Food & Drink Round-Up

Coming Soon: The Mexican Piramide
499 Fifth Ave., Park Slope; (718) 499-0002
As reported by the Times back in August, this Mexican restaurant has been in the making for a very long time. They’ve been in their soft-opening stage for a while now, and now their grand opening, which promises free appetizers and Mariachis, is scheduled for Friday, November 30.

Now Open: Il Passatore
14 Bushwick Ave. between Devoe St. and Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg; (718) 963-3100
“Owners Massimiliano Barbizzi and Christian Ciarapica, both former waiters at Piadina in the West Village, are behind this 25-seat Northern Italian eatery. Pastas—such as spinach-and-ricotta gnocchi—are made on-site daily, as are a selection of salumi- and cheese-stuffed flatbreads.” [Time Out New York]

Chowhounder Discovers “Pretty Decent Chinese” on Smith
“I tried takeout from a new (to me) restaurant on Smith – Szechuan Garden, between Warren and Wycoff. I have to admit, the food was pretty tasty. I ordered my standard – Kung Pau chicken and sesame noodles, the food came fast, piping hot (the chicken) really fresh looking and quite tasty. My noodles were light, not greasy and quite delicious. The chicken was really succulent and just spicy enough, vegetables were crisp and fresh.” [Chowhound]

After the jump: Two closings in Park Slope, 360’s uncertain future, and a gift idea for greenmarket devotees…

Closed in Park Slope
The Brooklyn Paper reports that the New Prospect Cafe (393 Flatbush Ave.) closed last week, and the Times mourns the loss of Mooney’s Pub (353 Flatbush Ave.).

360’s Uncertain Future
360 Van Brunt, Red Hook
According to Eater, 360 has another 5 years on its lease and may not be shuttered for good. There’s not solid explanation for why the place closed, but Eater has the rundown on local rumors: Either chef/owner Arnaud Erhart was “burnt out from three-plus years of a packed house” and is now scuba diving, or in Thailand, or on a safari. There’s also talk that he fleed the country “when he learned he was facing serious tax evasion charges.” Hmmm…

Gift Idea for Greenmarket Devotees
“Bins at the Greenmarkets are full of locally grown tubers right now, with some farms offering as many as six or seven kinds of colorful potatoes, plus Jerusalem artichokes, sweet potatoes and crosnes, small French delicacies… An encyclopedic little handbook, “Buried Treasures: Tasty Tubers of the World,” describes more than 30 of them, their habitats, cultivation and culinary uses. The book, edited by Beth Hanson and published by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, has a dozen recipes, including a creamy gratin that can be made with any of six or seven kinds of tubers.” [NY Times]