Yet there are so many things I will miss about my Queen & Bathurst abode: the neighbourhood cat lady who always begs for quarters and says ‘you’re welcome’ if I decline, the proximity of everything, including Kensington and Ossington, Trinity Bellwoods Park, and all the lovely clothing stores I can’t afford.

Now there’s another reason to stay put: North of Brooklyn Pizzeria.

Located at 650 1/2 Palmerston, just up from the corner at Queen, this place is definitely the type of joint that would end up knowing my name.

As its own name suggests, this is Brooklyn-inspired pizza, right here in our very own Northern city. The guys inside this quaint outpost, decked out with wooden tables and black and white photos of Brooklyn, are very nice, if a tiny bit disorganized. They have no water glasses yet, so when I ask for water I am (apologetically) given it in a plastic container, their pop is in a black mini-fridge that’s hard to notice, and they generally seem to still be figuring stuff out. It’s their first week though, so let’s forgive them.

The pizza menu is simple; there are five pre-selected types to order by the pie or slice (White, Pepperoni, Puttanesca, Margherita and Seasonal Veg), a list of ingredients to create your own pizza pie with, and just a couple of extra additions to the menu (Arugula Salad ($6) and Garlic Knots ($2.50 for 4).

While they don’t do delivery yet, you can call for take-out, and they’ll consider delivering to those in the very, very close neighbourhood. They do hope to get a real delivery service open in the next month or so.

We order a slice of White, a slice of Margherita and a slice of Puttanesca.

The White ($4.40 for a slice, $22 for a pie) is a thing of beauty. Topped with fresh ricotta and roasted garlic, this pizza is pulled out of the oven and covered in a large handful of lemon-seasoned arugula at the last minute. Whatever they put in their lemon dressing is phenomenal, and its tart sweetness against the soft, fresh ricotta makes for an entirely unique slice of pizza.

The Margherita ($3.90 for a slice, $18 for a pie) is where I taste the Brooklyn connection most. For me, the Brooklyn is in the oiliness of a good mozzarella combined with the zest of a solid tomato sauce, which are both present in North of Brooklyn’s version. The basil is a little lacking though, and the crust, which is thin, is a little too hard where your fingers hold onto it.

The Puttanesca ($4.40 for a slice, $22 for a pie) is a little boring compared to the other two. Scattered with black olives and leeks, the Puttanesca sauce doesn’t have the feistiness it deserves. (Side note: did you know the term for Puttanesca sauce comes from puttana, the Italian word for prostitute? Oh yeah. Apparently, this sauce, which typically includes tomatoes, garlic, anchovies and olives, was quick and easy to whip up between client visits. Thank you Italian prostitutes of yesteryear, you are amazing!)

The Garlic Knots ($2.50 for 4) are airy, golden knots of dough covered in garlic and sprinkled with fresh cheese. A class-act snack.

I very much look forward to ordering whole pies from this place on lazy Sundays. Welcome to the neighbourhood, boys.

New research suggests strawberries may help prevent skin damage from sun exposure. A group of Italian and Spanish scientists recently discovered that strawberries stop skin cells from being damaged by UVA rays. They’re not sure why yet, and they don’t know if it would be best to consume a lot of strawberries before heading out into the sun or if it would be best to slather strawberry goodness on yourself. More details here.

 An article from The New York Times on why it’s nearly impossible to make good-tasting low-fat cheese.

A new pizzeria has opened at Queen and Palmerston. The place, called North of Brooklyn, serves Brooklyn-inspired pizza. I love that this is so close to my house. Let’s pray they’re open late.

Get whiter teeth, combat Parkinson’s and lose weight: just 3 of the 15 super awesome health benefits of eating apples. Jesus, apples are so impressive. Put your hands together for apples. Read the full list here.

The NDP wants chain restaurants to start providing the public with nutritional info on menu items. Full story at Huffington-Post Canada.

It’s Mother’s Day this weekend. Do you know where you’re taking mom yet?