Somebody Went Ahead And Started A Brooklyn Hipster Food Tour

Somebody Went Ahead And Started A Brooklyn Hipster Food Tour
Matt Rodbard•

As we approach the peak of tourist season here in New York, we're bracing ourselves for more crowded subways, longer lines at Ippudo and German tourists sunbathing at our beaches and green spaces. As New Yorkers, we love our summers, especially when we can get the hellz out of town to do things like this. No, not really. We're more into things like this.

Summer in New York is also the time of year when random bus and walking tours begin to spring up. There are tours devoted to the gangs of New York and the foods of Chinatown. Just last week it was revealed that an operator was marketing a "ghetto tour" of the South Bronx, where tourists (apparently, mostly European) were shown the neighborhood attractions "from a safe distance." Uh.

And now we learn that there is a Hipster Food Tour Of Brooklyn. Because we all know that Brooklyn is now the center of the hipster food world. Unless, of course, you talk to this vocal guy.

So, what is a hipster? According to the tour's organizers, greatnewyorktours.com, a hipster is a "subculture of men and women typically in their 20's and 30's with a certain bohemian life situation and lifestyle. Hipsters reject 'mainstream' culture but embrace and contribute to independent culture that values independent thinking, counter-culture, progressive politics, an appreciation of art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter!"

And what do hipsters eat? It appears, if you were to follow this seven-stop tour (which runs $50 and includes food from seven different restaurants, cheese shops and chocolate makers), some pretty good things. All of the businesses are locally owned (more like locavore-owned) and are turning out some pretty nice things. The tour includes stops at the following locations (with colorful and fact-averse descriptions from the tour organizer):


  • Fornino Since opening in 2004, Fornino's wood-fired pizzas have racked up several awards, including 2007's best pizza in NYC!

  • Handsome Dan Browse Dan's wild selection of desserts and candies that scream 'only in Williamsburg', while you munch on some homemade Kings County Walnut Brittle.

  • Mable's Smokehouse Husband and wife owners from Oklahoma and Kentucky built every chair, table and barstool in the place. If you're impressed with their woodwork, wait 'til you try their ribs.

  • Brooklyn Oenology No way! Wine country in Williamsburg! Don't knock it til you tried it.

  • Bedford Cheese The best artisanal and farmstead cheese purveyor in New York City. Period

  • Bagelsmith This bagel shop bakes on premises, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sundried Tomato-Basil Tofu Cream Cheese anyone

  • Mast Brothers New York's only bean to bar chocolate maker, the expert Mast siblings make superb artisanal chocolate from scratch, roasting and grinding single source cacao beans right here in Williamsburg!

Skinny jeans, apparently, are not required.

Recommended