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It’s food gossip time!

This ‘Top Chef’ is the real thing
Photo by Bess Adler

In this week’s sunburst of warm-weather gossip, Red Hook readies for the season, Carroll Gardens does the can-can, and Gowanus rocks out with its guacs out. Talk about the rites of spring!

Off the Hook

Before Smorgasburg, there was the Red Hook ballfields — where mobile vendors have been peddling authentic, Latin American eats since 1974. Happily, the tasty taco trucks will once again converge on Red Hook this Saturday, for a sublime, seasonal glut of Guatemalan antojitos, Mexican huaraches, and El Salvadorian stuffed tortillas from the Vendy award-winning Soler pupusas.

Pan-Asian pancakes

Fried eggs, shrimp toast, and bacon pad thai: What else could it mean but brunch at Talde, Park Slope’s favorite Asian-fusion eatery? Settle in for a lazy weekend respite of everything bagel spring rolls, sausage egg and cheese fried rice, and of course, Korean chicken wings and waffles with coconut brown butter syrup. Or just hunker down on the sidewalk with a pickled ginger Bloody Mary for your inevitable hour-long wait.

Shells bells

Although we love nothing more than throwing back copious amounts of briny bivalves when the weather warms, it’s hard to stomach paying upwards of $3 a pop for them. That’s why we’re stoked about Allswell’s brand new Dollar Oyster Happy Hour, running from 4 pm to 7 pm, daily. All’s well that ends with reduced-price shells!

Guac party

The Guactacular is coming the Bell House on May 6, promising an epic smackdown of amateur avocado enthusiasts completing for the title of the best darn guac in Brooklyn. Think you’ve got the right (green) stuff? Email Rachel at rachel@nachosny.com to compete.

New ad-Ventura

Cafe Ventura — the Latin American restaurant taking over the Seventh Avenue corner that housed Barrio, Barrio Plates, and Mix in alarmingly quick succession — is set to open this week to an army of naysayers. Can anything take foothold in this seemingly cursed spot? The jury awaits deliberation.

Hello phyllo

Is that the East River, or the balmy blue waters of the Adriatic Sea? Grub Street reports that Punto Bianco Cafe is now serving healthy Mediterranean fare on Jay Street in DUMBO, and in other Middle Eastern food news, Williamsburg’s spanking new outpost of Cafe Mogador, a longtime East Village favorite for Moroccan cuisine, has opened for business on Wythe Avenue.

Come sail away

Here’s a true sign of spring: Eater reports that the Gowanus Yacht Club — a quirky, al fresco beer garden astride the F and G station — has officially opened for the season. Grab yourself a mismatched lawn chair, a couple of cans of beer ($5 a pair!), and a plate of pierogies, and wile away the hours as subway trains rattle below.

Bottle exchange

The Empty Mug’s been tapped at 8910 Fifth Ave. (hey, cool address!) in Bay Ridge, but it looks like a brand new bar is readying to take its place. The name? Bar Ridge of course, with cute little subway insignias where the Rs would be. Bottoms up!