FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com april 9, 2015 • BUZZ • The Quens Courier 61 dining out It’s Tartan time at The Rookery BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO [email protected] @timesnewsweekly New York City’s annual Tartan Week, a celebration of Scottish culture and heritage, is in full swing, and authentic British food with a twist can be found close to Queens at Bushwick’s The Rookery. Located at 425 Troutman St. off the Jefferson Street L train station, The Rookery was founded in 2013 by Jamie Schmitz and his wife, Shana Bellot. Schmitz had worked as a bartender in Bushwick and got to know the neighborhood very well. After years of bartending, Schmitz was inspired to open a place of his own. He relocated to Bushwick with Bellot eight years ago and the couple began their search for the perfect location. Housed in a former warehouse, the bar itself combines modern, urban elements with a cozy, rustic aesthetic. The industrial loading bay doors flood the bar with light. Soaring ceilings are accented with skylights, vintage pendant lamps and exposed bronzed metal beams. An impressive traditional high-backed oval mahogany bar is the pub’s centerpiece. The bar, created by a local Bushwickbased carpenter, features a bronzed accent wall and shelves filled with heirlooms, portraits, a taxidermy peacock and an extensive Scotch selection. The rustic booths are complimented by vintage floral block print wallpaper that was transported from the UK and carefully installed by Schmitz’s mother as a labor of love. The menu itself is a unique mix of Schmitz’s British roots with Bellot’s West Indian heritage. “What we did here came very easily. They work together very well,” Schmitz explained. The British-West Indian fusion comes through in dishes like the Oxtail Sloppy Joe ($8), Curried Goat Shepherd’s Pie ($13), Oxtail Pho ($12), Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts ($8) and Mum’s Chips, a plate of slow roasted potato wedges served with Jamaican dipping sauce and scotch bonnet mayonnaise ($5). The Rookery is also known for its traditional Scotch egg ($8) which features a soft-boiled egg wrapped in sausage and panko served on a bed of watercress and THE ROOKERY 425 Troutman St. Brooklyn, NY 11237 718-483-8048 arugula. The Scotch egg is fried until it is crispy on the outside with a runny yolk at its center. In addition to pub fare, The Rookery also boasts an impressive collection of British cocktails and beer, including Bellhaven Scottish Ale. The cocktail menu features British classics such as the Pimm’s Cup, as well as more adventurous offerings like The Blackwatch ($12), a mix of Jonnie Walker Black, Becherovka, Sweet Vermouth and Creme de Casis. The Alexander Fleming ($14), named for the Scottish biologist and inventor of penicillin, combines Johnnie Walker Red with triple Laphroaig, Drambuie, honey, ginger and lemon. The popular Highland Boy ($12) blends Cragganmore 12, Heering, Stones Ginger Wine with Ramazzotti and orange. The cocktail was named after the large painting of Schmitz’s great uncle Thomas Macrae that overlooks the bar. The portrait, painted by well-known Scottish artist and relative Thomas Austen Brown, is a family heirloom that once graced the dining room wall at Schmitz’s grandfather’s house in Durington, UK. “That ended up being what we built the bar around,” Schmitz said, “It kind of helped set the bar’s identity as well.” In honor of Tartan Week, The Rookery will feature specials on their Scotch egg, Bellhaven Scottish Ale and Scotch cocktails. “We hope to get a lot of kilted folk through here,” Schmitz said. “I’ll be going to the Tartan Parade on Saturday in my kilt for sure.” The Rookery, 425 Troutman St., between Wyckoff and St. Nicholas avenues. For more information, visit therookerybar.com or @therookerybar on Instagram. View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com Scotch eggs served at Bushwick’s The Rookery Ready Ready for for Art Art College?College? HIGH SCHOOL TO ART SCHOOL (HS2AS) is a FREE portfolio preparation HIGH SCHOOL TO ART SCHOOL (HS2AS) is a FREE portfolio preparation program program designed designed to to help help you you get get there.there. Our students have been accepted to schools such as the Our students have been accepted to schools such as the Cooper Union, Pratt, Parsons, SAIC, RISD Cooper Union, Pratt, Parsons,with over SAIC,$1.8M RISD in scholarships. with over $1.8M in scholarships. SHARE with your STUDENTS this OPPORTUNITY for ART COLLEGE preparation! SHARE with your STUDENTS this OPPORTUNITY for ART COLLEGE SPRING PROGRAM preparation!(Feb – May 2015) Intro to Portfolio Prep – High School Sophomores and Juniors: 10 Saturdays, 9am to 2pm. Art skills training, portfolio SPRING preparation,PROGRAM museum/(Feb gallery/– May studio 2015) visits, Career Info day Intro to Portfolio Prep – High with School art industry Sophomores professionals and Juniors: 10 Saturdays, 9am to 2pm. Art skills training, portfolio preparation, museum/gallery/studio visits, Career Info day with art Please submit an application at queenscouncilarts.industry professionals org/hs2as-application and schedule your interview time between 9am to 2pm. Please submit an application at queenscouncilarts.org/hs2as-application and schedule your Queens Council on the Arts interview time between 9am to 2pm. 37-11 35th Avenue, Entrance on 37th Street Queens Council on the Arts Astoria, NY 11101 37-11 35th Avenue, Entrance on 37th Street Astoria, NY 11101 For more information, email HS2AS program coordinator at [email protected]. SUMMER AND FALL PROGRAMS also available: For more information, email HS2AS program coordinator at [email protected]. SUMMER PROGRAM (July – Aug 2015) SUMMER AND FALL PROGRAMS also available: Boot Camp Session – Rising High School Juniors and Seniors SUMMER PROGRAM (July – Aug 2015) 6 Weeks, Monday – Thursday Art skills training, portfolio Boot Camp preparation,Session – college Rising High application School Juniors & financial and Seniors aid information assistance, exclusive portfolio reviews by college reps, exhibition of work 6 Weeks, Monday – Thursday FALL PROGRAM (Oct 2015 – Feb 2016) Art skills training, portfolio preparation, college application & financial aid information assistance, Seniors Intensive Session – High School Seniors only 13 Thursday evenings and 13 Saturday sessions exclusive portfolio reviews by college reps, exhibition of work FALL PROGRAM (Oct 2015 – Feb 2016) Art skills training, portfolio preparation, museum/gallery/studio visits, visiting artist workshops, college Seniors application Intensive &Session financial – High aid School information Seniors only assistance, exclusive portfolio reviews by college reps 13 Thursday evenings and 13 Saturday sessions HS2AS is a program of Queens Council on the Arts, a 501(c)3 organization to Art skills training, portfolio preparation, museum/gallery/studio visits, visiting artist workshops, college application & financial aid information assistance, exclusive portfolio reviews by college foster and develop arts and culture in Queens. Check out our website reps for application deadlines and forms at queenscouncilarts.org/hs2as-application HS2AS is a program of Queens Council on the Arts, a 501(c)3 organization to foster and develop arts and culture in Queens. Check out our website for application deadlines and forms at queenscouncilarts.org/hs2as-application In support of our City Council representative, St. Michael’s is co-sponsoring with Costa Constantinides, a School Supply Drive to raise much-needed school supplies for the less fortunate in our community. Please bring notebooks, pens, crayons, pencils, markers, etc., to the event. St. Michael’s is dedicated to the celebration of life. St. Michael’s continues to be an active participant in the lives of the citizens of New York as it has been since 1852. For further information contact Ed Horn, Director at (718) 278 3240. 72-02 Astoria Blvd. • East Elmhurst, Queens NY (off the B.Q.E.) 718.278.3240• www.stmichaelscemetery.com
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