Cornbread Farm to Soul
Cornbread Holdings, with casual soul food restaurants in Maplewood, N.J., and Newark and soon in Jersey City and Montclair, N.J., has added Brooklyn to its portfolio. Fried or baked chicken, turkey wings, mac and cheese, collard greens, fried whiting, catfish, peach cobbler and the signature cornbread are on the menu. The chain was founded in 2017 by Adenah Bayoh, from Liberia, and Elzadie Smith, a Georgia native. It receives support from the New Voices Fund, a growth capital fund run by Richelieu Dennis, the owner of Essence Ventures. Cornbread Holdings also makes efforts to employ people who were formerly incarcerated.
409 Eastern Parkway (Bedford Avenue), Crown Heights, Brooklyn, 718-493-0010, cornbreadsoul.com.
Paper Planes
Mariia and Ricky Dolinsky, the owners of Tzarevna on the Lower East Side, have tucked this new speakeasy-style cocktail spot into the garden area behind their restaurant. Mr. Dolinsky mixes creative cocktails along with interpretations of classics like the aviation, boulevardier and a Moscow mule. Plates of bar bites like charcuterie and cheeses are served. (Wednesday)
154 Orchard Street (Stanton Street), 917-388-2814, paperplanes.nyc.
Shoo Loong Kan
This hot-pot chain based in Chengdu, China, in Sichuan Province, has more than 1,000 restaurants across the globe and four in the United States. Now, it has landed in the Tangram complex in Flushing, Queens. Most of the food is portioned for communal dining, and includes the hot pots served with items like pork meatballs and beef tripe, and other fare like ribs, fish and fresh aorta with bamboo. The décor is traditional, with ornate screens, red lanterns and a dragon gate.
133-33 39th Avenue, Flushing, Queens, 347-2236-9798, xiaolongkan.com/en.html.
Hanoi Dessert Shop
This summer pop-up, run out of the Soup Shop at Hanoi House, serves four Che Sundaes inspired by Hanoi’s popular layered desserts, baroque assemblies of mango and vanilla soft serve variously garnished with pineapple, coconut, ginger, fish sauce flan, pandan and lychee. There’s an option to create your own. After about four months, it will revert to takeout service for soup. (Friday)
115 St. Marks Place, 646-449-0002, hanoihousenyc.com.