In 1992
My Cousin Vinny was released. I remember watching it at home for the very first
time. The acting, writing, everything is all incredible. I know that because I
can watch it over and over again and still laugh out loud without missing a
beat. It is one of my all time favorite movies and I am a tough customer.
The title
of location where I had my latest meal comes directly from my favorite movie. I
am not going to lie that was definitely apart of why I wanted to go. They had
my full attention.
For those
still in the dark, this clip will explain to you what a “yute” is. Please watch
until the end.
As a
fellow Brooklynite I don’t believe I have ever used this term but I did
understand what he meant when I saw the film. This movie MAY have exaggerated
our Brooklyn accents, love of Chinese food, and flare with fashion, but I think
it was “dead on balls” accurate. It’s the little things that make us all
unique.
So when I
came across an article on Brooklyn Based’s website advertising a sandwich shop
called 2Yutes I couldn’t resist. Since 2Yutes is located in Brooklyn as well I think
it is a perfect title for a restaurant.
2Yutes is
currently a pop up shop without a permanent location. For the time being it is
sharing kitchen space with Michael and Ping’s Chinese restaurant,
coincidentally right next door to a pie shop I adore. You might have heard of
it, Four and Twenty Blackbirds? In case you haven’t here is all you need to
know (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2013/07/for-love-of-blackbird-four-and-twenty.html).
Michael
Bruno is the man behind 2Yutes who opened Michael & Ping’s Modern Chinese
Take-Out in Gowanus six years ago. Mr. Bruno is an Italian-American who grew up
in Brooklyn and 2Yutes is a venture much closer to his upbringing as opposed to
his Chinese food eatery that makes classic dishes with local ingredients.
Mr. Bruno
said about 2Yutes: “It’s all what I grew up eating in Bensonhurst–at places
like John’s Deli and Lioni’s. There’s no great sandwich shop in this
neighborhood, so I decided to give it a try.”
At 2
Yutes (an earlier partner left, so it’s just this one yute running things now),
“Bruno brings in fresh mozzarella and other cheeses from Lioni’s in
Bensonhurst, plus ciabatta from Mazzola Bakery in Carroll Gardens.”
He
continued: “I’m in my 30s now, so I was looking to use these great ingredients
but in something a little lighter, not 80% bread, and not quite so filling like
some of these deli sandwiches.”
I choice
the rice balls for my appetizer. I am obsessed with rice balls and have eaten
them any time I am eating from a restaurant that makes them. Therefore I have
had my fare share and probably yours too. When I read about this place the rice
balls were described as an old family recipe to which no outsiders know the
secret ingredients. “Growing up, my friends would always go crazy for these, so
I told my mom we had to have them here”. That made them even more tempting.
The three
rice balls and marinara sauce placed before me looked delicious. I wasted no
time cutting into them. I was immediately overpowered by the taste of pepper.
After several more bites it tasted like red pepper flakes were ingrained into
them. It was way too much for me. I continued on eating them because I enjoyed
the texture and crunch, but the pepper was the only real flavor I tasted. There
seemingly no cheese, which astounded me because that is typically in the
middle.
For an
entrée I choice the classic panini with fresh mozzarella, tomato, argula, and a
balsamic vinegar dressing. The bread was crunchy and probably grilled. Some
places like to use the word panini but serve a plain hero bread that is at room
temperature. A panini is a grilled sandwich that is warm when served. We were
off to a good start.
The way I
figure it you can’t go wrong with fresh mozzarella. I think it is good as a
meal by itself but with tomatoes and argula goes well too. I liked this choice
right away. I ended up taking half home because I was too full. It is my
favorite kind of problem. Just so you know I reheated it today and it was still
as delicious as it was the first time.
Since
there are two restaurants (maybe this could be the new meaning behind “2” Yutes
now) operating out of one location both kinds of food are constantly being
made. Therefore if you are in the mood for Chinese (another My Cousin Vinny
quality) or your cohort is, as mine was, you are in luck. The food looked good
and apparently was delicious. You could tell the difference between these
dishes and those traditionally found at a standard Chinese restaurant.
It
appears my first experience at a pop up shop was a swinging success. I hope
2Yutes is around for the long haul and can expand its menu. I would be curious
to see what that would include.
I hope
this 1Yute can maintain his winning restaurant streak.
After all
if “can’t win a case by yourself, your fucking useless”.
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