout out to Righteous Eats and Hungry Artist (below) for the rec!

@hungryartistny$2.55 Cheeseburgers in NYC?! 🍔 After attending my friends’ engagement party – I stumbled over to @Jubilee Marketplace in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I first heard about this spot from my friend, @Rob Martinez – please check out his page for other captivating stories. Admittedly, I was quite buzzed when I walked into Jubilee Market (📍145 West St, Brooklyn, NY) and their cheeseburgers hit the spot. The first thing I noticed was their CEO and part-owner, Young Kim, was helping serve burgers on the line. Their whole team was flipping burgers at supersonic speeds. It seemed like the majority of the crowd were ordering/indulging in Jubilee’s burgers! Young Kim was inspired by White Manna (which he grew up going to) and he’s keeping prices low to share great burgers with the community. The burgers are slider-sized but grab a couple of them and you’ll surely be full. I loved how the smashed patty, grilled onion, pickles, garlic confit, cheese and special sauce came together. Scrumptious! Have you tried these burgers before? #nycburger #nycburgers #cheeseburger #sliders #greenpointbrooklyn #brooklynfood #foodvlog #nyccheapeats #cheapeatsnyc #nycfood #latenighteats #munchies #newyorkcityfood

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I will be trying their $3 tuna melt next and have a very good feeling about it. 

Onigiri - Mitsuki - $2.50-3.25 
Seasoned rice hugging a fish or veggie filling then wrapped in crunchy seaweed. The textures alone will satisfy. While opening the wrapping can take some time to master, it’s always worth it. So many flavors, my personal favorite being a spicy salmon or mayo shrimp. Many Japanese grocery stores will have a stand of a daily selection.

Krokiety - Polka Dot - $4
Don’t trust a Greenpoint based food guide with no Polish option. It’s not right. Pierogies are first to mind but (ideally) require utensils. Krokiety is a log shaped crispy croquette, often filled with the same goodies as a pierog, while being more handheld. The filling offering at Polka Dot includes a sauerkraut mushroom, spinach, or meat. 

Samosas - Agra Taj Mahal - $3.50
Samosas are so versatile what is even more fun is that no two are ever alike. At Agra, you get two nicely sized ones for $3.50 filled with an awesome combo lamb, chicken, vegetables, and coconut. The flavors of a whole meal in a few crunchy, spicy bites. 

Taco - Taqueria Ramirez – $4-5 
Greenpoint has a solid selection of Mexican spots and taco trucks, but it’s hard to not mention Ramirez. The CDMX style tacos are incredible. If you’re an umami freak like myself get the Tripa taco - slow cooked and torched beef tripe. If a bit too much for a midday bite, any of their five other excellent taco options is the right choice. 

Hit the toppings bar for a sprinkle a little salt, chopped onions, cilantro, limes, and their zippy salsa verde to balance out the richness of the tripe. Heaven.

Note: Honorable mentions not readily available in my immediate neighborhood: Patty, Knish, Empanada, Bao, Sambusa, and many many more. 

Another Note: No I didn’t forget the BEC, it’s just too obvious to add. The Bacon Egg and Cheese is the It Girl of New York when it comes to the category and needs no mention.

If anyone would get the art form of a Savory Little Snack, Sara, it’s you. Please report back on any London based ones we need to know about. You live in the land of Gregg’s and many even better options for hand pie. We can’t all be so lucky!  Happy Snacking! <3 

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A running letter between long distance friends who love to eat

Do you miss your best friend? Are really hungry you right now? If the answer to either of these is yes, you know what to do.