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Friday, August 9, 2013

3 Brothers Farmingdale

As I was saying...since I am impatient couldn't wait for Jay Astafa to arrive with his delicious grub at the Karuna for Animals: Animal Rights and Vegfest, I decided to just go directly to 3 Brothers.



I'd only been to their previous location in Garden City, so this was my first visit to their new Farmingdale location.  When I approached, the restaurant and parking lot looked eerily similar to the original GC location that is no longer owned by the Astafa Family; I considered that I might have come to the wrong place.

wrong place!

It was dark when I entered, and there wasn't a soul around.  Then I realized I had to walk through to the pizzeria, where I was surprised to find only one customer and a small staff that all seemed intent on ignoring me.

still wrong!

When I finally got someone to acknowledge me, I asked for the vegan menu.  I was sort of relieved when I was told there was none.  I WAS in the wrong place- entirely.  Just a random, Long Island pizzeria named Three Brothers... in Bethpage: which is neither vegan or owned by the Astafas.

Luckily, some iPhone sleuthing revealed that the real 3 Brothers was about a mile and a half away. Check your navigation, people; don't let this happen to you: a pizza delay is no joke!  And then:

ding ding ding

Just what I was looking for:


The new space is bright and the dining room was crowded as expected.  The take-out business was bustling (mostly vegan orders were overheard!) and the pizza chef was extraordinarily friendly; I was definitely in the right place.


I somehow resisted the options that were available for immediate nosh, but take note if you're in the area and just want a slice.


Instead, I ordered a ton to-go.  How could I not?  I was surrounded by the sights and smells of extraordinary vegan pizza.


The dueling menus:


With every minute that passed I wanted to order something more.  Instead, I busied myself with a first: blogging right from the restaurant using my Blogger app.  I did have time to wait for my large order, so why not?  (note: publishing from my Blogger app inexplicably mis-ordered my post)

This is the grandma pizza: square pizza, tomato sauce, fresh basil, Daiya mozzarella, soy parmesan. I requested that it be made on a Sicilian pie instead of the thin crust because more dough is always appropriate.


I can smell the basil just looking at this picture!


My calzone: with cashew-tofu ricotta, Daiya mozzarella, peppers and onions.

 

If there's an appetizing way to photograph a calzone, please let me know.  In the meantime, know that it was huge and delish; I ate it with VM's marinara (coincidentally, I ate it with VM, as well).


 

Also, a large, round pie: with Daiya mozzarella, peppers and onions


Are these not the biggest Daiya shreds you've ever seen? 


A random pocket photo as I struggled to stuff everything in the car.


Why?  Because my little bit of vegan Italy...went in my trunk.


It was a long drive home with the scent of pizza wafting through the car.  You can't very well grab a slice while you're behind the wheel, so everything made it home intact.  It was worth the wait; totally delish: every morsel.

Suffice it to say I have plenty of leftovers frozen.


...because you never know when to expect a pizza emergency.


3 Brothers may have changed locations, but their food is as yummy as ever.  I know Jay Kitchen is already a catering company with plans to open a fine dining establishment in New York City, but I would implore them to consider opening an NYC 3 Brother's outpost as well.  Because eventually I'm going to run out of my stockpile.

13 comments:

  1. NO! Vegan sicilian!?!? and calzones!!!! your killing me all the way ova here, in queens. (and on a diet too might i add)

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  2. I looked them up and I see they have GF pizza, too. Hmmm. You New Yorkers have everything, don't you? I wonder how it compares to our Italian restaurant's GF vegan menu. I haven't tried the calzones because I always want the pizza, but maybe I should. Then we can compare photos. :)

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  3. As Michelangelo might say, "Cowabunga!"

    Looks tasty, I want to hear more about this blogger app...

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  4. PoisonPuss!: it's awful; you don't want any ;-)

    Andrea: The calzones reheat particularly well. Not that I'm condoning over-ordering...

    BYOL: check it out, but be wary of the publishing order. I've been using it just for upcoming post notes since the mishap.

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  5. Omg that calzone! Overflow. So they only have the one location now?
    Funny about the same named restaurant so close. I wonder if they get confused vegans in there often. maybe if enough people ask for the vegan menu, they'll get some ideas....

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  6. foodfeud- I should have mentioned I never even liked calzones as a non-vegan, but these are excellent. I often wonder if I, or my friends, "look" vegan. If so, and if they get the inquiry often, the faux 3 Bros were neither interested or amused. Although, when I was leaving he said, "We could make vegan food." Not really sure if it was an offer or sarcasm.

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  7. WOW! THAT PIZZA LOOKS AMAZING.

    And, two things: 1. In Philly, people *do* eat slices of pizza while driving, walking, or doing anything else, so you could give it a go next time,if you're feeling up to it. 2. I love that in the dueling menus, the vegan one says, "We have vegan desserts!" and the conventional one says, "We welcome corporate accounts!" :-)

    Yeah, I think vegan desserts are better, too.

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  8. Dawn, it sounds like people in Philly are much more coordinated than I am! Great catch on the menus ;-)

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  9. Abby,

    Holy Moly! I need to visit 3 Brothers soon! Long Island day soon?

    PS, I really shouldn’t read your blog on my cleanse…

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  10. My Vegan Gut,
    Oh hell no! You were invited to this LI day and you missed it. You snooze, you lose, my friend!!!

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  11. Abby,

    I take back my last comment. It was the cleanse talking, not me. However, I would like to put in a request for a taste of VM’s eggplant parm this holiday season. That would totally fancy my belly.

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  12. My Vegan Gut- HA! Well-played. I knew your city behind didn't really want to trek to Long Island! The problem with your request is that your portion has to be delivered by me...who has no self-control.

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  13. Oh wow, I've been reading about this place for years and I cannot wait to visit one day. It all looks perfect.

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