Last year, I collaborated with my friends at Estuary Tattoo in Bushwick. Their collective of tattoo artists often plan “flash days” where clients can choose pieces from pre-drawn, repeatable artwork. It’s a great way to grab a small, quick tattoo and meet new artists. Their studio is a bright, lush space filled with plants and big windows.
I set up a small stall in the reception area offering snacks and take-home “treat treats” to the folks who were waiting for their appointments. Because I didn’t want too many smells to permeate the room, I limited my menu to one baked “tomato pie” sandwich, warmed chorizo biscuits, gruyere focaccia, and vegan chocolate cake. I adapted the sandwich from Vegetables from an Italian Garden. It originally is like a baked savory French toast! Thick slices of bread are dunked in custard, then baked with provolone cheese on top. I thought two slices stacked together were too wet to pick up and eat, so I only made the top half of the sandwiches in this manner. The bottom halves were toasted and stacked with fresh heirloom tomato, fried garlic, sea salt, and kewpie mayo.
I like finding alternative spaces to serve food because every place and community is different. Estuary’s tattoo studio vibe was soothing, much like a real meeting of river and sea. The sounds of tattoo guns were like bees in a meadow, enjoying the summer sun as much as I was that day.
