 There is nothing like a Google Alert to remind a post you've been meaning to write remains unwritten. Today's alert was a new Yelp review for JJ's Jamaican restaurant in the remodeled space formerly occupied by Gordon's Jamaican Bakery at 711 Flatbush, just north of Parkside (gmap).
I haven't been inside but it's an attractive place, particularly for a primarily take-out restaurant. The renovation moved the counter to the back and opened up the front space for seating. When I get a chance to actually eat there I'll have more to say about the food... but the guy on Yelp liked it. Image via Jason S. on Yelp.
 The US might have been eliminated from the World Cup last week but, because we lost to Ghana, PLG still has skin in the game. You can cheer with your neighbors at Meytex at least one more time when Ghana takes on Uruguay today at 2:30.
I forgot to mention the celebratory scene outside of Meytex - where it has always been OK to root for the Black Stars - after Ghana's 2-1 victory on Saturday but it was wild. Fans of the victors poured onto the street cheering, blowing vuvuzelas and waving flags. Traffic on Flatbush - particularly northbound - was a mess because of the revelry. The best scene was when a police car finally pulled up alongside the double-parked party cars to ask them to move along and get Flatbush moving again. The crowd surrounded the car, laughing and cheering, and draped the Ghanaian flag across the windshield. You could tell that the policemen's hearts weren't really in breaking up the party. You can read some reports on what it was like to see the Ghana - US match at Meytex here and here and a report on the Australia game from someone other than me here. As long as Ghana is alive, Hawthorne Street will continue to root on the
Black Stars.
Exquisite, a Jamaican restaurant at 218 Parkside Avenue (across the street from the train station) got a nod from the New York Times yesterday. The $25-and-under column turned its attention to sandwiches and featured Exquisite for its breakfast sandwiches of saltfish and bake. The saltfish is stewed with tomato, onion, green bell pepper and just enough scotch bonnet pepper to give it kick, then stuffed into frybread ($3). It comes mixed with okra or cabbage or - for a little more money - ackee. According to the Times, The bake is warm, fresh and just a bit greasy; the ackee is nutty and
slightly sweet; the salt cod is tangy, zingy and belly-filling. Put them
together, and you have a glorious morning meal. Ackee and saltfish is
Jamaica’s national dish; the bake only makes it better.
This isn't the first time Exquisite has gotten a positive nod here on Hawthorne Street. Back in 2007, when we held our one and only "annual" Jerk-Off, professional food writer Paul Lukas deemed Exquisite the only jerk chicken in the neighborhood that he'd travel for (though the winner was Hammond's on Nostrand). I'm glad I caught this news early in the morning. Now I can swing by Exquisite on the way to work.
 Is Mulberry Street too far for your bubble tea fix? Is the Sunset Park Chinatown too inconvenient since you sold your car? Not to worry - you can now get bubble tea as close as Caton Avenue.
Green Lake (795 Flatbush (gmap)) has bubble tea, homemade (?) flavored iced teas and smoothies. I don't know how long they've been selling these things but it is new to me, so it goes on the blog. I was in a hurry, so I judged a book by its cover - the menu seems to be pretty standard Chinese take-out. If, however, it has more of an authentic-Chinese / dim sum thing going on please tell me in the comments. (Seriously. Please tell me this!) Fact that may be interesting to only me: In Googling for a restaurant link, I learned that there is a town called Brooklyn on the shore of Wisconsin's Green Lake.
 As promised, I was at Meytex Cafe (545 Flatbush Ave.(gmap)) this morning to watch Ghana take on Australia in their second game of the World Cup. While the crowd was a little light at kick-off (10AM on a Saturday, so I understand...), by 10 minutes in the place was buzzing. Sadly, the Australians scored first after Ghana's goalie fumbled a rebound of a free kick right onto the foot of an onrushing Aussie who put it home. Temporarily deflated, the crowd came alive shortly thereafter when a point-blank shot for Ghana was only kept out of the goal by the arm of an Aussie defender, leading to both a penalty kick and the ejection of the Australian. Asamoah Gyan slotted in the tying goal and the crowd went crazy (see below; a bad photo by a horrible photographer).  Unfortunately, despite having over an hour of play with an extra man on the field, Ghana was unable to score the go-ahead goal. In truth, their play didn't warrant an extra goal. Instead of trying to put together a patient attack, any player with an open look from 30 meters away took it, rarely even getting the ball on net. It seemed that every player wanted to be the hero but nobody wanted to be the guy who passed the ball to the hero. To advance to the next round, Ghana will need a tie against a talented and desperate German squad or, failing that, a one-goal loss and a tie by Serbia.
 Still, it was great to watch with a crowd so invested in the result. I was invested too - choosing to support my neighbors - and even made the impulse purchase of a Ghana team jersey (modeled here by Sidney). Unfortunately for me, Ghana's final opening round game will be on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30, when I'll be at work. If you are in the neighborhood, I'd suggest stopping in. And ordering the fried chicken with an amazing hot sauce. You won't regret either.
 After well over a year in the making, Cafe Exhale ( 591 Flatbush, between Midwood and Rutland) opened its doors last night. Our camera battery died but we managed to escape with a copy of the menu, which caters to Continental fare with a Caribbean flair. The place itself resembles an upscale bar, with dark granite flooring and elegant fixtures. Owner Paul Delapenha lived in the neighborhood for many years and still considers it a home away from home. Now that his restaurant his here it's more than that — it's his workplace. (Wheee!) We're eager to check out the restaurant; we'll report back here to let you know what we think.
 The Farmers Diner folks will be in tour Sunday to provide information on the new restaurant slotted for PLG. They'll be manning a table at 77 Midwood from noon to 5 pm to talk with locals about the restaurant and opportunities for investing in it. If you'd like to learn more about it, be sure to come by, even if you can't make it to the house tour. The Farmers Diner is a Vermont-based duo who focus on using locally grown, quality ingredients. They buy directly from local and regional farmers and emphasize organically grown edibles where possible. The Diner is currently reviewing a lease for the former spot of Mike's International (552 Flatbush Ave.), on Flatbush just south of Lincoln. If all goes according the plan, they hope to open in the fall this year.
 It's been over a year since we heard that the old City Jerk spot (at 591 Flatbush) was being converted to a new restaurant/bar, Cafe Exhale, but it looks like the place is finally about to open. The renovation looks much more high-end than what you typically see in the neighborhood, with granite floors, a wood bar and paneling, so hopefully it'll be nice. Workers say the place will serve upscale American food. We'll let you know what that means when we find out.
 The internet is a-flutter with news of the new Gino's sit-down restaurant opening. While we share the excitement of having a new offering in town, our response is more measured than others'.
Charles and I ate at the new Gino's over the weekend. Gino served us himself and was very friendly and welcoming. The food was tasty. We had the gnocchi ala vodka, the tilapia francese, and chicken with green salad. On the downside, we tried to order broccoli or broccoli rabe, Gino said he could do that but pretty much ignored the request and gave us the three things that he recommended we have, even after I said I wasn't big on gnocchi. (A commenter on Brownstoner reported eating virtually the same thing). We asked for water, and he brought us plastic bottles, which is kind of odd for a sit-down place where the dishes averaged $14. They had no child's seat, so we had to strap our toddler into his stroller. Hopefully these quibbles can be chalked up to the fact that the restaurant wasn't officially opened yet and the hitches will be worked out. The fact that the restaurant wasn't officially open wasn't clear to us when we ate there, though. The doors were wide open and we were ushered inside.
The new sit-down restaurant owned by Gino's will be opening this Thursday. As we wrote earlier, the restaurant will be right next door to Gino's takeout pizzeria, at 548 Flatbush (just south of Lincoln). It'll be nice to have another option in the nabe. Let us know what you think after it opens.
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