53 Boerum

Looking for a fun and different idea for “date night?” Have an anniversary coming up? You might want to do something more creative than the usual fancy dinner out… like, actually cooking the meal yourself — along with 14 other New Yorkers!

Last night husband and I took a class called “Essentials of Tuscan Cooking” at the Institute of Culinary Education on West 23rd Street in Manhattan (OK, I know this blog is about Brooklyn but it is such a quick jaunt from 53BP on the F train, we are making an exception). The school offers an extensive selection of both professional and recreational courses.

At the beginning of class, we were given a booklet containing 12 recipes including Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Crostini with Roasted Eggplant, and Almond & Anise Biscotti (um…. YUM!!), which was the menu that our 16-person class was going to prepare that night. We were split into three “teams” and each assigned several dishes to prepare. Our cheerful instructor Michelle was there to help us along the way and answer questions when needed (I had no idea what a chive looked like). The entire cooking process took a couple of hours — when it was completed and our delectables were plated and ready to be served, the assistant instructor had already magically transformed 2 of the workstations into an elegant dining table set with white cloth tablecloths, silverware, artfully folded napkins, and bottles of wine. The class then sat down together to enjoy the fruits of our labor, the highlights being a Wild Mushroom Risotto that one of our fellow teammates prepared, and of course the Oranges with Marsala Glaze for dessert — prepared by yours truly and the husband. (One last shout-out must go to Jim from Delaware, who made the bellissimo biscotti!)

Our one-night 5-hour class was a reasonable $90/per person, which included all the ingredients, recipe booklet, instruction, dinner and wines. Take-home containers were also provided so you could enjoy some of your favorite dishes the next day. We had a blast and would highly recommend this for a fun night out for couples or a group of friends. Mangia!

Finally! Today as I walked past the painfully prime (but empty) retail space in the Court House Apartments, I had a vision! A vision of….. sneakers! Looks like the folks at New Balance have taken up shop in one of the store spaces. I stopped in to say hi and welcome to the nabe — they just opened yesterday. This is sure to inspire other retailers to start movin’ on in. Let’s offer the pioneers at New Balance our support and maybe buy some new kicks! The marathon’s only a few months away…

Husband was feeling a bit tense from work, so I decided to book him an hour at Providence Day Spa, right around the corner from 53BP on Atlantic Ave. The woman on the phone was extremely friendly and so pleasant, that by simply talking to her I was already feeling relaxed. I was excited to find out they also do prenatal massage, so I booked a half-hour session for myself!

Upon entering Providence, we were greeted with a cup of tea and an invitation to relax until our therapists were ready for us. The decor is very stylish and soothing, and it’s quite surprising how a small space can transform into an urban oasis in the middle of bustling Brooklyn! You won’t get fancy robes, slippers, or your own shower here — we deduced this was due to space constraints. But the treatment rooms are the same size as any other NYC spa, and you won’t feel any less pampered!

We also found the prices to be reasonable — husband’s one-hour massage was $90 and my 30-minute prenatal session was $50. It’s a joy to walk home in less than 5 minutes and continue the relaxation all day!