WILLIAMSBURG — A cookbook that offers a taste of Williamsburg's culinary scene is taking a bite out of $18 million needed to build a new community center for the neighborhood.
The book which features recipes from famed eateries like Bamonte's will be given to people making donations to a KickStarter campaign aimed at raising the cash. It offers recipes including soy ginger swordfish, caramel ice pops and pollo guisado.
The 40 tasty creations come from restaurant fixtures in Williamsburg including Carmine's Pizza, Manhattan Special Soda and Crest Hardware as well as from local politicians and residents.
Funds earned will go towards rebuilding School Settlement Association's centennial structure at 120 Jackson St. which has hosted after-school activities, summer camps, teen programming and other community services since 1901.
Assemblyman Joseph Lentol offered a hearty lentil soup recipe, while Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams offered something on the lighter side, said Lori Doyon, a spokeswoman for St. Nick's Alliance, that runs the facility.
"It's really healthy, its a berry kale salad with coconut dressing," Doyon said.
The beloved Italian eatery Bamonte's, that's been on Withers Street for more than a century, contributed it's signature pork chop recipe, according to Lisa Bamonte.
Bamonte, who is also on the board of the School Settlement Association, said she hoped the community cookbook would highlight how important the school was and continues to be in the lives of Williamsburg residents.
"It's a big asset to the community, especially now for the children," Bamonte said.
Last year the School Settlement Association got the community board's approval to demolish the building, though the plans were met with some resistance.
Ultimately, the community board decided that the increased services a new facility would provide outweighed the loss of the old structure and approved the plan, stipulating that a display about the building's history — like its cameo in Betty Smith's iconic novel "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" — had to be present in the new facility.
The project got city approval in mid-November, Doyon said.
The organization already has $4 million in capital funding allotted from the city and St. Nick's Alliance will foot much of the remaining bill for the rebuild.
