A kids’ sack race was one of many activities at Saturday’s Willowtown fair, which was blessed by perfect weather. Video, photos, and more text after the jump.

Batman greeted children to the Jumpy Castle.

Iris Cafe offered a tempting array of salads, sandwiches, and sweets.

Maio, of Waterfront Wines & Spirits, prepares to pour some of Brooklyn Oenology’s 2010 Social Club White, made with chardonnay grapes from the North Fork of Long Island and the Finger Lakes region.

Call it what you will… resurrection, revitalization, renaissance or even recovery. The Montague Street retail corridor is healthier than it has been since the economic collapse of 2009… Over the past year or so, a dozen or so new businesses have gained traction, including restaurants, spas, bodegas, bakeries and clothiers. Let’s take a walk up Montague, shall we?

* Around the corner from 84 Montague Street’s Heights Cafe, at 214 & 216 Hicks Street, Della Rocco’s of Brooklyn is coming in June, a brick-oven pizzeria and bar, operated by Brooklyn-bred brothers Greg and Glenn Markman and Joseph Secondino.

* Across the street, the three narrow retail spaces are all filled for the first time in years: At 89 Montague is bodega Heights Deli & Convenience, which opened in April 2010 in space that once housed an upscale clothing boutique and then temporarily served as a political office for Doug Biviano… At 91 Montague is Jeffrey Stein Concept Salon, which opened in January 2011 in the former space of Dimples Kids Spa… And at 93 Montague is February 2012 new kid on the block, VIP Nails & Salon.

* Crumbs Bake Shop rescued the space that was sadly vacated by beloved Heights Books—which departed in July 2008—opening in August 2010.

* Le Pain Quotidien at 121 Montague opened in mid-April 2012, after previous Jennifer Convertibles closed in April 2010, leaving the space empty for two years. Despite some complaints that sit-down service prices are steep, the joint is an instant hit.

* Women’s apparel boutique Ruby and Jenna opened this week at 130 Montague, above beauty salon Dashing Diva and previously occupied by Migita Sushi (see post below).

* Starbucks opened May 12, 2012, at 134 Montague in the former location of Nine West Shoes, which closed in July 2010—moving up the street from 112 Montague. That leaves a primary retail space at its shuttered locale, which at one point last decade was a swanky Italian restaurant.

* Irish pub Custom House will soon be opening at 139 Montague in the former space of La Traviata, which closed in November 2011.

* In September 2011, Indian restaurant Ghandi Palace opened at 140 Montague, in the previous space of same-cuisine Amin, which shuttered a month before.

* Oh My Pasta! opened in September 2011 at 142 Montague, site of the former Taze Turkish restaurant (and Kapadokya before that). The 100% local eatery is owned and operated by Marco Lasala, a Brooklyn Heights resident. Despite a lot of cat-calling from BHB readers about the restaurant’s name, it is thriving.

* Last week, Area Yoga & Spa Center‘s second location (the original is in Carroll Gardens) opened on the second floor of 144 Montague, above Bentley’s shoes, in the former location of Spring Thyme spa.

* Eight months ago Vietnamese “Bubble Tea & Vietnamese Sandwich” shop Hanco’s opened at 147 Montague. Not only is it a runaway favorite on Yelp, but the destination finally made good out of a retail space that was dark for more than a decade.

If you made it this far, perhaps it’s a perfect time to take the Montague Street Business Improvement District’s survey on what folks think about programs & services in the neighborhood. Access the questionnaire here. Cheers, BHB compatriots!

(Photo: Lumierefl/Flickr)

Thursday, May 17 starting at 7;00 p.m. there will be a Brazilian dance party at Pier 1 (enter at foot of Old Fulton Street), Brooklyn Bridge Park, featuring Nation Beat (see video after the jump), Maracatu New York, and DJ Greg Caz. Admission to the party is free; food and drinks will be available from vendors. More details are here.

This year’s Willowtown Fair, part of a growing tradition, will celebrate the lives of two women who made great contributions to the life of that community, and will feature a wine tasting, foood from Iris Cafe, bluegrass music, and fun for kids. Ben Bankson, President of the Willowtown Association, gives us the following:

The dedication of trees in memory of two longtime neighborhood residents and a wine tasting are among the features of the Willowtown Association’s annual Spring Fair to take place this Saturday, May 19, from noon to 5 p.m. the full length of Willow Place.

The trees memorialize Caroline Palestino, who died last June at age 92, and Mary Merz, who died last September at age 85. The dedication is set for 3 o’clock. Caroline lived her entire life in Willowtown. Her tree is in front of 10 Columbia Place, part of the Riverside apartment complex, where she was born. A native of Ohio, Mary was an architect who with her surviving husband Joe designed three of the contemporary houses on Willow Place. She was active in the Willowtown Association and largely responsible for its work in the greening of Columbia Place. Her tree is on State Street by the Palmetto Playground developed largely to her and Joe’s design.

The wine tasting is by Waterfront Wines & Spirits, a new shop at Joralemon and Furman streets. It will take place throughout the afternoon in the Alfred T. White Community Center at 26 Willow Place.

Other features of the fair include live blue-grass music by a group called the Five Deadly Venons, who also played at last year’s fair; food by Willowtown’s own Iris Café; races for both kids and adults; a Jumpy Castle; and a visit by a fire truck from Engine Co. 224.

Photo: Planners of the 2012 Willowtown Spring Fair are, from left, front row, Elise Pettus, Bill Newbury, Clare Brew, Linda De Rosa and Libby Cooper; and back row, Jeffery Streem and Ben Bankson.

Mr. J and his cam go with Tony of Noodle Pudding to the Hunt’s Point market in the Bronx, where Tony shows what’s available and how he curates selects the ingredients for the dishes on his menu. Then it’s back to the restaurant to taste the day’s gleanings. Having sampled ramps for the first time yesterday, your correspondent is glad someone likes them. Videos and more text after the jump.

We then get into the secrets of Tony’s “trust me” menu which, trust me, I’m eager to try based on Karl’s video. I’ll just say I’m allergic to ramps. Also, it’s good to know that there’s a happy ending to the story of Jack and Diane.

The new Starbucks location at 134 Montague Street opens for business Saturday May 12, as the windows at the previous store at 112 Montague were covered in brown paper Friday night, with an arrow pointing up the street.

As previously reported, the new space at the former Nine West shoe store will sacrifice major window vistas along the front, although the folks at Heights Vision next door told BHB that it is deeper and offers more square footage. Here’s a first look inside the new store.

Starbucks decided to relocate because the one-story building at 112 Montague was a constant source of roof leaks and plumbing issues. Its new destination at 134 Montague has been completely gutted and rebuilt, including the residential above.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

The Irish pub moving into the old La Traviata space at 139 Montague Street will be call the Custom House. BHB contributor Heather Quinlan snapped this shot of its new sign being raised there this morning.

We reported earlier this week about the “hidden history” of number 139 that was revealed in the sign changing process.

The former La Traviata cafe, which is en route to becoming an Irish pub and restaurant, has revealed its roots, as the shuttered eatery’s signage came down today. Before La T took over 139 Montague Street (between Henry and Clinton) some 30 years ago, a full-frontal sign heralded “Hebrew National.”

Sure enough, our precious 1976 Montague Street Revitalization Proposal verifies that a restaurant by that name was based at the address some 35 years ago. Who remembers more?

La Traviata closed in November 2011. BHB first reported in February that RDR Bar & Restaurant Corp. plans to open a Tavern-Restaurant in the space.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor/Vintage: 1976 Montague Street Revitalization)

BRIC Arts Media Bklyn, in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park, is presenting a series of free dance parties at Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park the next three Thursday evenings starting at 7:00. The opening event, this Thursday, May 10, features legendary funk keyboardist Booker T. Jones, whose group, Booker T. and the M.G.’s, provided the backbone for Stax Records’ classic Memphis soul sound. Also on the bill is DJ Rich Medina.

The following Thursday, May 17, there will be a Brazilian dance party featuring Nation Beat, Brooklyn’s own Maracatu New York, and DJ Greg Caz. The final dance party, on May 24, will be a Cajun/Zydeco fais do-do with Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience and Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew.

Food and beverages will be available from these food trucks during all the dance parties: Morris Grilled Cheese, Kumquat Cupcakery, Rickshaw Dumplings, Kimchi Taco, and Pizza Moto.

Peas n’ Pickles grocery at 79 Henry Street has begun expansion to nearly double its current size, with additional space opening behind the market (in the space formerly occupied by Heights Kids, as noted by BHB regular Andrew Porter back in February) on Pineapple Walk. Owner Jung Sook Lee told the Brooklyn Eagle that the newly enlarged digs will offer a deli and hot & cold salad bar. A night manager on duty Wednesday evening also told BHB that an expanded grocery and pharmacy section will be included.

Goods from the original store have been moved into the bright and airy new locale while the original market is renovated, which is expected to take about two months.

(Photos: Brooklyn Heights Blog/Inset: Brooklyn Eagle)

As tipped in last Wednesday’s BHB Open Thread, Willowtown’s favorite intimate eatery Iris Cafe on 20 Columbia Place is expanding with a secondary location a couple doors down that will offer to-go orders and a larger grocery selection.

“Flashlight Worthy” reported that the new Iris space (once occupied by Envy Looks hair salon) at 16 Columbia Place in the Riverside Apartment complex, will allow the original location to expand its prep space, soon making it possible to add a dinner menu to the current lunch and brunch specialties.

The cafe, which opened in November 2009, consistently garners praise from the likes of Yelp (“a hidden gem”), New York magazine (“all things to all people”), NYCGo (“lovable”) and The New York Times (“food this comforting stands on its own”).

(The mob scene around noon, Sunday April 29 outside Iris Cafe; and the new space at 16 Columbia Place/Photos by Chuck Taylor)

Starting today, there will be food service on the East River ferries that connect Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, making a stop at Fulton Ferry Landing at the foot of Old Fulton Street.

DNAinfo.com: Beginning Monday morning, passengers will be treated to a new menu of locally-produced goodies, including cupcakes from Butter Lane Cupcakes, retro-style u-bet egg creams in chocolate and vanilla, and hot and iced coffees from the Brooklyn Roasting Company.

Chips and pastries will be $2; coffees, egg creams, and cupcakes $3. Food service will be available every day, starting at 7:00 a.m.

Channel 7, ABC Eyewitness News reporter Lauren Glassberg visited Colonie, talked with some diners and with sous-chef Bryan Redmond, and watched him prepare a carrot salad. Video after the jump.

Before it’s time to move on to the voting phase of the Best Eats in Brooklyn Heights,  we’d like to continue the nomination process.  Join the conversation on the original thread here.

BHB EXCLUSIVE: The commercial spaces at 214 and 216 Hicks Street, which were demolished in February to carve out a single larger parcel, will soon make good use of being “unsliced.” In June, 100% local Della Rocco’s of Brooklyn will begin cooking up brick-oven pizzas, along with a beer & wine bar specializing in borough brews.

The new eatery is owned & operated by Brooklyn-bred brothers Greg and Glenn Markman and Joseph Secondino (who has known the bros for 30+ years). “We’re three guys who grew up eating pizza in Brooklyn,” Greg tells BHB. The trio also knows how to run a thriving eatery in Brooklyn Heights—as partners of Heights Cafe at 84 Montague Street, next door to the new pizzeria. The guys stress, however, that Della Rocco’s will have a separate kitchen from Heights Cafe, operating as an indie biz.

The partners are aiming for a June opening, with delivery and take-out available, along with in-room dining specializing in personal pizzas, according to Greg Markman. It will be open seven days a week, likely from noon to midnight.

In our sneak peak of the space Wednesday, a wood-burning brick pizza oven—being flown in from Italy—will line the back of the restaurant, while a generously proportioned bar is located to the right. A large picture window will be cut into the 214 (right) portion of the eatery, with a clear view of the historic Bossert Hotel across the street. The space also boasts 15-foot ceilings, making it feel spacious and welcoming.

The Hicks Street spaces formerly housed Overtures stationery and gift boutique at 216, which closed after 30 years in December 2011; and Dara Ettinger jewelry at 214, which opened in May 2011 and lasted eight months. High-end clothier J. McLaughlin is to the left, at 218 Hicks.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

The Brooklyn Heights Association’s annual House Tour (the photo was taken in one of the houses on this year’s tour) is coming soon, on Saturday, May 12. You can find more information, and buy tickets, here.

The BHA needs “house volunteers” who “are asked to take a shift, watching rooms to be sure there is no touching, no photo taking, etc.” either from 11:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. OR from 2:20-5:05 p.m. Volunteer bakers are also needed to make three or four dozen cookies, squares or bars and deliver them in a covered container to Plymouth Church (enter at 75 Hicks) on Friday, May 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. If you would like to be a house volunteer, bake, or both, please e-mail info@thebha.org.

Long before there was a Housing Works Thrift Shop or a Fish’s Eddy—or for that matter, a Brooklyn Heights Promenade—122 Montague Street was the location of beloved Southern-style restaurant Mammy’s Pantry. In the 1940s, the eatery served up a lunch and dinner menu of such goodies as Maryland Crab Cakes, Southern Fried Chicken, Shrimps Creole and Chesapeake Bay Oysters. For desert, one could order homemade cakes and pies, Mammy’s Pastries, Bittersweet Chocolates, Jams & Jellies or its renowned Cobbler. Wash it all down with generous juleps, swizzlers, fizzes, wine or cocktails from the bar.

Mammy’s, which endured at least from 1941 to 1947, was owned by “Mrs. Christine Heinemann, a grand cook from Virginia,” according to a column in November 1944 from Gourmet magazine “Food Flashes” columnist Clementine Paddleford. Its manager was a Brooklyn Heights resident, Ruth Wagner. Paddleford called Mammy’s “one of the city’s beloved of the home-style restaurants.”

An ad in the January 17, 1941 Brooklyn Eagle, promotes Mammy’s as “a delightful place to enjoy a meal. Dine in the Brooklyn Heights Room or the more formal Old Dominion Room.” Sunday dinner was served from 12:30 to 8 p.m., for 70 cents to 95 cents. Virginia breakfast was available Sunday mornings for 50 cents.

The precious two-fold linen postcard for Mammy’s Pantry also reveals a lot about the eatery, including air conditioning, music by MUSAK and its telephone exchange: MAin 4-4446 and 4-9365. It also boasts an illustration of “Mammy” that would be anything but politically correct today, although at the time it represented Southern hospitality and cuisine.

A handy color map of the neighborhood, with “a chart to find your way around,” offers historical markers of Brooklyn Heights, including: “Here was the Ferry to Wall Street,” “Blare Edwin Booth stayed,” “Tom Paine’s house” and “Here Beecher auctioned Sarah the Negro slave.” The map also reveals a pre-Cadman Plaza Park and pre-Promenade Heights (the latter would be dedicated in 1950).

Mammy’s was apparently more than an eatery enjoyed by Brooklyn Heights locals. In Paddleford’s Gourmet column in November 1944 , she wrote about World War II’s rationing of bread ingredients, and welcomed the return to Mammy’s menu of “Brooklyn’s famous orange bread, a war casualty for months.”

Paddleford said, “It’s a bread dark as fruit cake. It has an orange peel tang for the palate, made as it is with the whole oranges (minus their seeds) put through the food chopper. Raisins are added to the pulp, and pecans coarsely cut. White flour goes in, whole eggs and seasonings. The oranges are shipped direct from a Florida grove, the pecans come from a grower in Georgia, and the baking is supervised by Mrs. Heinemann. But the recipe is Northern, from a farm woman in upstate New York. The little 35-cent loaf will cut 10 to 12 slices, depending entirely on the sharpness of the knife. The bread needs only the thinnest streak of butter to be the last word with tea. Or use it with cream cheese. It is as fragrant as a pomander, the flavor truly orange.” She adds that “the women who shop after luncheon at (Mammy’s) retail bread case say, ‘Good to see the bread back again.’”

Likewise, in July 1943, Paddleford referred to New York “dining rooms” offering “field-to-table sweet corn steaming hot from the pot,” which included Schrafft’s Restaurants; The White Turkey Town Houses, 220 Madison Avenue and 1 University Place; The Skipper Restaurant, 17 East 48th Street; Mammy’s Pantry, 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn; Abraham & Straus Restaurant, Brooklyn; and Bamberger’s in Newark. She notes that Skipper, Mammy’s Pantry and Bamberger’s also sell the corn “to the carry-home trade.”

Meanwhile, the building at 122 Montague Street was constructed in 1900, according to various city records, stands five stories tall, and includes three residential rentals, as it has throughout much of its history. In 1976, according to the Montague Street Revitalization plan, it housed Piccadeli Restaurant, which offered table service, a bar and take out. From that point, it is unclear what occupied the space until around 2007, with the short-lived Fish’s Eddy and its current tenant Housing Works. Various websites refer to The Montage Street News and Montague Street Saloon at 122 Montague Street, but seem uncertain.

For sure, there are numerous long-time residents of Brooklyn Heights who have their own memories of Mammy’s Pantry. Please… serve ‘em up!

(Photos: Online archives/Current: Chuck Taylor)

If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out the wonderfully novel Dekalb Market yet, the weekend is coming! This new community destination in Downtown Brooklyn—which was voted Best New York Architecture in 2011 by the New York Observer—is uniquely housed in a collection of salvaged shipping containers, and includes an incubator farm, weekend events, performances and a collection of 60+ eateries and work-sell spaces.

Coming up Saturday April 21 is Spring Cleaning Day, with such specialties as shaves, nails and Eco Living workshops. Sunday April 22 offers an Earth Day Seed & Garden Market and Urban Chicken Workshops. The Dekalb Market, which is open seven days a week through the summer, is located at 138 Willoughby Street and Flatbush Ave in 11201. Much more info is here.

In all, the 2012 season will offer a cornucopia of art, music, food and shopping, as well as the new Dekalb outdoor performance and event space, including a permanent beer & wine garden, “The Dekalb Farm,” dance parties, bike-in movie nights, roller derbies, stores, food shops and outdoor weekend vendors.

(Photo: Dekalb Market)

Anyone that has lived in Brooklyn Heights for more than five or so years has seen that wonderful new restaurant open its doors up the street with so much promise, a great menu and meaningful ambiance… only to shutter a year later, supplanted by a nail salon or cell phone retailer. Sigh.

The Real Deal offers some grim statistics about why it’s so difficult for an eatery to survive in New York City (which has definitely made me think twice about my plan to open Chuckey’s Pizza Pies & Absinthe Bar in the nabe. Big sigh).

NYC & Company, the city’s official marketing and tourism board, reports that despite 18,696 restaurants currently in the five boroughs and 200 new joints opening each year, “few survive their first year of operation, and less than 10% will be in business in five years.” That’s according to restaurateur expert Alan Stillman, founder of TGI Friday’s and Smith & Wollensky.

Whether or not you have the greatest chef in town, the key to success is location, adds Phil Scotti, CEO of Clarke’s Group, owner and operator of P.J. Clarke’s, in the Real Deal piece. Financing is another major challenge, especially for an independent venture: “A limited amount of financing is available from government sources and capital firms for franchisee operations, but few financial institutions are willing to provide backing for upstart restaurants,” the story reports.

In other words—and this is my personal opinion here—I thank the stars above that Le Pain Quotidien opened at 121 Montague Street, instead of Citibank. Amen.

(Photo concept: Chuck Taylor)

Brooklyn foodie website Nona Brooklyn offers a lengthy and delectable interview with Antonio Migliaccio, owner of Brooklyn Heights’ longtime fave Noodle Pudding. The Italian restaurant has been open at 38 Henry Street in the far northern reaches of the neighborhood for 16 years.

The interview begins: “Most restaurants have a moment. They arrive on the scene and hopefully, with some good execution and a little luck, generate a buzz. Most of the time, they come back to earth, a few months, a few years or a few chef changes later. It’s rare to find a restaurant that strikes that elusive combination of good food, ambiance, service and intangible charm, that has regulars lining up out the door, willing to wait 45 minutes or an hour for a table, night after night.”

The profile, “From the Docks to the Kitchen: Noodle Pudding’s Antonio Migliaccio on Finding The Recipe For Success In Forgetting Everything Anyone Ever Taught Him About Cooking,” is a delightful read about his coming to Brooklyn from Italy as a teenager and working as a longshoreman while moonlighting in restaurants, learning to cook, opening his restaurant, insecurities along the way, where he shops for ingredients and much more.

In one quote, Migliaccio offers, “When you have a restaurant, it should not be about just one thing… making good food or about making money. When people come here to eat, they don’t want to go home and cook and clean up. For me, it’s not just about making food and serving it to them. It’s almost like, you’re looking after them. You’re taking care of them.”

Read the tasty profile in full here.

(Photo: Nona Brooklyn)

How does Karl love LPQ? Let him count the ways…. Video after the jump.

The doors are still closed for staff training, but French Bread loaves are stocking the shelves at Le Pain Quotidien and al fresco seating has appear on the sidewalk.  According to the Manager who was fielding questions from passersby, they will “definitely” be open tomorrow.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The restaurant opened for business Saturday! Stop by on Sunday to meet the smiling, gregarious staff!

The new Le Pain Quotidien at 121 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights is scheduled to open its doors Monday, April 16, according to a conversation BHB had with the “bakery and communal table” manager this afternoon. He’s a local who lives in Carroll Gardens, and says in his five years with the company, he has been pleading for a Brooklyn location. Delivered! (See first interior photos below the jump.)

The manager also shared that because of the property line of the building, outdoor seating for up to 18 is available along the storefront’s sidewalk, with no permit required. Inside, the restaurant seats about 100. In addition, the Heights menu will offer items that aren’t available at Le Pain Quotidien’s Manhattan locations, including Six-Vegetable Vegan quiche, Quiche Lorraine, Vegetarian Quiche, Warm Moroccan Chicken Salad, Vegan Seared Quinoa Cake and Mushroom Lasagna. Add that to a selection of soups, tartines, salads, platters, breads & pastries, breakfast dishes and organic beverages.

We’ve come a long way since the first whiff of Le Pain Quotidien opening in January at the long-deserted former location of Jennifer Convertibles.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor)

Two 2001 graduates from Brooklyn Heights’ Packer Collegiate Institute are staying true to the borough by opening a restaurant in nearby Fort Greene. Pals Alan Cooper and Stephen Cohen plan to launch Prospect Restaurant at 773 Fulton Street in July, in the space of recently closed Mediterranean Aqualis Grill.

The pair was interviewed April 5 in the New York Times blog “The Local,” after the American eatery’s license was approved by the Community Board 2 Health Committee. The spot will offer 53 seats and a full bar, serving dinner seven days a week and brunch on weekends.

The co-owners told the Times that their venture—the first restaurant for each of them—will offer fresh, seasonal ingredients. “We’ll have a serious menu, but you won’t look at the plate and not know what’s on it,” said Cooper (on left in photo). The pair added that they chose the location because of their ties to the community: “I live in Fort Greene now and knew this was a great, accessible location. I wanted to be in the kind of brownstone community that I grew up in,” said Cooper, who was raised in Cobble Hill.

The Prospect Restaurant at 773 Fulton Street, is between South Portland Avenue and South Oxford Street.

(Photo: Linda Villarosa for The New York Times)

Chez Moi, a French bistro that took over the former La Mancha space at Atlantic Avenue and Henry Street has opened its doors. The soft opening was yesterday evening, and it appears they’ll be taking a week or two to work out operational kinks and flesh out the “classic French with a twist” menu.

My wife and I stopped in tonight for a quick bite to gauge the offerings. The atmosphere offers low light, painted walls and background French jazz & blues playing. A young wait-staff was eager to assist and to take comments on the menu and preparations.

While the menu details are being fleshed out (a charcuterie and cheese offering is promised in the future), we decided to try two French classics: Roast Chicken and Steak Frites. The chicken dish was excellent with an extremely moist breast and leg served with pureed potatoes and seasonal vegetables in a flavorful jus. My wife’s steak was delicious, but the sides (steamed spinach and garlic fries) could have used some punching up. A side dish of haricot vert, however, was excellent: crisp and garlicky, and served quickly after a last-minute order.

We also enjoyed two of the desserts: a warm (not “molten”) chocolate cake on a plate drizzled with salted caramel, and a creme brûlée punched up with a nice taste of citron and served with fresh berries.

The rest of the menu is on the short side as Chez Moi gets up and running. Other options included Onion Soup, Croque Madame, Bouillabaisse and Mussels, along with a few salads and vegetable accompaniments.

One area that could use some improvement is the wine list. The owners (a French-Swedish couple) are planning an “affordable” neighborhood place, but the available wines (a mix of French, italian and New World offerings) were a bit on the high side. Some more affordable options in the low $30 range would be a nice addition.

Chez Moi is currently open for dinner until 11 p.m. (later on weekends). Plans are underway to add weekend brunch and a lunch menu. Looks like this will be another promising addition to the Atlantic Avenue scene.

This month’s “First Wednesday” event is starting now (5 p.m.) and continues until 8 p.m. Details on special deals available from merchants and restaurants on Montague Street are here.

The Brooklyn Heights Association also reminds us to please take the Montague Street BID’s survey. By completing the survey, you are entered to win a $50 gift certificate.

This Wednesday, April 4, is another “First Wednesday”, presented by the Montague Street Business Improvement District, featuring special shopping and dining deals from merchants and restaurants on Montague. The theme of this month’s event is “Spring is Here” (maybe it will be back by Wednesday). Details on what is available are here.

Famed French chef Daniel Boulud announced his plan to open an elegant restaurant in the space soon to be vacated by Starbucks on Montague Street between Henry and Hicks. “With its reasonable rents and reputation for fine dining, Montague is the ideal spot for my first venture into Brooklyn,” Boulud said. He also mentioned proximity to Key Food as a source of emergency supplies. “I take pride in always using the freshest of ingredients,” he added.

Borough President Marty Markowitz issued the following statement: Bienvenue, Monsieur Boulud. Comme il doux!

A-list Miami nightclub impresario Tommy Pooch—a native Brooklynite—founded his Pucci’s Pizza in 1992, sold the company, then recently reestablished it with biz partners Alan Roth and DJ Irie. The “Brooklyn-style” restaurant has two locations: smack dab in South Beach and downtown Miami, which opened in February and has quickly taken off.

Pucci’s pizzas are named for Brooklyn neighborhoods: the Canarsie, the Coney Island, the Prospect Park and… the Brooklyn Heights. The smash menu item comprises a white pizza made with four types of cheese—Romano, mozzarella, parmigiana and ricotta—then brushed with olive oil and topped with fresh garlic.

And the others, according to The Miami Herald: The Canarsie is topped with pepperoni, bacon and red and green bell peppers; the Coney Island has BBQ chicken and sweet red onions; and Prospect Park is for meat lovers, with meatballs, ham and sausage.

Pucci’s manager Johny Calella, who hails from Pooch’s neighborhood of Borough Park, says all pizzas are cooked in a brick oven and use only homemade sauce with plum tomatoes. Two: “It’s the love we put in it. You gotta have love when you cook. If not, it shows,” he tells the Herald.

You’ve got to see it to believe it. Situated over an entire square block, Dekalb Market in Downtown Brooklyn is constructed from recycled shipping containers converted into 60+ food & retail shops that frame a space for outdoor events and programs.

The 2012 season launches Saturday April 7, at 138 Willoughby Street and the Flatbush Avenue Extension, offering a cornucopia of art, music, food & film events, as well as the new Dekalb outdoor performance and event space, a permanent beer & wine garden, “The Dekalb Farm” and 60 stores & food shops and outdoor weekend vendors, all “set against the gritty-cool urban backdrop of downtown Brooklyn.”

For the launch Dekalb Spring Weekender, Saturday and Sunday, April 7-8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., come one and all for a noon Easter Egg Hunt, $1 Mimosas (until 2 p.m.), and live music by Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra, and Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens. Also: Flower and Garden Market, face painting, woodshop projects and a jewelry workshop, crafting bike maintenance, and circuits & electronics. Cooking, farming and gardening workshops and classes for adults and children will be presented by Family Cooks.

The regular Dekalb Market Hours are seven days a week, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. During the season, events will also include dance parties, free open-air markets, unique foodie events, bike-in movie nights, lobster boils, roller derbies, an ongoing series of special live music performances and 45+ vendors.

Dekalb Market was voted Best New York Architecture in 2011 by the New York Observer.