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In New York City, the holiday season is one of the busiest, buzziest, action-packed times of the year. You want to see the tree, bask in the lights, catch some topical entertainment and pop into a pop-up. And all of these offerings are all over the place, across boroughs and through the subway. Brooklyn’s Time Out Market, however, has oodles of options all under one roof.
Several of the Dumbo food hall’s splendid vendors have created celebratory specials in honor of the most wonderful time of the year. Some are super spot-on the wintery wonderland theme, some are simply limited to the next several weeks, and they’re all available right on the first and fifth toasty floors of 55 Water Street, where you can cheers to the frosty air from the warmth of the great indoors.
Clinton St. Baking Co.
Hugged by a cozy nook facing beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park, famed Clinton St. (which first opened on the Lower East Side in 2001) has a peppermint hot chocolate ($7) to defrost your icy fingers and delight your palate. This cocoa is emboldened by whole milk, peppermint Schnapps syrup (booze-free) and whipped cream, all ornamented with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint candy.
Wayla
Wonderful Wayla’s Thai-style grilled beef skewers ($19) aim to evoke memories of Thai holidays. The detailed recipe calls for an overnight marinade and finish on the grill.
Jacob's Pickles
Popular for southern-influenced savories here and on the Upper West Side, Jacob’s Pickles has sweets for the season. Its “crunchy munchy” Christmas cookie ($10) takes a note from overflowing kitchen cabinets at home and intends to include a little bit of everything. Expect bits like dark and white chocolate, toffee, marshmallows, pecans and pretzels.
Pat LaFrieda
Returning to Time Out Market New York once more for the 2023 season, Pat LaFrieda’s cranberry chicken sandwich ($18) is a tribute to the proprietor’s formative holiday memories, and inspired by his grandmother’s own cranberry sauce. This take layers chicken, provolone, peppercorn mayo, peppercorn, arugula and that familiar fruit on a baguette.
The Rogue Panda
New to Time Out Market New York, this plant-based, Chinese-influenced spot upstairs has wonderful views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, plus steamed bao ($13) for the season.
Kamasu
Also with a view that practically mirrors Santa in his sleigh, this sushi spot has a chicken katsu sandwich with parm ($18) for the holidays, which aims to nod to Italian-American, as well as Japanese-style cuisine.
Fornino
“The art and science of pizza” always meet here, and this December they’re joined by warm, familiar memories, in sandwich form! Grandma Alice’s chicken cutlet sandwich ($16) recalls owner Michael Ayoub’s own family’s annual December 26 “search for Santa.” His grandfather, said to be a personal friend of Kris Kringle would drive the kids around in search of the man himself, though, somehow, they’d always just missed him. Grandma Alice always packed the chicken cutlet, mozzarella, roast pepper and arugula sandwiches. Ayoub, also a pal of Saint Nick (what are the odds?!) continued the tradition with his own kids picnic and all.