08/29/14 6:20pm

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Roomr, located at 17 Old Fulton Street, is the newest addition to the Dumbo food scene. I headed over there this afternoon for a quick lunch. I was pleasantly greeted upon entering and after explaining that it was my first time in the cafe was given a quick rundown of everything they have to offer. Whether you’re on the go or have time to sit and enjoy made-to-order food, Roomr has you covered. They have an array of pre-made sandwiches, salads, and pastries, as well as a large menu of crepes and omelets. The gentleman that I was speaking with was quite enthusiastic about their hotdog waffle, “a beef hotdog wrapped in a delicious waffle”Given my pregnancy, though, I wasn’t able to try it for myself. I’ll have to go back with friends to get their opinions or hold out a few more months until after baby arrives. Everything at Roomr is organic; well, 98% of it is – the espresso is the only thing on the menu that isn’t.

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I settled on a savory, whole wheat crepe. It was delicious, but too big for me to finish. I am a sucker for sweet crepes, so was disappointed I didn’t leave myself enough room to try one. Tourists that entered the cafe while I was there were thrilled to find out that Roomr offers free wifi. Perhaps I should have taken advantage of that and started this post while my food digested so I could then try a sweet crepe!

The cafe is clean, no frills (my food was served with a disposable plate and silverware), and devoid of the overwhelming lines you typically see outside of Grimaldi’s and Shake Shack. I found it to be a peaceful and relaxing place to enjoy my lunch. For more information on Roomr, visit www.RoomrCafe.com.

07/21/14 2:20pm

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Visit Egg by Susan Lazar at 72 Jay Street for their semi-annual sale, which includes items from their Spring/Summer 2014 collection.

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Styles including graphic tees, silk cotton dresses, swimwear and rash guards, cotton shirts, and more are up to 70% off. Some items are even as low as $8. If you can’t make it to the Dumbo location, shop online at www.egg-baby.com. Free shipping is included when you spend $100 or more.

07/14/14 1:45pm

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It has become our Sunday morning tradition to head into Brooklyn Bridge Park for an early lunch with friends at Smorgasburg. Our first time there this summer was a bit dangerous as it was my first time experiencing the sights and smells of Smorgasburg while pregnant. I knew I had to control myself, but I wanted to sample something from every vendor we passed – a dumpling here, a ramen burger there, a bite of my husband’s bbq sandwich. I was in heaven! I quickly learned, though, that not only were my eyes bigger than my stomach, but my wallet couldn’t handle the demands I put on it. It was time to remind myself that this amazing market was in my neighborhood and that I could come back every Sunday for lunch so there was no need to try to taste everything in one visit. We’ve made it a point to try something new each Sunday we visit.

This past Sunday we ventured back into the park to meet some friends for lunch. As we walked in the north entrance of the market we noticed a new feature – the Smorgasbar. It was great to see additional seating since finding an open table can be tough, but was disappointed to learn that the area was closed off to us pregnant non-drinkers. I guess I have that to look forward to for next year.

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Having skipped the bar, I went straight to the Vermont Maple Lemonade stand where I always start my Smorgasburg lunch with the most refreshing maple syrup lemonade. I then struggled for a bit in deciding what to eat since it was so hot and humid out. I don’t like eating hot food when I’m hot, especially while I’m pregnant, so was left with limited options. I opted for cold peanut noodles from Noodle Lane, which were fantastic. They offer three different spice level options, so to avoid getting serious heartburn or putting myself into pre-term labor, I went with mild. Thank goodness I did because it was still extremely spicy! Although I was completely full from the noodles and lemonade (and samples of my husband’s Takumi Tacos), I could not resist an ice cream sandwich from the good batch. I absolutely love their goodwich sandwich. It has just the right balance of salty and sweet. As I came down from my sugar high, we headed back to the apartment for an afternoon nap and to begin planning our Smorgasburg strategy for next weekend.

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the good batch from Smorgasburg

Smorgasburg is open every Sunday at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 5 from 11 AM to 6 PM. For a full list of vendors, visit Smorgasburg.com/vendors. If you’re pregnant at Smorgasburg, make sure you ask for your meat cooked well and double check that all the cheese is pasteurized.

(Post by HK Stern, DumboNYC contributor)