Wandering Tales | Brunch & Ice Cream Bonanza in Fort Greene

If I am ever asked to say what comes to mind for "Fort Greene" the namesake park is the first thought. The second would be the high school I attended. After that...maybe the brownstone houses. Otherwise I would say that I am pretty unfamiliar with the neighborhood despite having visited regularly for 4 years.

It took graduating high school and college before going back to Fort Greene to do some exploring. Then again I wasn't that adventurous in high school. Whilst in college, being away from your old school and moving on was the idea. Now is the time to feel sentimental.
Decor at Walter's, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NYC Brunch at Walter's, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, NYC
Walter's @ Fort Greene
166 DeKalb Ave Brooklyn, NY 11217
When we heard about the Ice Cream Bonanza at the Brooklyn Flea, Bestie C and I were signed up (figuratively speaking of course). Before filling out tummies with sugar, sugar, and more sugar, brunch in Fort Greene was our top priority in the morning.

We found Walter's via trusty Yelp the night before. Luckily we got there before it got really busy and were seated right away. Their brunch selection is small but I arrived knowing exactly what I wanted: the classic eggs benedict with grilled ham steak. It was definitely delicious, but between you and me I've had better (but that was all the way in Bellevue, WA). The other good part was trying a mimosa for the first time. I quite like this kind of bubbly fruity cocktail.

Milkmade Ice Cream Flight at Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea, NYCMilkmade Ice Cream Flight Flavors at Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea, NYC
The Ice Cream Bonanza awaited us a few blocks away at the Fort Greene Flea. Our first choice wasn't a difficult one to make since not all the vendors were set up. MilkMade got the upper-hand and their ice cream flight caught us right away. I was happy since it meant not having to pick any one flavor. Everyone around us who saw our wooden rack filled with melting ice cream cones were intrigued. Especially the little kiddies who looked and pointed with jealous. Sorry parents!
Milkmade Ice Cream Flight at Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea, NYC
L to R: Shooting the Pear, Amagansett Sea Salted Caramel, Rumble in Brighton, Rock Rock Rockaway Road, The Orchard
MilkMade - Ice Cream Flight $12
My flavor preference was:
1. Rock Rock Rockaway Road
2. Shooting the Pear or Rumble in Brighton
4. The Orchard
5. Amagansett Sea Salted Caramel

I am partial to ice cream flavors with a crunch texture, hence why Rock Rock Rockaway Road won number 1. The two tied came about because the last two just weren't my favorites. If you like lavender, floral-y flavored sweets The Orchard might be a really great choice. Compared to other lavender flavored sweets I have had I found this one the most tolerable and not overpowering (i.e. not like a candle). While salted caramel or anything caramel-y is one of my "go to" ice cream flavors, this one was just way too salty for my liking.

Bamboo Bites Chicken Satay Sticky Rice at Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea, NYC
Bamboo Bites - Chicken Satay Sticky Rice $9
I don't know why but I think the both of us were half expecting the flea market to be part knick-knack vendors and part ice cream vendors only. When we were tempting everyone with our ice cream flight, everyone else's bamboo boats of sticky rice caught my eye. Good thing there were things other than food being sold at the flea market because I definitely wanted and needed the chance to walk off brunch & ice cream.

Maybe it is the Asian in me but I loveeeeeeeeee me some sticky rice! The flavors of this chicken satay sticky rice was really good. It is a little spicy but the (optional) hot sauce I think made it that much better. Bamboo Bites also sells this with other proteins (like pulled pork and tofu) and sweet varieties (mango and coconut) as well. Just hits all the right spots for me, definitely on my favorite food vendor list!

Monsieur Singh Mango Lassi Push Pop at Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea, NYC
Monsieur Singh Mango Lassi Push Pop at Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea, NYC
Monsieur Singh - Mango Lassi Push Pop $5
Monsieur Singh was the other item on Bestie C's "To Try" list for the day. I knew they were sold in Whole Foods so I was initially going to hold out on trying them. When I realized the brownie ice cream sandwich I really wanted from Luca & Bosco wasn't available, a mango push pop sounded suddenly so appealing. A mango lover is a mango lover. I am not one for things with mint or ginger so forget about having both in one food. But both of those ingredients were not too distinguishable for my palette. That's a plus in my books.

They also had a Passionfruit and Chia Seeds Push Pop which made deciding really difficult since I also like passionfruit flavored things. Bestie C opted for this one and said it was yummy. Maybe next time?

Fort Grace Guava Mango Melon Sorbet at Fort Greene Brooklyn Flea, NYC
Fort Grace - Guava Mango Melon Sorbet $3
This was the dark horse of the day. We spotted their stand during one of our many strolls around the flea market and the bright personalities of the two ladies there got us intrigued. We had a sample of a couple of their flavors and were set to cleanse our palettes with Fort Grace's light sorbet. The other ice creams we had were great and all but after all that heaviness the refreshing sorbet just hit the spot.

Since this Ice Cream Bonanza thing was a special yearly event at the Brooklyn Flea, I am not sure if all the ice cream vendors will be attending the Fort Greene flea market regularly. But there are a bunch of other places where they may be: various Smorgasburgs throughout the city, Hester Street Fair, and other flea/food markets. Otherwise some vendors could be found at their physical shops or tracked down via social media.

If anything looked good, the hunt for ice cream is on!
Anywho...who knew Fort Greene had so much to offer?

Korea Diary | Gwangjang Market Eats (Day 6)

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University campus, YISS 2014

Oh the beautiful campus that is Yonsei University! My friends told me that this particular area is often used as a location for Korean dramas. Does it look familiar to anyone?

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014 Orientation

We started off our morning with an orientation for the YISS program. Since everyone was pretty unfamiliar with the campus the presenters shared their favorite cafeterias and overviewed where everything was at Yonsei. It was all helpful information since lunch time came right after.

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University Student Union Chicken Donburi, YISS 2014 South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, SK Global House Crazy Brown Lemonade
Chicken donburi
Lemonade

My first school cafeteria lunch at Yonsei was at the Student Union building. I don't know what it is about fried food in Korea but it is so good! (You will see evidence of it in later posts.)

Even though the drink is called lemonade, it is more correct to call it lemon-ade. Yup, there is a difference. The lemonade that I think most are used to is made of lemon, sugar, and water. In Korea, any "ade" drink is actually made of a fruit syrup or juice and cider (a.k.a. Sprite). I actually like this kind of drink but it is definitely an easy concoction to make at home.

I still can't believe how many cafeterias the Yonsei campus had. Practically each building has some sort of cafe or cafeteria. The Student Union building even had 2-3 cafeterias! Plenty of variety to pick from because each cafeteria serves something different.

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang food stand
Gwangjang Market - Gwangjangsijang (광장시장)
88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

After we all ran our errands (picking up shirts, paying any remaining fees, buying amenities, etc.), off we went to grab dinner. Our friends suggested this traditional market. The building has many food stalls and even clothing shops. There are many different dishes to try but a lot of the vendors also sell similar things.

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang food stand kalguksoo South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang food stand soondae & jokbal South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang food stand ddeokbokki
Kalguksoo
Blood sausage & Pigs feet - Soondae & Jokbal
Spicy Rice Cakes - Ddeokbokki

I think we ended up picking a spot that seemed popular but had enough seats for our group. This might not be the best food available but the atmosphere and quick service just can't be beat. For those that want to get a taste of many different things going to the market isn't a bad idea since some portion sizes are on the smaller size and food is relatively cheap.

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang food stand bindaetteok South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang food stand bindaetteok

Perhaps the highlight of Gwangjang Market is the bindaetteok stands. They were many stalls grinding fresh beans and frying up perfectly portioned pancakes throughout the market.

Now that I am looking back at the photos I wish I can have some now. But I haven't heard of any place in New York City that sells these particular pancakes.

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang food stand makkeolli South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang food stand haemoolpajeon
Rice Wine - Daebak Makkeolli
Seafood Pancake - Haemoolpajeon

The good thing about going with a group is getting to try a lot of food. Someone had a hankering for seafood pancake and off we went. We got ours at one of the sit-down restaurants inside the market. Makkeolli seemed to be a popular pairing with the pancakes so we got a bottle too. My friends and I agreed that we didn't particularly like the rice wine alone but when mixed with cider/Sprite it wasn't too bad.

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang Ade-stand
"Ade" Stand

Apparently lemonade is a pretty popular drink in the summer. It is common to see people buy them in zip-lock pouches with straws sticking out a corner.

South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang marinated crab sidedish South Korea, Seoul, Yonsei University, YISS 2014, Gwangjangsijang marinated crab sidedish
Marinated raw crabs side dish
Marinated little crabs side dish

Gwangjangsijang also has vendors who sell ready made banchan or side dishes that people typically have with their meals. If I was staying in Korea for a longer time and ate more where I stayed instead of eating out, many side dishes would have found it's way home with me.

While taking photos the ahjumma at the stand offered us to try the little crabs. I was hesitant at first but gave it a go anyways. It definitely wasn't as bad as I thought, just super crunchy. Have to try something new!

Current Faves | Underarm Deodorant Routine

Now that the summer season is in full swing, these two guys have been a lifesaver for me and my underarms.

Current Faves, Underarm Deodorant Routine

Stick deodorants were a part of my routine since I first started to buy deodorants in elementary school. A teacher I had then gave us a talk about growing up and body changes. One of the things she mentioned was body odor and deodorants. Can you believe that happened 13 years ago?

Since then I have very diligently applied deodorant every morning. I tend to get smelly even if I don't feel like I am sweating a lot. Genes...what can ya do?

Current Faves, Crystal Body Deodorant Spray, Natural Aluminum-free Deodorant

I forgot how long ago I decided to switch over to natural deodorant sprays but it has definitely been my staple underarm odor defender for at least 1 year.

The main reason why I changed from the traditional deodorants to this natural option was due to the yellow stains on my sleeved shirts. You know...those horrid patches where the shirt sits near your armpits! I've seen articles and tips where people use panty liners as protectors. But that idea never sat well with me. It would be an extra step in the day to remove the padding and I assumed having padding in the pits area couldn't be all that comfortable.

Even though the health trend is pretty strong nowadays, I didn't even know much about the supposed harmful things related to aluminum ingredients in the big name deodorants. This was solely an aesthetic reason.

Current Faves, Crystal Body Deodorant Spray Label, Natural Aluminum-free Deodorant

The ingredients list on this is short but whatever is in there is effective. Few spritz on the left size, few spritz on the right side, and done! It may not block your body odor 100% but the smell is neutralized enough, at least for me, so that it isn't so offensive. I feel confident enough to even hold the over-head bars in the New York City subways when I am wearing a tank in the summer heat.

I didn't realize it before but I think the key player in the odor neutralizing is Sodium Bicarbonate a.k.a. baking soda. If you're looking into natural deodorants, it is probably better to go with one that has this ingredient in it.

Crystal brand's Body Deodorant Spray is one that I have used over and over again. It may be a little difficult to find in drugstores like CVS and Walgreens but some may carry it. If not try a GNC shop (that's where I found my most recent one). Otherwise natural supermarkets like Whole Foods also carry other brands of deodorant sprays as well.

Current Faves, Deodorant Sprays

The Crystal deodorant spray is scentless. The only scented deodorant spray I have tried is the Welda Citrus Deodorant. I found this one at Whole Foods when I was in need of a travel-sized deodorant.

Current Faves, Welda Citrus Deodorant Spray Label

For those that like a scent this may be the way to go but the ingredients list doesn't look as natural/minimal as the Crystal spray. This Welda spray has alcohol and fragrances as the top few ingredients. Those sensitive to these may want to skip it.

If I were to compare the two the Crystal spray is more deodorant like (neutralizes odor) while the Welda spray is more body spray like (adds a better scent on top). If you are looking for an anti-perspirant these probably aren't the products to look at.

Current Faves, Etude House Put Your Hands Up Deo Multi-Powder

After spraying my underarms, I like to go about my skincare and makeup routine to give the spray a chance to dry. Before changing into my clothes for the day I make sure to tap each armpit with this Etude House Put Your Hands Up Deo Multi-Powder (boy that was a mouthful).

I picked this up while in Korea last summer and am loving it. Even though the deodorant spray isn't tacky or anything when it dries, there is still the slight moist feeling sometimes when I don't wait long enough. The powder helps to set it much like how one would use powder to set liquid makeup.

Current Faves, Etude House Put Your Hands Up Deo Multi-Powder Label
Current Faves, Etude House Put Your Hands Up Deo Multi-Powder Label

The Etude House powder seems to have talc, silica, dimethicones, and other things I've heard that people could be sensitive to. But I am sure other powder products like talc-free baby powder will probably have the same effect as well. It is just that I really like this oversized puff applicator/container. It makes applying the powder a breeze. I will definitely be cleaning it out and reusing it after I use up the pre-existing powder.

For those who are feeling crafty there are many tutorials to make DIY natural deodorant sticks, sprays, and powders. I only recently found those out so I may or may not try it in the future. Will definitely share results if I do.

What's your deodorant routine like (if you don't mind me asking)?
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