What began as friendly dinner parties during the pandemic, Whisk & Whiskey, a Brooklyn-based bar and bakery, is now celebrating four years of dishing out delicious pastries, cocktails and Trinidadian-Cambodian small bites in Park Slope.
Owned by Chef Secoyah Browne and Chandra Touch, the space opened in 2021 during the height of the pandemic. At the time, it was required that food be served alongside liquor, thus, the idea to serve small bites, alongside crafted cocktails, made perfect sense.
The storefront, at 259 4th Ave., quickly turned into a beloved gathering space for Park Slopers eager to find a new community and to hang out with old friends.
“When we did this, it was kind of a natural progression, because my end goal was always to open a bakery,” Browne told BK Reader. “Chandra has always been in charge of bar management and event sales, so it kind of was a perfect synergy.”
The specialty cocktails and mocktails are curated by Touch, and seasonal desserts and small bites are crafted by Chef Browne. The menu features a variety of Trinidadian bakes, a fried dough small bite often served with saltfish or shark inside, plantains, and doubles, amongst other items.
The owners decided to settle in Park Slope because they believed diverse food options were missing from the neighborhood.
“I think the community was really ready for some additional culture, some additional spice,” Browne said. “Everyone's always so excited to come in and learn something. Trinidad is definitely unrepresented food-wise, especially in this area, [and] so is Cambodian food."
Browne said many Cambodian and Trinidadian dishes use the same ingredients.
"It makes us realize how closely related we are when it comes to food and drinks and culture," she aid.
The space also hosts weekly events like Trinidadian dinner parties, film screenings and dance parties with live DJs.
“I think what resonates with most is that a lot of people, even outside of our Trinidad and Cambodian cultures, is that we’ve had other people outside of our culture, like in neighboring countries, that feel very at home,” said Touch.
The small business owners said an important lesson learned so far is the ability to pivot, they said. In the face of recent tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump, the duo said they've had to raise prices, but they've also communicated why to their customers.
Over the next few years, Browne and Touch said they are looking to open another location in Brooklyn to continue to share their love for community, small bites, desserts and cocktails.
