S. W’burg stop has great ethnic offerings
You might not expect to find moussaka like mom’s — layered with eggplant, zucchini, potatoes, and bechamel sauce ($6 here) — outside of the Greek-American haven of Astoria, Queens, but thanks to Alma and Fredi Nane, now you can.
The couple, both originally from Athens, run 18-month-old To Spiti entirely by themselves. Together they mix up thick Greek yogurt with figs or walnuts and tart cherries ($4), or bake walnut or almond cookies and pastries with names like hanoumaki or gianniotiko ($2). There are Greek mezze, or small dishes, like grape leaves. And you’ll find hot meals, too, like massive stuffed peppers with tomato, beef, scallion and dill ($6), roast chicken quarters with lemony potatoes, or gyro made with lamb or chicken ($6).
To Spiti means “the house,” says Alma, who adds that the name refers not just to her homestyle cooking but her relationship with her regulars, many of whom buy To Spiti food in bulk to eat for the week. “Every customer, I know,” she says. “They come in, it’s like a house here.”
To Spiti: 160 Havemeyer St., near S. Second St., Brooklyn; (917) 754-8318
The slogan of the eight-month-old BB Cha bubble tea shop is “Taste of Refreshness” — and once you visit, you’ll see the made-up noun makes for a perfect motto.
Run by Zhi Qieng Wang and Fie Fan Zheng (whose wife is responsible for BB Cha’s zen-like design), BB Cha approaches Taiwanese-style bubble teas the same way mixologists blend cocktails and baristas pour lattes.
All of the drinks here — most start with green or black teas blended with milk or fruit juice and ice, then served over chewy tapioca “pearls” — are built to order, each ingredient carefully shaken, poured or squeezed.
After you choose your beverage, like a passionfruit green tea ($3.75) or ruby grapefruit juice blended with the Japanese yogurt drink called Yakult ($5.75 with tapioca pearls), you can also select how much sugar or ice you desire in your cup from three different levels. And there are plenty of other enhancements as well, like fruit jellies, chia seeds, sweet Chinese red beans and even caramel pudding. BB Cha: 161 Havemeyer St., near S. Second St., Brooklyn; (347) 689-4819