Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
In Season <em>Right Now!</em> Serviceberries In Brooklyn Bridge Park
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jun 16, 2011
Modified Jun 16, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Jun 16, 2011
Modified Jun 16, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Only occasionally do artisanally-minded urban dwellers get to forage for our meals—which is why, upon hearing about the limited-edition serviceberries cropping up in Brooklyn Bridge Park, we rushed over to pluck some ourselves.
The fruit, which tastes like something of a cross between blueberries and raspberries, is just barely sweet, with a pleasant, almost almond-y seed. Park Horticulturalist Rebecca McMackin said they'll only be around for another two weeks, so pick now, locavores! The trees were originally planted to feed local birds, but they seem to be leaving plenty of bounty for non-winged creatures. Our neighbors to the north call them "saskatoon berries" (how very Canadian) and put them in all sorts of pastries and pies, like this one:
4 cups fresh serviceberries
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 prepackaged pie crusts
1 tablespoon butter
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
In a large saucepan, simmer berries in 1/4 cup water for 10 minutes. Stir in lemon juice with berries. Combine sugar and flour together in a medium bowl, then stir into berry mixture.
Pour mixture into a pastry lined 9 inch pie pan. Dot with butter. Place second crust on top of pie; seal and flute edges.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for an additional 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown.
Tagged
brooklyn bridge park
cooking
fruit
pie
recipe
serviceberries
Jamie Feldmar
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .