Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
Just Another Sunday Night In East Willie
Filed under: 11206, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
I have a confession to make: I like East Williamsburg. There are a number of reasons for this, among them:
1. Like it or hate it— for better or worse— this neighborhood delightfully eccentric. Where else have you seen a dead rat on Siamese hydrant sporting a bottle cap for a hat flanked by an empty fifth of brandy and an empty baggie of cocaine? Don’t everyone speak up at once.
2. Not unlike the Garden Spot of the Universe, East Williamsburg is an honest-to-god community. They help each other out in times of need.
Which brings me to what my buddy Chin, a former Greenpointer and current East Williamsburg resident, recounted to me this evening. In an email entitled “on the way from your house” she writes:
This dude was sitting on the ground screaming at his girlfriend to “just pull it! NOW!â€Â And I was wary. Then as I passed he said:
Excuse me, are you strong enough to pull this nail out of my foot?
Turns out he stepped on a nail and it went THROUGH his shoe and lodged in his foot. I felt bad so I gave it a shot, but there was no way to grip it hard enough. So I went back in my house and came out with a pair of needle nose pliers, and got a grip on the nail, and his girlfriend held his hand while we all counted to three—and I just pulled it the fuck out. My good deed for the day.
That’s neighborhood love for you. It’s one thing to check someone’s mail, sign for a package or house-sit someone’s cat. I have done all the previous on a number of occasions. But pulling a nail out of a total stranger’s foot?!? That, dear readers, is pure unadulterated East Williamsburg magic.
Chin, I salute you!
Miss Heather
Williamspoint Food Watch: Presenting Klaus’s Kitchen
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
As the weather has grown cooler and the days shorter I find myself craving a nice bowl of soup more and more. Needless to say when my buddy over at Bitchy Bluestocking brought Klaus’s Kitchen to my attention I my interest was piqued. She writes:
This morning at Beaner Bar, I picked up fellow Punk Roper Klaus’s business card; he’s making and delivering his own soup! His home-made soups in the following flavors are sold four for $20, including free delivery to anyone in 11222 or 11211: African peanut, carrot ginger, butternut squash, red lentil pumpkin, spinach zucchini, and potato leek.
I haven’t tried any yet, but my first order is in!
Naturally I had to learn more. So today I spoke briefly with the proprietor/chef himself: Klaus Guelder!
Me: So what brought you to the soup-making/delivery business?
Klaus: Like most people, I needed the money. I thought about the two things I like to do: bicycling and cooking. I am too old to be a bicycle messenger so I decided to make soup instead. I am not a chef— just a really good cook. I can cook for eight hours straight and it doesn’t seem like work to me.
Me: What has been the response so far?
Klaus: It’s been good. People like the convenience. My soups come frozen so all they need to do is heat and serve. Most of my items are vegan. A lot of vegan food I have had doesn’t have a lot of flavor. It’s bland. I like to use spice. Although I didn’t want to, I decided to make potato leek. This has heavy cream in it and has proven to be very popular. The zucchini spinach is the least popular. I don’t know why. Only two people buy it. I recommend it highly. I’ve been asked to make meated soups but frankly that doesn’t interest me.
My business is done exclusively through referrals. I do not advertise. I like to deal with customers on a more personal basis. You learned about this from Sherry,
Me: Speaking for myself, I am more apt to try something if someone I know recommends it. Food is a very subjective thing. If a friend of mine (whose tastes I know) says something is worth checking out its been vetted and it is likely to be something I like. So what it is the process?
Klaus: You contact me via email to place an order. Soups are $5.00 per 16 ounce container. If you order four or more I will deliver them for free. You pay upon receipt. In most cases I can deliver the same day.
Me: Any new soups in the works?
Klaus: I am working on a beet soup. I purchase my produce from the McCarren Farmer’s Market so I work with what’s available.
So there have you. I for one am pretty excited about sampling Klaus’s soups. The only problem might be picking out which ones I want to try! The African peanut will definitely be one of them though, as Klaus assures me it’s spicy!
Once again, here are the soups being offered by Klaus’s Kitchen:
- African Peanut
- Butternut Squash with Mushroom and Pumpkins Seeds (described by Klaus as being “a little spicy”)
- Carrot Orange with Ginger
- Red Lentil with Pumpkin (prepared Indian style, very chunky)
- Zucchini Spinach (which has cilantro in it)
- Potato Leek
You can place an order with Klaus by contacting him via email at: klauskitchen (at) gmail (dot) com. You can read customer reviews of Klaus’s soups by pointing and clicking your way to his Facebook fan page. Check it out!
Miss Heather
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