While LUCKYRICE—a series of feasts, events and festivals exploring the depth and breadth of Asian food culture—has bounced from coast to coast for seven years, it hasn’t touched down in Brooklyn. Until last night, that is. Over 30 local restaurants gathered at Industry City in a show of edible diversity, dishing out Korean kimbap, Filipino adobo, Japanese donburi and more. And here are some of the most memorable, borough-based bites!
East Wind Snack Shop
We weren’t surprised that our favorite dry-aged beef potsticker spot was the first to run out of its offering; “smiling” bao with a porky grin of slow-braised, hoisin-glazed belly, topped with pickles and crunchy shallots.
Insa
Also known as Korean sushi, coils of kimbap graced the table helmed by Gowanus’ own Insa; both a veggie version (boasting egg, daikon, cucumber, scallion and watercress), as well as pigs ear tonkatsu; white rice and nori enveloping panko-breaded lobes.
Bricolage
Pigs ear was also in play at Park Slope’s modern Vietnamese Bricolage; transformed into a toothsome salad, marinated with chili, fish sauce and soy.
Okiway
In addition to proffering chips dipped in wasabi-spiked guacamole, Okiway obliged with hashimaki: an easy-to-eat variant of its signature okonomiyaki, comprised of shredded cabbage pancakes squiggled with sweet sauce and kewpie and formed around chopsticks.
Bunsmith
In an unexpected move, steamer baskets of buns were swapped out for crispy tablets of endive at Crown Heights’ bao specialist, Bunsmith, used to cradle deposits of savory braised pork jowl.
Yaso Tangbao
Since serving soup dumplings would have been a tad too ambitious for a tasting event, this terrific Downtown newcomer showcased their sauerkraut spring rolls instead; featuring fragile wrappers tucked around poached chicken, carrots, and strands of fermented cabbage.
All photos by Louise Palmberg
