Stab Recommends: Supporting Surfer-Owned Restaurants By Buying Merch And Gift Cards
Money well spent.
Despite what Chef’s Table might lead you to believe, hospitality’s a bitch of a job.
Competition is as gigantic as the overheads, and you constantly run the risk of being mocked by your own success. More bums on seats means more produce, more staff and in the case of most owners, much more work. What’s left over after rent, wages and money spent on fresh tomatoes doesn’t always add up, so the bottom line is that you have to love it. The hospitality industry is doing it as tough as any, and we count many of our surfer brethren amongst its employers and employees. In a vain attempt to contribute a little to an industry that’s been gutted, here’s a few of our fav joints still serving food and selling merch.
The Flower Shop, NYC
Located in China Town, The Flower Shop’s only been open a few years, but has made itself a fixture for those in the know in NYC. There’s a number of people involved in TFS (Tony Hawk’s even a silent partner) but Australian’s Ronnie Flynn and Dylan Hales are the front men. Doors are to the fine two-storey pub are closed, but the merch desk is not, so grab yourself like the fab RVCA collab pictured above.
Drape yourself in The Flowershop.
Ace Coffee Co, Long Island
Started by a few surfer dads looking to escape the grind (lol), Ace is a super fun coffee brand from Long Island that specialises in high quality beans and not taking themselves too seriously. The sell cold brew by the gallon (as in you can literally buy a gallon of it and have it delivered to your door), but they also make logo tees featuring a simple diamond design that’s everything good about referencing what’s gone before.
Woon, LA
Woon started as a pop up, but their Chinese comfort food was received so well that they decided to make it permanent, in Filipinotown, to be precise. Woon’s still doing take out (including a few quarantine special packs that are as good as eating at home gets), but their merch game is well worth a browse too, likely due to the involvement of one Keegan Fong, of Vissla fame.
Get your hands on some Woon wares here.
Anchored Coffee, Nova Scotia
Dean Petty (no relation) is a Canadian surfer who lives a charmed existence and has his fingers in Yeah Yeahs Pizza, as well as Anchored Coffee. For us coffee drinkers a morning brew is a daily event, and it only gets better the better the beans you use are. Two If By Sea is a Nicaraguan/Ethiopian blend that’s perfect for your every-morning brew.
Three Blue Ducks, Sydney/Byron
Before everyone cared about where their food came from, Three Blue Ducks were already set up, farm to table, and operating in Bronte. The Ducks then expanded to Byron earlier most, and we continue to patron whatever they’re offering as the food’s amazing and we salute those who’re ahead of the curb. Healthy food makes you feel amazing, but everyday it’s, well, pretty dull. Solve all this with one glass bottle, made with love (not mass produced in a factory in Irwingdale, California, like regular Siracha).
Shelter, Zarutz, Spain
Part surf school, part bar, Shelter is a fine place for taking in the vivid sunsets of the old world. Whilst a European jaunt is off the cards for the foreseeable, you can still support Shelter (and its proprietor, Aritz Aranbu) by raiding the merch desk.
Porch and Parlour, Sydney
Bondi institution Porch and Parlour has been a Stab favourite since it opened its doors way back when. Porch is still open for coffee and takeaways, so if you’re a Sydney resident who’s sick to death of cooking your three go-to meals on repeat at home, we’d highly recommend heading to Porch and grabbing something to go (the istan bowl is a particular favourite).
Louvine, South West France
One of the best places for seafood in the South West of France (with stores in Hossegor, Biarritz and Seignosse), Louvine specialises in poke bowls made with fish straight out of the Atlantic. If you’re holed up in the French surf capital then Louvine’s still doing takeout, for the rest of us there’s but memories and merch.
Fish 101, Leucadia, CA
Fish 101 is the go-to for all things fresh fish in southern California. Josh Kerr, Taylor Knox and Damien Hobgood all have fingers in the 101 pie, but the poke bowls and burritos are worth the price of admission alone.
The Privateer Coal Fire Pizza, Oceanside, CA
Pizza still can’t be beat when it comes to take out, and if you reside in the Oceanside vicinity then you’ve got a gem right on your doorstep. It’s family owned, the pizza’s charred and crispy and all the things proper pizza should be, and, they’re open for takeout.
Alfred’s Apartment and Diner, Mermaid Beach, QLD
Alfred’s Apartment is part cafe/restaurant and part menswear label, so their merch game is understandably strong. If you live on the Gold Coast the Alfred’s Diner is still serving up its unique take on gourmet street food, but for the rest of us, the online apparel store is stocked and fully operational.
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