Red Hook Ball Fields
Categories: Latin American, Food Stands [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Red HookClinton St & Bay St
Brooklyn, NY 11231
- Nearest Transit:
Smith-9th Sts (F, G)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
82 Reviews for Red Hook Ball Fields
Yes, the vendors are back, kind of confusion in early morning and luck of organization. It seems as if vendors were very unconfortable in this trucks and I do'nt blame them, It is a new way of working and they need to adjust to this new form of working. the park has lost its traditions the clients no longer talk to vendors, they can hardly hear us with all those generators polluting our air, burning gas and diesel all day, but I guess this is what the Department of health wanted. I started my day with a Loroco pupusa it was great and it was worth waiting, than I bought a Ceviche all in line with the aphrodisiac theme, both contain the same power and finally I bought a corn tamal.
I want to make clear to every one, vendors get to the park at 10:00 am food is not ready until 10:30 or 11:00 so, do not get there too early.
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In a word, overrated.
Look, I'm all for supporting local businesses. I hate the fact that the man is making the vendors pay through the nose to set up shop. I love the fact that it's a very "Brooklyn" experience and what not.
However, the tacos just aren't that great.
I know I'm new here, and I haven't posted a ton (yet) but I was just disappointed with the quality of the tacos. The meat tasted pre-cooked. The tortillas too. I had a hurrache, and I know that its shell was pre-cooked, as well as the chorizo. The tortilla tasted especially dry, and half disintigrated when I tried to pick it up.
Some of the other vendors were alright. The ceviche was decent. I didn't have a chance to stand in the line for an elote, but it looked good as well.
I'm happy I went out to support the cause. I hope that they stay in business for a long time. However, if I want a good taco, I'll go elsewhere.
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I will start by saying that I've never encountered such a disorganized and nasty bunch of ladies in my life.
When trying to get the vendors' attention, I was met with either nothing or "what do you want??", annoyance prevailing in their voices.
Now, I understand that for many people this is all part of the charm of the Red Hook Ball Field Food Court, but I for one am not impressed.
My friend and I began with huaraches, vegetable and pork-filled, and though mine was delicious it completely fell apart as I ate it at one of the park benches.
Moving on, tamarind juice was pleasantly sweet and sour, but mango with "everything" (chile, salt, and lime juice), had very little kick to it.
It was at this vendor that it seemed the woman working did everything in her power to ignore me as I stood before her.
In trying to get food from the ceviche and tamale stalls, we were again met with bored attitudes; the fact that the vendors are said to open at 10AM, and most weren't opened until noon, also annoyed me greatly.
However, the papusa cart had me clenching my teeth the most. For the first hour of opening, the main woman running the cart had nothing but nastiness for her customers, saying that nothing was ready. In trying to pleasantly ask a question of her fellow workers, one of the male workers stopped me before I could get a word in, asking what I wanted in nasty tone. "Nothing at all, good sir."
When the pupusa cart finally opened, a crowd rather than a line formed, and no matter how many times I mentioned my loroco flower with cheese order, I was asked an equal amount of times, "You have meat and cheese, right?" Lack of forks or other utensils only made the disorganization more infuriating until, half an hour later, I had my damn papusa.
Though full by the end of the experience, I found it all to be completely not worth it. Not dealing well with the crowds has something else to do with it, yes, but I will not return.
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IT'S BACK ON!!! My first time there was today. The food was awesome! I understand the disappointment everyone had about it being shut down for so long.
There weren't that many stands though, maybe 6 only but each had something different. Had the huarache and quesadilla's ($6 each) which were amazing. Carne Asada seasoned well, so frickin tasty. Spicy pork delicious.
Really authentic, inexpensive, huge portions, nostalgic from my trip to Oaxaca. I love street food and here they have food from all over Latin America. Well worth the trip. Check em out here: http://www.myspace.com.... There was even a guy sleeping on a box next to the quesadilla stand...next time that guy will be me.
A counter pic to Lynn F's review
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
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It was closed.
I was pissed.
See this pic: http://static.px.yelp....
~*~
Edit: In case you didn't notice the first time, it's "comming soon." Teehee.
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Not yet open - maybe July 12th or 19th. See email below.
Dear friends:
Thank you once again for all your support, and inquires about our affairs. As We've promised in previous reply to keep you inform of any changes regarding our affair in Red Hook Park, once again we had some minor technical issue with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and push us back for an other week or two.
We are hoping they will work with us and return by July 12, the latest July 19. at Red Hook Park. We well post it once we have a definite opening date on our web http://www.myspace.com... or feel free to contact us and we we'll gladly reply as soon as we can.
Thanks for your support.
RH Vendors
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I'm very happy the vendors are back and get to enjoy their delicasies. Its kind of weird to see them inside this big trucks. I feel so bad for all this vendors because this weekend was so hot and them being inside those trucks must have been like being in hell and despite that they had a big smile and were very pleasant to their customers. The atmosphere is completely different from last year but their food has remain as delicious as ever. I been a customer of redhook for quite some time and it annoys me that there are some people that don't give credit for the work this hardworking people do and all they say are negative things. I've tried all the food there but my favorite ones are the pupusas with the pink cabbage and the shrimp ceviche. all this time this working people have always been pleasant to me. Lets not forget that their english is limited for some of them and their words may not come out the way they want so lets give them credit for their hard work. If some don't want to come back I can promise you that I'll be there the rest of the summer enjoying their food.
joseph
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Dear Papusa, Since I've become absurdly antisocial, I haven't been in the mood to wait on long lines because they make me feel like bludgeoning myself or another with a hammer. Hence, I've stopped coming to order you, but you are still in my dreams, and I look forward to a day when i can pop a klonopin and stand to wait for you again. When that time comes, you must be on the crisp side, or I will freak out completely. Love, Weird Woman with a Slightly Weak Chin
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tried to visit Sun afternoon 6/1/08
Had quite an excursion trying to get there, stopped to ask several people for directions, strolled through "the projects," over the meadows and through the woods, and when we finally got there - nothing. Some park service guy told us they were supposed to start up this weekend, but looked like it would be next weekend after all. Such a disappointment.
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My question is what to do in the winter? I pine for delicious empanadas, horchata, and elote. I might venture out to Sunset Park just to get anything that might come close to reviving the memory of the Red Hook Ball Fields. If they don't open again this summer, I'm staging my own personal protest.
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Fantastic. Haven't been yet this year. But I'm so glad to see it's up and running. The food is delicious and abundant, the people who make it are kind and the people who eat it are happy. Nice community. Ride your bike here.
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So here's the latest info on Opening Day for Red Hook Ball Fields 2008. Still haven't found a solid date for the beginning of the season anywhere on the innaweb, except for:
"...opening day will likely be pushed to early June instead of late April."
http://www.nydailynews...
Red hook ball fields: you are crack. I am Tyrone Biggums. Instead of white powder all over my mouth, its dried salsa roja.
Open all ready. GOSH.
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Sometimes, you forget about the bigger picture in life. After all, we have billionaires that we are trying to compete with for dinner reservations (okay, who am I kidding? They don't need reservations). We have models serving us food/drinks at the in-spots reminding us that we just don't genetically have that kind of cheekbone structure. We gaze in envy at people wearing the newest Marc Jacobs coat or wide leg pants. And it just makes you forget what's really important in life (dinner reservations of course).
The ball fields bring everything back in perspective. This is a little park in the middle of Red Hook where South American families (and all of us who have found out about this place) come on the weekends when it's warm enough for them to spend the day outside. These are families who enjoy their lives and their weekends. They pack up their families into big vans, drive to Red Hook and the moms spend their days selling food while the dads play football. Kids are allowed to run around and get dirty and at the end of the day, everyone's enjoyed themselves. Including yours truly.
Music is blasting onto the football field. The food smell is intoxicating. There are fruits that perplex the mind. The variety of foods available is dizzying in its arrays and flavors. Even the most disciplined person will end up overeating. And happiness is in the air..
I can't even begin to comment on the food b/c there is just so much that I haven't been exposed to. After all, what makes a pupusa made from the peruvian stand different from the one from the columbian one? What makes it better or less so? The names of the dishes themselves were something I'd never seen in any of the restaurants I'd been to. How was I to prepare for something like this??? The smells, the noise, the lines all assault you and leave you feeling completely unable to decide what you should have.
And then you take your plates of food and sit on the grass (don't wear your Marc Jacob look-alike pants), listening to the music, watching the football match and smiling as though you'd just scored reservations at that restaurant you've been dying to try. And in that minute, you forget everything else..
Oh, except the fact that there's still the sweet corn and the strawberries with fresh yogurt (best yogurt in the NYC area) to try. You've also spied someone's else plate and that just looks so good. And before you know it, you find yourself right back in line trying to figure out what to order next..
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Oh God oh God oh God, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!!!!!!
I would direct Hieronymus Bosch to Red Hook Ballfields.
This is where the seven deadly sins live in my book. Luxuria (extravagance, later lust), Gula (gluttony), Avaritia (greed), Acedia (sloth), Ira (wrath, later anger), Invidia (envy), and Superbia (pride).
I could LIVE here. I could eat at every single stand, have a vomitorium built, and come back for more. The food is fried, red meat, not organic, there are a million reasons why I should not be here, I should not be eating this, I should go home NOW and have a salad.
But that's not going to happen.
Me and my friends would sneak away and drink ginger infused vodka under a tree, and be sluggish...smug that we were getting away with alcohol in a water bottle.
We watch a couple of soccer players get into a fistfight.
One of the soccer players, Dante and I sneak away and makeout behind a tree.
I drive off with my friend in his car, and I see people who wish they had wheels to get back to Manhattan as it's a far trip via subway.
I will do it again next year, and bring more people. bwahahahhahahaha!!!!!!!
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For weeks I tried to lure friends out to Brooklyn to come with me to the famous Red Hook Ballfields...no luck. Finally I decided to go on my own to see what the fuss was about- it was totally worth it. You can eat like a king for under $10. Pupusas, mango w/ chili and lime, huaraches, corn, even ceviche! I cant attest to the ceviche because I've been too afraid to try it, but from what I've read and seen, people love it. Now I bring others and introduce them to the wonder that is the rhbf :)
This place gets super crowded so be prepared to wait in line for your slice of heaven. Also, please realize that many of the vendors don't speak English (or dont speak it well), so bust out your high school Spanish... Go with an open mind and an empty stomach and you will not be disappointed!
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Unfortunately, I have never had the pleasure of visiting the Red Hook Ball Fields, but from what I've heard and read it is an amazing mix of soccer and authentic Latin American cuisine. It was much to my dismay when I heard rumors last fall that the vendors might not be coming back after the 2007 season wrapped up. I'm sure many others shared my sentiments. In fact, I felt pretty terrible for never making the time to trek out to red hook and try it out.
Well now, myself and others like me will have a second chance as the Parks Department has granted the vendors a six year permit to operate on the grounds! With daylight savings already behind us and spring just around the corner I can't wait until I'm chowing down on an overflowing huarache and washing it down with some aguas frescas.
Just thinking about all that food and drink is worth 5 stars...
Red Hook Ball Fields
May Through October
Saturday and Sundays only
12PM to 5PM
The news came via Eater: http://eater.com/archi...
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Cheap, cheap, cheap - AND you're eating al fresco...
Nothing says the start of summer like the return of the Ball Field vendors - they will return for 2008, won't they?
Go for the papusas, empanadas, YES, even the fresh seviche/escabeche - no one I know has gotten sick yet. The food is good and filling, but it's the energy of the place that keeps most non-Latin-soccer-playing folks coming back.
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down and dirty real spanish food! i always try to come here at least twice every summer with a group of foodie friends during a nice sunny day as it is an outdoor place! great place to absorb in the local culture and music!
buy the following:
raw mango with chili sauce
corn on a stick with cheese/ chili/butter
pupusas (very thick in carbs)
the yuka stuff is good but the fried pork things are a lil on the dry hard to chew side
- sweet horchata rice drinks!
- these huge burrito or fajita type things are the best with oil dripping out be careful it doesn't drip onto ur clothes!
word of advice whichever line is the longest... go stand in that line to order that specialty... each vendor specializes in something diff so u always have plenty of choices!
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I am so full. I just got home from the Red Hook Ball Fields. I knew there was a Yelp thing there today, but I heard from Ro Ro that it was better to get there before 1 pm.
I arrived there with my friends Rob, Amanda and baby Mina around 1:15 and it wasn't too crowded. The weather was unusually good as we lurked around the dozen or so food booths from Central and South America.
There was a much longer line in front of one of the Pupusa stands than the rest. I took this as a good sign and queued up while Rob went to scope out some shade for Mina and Amanda went to seek out other food.
Amanda brought me a Pork Taco while I waited in line. The taco was the best I ever had on the east coast and rivaled those of Mexico, LA and San Francisco. While in line I saw and called out to Yelpers Ro Ro and Theresa X. They got in line for pupusas as well.
After being on the Pupusa line for 25 minutes I finally made it to the front. I had ordered 3 Meat and Cheese, 3 Jalapeno and cheese and 1 Loroco Flower and Cheese Pupusas. The nice lady at the grills helm kept asking me what I ordered, but never seemed to quite remember. Finally I got our Pupusas and went to sit down with my friends and eat.
The pupusas where wonderful. I never had them before, but I assume that they couldn't get much better than these. They are like a corn pancake stuffed with cheese and meat, or other ingredients. I tried the Plantainos with sour cream. They too were delectable, but I think I felt an artery clog as I chewed.
Then there was corn. Ro Ro and I went back and waited together in line for 15 minutes and we got corn with lime, paprika and cheese for everyone. This crazy concoction was also delicious.
One more walk around the stands bore three Chicken Tacitos. These are chicken rolled in corn tortillas and deep fried, then smothered in hot sauce and raw onions. My least favorite of the day, but still amazing. Ro Ro and Theresa left and I went back over to Rob and Amanda and we watched what seemed to be a semi-pro soccer match.
Though little Mina couldn't try the pupusas, she laid on the grass smiling up. It was a good day.
UPDATE: I brought home two pupusas, a corn and a tacito and heated them up in my convection oven (yeah, I got a convection oven, bitch). They were still absolutely delicious. Now, very sleepy.
_____
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I'm gonna miss this place!
(So what's the deal - is it closed for good? Fill me in please! )
I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't expect to be THAT good, and the price - WOW! 2 people were stuffed from head to toe for $15.00, still got enough leftover for the doggies! We stayed there for 2 hours and spent half of the time waiting on line, but it was totally worth it!
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words cannot describe how jazzed i was to hear that the ball field vendors are going to be permitted to stick around for the next few years.
tacos! empandas! fresh amazing juices! there is so much good food at the ball fields its an absolute invitation to gluttony; i walk in and start pointing at everything i see. granted, i dont know the names or ingredients of the stuff i start greedily shoving in my mouth, but it is all delicious and the vendors are always smiling. everything is so inexpensive, just get 2 of all of it....you wont regret doing so. the food is amazing, the crowds are generally so warm and stuffed full of latin american goodness that they are mellow, plus theres a soccer game to watch! such good food, such good summer wonderfulness.
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When I first learned of RHBF - I was super duper excited, since I am from Texas and I miss authentic Mexican food.
I told T that I really wanted to go and so we finally made it out on their last day.
We first tried the huarache with pork and chorizo - it was eff-in good. It was so big that after T and I shared it, I was pretty stuffed.
T wanted some PUPUSAS -I didn't get anything since I need a break between the huarache. As we were standing in line, I heard someone called out "Ro!" I was like who is calling me?
I looked over to the other Pupusa line and saw some white dude wearing sunglasses and had beard. Still confused...I am not going to say anything unless I am for sure this guy is really calling me.
Well it ended up being Michael D. and so we headed over to where he was waiting for his Pupusa. We decided to get the Pupusa there, since they had a longer line.
As I was waiting in line this guy who has been coming to RHBF for years was telling me about the vendors and the food. I ended up asking him what is COLA CHAMPAGNE. He said it has a little bit of alcohol. He spoke to the vendor about it and the vendor was like there's NO alcohol. He's like NO, there is! Because each time I drink it I get dizzy and crazy.
I was like okay I am down to try this COLA CHAMPAGNE because I want to feel crazy too!
T got some kind of cheese with meat Pupusa and with sweet Plantain topped with sour cream.
We headed over to join Michael, Amanda, Rob, and Mina in the shade. I passed on sitting on the grass....sorry, I love nature but I don't want to be that close to it.
So I ended raiding the table of these Mexican fellas, who were kind enough to let us sit there. I told Michael and them to come over too since that's just stupid to sit on the grass if there's a good table there.
I was eager to try this COLA CHAMPAGNE!
WHY THAT DUDE LIE TO ME? I wasn't looking for alcohol but that crap was nasty. It was soooooooooo sugary sweet --- no wonder it made him crazy and dizzy.
I took a bite of T's Pupusas - it was good, but too much corn layering on the outside that I just couldn't bare to eat another bite of Pupusa.
T wanted a Coke so I ended up going with Michael to get his GRILLED CORN and I ended up getting two for T and I.
Me Loves the GRILLED CORN ---- totally better than Cafe Habana!
The line was ridiculous for this grilled corn!
I was pretty disappointed that I didn't get to try the ceviche since they were totally sold out by the time I found the vendor.
This is me ------ = * (
Darn! This is was the thing that I wanted to try out of all the things there and yet I was taking my damn time eating me corn.
THEY WERE SOLD OUT!!!!
So T ended up getting some taquitos to go to take back to her man. Since we were getting ready to leave, we decided to get some drinks. She got the Lime drink --- way too sweet! HELLO!!!! What do you expect from something that was NEON GREEN!
I ended up fighting my skepticism (Since I totally was disappointed from LA ESQUINA'S horchata) and decided to go for the horchata drink.
It was perfect, just like what I am used to back in Texas.
I also got the chili mango since me love mangoes!!!!!
I am super duper happy that I went since it reminds of my hometown!!!!!
Glad T and I got to experience it and so glad that we all went there early before everyone else. (Even though it would have been better if Michael and I got our ceviche.)
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I've actually gone to Red Hook only once, and it was my first trip ever to Brooklyn... That was 6 months ago, and I still can't forget the memorable experience. After having read the raving reviews from fellow yelpers, I am reminiscing... and I can't stop... so I decided to write my review and get it out of my system.
That day was a cold, rainy day in May and I was quite reluctant but my roommate pushed me to go. And so we walked about 25min from the station, and got to the ball fields.
It was probably one of the best experiences I had with Latin food. I am not a huge fan of Mexican food, but I found out the Mexican I had been eating was not real Mexican. The Quesadilla I had was fresh with tomatoes and lettuce and delicious guac. I chowed down on a large one in no time.
We also shared a bunch of things, feel so bad that I don't remember the names... I do remember that the cevice that looked sooo good was sold out.
I also had, for the first time in my life, a horchata, as well as mango with chili on it... those were my two pleasant surprises. I now order horchata at my local mexican joint and people look at me, since they don't assume that an Asian girl will know what a horchata is!
I would come back here without question... but what is this rumor that this place is going to be shut down??? I sure hope to be back springtime next year!
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This place should exist on principle. The lines were long and well worth the wait. The subway was screwed up that day but every minute on the train was worth it. The walk worked up an extra appetite for something extra special.
And there it was: papusas made in front of your very eyes; Limeonade squeezed fresh; corn on the cob grilled in front of your very eyes; meats and veggies and fruits OH MY!!! What a wonderful place to spend the day!
Here's to next year and many more to come!!
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If you're a fan of latin-american street food, there's no place you'd rather be on a summer weekend in NYC. It gets pretty crowded, and I wish I could say I remember when it was just locals and not filled with people from outside brooklyn, but I can't, because I've only been there once, and I'm not even from Brooklyn.
Also, a cool place to see a pair of drunks try to fight, but have all their friends pull them back. Tons of soccer games going on too. Quite dramatic, and the scene goes well with the food. Enjoy!
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I kept putting it off last year - over and over again. The incentives didn't work - "We can go to Baked afterwards..." Nope. I'm too lazy. Another day maybe...
And then it happened! They might shut down the stalls! No more authentic Latin food - your favorite!
This lit the fire to finally haul ass down there - special thanks to my fellow Yelpers for helping to plan specific dates.
The first time, I was starving and walking into the park with all the sights and sounds completely filled me up. I had a meat and cheese pupusa, a sweet relleno and a tamarind drink and was way beyond stuffed.
The pupusas were delicious and although not as crispy as I was hoping, they had a wonderful flavor and received a nice shot of oomph with the accompanying cabbage salad/slaw.
The sweet relleno made with maduros and a sweet milk filling that reminded me of thick, light-colored pastry cream was good. Unfortunately, at that point, I was just much too full. I had a couple of bites and forced the next few down.
The next trip was dedicated to the huarache. I had to order that since I didn't get to the first time. I stood patiently in line for one, but I think I was on the wrong line. There are two huarache stalls and I have to admit that the ones coming from the other stall looked better.
Don't get me wrong - my huarache was still good, but the other ones? They just LOOKED even better.
I nibbled off of Jessica's chiccaron plate and that was yummy. The horchata drink was good, but I forgot that what I really wanted to try was the maranon. Steve was good enough to give me a taste and it was amazing. Not what I was expecting at all, but oh so good!
The season is supposed to end on the 21st, and if I know what's good for me, I will try and hit them up again before it's gone forever.
RHBF - I LOVE YOU!
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Mami, yours is better. Te lo juro. I swear it!
Caray, que montonazo de comida!!!! I think I ate myself silly today. I went straight for the Guatemalan and Salvadoran stands. I guess I lucked out, because the lines were not too long, even though this was the "city is not closing us down yet" celebration. I had quite possibly the best tamal I've ever had in my life, an excellent pupusa, chorizo, yuca and platano with cream. Delectable! And special thanks to Jessica for the water.....
It also did my heart good to see that there is a bigger Guatemalan community in NYC than I thought, and a surprising amount of Garifuna (descendants of black slaves who live mostly on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala). Guatemalan flags all over the place. Great to see. September 15th is Guatemalan independence day and is for most of Central America. Yup, I had forgotten. Shame on me.
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I am not sure how new you all are to Red Hook, but this was an every Saturday tradition before the restaurants were forced into the park.
Since before I was born, my parents their friends practically lived here and often played soccer for teams here. Here I learned to hone my skills, eat street meat, play in dirt, piss on trees, and maybe other proficiences that lasted with me 'til this day (I've since given up on the pissing on trees thing).
As for the food, there were really only one or two trucks back then (currently, the Colombian table is run by the owners of said truck). Here is where my cheap dad would load us up on food, then buy us one soda to share for all our hard work (we didn't know the difference back then and he now says we should have thanked him because none of us are fat LOL).
About two months ago, I came by Red Hook to see what all the new buzz was about. I was totally impressed. Sure, it looks like shit (as usual), sure it's probably not the cleanest place on Earth, sure they allowed you other mongrels from other countries to represent the rest of South America, but for sure the food is still as good as it ever was.
I was also surprised to find out that the city spent some money making the parks there look a little better. The city pool is no longer a good place to get stabbed either (I've gotten close to getting my ass kicked in there many times by project kids).
So, I'll leave you guys with this:
1 - Us colombians really do make better food;
2 - Using a dirty paper plate to write signs on tables really works;
3 - Soccer needs to be bigger in the United States;
4 - Peeing on trees sucks for all parties concerned;
5 - The grey factory that is viewable from the BQE is not haunted, though we all believed that it was when we grew up;
and finally, to those residents and corporations who wish to take away my old memories and the new memories of those fresh to Red Hook... they will surely find my size 12 shoe (along with the shoes of those in my network) up their fucking hating, greedy asses.
If anyone knows where we can petition against this (provided that the rumours are true), then please let me know.
Now serving: Corporate shit stains on the tip of my feet. Enjoy!
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This incredible place is Latin food Heaven! Probably the best Latin (and especially Mexican) food I've ever had. I was disappointed that they didn't have my "Nachos Bel Grande" and when I asked for a "Double-Decker Taco - SUPREME!" the guy looked at me like I was out of my mind, but still, no reason to delete a star (j/k, folks!).
Seriously though, all the stalls had stuff that looked fantastic, but I just HAD to have an huarache from the Hernandez stall. God, was this unbelievably good! A giant 12" fresh tortilla with cheese, carne enchilada, lettuce, pico de gallo, crema and a sprinkling of grated hard cheese. They let it sit on the grill with the meat and cheese melting together in it before they dress it with the rest of the stuff. After they give it to you, you can further dress it yourself with guac, spicy red and/or green salsas, jalapenos, radishes and these Mexican weed looking herb things called papalo (I highly recommend). Six very well spent bucks. This thing was so gigantic and I absolutely devoured it. I'm glad no one I knew was around to watch me make such a pig of myself over it. After that, my gut was sticking out like I'd just swallowed a basketball but I was thirsty, so........
The aguas frescas at the Vaqueros' stand were looking pretty darned good. I had this great hibiscus drink called jamaica (pronounced hah-MY-kah). Jeeze this drink made from flowers blew my mind and really quenched my thirst. Later I returned for a tasty limeade. They'll give you a generous sample before you order too.
When Josie C and Nina C (no relation) showed up, even though I was still stuffed from the giant huarache, we were all craving Salvadoran pupusas from the Lainez stall. The wait on line was about 20 minutes, but well worth it. I got one pork and one cheese with loroco flower. The pork was great and the loroco reminded me of a more fragrant version of broccoli rabe. These pupusas were excellent and as Josie, our expert resident Salvadoran declared, refreshingly un-greasy like most "made in the USA" pupusas tend to be.
I wanted a Guatemalan tamal from the Carillo stall but by then I was so stuffed I could neither sample a bite of Nina's Guatemalan relleno de platano nor any of the cupcakes she so generously baked for all of us.
Well, there's always next weekend to sample what I didn't have room for, and I WILL be back every weekend after this terrific experience! The huarache will always be on my agenda too. I might drive though as a subway trip is an hour each way (but time well spent!) from where I live near Lincoln Center and it looked like there was ample free parking down there.
I just hope that with the way the Parks Department is jerking these poor vendors around that there will be a RHBF to return to :-(
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Impossible not to eat everything but most can't b/c the gods have not made our stomach big enough for this task, in my case luckily I got to sample from other cheapass eaters. Here are the list of thing I got to sample:
Pupusas($3-$4) - Meat and cheese filling comes with condiments include pink-stained pickled cabbage it was very crunchy and cool. Went great with the oily/starchy consistency of the pupusa. There was also a white sauce and red chili sauce that you could ladle.
Huarache ($5 super CHEAP!)- This dish was the size of Vi's dog, as you can see in the picture, poor ChiChi was sort of put of by it but it was gooood. On flour tortilla (hand made) was a spread of beans, Mexican cheese, lettuces, and choice of meat, with a splash of limejuice (salsa optional). WOW so good and so big, most people had to share it, lucky I was there to help.
Ceviche ($7-$8) - Mixo comes with shrimp, octopus, big chunks of white fish all mixed with limejuice, cilantro, onion, jalapeos, and tomatoes this is to die for.
Fruits ($2)- mangoes or mixed for a bag of fruit comes with limejuice and chili powder this is optional.
RANTS & RAVES:
GO before the season is over I think the city extended it till the end of October, and nobody know if the vendors will be able to come back next year.
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Since moving here a year ago from SF, I always say: NY is better in every way, except rent and Mexican food. While the rent thing holds true, and Mexican food is certainly more plentiful in Cali, the Latin flavors of the Red Hook Ball Fields are better than any taco truck action I have ever had.
Everything about Red Hook Ball Fields makes you feel that you have stumbled upon a magic thing. Red Hook, not accessible by subway, is cool to begin with, add hundreds of men playing soccer, and Mexican, Ecuadorian, Guatemalan, and Salvadorian families slinging papusas, ceviche, tacos, quesadillas...Its pretty amazing.
Go on a nice day, deal with the crowds, eat up, drink a horchata, lay on the grass watching the games, wait half an hour until you can eat again-then do it all again. The city is on track to ruining it, so you should get on i now before it has pesky things like health codes. (am i siding with free enterprise here? sick.)
As Manhattan turns into a massive Starbucks, immigrant communities continue to invent and re-invent every other nook of this city. Go the Red Hook, enjoy the cultural shift and eat yourself silly!
Y'all: NY is the dope-est.
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Best place in New York to eat yourself into a stupor for less than $10.
On a recent trip to San Francisco, we did this Mission District "progressive", hopping from taqueria to pupuseria to the next taqueria until we could no longer walk. Red Hook Ball Fields is the answer for those New Yorkers looking to pull of this unhealthy yet supremely satisfying endeavor locally. AND there are spectator sports, AND there's less walking to do from one vendor to the next!
Notes on my blissful Brooklyn experience.
- We started at the pupusa stand with the huge blue banner. Meat & cheese was excellent. Loroco flower was so hot it melted through the plastic plate it was served on -- and a little bland.
- Bright green limon agua fresca -- the acidity of this stuff cuts through the greasy food you're eating better than any of the other juices.
- Elotes - grilled cob of corn slathered with mayo, coated with crumbly cheese, dashed with chili powder, and spritzed with the juice of a freshly squeezed lime. So noshworthy. Bring your floss.
- Chili mango - fresh-cut mango in a plastic baggie with salt, lime juice, chili pepper. Don't ask questions. Just do it. (And judge appropriately the amount of chili pepper you can take; they aren't stingy with it.)
Come back, RHBF! I miss you already!!
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The soccer field in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood has been the summer home to some of NYC's best Latin food vendors for many years. It started with a families bringing food to watch the soccer ligas play and blossomed into a summer weekend food fest with 10+ family-run vendors. From May-October you can find tacos, papusas, ceviche, horchata, tamales, elote, plantains -- whew, okay, there are just too many goodies to list, so you must just get yourself here to see, smell and eat for yourself.
My favorite food is, hands down, the gargantuan hauraches from the Hernandez tent (it'll be the second tent to your left when entering the field, very likely with a heck of a line - but don't worry, the line moves quickly). For just $5 you can get a large oblong grilled tortilla topped with amazingly juicy steak, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheese and a generous squeeze of lime. Because one plate is just too small, it's handed to you on two paper plates and you can then top it with your choice of a spicy tomatillo or chipotle salsa or guacamole. Before sitting down, be sure to pick up two things to help with the spice: some fresh crunchy whole radishes, and a refreshing cup of horchata ($2). The hauraches are too big for me, I've got to share these.
There are benches and some tables and chairs, but many bring blankets to the field to eat and watch the soccer match.
The soccer fields are a short walk from the Smith-9th Sts. stations on the F and G lines. From the station, simply walk two blocks west to Clinton, then a few blocks south to Bay St. Lunch for two can easily be had for $10 - $15.
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I got there this morning, just after 11 am. After doing some research, I knew what I wanted to order: not the cheese & beef or chicken but flavors I've never had.
By going early you find a much relaxed atmosphere. I sat down for the ceviche mixto (chilled seafood soup with cilantro and lime) and chatted with an Ecuadoran couple. One was having the tuna soup, and the other seafood and fried rice. They told me that Peruvian cuisine was similar but a littler spicier. I mention this to contrast how the scene changes once the onslaught of tourists begin.
This was when I moved to the Salvadoran stand where I ordered the pupusas with loroco (aphrodisiac properties their sign says) and one with zucchini (calabasas), both with cheese. I also ordered a maranon (cashew fruit) drink. A guy from the group behind me, starting pushing, finally asking "Did you order yet!" He didn't realize that this wasn't a food truck in Manhattan with things that are partially precooked. You just have to wait. Later, it gets even worse with people who don't know what they want, but want it in a hurry after waiting in a long line in the summer sun. The people preparing the food at this time are busy and can't explain the menu. Better to come earlier.
My suggestion is that if you're going with a group send people to different stands to get food and drinks and then go to the west side of the ball fields, where you can lay down a blanket under the trees and eat and enjoy your food casually.
(I added a photo of the Salvadoran menu so that you can get an idea ahead of time.)
When you're sitting at the tables with the hot sun beating down your back, the tendency is to squint and wolf down your food.
This is not much of a review, just suggestions. The food is great and inexpensive but a little preparation will make it even better.
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