Reader Tip: Sabor Andino

Reader Tip on new AmeriMex resto:

A new restaurant opened up called Sabor Andino, it has an American/Mexican cuisine. The food is absolutely delicious and so reasonably priced! After eating, I spoke with the owner Angel, he has worked at many top notch restaurants in the city and has now decided to open his own place. His experience and skill can't be denied. I've tried a number of dishes there and they are all great (try the seafood combo if you like seafood, you will not be disappointed). It would be great if you could review this restaurant and feature it on the site to help give this worthy restaurant business.

Thanks, Garry!

Michellin-rated LIC Chefs Will Strike Again

Michelin-rated LIC chefs, the Lee Brothers (Shi, 47-20 Center Blvd), will open new Mexican resto, Skinny's Cantina, in "Queens West".

Read blurb in Crain's

One of the absolute best things about living in a place long enough is getting to know a bunch of really talented and creative people. Case in point, long time Astorian Tamara Reynolds. Tamara moved here ten years ago with less than optimistic feelings about our fair neighborhood but then was charmed by the abundance of unique markets, eclectic food choices at every grocery, and all those abundant fruit stands. Starting as just a small dinner party for friends, Sunday Night Dinner eventually grew into a grand, albeit quiet, tradition of family style dinners. Every couple of weeks, Tamara opens her home to strangers, and lovingly prepares amazing meals for a small fee. Several weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend a Mexican Fiesta at her home, complete with knock your socks off guac and fantastic company! SND is a fantastic way to get to know a really authentic and different side of Astoria, and I highly recommend trying it out!

Taking her love for cooking and entertaining one step further, she and SND partner Zora just finished their new cookbook, Forking Fantastic! The book chronicles years of tips and tricks of dinner party hosting, tales of Sunday Night Dinners past, and of course all those tasty meals. I know I couldn’t be more excited to get a copy and try some of their amazing recipes.



In between hosting strangers in her Astoria home and writing a fantastic cookbook, Tamara recommends getting lost in the unique architecture found west of 21st street near 30th ave. Also on her list? The amazing Kabab Café (2512 Steinway), a local institution steeped in shisha tobaccos, domino playing, Egyptian pop music and of course truly amazing food.

Reminder: Tonight's Movie Premiere in Astoria Park

Image by www.nationalgeographic.com

Last week we mentioned that Nat Geo will be hosting a movie premiere tonight in Astoria Park, called The Human Family Tree. The movie, narrated by Kevin Bacon sounds incredibly interesting and will highlight the Astorian community specifically, talking about retracing our ancestral footsteps.

Monday, August 24th at 8:00p.m.
Astoria Park lawn on Shore Blvd. between Hell Gate Bridge and the pool
No RSVP required - see trailer here

If you'd like to grab a bite to eat before or after the movie, check out this recommendation list of eclectic restaurants close to Astoria Park, which will send your palate on a trip across the world.

Agnanti (Traditional Greek) - 19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.545.4554
Bistro 33 (French-Japanese fusion) - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.721.1933
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden (Czech and Slovak) - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria. 718.274.4925
Corner 26 Taverna (Traditional Greek) - 26-02 23rd Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.5511
Da Franco's (Italian) - 23-92 21st Street, Astoria. 718.267.0010
Fatty's Cafe (Mexican) - 25-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.267.7071
Thai Pavilion (Thai) - 23-92 21st Street, Astoria.

Enjoy the movie!

30th Ave Taco Truck To Have Additional Digs

Just read on astorians about the new restaurant opening soon by the same people that run the fabulous El Rey del Taco truck on 30th Ave. The exchange:

Question: While walking to the Steinway R/V station I saw a new awning across the street (A few storefronts down from that "El Mundo Discount" store, just north of the Thai take-out.). It read "Azteca Pride/El Rey del Taco." Can anyone confirm or deny that that's the taco truck people? (I mean the one in front of Rite Aid.)

Answer: Went to taco truck tonight and asked about this, they are going to have the restaurant and still have the truck.

Hot dog, this is great news! The taco truck is well loved in Astoria and they do make some of the best Mexican food in town. Here's hoping the restaurant will put out food of equal quality. Yum potential is high.

Photo credit: (cc) Meg Cotner

Astorian Weekend Edition 01.05.08

Start your weekend with some luxurious grub—sample Ovelia's new Happy Hour menu item, the Kobe Beef slider. If you can't make happy hour, you can enjoy this decadent burger for lunch. Ovelia Psistaria 34-01 30th Avenue. 718.721.7217.

As the weather gets nicer, Astoria's sidewalk cafes open up. One that we're particularly excited about is Mundo. This intimate café, serving eclectic cuisine from around the world has recently celebrated its 3rd birthday. Take a walk over there and try their fresh sangria or their amazing carrot dip. Mundo 31-18 Broadway. 718.777.2829

Heading to Astoria Park this weekend? Check out the newly opened burger-joint/Greek snack counter, Kafene right across the street. They boast five different types of burgers, an all-day breakfast menu as well as healthy snack options like Euro toast and fresh fruit smoothies. Kafene 23-08 Hoyt Avenue South. 718.274.6525

Waste Not, Want Not!? We're talking about recycling and about a cool group exhibition at Socrates Park by the same name. Learn about the goals, realities and practices of recycling at this fun event featuring artists and various craftsmen (and women). Sunday, May 4th 2-6p at Socrates Sculpture Park. 32-01 Vernon Blvd. 718.956.1819

Hit up Harry's Water Taxi Beach this Saturday or Sunday for some good beats. Victor Franco spins on Saturday from 3p-1a, FREE. On Sunday, enjoy the music of Chus, Quentin Harris, Joi Cardwell (Live Performance), Merritt, Steve Travolta, Vinyl Life and Dean K, 1p-10p. Tickets available at the door. Water Taxi Beach 2nd Street and Borden Ave.

And finally, ring in Cinco de Mayo early! Join ARROW Community Center for a Mexican shindig with music, arts & crafts and other fun stuff. Saturday, May 3rd from noon – 4p. ARROW Community Center 35-30 35th Street. 718.349.3408

The Joeys - 5 Questions

This month to welcome our newest co-blogger Judith, we decided why not let the world know how we would answer our own 5 Questions?! Here it is, from the horse's mouth:

WHO:
a) Joanna Grossman, Creator/Boss-chick of Joey In Astoria. Joey is not a boy!!!

b) Meg Cotner. I was a starving harpsichordist. Now I manage online communities for an Internet company in the wilds of Manhattan and love it!
c) Susan Vasconcelos, yet another blogger. To pay the bills though I am a graphic designer and wannabe hobbyist photog.
d) Judith Klein AKA The Foodista. I'm the founder and contributor of the Foodista Blog. I'm also the latest proud addition to this blog--Joey in Astoria.

Question #1 Were you born here? If not, where were you born, and what brought you to Astoria?

a) My parents are from NYC. I was born in Syracuse, NY. I moved to Astoria because NYC seemed to be my destiny for as far back as I can remember. Astoria itself, was cheap and close to the City. At the time it was pretty cruddy, but seemed worth the sacrifice.
b) I was born in a small town in Southern California, but have also lived in the SF Bay Area, Michigan, and on Long Island. I came here originally right after graduating from SUNY Stony Brook with my DMA, looking for a more cosmopolitan place than suburban Long Island. I originally wanted to live in Brooklyn, but was deterred by the exorbitant rents. Friends from school raved about Astoria, so my then-housemate and I took a chance on Astoria and found a terrific apartment here. It was best thing I could have done! I love it here.
c) Originally from NJ, I worked in midtown for years. Fell in love with an Astorian and found my way over here! It's been about 7 years now and i'm still loving it... and him.
d) I was born in a small Eastern Europen city of Kosice, Slovakia. And although I come from a city, it's nothing like NYC. The pace is slower, everything is older but the food (just like in Astoria) is incredible! I moved to Astoria two years after college. It was the perfect place for me to begin my independence and I immediately fell in love with its diverse feel. The mixing of cultures (including Eastern European) made me feel so at home. One of my first memories of Astoria is having lunch at Zlata Praha (Czech restaurant on 31st street near 30th Avenue) and completely stuffing my face with fried cheese, tartar sauce and a palacinka (crepe-like dessert). And that was just day 1.

Question #2 What is your favorite thing about living in Astoria?

a) The diversity and proximity. And the intangible 'neighborhoodiness'. And the park. And Loveday 31.
b) I love the mix of cultures here - Greek, Eastern European, Brazilian, Arab, and more. The languages, the food, the culture - it's all wonderful. I also adore Astoria Park and being near the water.
c) FOOOOOOD! I am first generation born in the U.S. and was brought up with very European eating habits, the fact that I feel like my mom could be cooking at any of these restaurants is a very comforting and yummy feeling.
d) My favorite thing about Astoria by far is the amazing food scene. Upon moving here, I couldn't believe how very European everything felt. I'm proud to say that I've ventured beyond my comfort zone and have tried various types of cuisines--from Brazilian to Moroccan, I love it all. I'm never bored when it comes to food and am constantly getting others (especially Manhattanites) to try it! If there's ever an advocate for Astoria, it's moi!

Question #3 What is your number one go to restaurant in Astoria?
a) Mundo. I think Wingasm's a major contender, tho. Except for the stupid name.

b) This is a hard one! There are actually two that would break my heart if they ever closed - Wave Thai (21-37 31st Street) and Il Bambino (34-08 31st Ave). Both produce excellent, delicious food that is well worth eating over and over again.
c) I adore Kabab Cafe and Ali. I always recommend it to everyone I know. Rivaling Kabab would be Il Bambino. Darren has made me a lover of everything pork!
d) I'm pretty loyal to my roots and have to say Koliba, which is a Slovak restaurant on 23rd Avenue and 32nd Street. The food reminds me of my grandmother's kitchen. The dumplings (called Knedle) are to die for and they have the best bacon I've ever tasted--it's super thick with an incredible smoky taste. Their fried cheese is also superb and a nice goblet of beer is a MUST with every meal.

Question #4 Best kept local secret that you don't mind sharing?
a) The fresh marinated artichokes at D&F Deli on Broadway. The focaccia slice at Grand Av Pizza. The white chocolate mousse cake at Brick Cafe. Also, I ate meat once at Mundo at it was totally worth it.
b) I am always happy to point people in the direction of Family Market (29-15 Broadway), a little Japanese market/convenience store. They have a nice selection of Japanese foodstuffs, from curries, to rice, to frozen dumplings. It's the only place I know of in town where I can get daifuku, one of my favorite sweets. Daifuku is a confection that's basically mochi stuffed with sweetened red bean paste. They have a number of flavors there, all of which are delicious. Oh, they also sell onigiri, which is a tasty snack - I like the ones with umeboshi (pickled ume plumb) especially.
c) The miriad of goodies at the Sandwich Kings! Yes the sandwiches rock, but also get the macaroni salad and a pickle! You won't be dissapointed. If you love the peppers as much as I do, order a little tub of the sweet peppers and add them to EVERYTHING!
d) Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant (31st Street near 23rd Avenue) is a local secret even though you've all probably passed by it. Although it looks like nothing much from the outside, it has one of the best Mexican kitchens in Astoria. And the prices are unbeatable!

Question #5 What would you like see happen in/for Astoria in 2008?
a) Bookstore!!!! Also a nice cafe bakery that's not cheesy around Broadway. Like the French one that closed. That made me sad.
b) I would love to see a good vegetarian/vegan restaurant open up in Astoria. I think it's one thing that's really lacking in this town, food-wise. Also, I'd like to see that damn scaffolding taken down from the Amtrak overpass near the Ditmars station!
c) Updating the durn wiring. The crapola Con Ed infrastructure REALLY gets my goat! Fingers crossed that we have a "cool" summer.
d) I'd like to see a cool live music venue open up. The food part is already taken care of, now we need some good entertainment to keep the night going!

Happy New Year Astoria!

Last year we ended off '06 with a summary of Astoria's biggest ups and downs , it worked out so well we decided to bring you the key hits and misses of our Astorian Adventures, the 2007 edition: (in no particular order...)

• Go to spot for random movies & drinks- Hell Gate Social.
• Lil Bistro 33 became Bistro 33 in a new location and one of our all time favs.
• Le Petit Prince closed but to fill the void we got Patisserie la Brioche D'Or & La Marjolaine
• We became inundated with Mexican & Japanese restaurants
• The fires in Greece brought about action in the neighborhood
• 36th Ave became the place to be or its getting there anyway! (Aces, Cafe Triskell, Arepas Cafe & more)
  
• Meister-burger tastiest burger- Sparrow
  
• Architectural Horror- Castle Astoria & Alpha/Omega- hard to believe i know, but it's a TIE!!!
• Biggest treat - pie a la mode from Oleput
• Weirdest opening... 7/11?
• Quirkiest event at the BG - Harry & the Potters played for the muggles!
• Biggest brush with big stars was of course the return of Peter Parker to Queens with Spiderman week
• Strangest date spot became White Castle on Valentines Day!
• Alien vs. Predator? No! Wine vs. Beer - wine bars invade Astoria in 2007 (Crescent and Vine, Rest-Au-Rant, Vino di Vino)
• Astoria stepped into greener ways with the addition of Turbines in the East River
  
• JIA's new best friend: NY Magazine, who linked to us more than anyone else - thank you!
• Best and most varied wine tasting: Vine Wine. Runner up: Waltz, which held a number of wine tastings this year.
• Funnest place for little gifts: Marco Polo Gift House
  
• Best new restaurant has to be of course, Il Bambino. I seriously doubt you will ever hear a negative peep out of us! We love Darren and the gang, keep up the delicious work :)
  
• Most important friend to animals continues to be Francis's Friends- remember them if you're in a "donating" mood!
  
• Best place for free giveaway art was and is Silver Age Comics, which holds Free Comic Book Day every year
  
• Best place for free public art: Socrates Sculpture Park
• Best new crepes: Cafe Triskell
  
• Dumbest suggestion for Astoria had to be creating a parking lot over the Grand Central Parkway.
  
• The tastiest gyro to touch these lips all year were from BZ Grill
  
• Oddest crime committed in Astoria: Finger twisting
  
• Rose and Joe's continues to entice us with the tastiest Sicilian slice!
  
• Best non-bakery pizza: Sophia Loren at Michael Angelo's

So there you have it, some good- some not so good, but all ours! We hope you have had a wonderful year here in our lovely nabe and that you continue to take advantage of all Astoria has to offer in 2008. Have a happy and a healthy wherever you may be and see you around hopefully!

Keep an eye on the Luna

Last night I felt the need for Mexican. It could be because of all the talk on here and in the neighborhood in general, that Luna de Juarez is open and looking to please.
This Mexican (slightly fusion) restaurant has been open about a week now in the old Santorini spot on the corner of 28th Ave & Steinway St. The actual decor and ambiance of the place is quite nice, very comfortable and warm. They even have a chiminea at the entrance with candles burning it. The front of the place has a few bar tables mixed in with regular seating to create a very chill area. It definitely lends itself to a casual hang- maybe for the free wi-fi and/or a slice of cake and some coffee.
The most stand out thing to me from the get go and throughout the evening was the people. Everyone was so sweet and welcoming, the service was impeccable. I felt like royalty! If there was a lack for anything- they were on it right away. Our server for the night was Roosevelt- gotta love the name, and the guy was even better! He was so nice and patient and super informative and open to all my questions. The basic round up is- the cuisine is all authentic Mexican from Mexico City and most everything is made fresh in house.

Now for the food of course.
Since we are trying to behave with the overindulgence's while dining out- we decided to share everything. This is also a good way to go when you want to try several things. Right away I was intrigued by the table side guacamole making option on the menu, but since we were already noshing on chips and interesting salsa (its a much more mashed avocado with tomatillos and other peppers) we decided to go with the very interesting Stuffed Avocado (Aguacate Luna de Juarez $9.95). This is apparently a very traditional dish from the region and it did not disappoint. Be sure to have more chips on hand for all the avocado goodness! The massive appetizer is stuffed with shrimp, cheese, squid & corn and sits on a creamy wine sauce.
Next on our list was the Signature House Salad (Ensalada Luna de Juarez $7.95) tortilla strips & goat cheese on a bed of mixed lettuce with a guajillo pepper vinaigrette. It was fresh and tasty and I could have eaten alot more of it all by myself..
I love the smell of steak on the grill so I had to go for the Steak Fajitas ($16.95). They come with all the regular fix-ins, but the guacamole and the tomato salsa was really really spot on. The meat could have been a bit more seasoned in my opinion- luckily though, when you put everything together and wrap it up in the tortilla it all comes together in a delicious smorgasbord of flavors! We wanted a bit more kick so I asked Roosevelt if they had any hot sauce. He brought us what looked like the same green salsa that came with the chips but he told us it was just the hot part of it without the avocado. I'd call it mild tomatillo salsa, it added great flavor with minimal punch- it worked fine for me.
This alone filled my dinner partner and I up more then I would have imagined! Roosevelt would not accept that, he really wanted us to try the tres leches cake. He sent us home with a complimentary slice... that I am sitting here eating while i type this :)

Go eat.
This place has to iron out a few "taste" kinks but I have high hopes for these guys.
Authentic Mexican close to home sounds good to me!

Luna de Juarez
25-98 Steinway
Astoria, NY 11103
718.274.4350

Mexican in the 'Hood

There are a few new Mexican places open or opening soon in Astoria. This weekend I went to Guacamole, a nice little place on Broadway (between Steinway and 38th Street) that replaced a fast-food Mex place (that's what the waitress told me). The space is calming with the green walls, and the food is definitely tasty. I had a chicken and vegetable quesadilla and my dining companion had a beef wrap; we shared a chicken tostada. The best thing about the meal was the salsa chile de arbol, a red-yellow spicy pureed sauce served on the side. The guacamole was very good, too. I had a glass of horchata, which was particularly creamy and not overly sweet. I wonder if they put dairy in it...

Walking home from Guacamole, we passed by Luna de Juarez a soon-to-be-open restaurant on the corner of Steinway and 28th Ave, the location of the old Santorini Cafe. I read about this place originally on astorians, and from what I can gather from her message the grand opening is this Friday:

they have a great chef who just loves to cook and supposedly the Guacamole will be done table side, the Fajitas nothing like your use to, and they will make their own mole, hopefully with this great Colombian Chocolate Cordillero.

There's also been chatter about a new place opening up where the old All-Star Burger was on 31st Street near Ditmars under the subway. The lease is held by the same person who owns Agave Restaurant in Manhattan, so it's expected that this will be the Astoria outpost of this well-received Southwest restaurant. I've peeked in the space while walking by and it's looking really nice inside. And yeah, while it's not really a Mexican place, it's definitely worth mentioning. Astoria has nothing like this, so it's very exciting to see a new cuisine come to town.

Astorian Weekend Edition 01.11.07

Purge your system of all that Halloween candy by enjoying some tea and company at Thursday night's crafting Freeze Peach (22-00 29th St). All crafting is welcome, even if you don't know how to do it. There should be someone there happy to share tips, tricks, and pointers. Show up around 8 p.m. and just look for the knitters! They now have a blog to show the fruits of their labor.

Friday nights are made for eating out. Of course there are tons of options in Astoria. Meg recently turned us onto Mexican and Greek and reminded us of the goodies at Sparrow. Pick one and go for it.

Saturday, the fittingly named Steinways will perform at the Shillelagh Tavern (47-22 30th Ave) I have never heard of the band or the bar, so this sounds like a new adventure! It's only five bucks and starts at 9 p.m.

If you're not out too late on Saturday, you can prolly make it to Sundays TAWQ Rockaway Bike Ride. The roughly 45 mile jaunt will be starting at 9 a.m. in Astoria (Brooklyn Bagel on Broadway between 35th and 36th Sts), ending up in the Rockaways. It's suppose to be a relaxed pace, but with miles and miles before you sleep, it is recommended for experienced cyclists. (Sponsored by: Transportation Alternatives Western Queens Committee, join the ride by emailing emiliajocrotty@hotmail.com)

El Athens Grill

After the Art Home Gallery opening last week, my friends and I were suddenly hungry. M mentioned that she'd seen a little Mexican place around the corner. I racked my brain trying to figure out what it was and then it dawned on me - "that little taco place", AKA El Athens Grill. The reason I actually knew the name is due to the Roving Gastronome's post from last month. So, we stepped in and ordered tacos.

They were pretty good! I mean, not life-changing, but definitely tasty. My al pastor wasn't too spicy, but it had good flavors and I liked how the pork was a little crispy. M's sausage taco was probably my favorite, which had many layers of flavors, ending in one that was kind of floral. The green sauce they gave us was really good, too. Sadly, they didn't have horchata - I guess they had run out or something.

Most everyone speaks Spanish only, so you gotta order en Español.

I hear the tortas are great, too! I liked the altar they had, as well:

El Athens Grill
30-11 30th Ave
Astoria

Astorian Year End Edition 2006

Seeing as how this weekend can basically be described as “PARTY,” we here at JIA thought it would be great to sum up our past year. There is no real rhyme or reason to it at all, just the years notables… good and bad! I’m sure in here you will find SOMETHING to do or try this weekend. Have a blast whatever it is!

Here you have it, JIA's Tops of 2006

• Yummiest Condiment: Pebre from San Antonio.
• Tastiest Conversation: Anything with Ali at Kabab Cafe.
• The best way to stay active in the community: Biking and boating around with the guys over at the Waterfront Group.
• Best Wings...so far: beer and pool to boot, McCann's
• Best way to pamper your toesies: Give the ladies over at Athena's a couple of hours and you'll leave a happy girl
• Revamped Bar: From Tupelo to Sparrow , that birdie sings sweet sweet music in the form of a great beer selection
• Most pointless renovation: Avenue Cafe ...
• Best sandwich competition: Sal, Chris & Charlie's vs. Sorisso's
• Biggest blown out of proportion blog entry: Why does the world have such an issue with my opinion on the Beer Garden ? Geesh!
• Most notable food out of a truck: El Rey Del Taco - can't go wrong with anything on the menu
• Summer's worst: The neverending Blackout and the Astoria Pool Melee
• Best food filled guest blogger: Your foodie friend and mine, Annie in the Supermarket-lost as always
• Well needed french addition to the hood: Le Petit Prince of course
• NOT needed french loss in the hood: Le Sans Souci closed before i ever got to try out french yumms :(
• Best fishy surprise: the $16.99 all you can eat of fresh sushi at Ginza
• The place to see giant artistic objects: Socrates Sculpture Park. Happy 20th birthday!
• Ugliest Renovation: The Eagle Electric Plant near Astoria Park. WTF?
• Best source of fresh organic vegetables: Hellgate CSA
  
• Most consistently unreliable promise: Shiny new, robot-enhanced N trains...still haven't seen one.
  
• Best place practice your foodie speak in Spanish: Original Mexican Food Deli. And don't forget the sub-$2 tamales!
• Best factory tour of a world famous cultural icon: Steinway Piano Factory. It's also been rated one of the top 5 factory tours in the country.
• Best bottled beer selection (not in a bar): Heliopolis Deli. They also sell a spicy feta-sundried tomato concoction that is unbelievably delicious.
• Wierdest burger preparation: Jackson Hole Diner. Steamed burgers? Why, I do not know.
• Creepiest epidemic: Bedbugs. Totally gross.
• Tastiest addiction: Sabra Hummus, made in Astoria. It's the new crack! Toss in some Astoria Pita and who needs to leave home?!?!

Stay tuned for 2007's adventures in the hood :) Happiest of Happy's to all our neighbors and friends and thank you so much for making this year here at Joey in Astoria a great one!

Astorian Weekend Edition 8.9.06

Here we have it, a break in the rain!

Saturday join in on the Waterfront Parks Bike Tour! I've been wanting to do this since Joey did it last year, it looks like tons of fun and educational too. It will be led by local historian Richard Melnick of the Greater Astoria Historical Society so i assume questions are encouraged... Don't worry its only about 5 miles, and wont be more then 3 hours after all is said and done. Tag along but bring a helmet (kids are welcome too with a guardian, that is)
Meet up at 11AM at Gantry Plaza State Park (48th Ave & the East River)

After doing a good thing for the environment, go do a good thing for your social life! Pimps & Ho's Costume Party @ 9pm... and its not even Halloween yet! Sparrow Bar (corner of 29th St @ 24th Ave) is a pretty chill little spot i just stopped into on Weds night. This may become a semi regular place actually (they have a stash of boardgames!) Go dressed as your favorite Pimp or his "friend" and have a blast. Their beer selection is pretty cool too.

If you're in the market for chile's or peppers for your next fiesta, pop over to Original Mexican Food Deli (30-11 29th St) for pretty much the most extensive collection i've seen in the tri-state area! What's even better is that if they don't have what you need, the other Mexican market on the opposite corner probably will. It's like you can't lose!! (Pick up a tamale for a buck and you won't be disappointed either)


T&H Mini Market (28th Ave & 36th St) has the "realest" red bean ice cream ever. I've had it before in Japanese restaurants, but never like this. You could taste/feel the starchiness and upon closer inspection- you see the big ole plump beans! It was just so weird to me i had to let you all know about this random little market. Its like a bodega with odds and ends from an Asian market. Shrimp Crackers (which look like Cheetos) are hung next to a great standby of BBQ Dirty Chips, wasabi peas next to Jolly Ranchers, what an ecclectic mix huh? Check them out if you're just looking for something unexpected...

Culture more your calling? Wind down your weekend on Sunday @ 7pm with Beethoven's World. St. Joseph's Church (43-19 30th Avenue @ 43rd Street) kicks off the season opener of the Astoria Music Society, make sure you check the website for tickets or call AMS at 718.204.9036.


OH and blackout troubles weren't all my pal Ali over at Kabab Cafe had to deal with recently. He has, as of this week lost his sidekick and cook extraordinaire Luis and is on the hunt for a new person. Know of anyone? He's got a few friends coming in and helping out for now but he definitley needs someone else in the kitchen. Personally i think its an awesome opportunity to learn from this inventive foodie. Check out his ad on craigslist if you don't believe me! Or you could always stop in there yourself and grab a bite... (25-12 Steinway St. @ 25th Ave)

Astorian Weekend Edition 14.07.06

Friday from 7-9:00pm get down with some Jazz & Salsa out at Gantry Plaza State Park. A free concert in the nice outdoors is just what you need to get the weekend started.

On your way home from the salsa going on at Gantry Park, hit the El Rey Del Taco truck and sleep with a happy full belly! I will never NOT try Mexican.
I have been seeing this truck on 30th Ave. & 33rd St. at night on my way home. Like the good foodie that i am i did what had to be done... ordered up some dinner for myself and the lucky man at home! I had a torta al pastor (spicy pork) and he had a burrito de carne assada (grilled beef). The burrito was very nice but the torta because of the delicious pork rocked my world! They've got a small menu of dinners but about a dozen fillling options, so i'm going to assume that most everyone should be able to walk away with something to their liking. They are there most nights from 7 pm to 3 am and sometimes 4 am, awesome late night eats!!! get the el pastor... you heard it here...

Saturday from 11:30pm-1am, stop in at the Irish Rover (28th Ave & 38th St) to meet the lovely Miller Models and get $3 Miller Drafts. I tell ya, there is always something going on at the Rover...and never forget their 2 drinks on you, one drink on us deal!

Sunday come one come all, get your fair fix in! Join in with the Friends of Community Board 1 and shop and eat on 30th Avenue between 29th & 42nd Streets.

Pass by the Quinn Building on Saturdays from noon to 4pm, there is a fun display of images of "pleasure" over 50 years old. Laughter, Lager and Leisure

Since its summer and the kids are all home from school, they've got activities going on at Athens Square Park (30th Ave. & 29th Street) Tuesdays @ 10:30 AM. This week (July 18) the fun is all in the balloons with Allynn Gooen-Goowin's Balloowins.

Its a few days away but start your engine and get your blankets ready for movie night at Socrates Sculpture Park! This weds the 19th i'll be there to watch the Motorcycle Diaries. They have food available usually in the theme of the movie, so lets hope for some yummy South American cuisine.

And just because... buy some cool summer gear and work the "Astoria" chic, from The Greater Astoria Historical Society.

A secret spot for lunch...

Here's my latest precious food find! This week i'd like to recommend to all you spanish speakers (or those who are willing to try!) - The Original Mexican Food Deli (30-11 29th St off 30th Ave) Hubba Hubba! You may think you have found good mexican, so did i... then i was turned on to this hole in the wall. I had tried before to find it but i mistakenly went to the place on the corner- thats not it! You have to turn onto 29th Street proper and its a few yards off the corner. I only say for you spanish speakers because its a little hairy if you try to communicate with the little lady behind the counter if you don't have at least the basics down.

Walking in to the place you might think its a bodega, but walk past all the hot sauces, frozen delicacies and fresh greens and you will see a little counter with a regular or two hanging out. You will feel like you just stepped into a whole new "old school" place. Its really the basics, no frills- and 9 times out of 10 from what i've experienced-thats when you find the winners!

I got this delectable beef burrito (that can easily feed two!) a beef empanada and a green tamale. The burrito had the perfect balance of rice to everything else, i always have a problem with too much rice-not here. And a delicious gooey white cheese held it all together.

Someone told me that tamales were their specialty and i tend to believe it. All i can tell you is, its the first one i've had since moving to NY that wasn't dry and hard- so yummy! Its really cool to observe the lady making the yummy tortillas by hand, from scratch and tossing them onto the skillet.

Theres a huge vat of beef simmering on the stove ready to fill orders. I watched her make my empanada and fry it up. Warning: It was greasey, more so then i usually have-but that didn't deter me! It had so much flavor, a little blot here and there and it was good to go. There are also a bunch of Mexican juices and sodas to choose from to top off your meal.

You definitley will not be dissapointed!

The New Crack?

That would be Sabra hummus. I bought some the other day at my local Trade Fair (and then another container of it today) and was blown away by how good it is. It's truly the best store-bought hummus I've ever eaten! It's very rich and creamy (just like it says!), and really balanced - not too salty or overly acidic. It tastes just plain delicious and has quite an addictive quality to it; I had a hard time putting it down. I know there are scads of fans of the Sabra hummus. It's a local product, by the way, produced in Astoria. Tonight I ate it with a brand of pita I'd never seen before, Astoria Pita:



It's made in Long Island City. Love the images of the Triborough and Queensborough bridges on the wrapping! Just wish the Hellgate Bridge had made it on there. It's fine Greek-style pita (so, no pocket) and went well with the hummus. I do have to disagree with their claim on the packaging that this pita is "Perfect for...tacos." That's just plain wrong. Keep it away from the Mexican food!

All in all, Sabra hummus and Astoria Pita make for a very tasty snack.

News & Notes 05.09.12

See? The smartest, coolest girls do live in Western Queens. Check out this hip and happening 12 n' under set. LIC Lemonade Girls.

This would be an interesting piece about new LIC restaurant Tuk Tuk if it said anything about the food.

School's starting. Might as well gear up for Chess Club in style at the Imagery of Chess Revisited (scroll down). PS. If you weren't in Chess Club, I don't need to hear about it.

Watch local, think global. Silvercup's shooting some new shows in the neighb. Now if only we can get them to be nice to the Terra Cotta factory...

LIC Community Boathouse has a new website.

Scuttlebutt Section:

The Garden of George, that not-quite-gourmet grocery on Steinway appears to be closed. Steve discovered a bit after this place opened that they had a killer Mexican breakfast salad bar. I kid you not. Then a month or so ago, the food sucked. I think that's why they went under. ~

Big Apple Discount went under. A couple days after the "50% off Clearance" sign went up I went in there and bought a (crappy) garden nozzle for the community garden. I asked the cashier why they were closing and she said they weren't. "Just clearing out old stuff". Ouch.

Tupelo went out long ago. But the building has been demolished! The million dollar question: what's going in there?

Where to shoot pool in Astoria?

I'm not a shark or anything. But many a burly man has lost a game of pool to me thinking that he could beat a little red-headed girl. Sometimes these folks are rowdy and bring their own pool cue (I don't own one), which makes the victory all the sweeter.

But where to play? Astoria has several options. We've played many tables in here and I will share our research with you. We live near Broadway & 36th Street, so these places are all roughly near there.

In short, Clic is good for swanky pool, McLaughlin's for reliable pool. Broadway Station is for meat-head pool. Scorpio - for obscure pool. Tacos Mexico - tasty ethnic pool. Astoria Billiards place on 30th Avenue – full sized, but dry pool.

Clic
This place doesn't know it's in Queens. Hello Clic, you're in Queens! Clic is on Broadway between 32 & 33 streets on the second floor. It opened a year and half ago. There is always has a big bouncer type dude standing outside the entrance and the first time we went, we got bounced because a member of my party was wearing shorts. See "hello" comment above.

If you make it inside, you'll see the palatial interior. Clic’s inside is stunning- if a bit cheesy. It opened as a pool hall with at least a dozen full size pool tables. Now there's only one, and it's free. The other tables were replaced with giant booths that are like huge wine casks. Great for groups. Clic is the size of the Astoria Beer Garden, but it’s inside. It has a great lounge area where you can sit and look out over Broadway. There's two bars and all drinks require a mortgage. They seem to have an odd habit of charging for drinks by the price of the bottle. Even though it’s listed on a menu, ask the price of a drink before you order it. We got burned. Earth to Clic: fours drinks do not cost $150. Especially when you made one of us take off our baseball cap.

Both times we've been to Clic, it's been pretty dead, but it may be a late night hot spot with the Greek 20-somethings in the neighborhood. The brown felt, billiards size, pool table is in excellent condition and has always been easy to get, when we've gone.

Broadway Station
Broadway Station is on Broadway, half a block south of the N train. It was bought, renovated and reopened about four years ago. Since that time they have aquired ever gimmick imaginable. You can play all kinds of legal gambling and they have maybe 10 different TVs which will show any sporting event at any given time. Perfect for the Yankees-Mets couple. They used to have a model train on a track just below the ceiling that was bit annoying and before they opened the kitchen, they had free popcorn which I preferred to the kitchen’s current offerings. They have their own microbrew and a respectable draft beer selection. They also occasionally organize outings like Mets games and sky diving.

They have moved the pool table to the back room which used to be patio seating. It’s extremely well-lit and quiet. It’s a little weird being back there – you’re very cut off from the front room with the bar. Consider bringing your own balls, the pool table is occasionally missing a few. Broadway Station has it’s own pool team and as a result, it can be a tough table. Occasionally there’s the “first date pool game” where some ex-frat guy is teaching his date how to play pool. The last time we were there, the date shocked us all by schooling him. It was pretty sweet.

Scorpio
This bar is on Broadway just West of 36th Street. It’s appears to be Croatian, always pretty quiet, and everyone wears black. It’s dark, has a beautiful rustic wood floor, exposed brick walls and a red felt pool table. The only beers on tap are Guinness and Bass – could be worse. There is always a sexy bartender behind the counter. In the summer the whole front of the place opens up and spills out onto the street and you see all the clad-in-black patrons sipping on frappes. There are 3 TVs and they all have soccer on, all of the time. There is comfy seating and tables and there is usually some available. Despite two “no smoking” signs behind the counter, and New York City law, someone is always smoking.

In the back, they have a foosball table and an electronic dart board. The foosball table leans slightly to the back, so you want to be the blue team. The pool table is in decent shape though I only saw three cues. No one’s ever playing on it. It’s all yours.

Tacos Mexico
Tacos Mexico is a great little Mexican take-out place on 38th Street, just South of Broadway. You can eat in, but it’s still like a take-out place. They have now expanded to the space next door. Tacos Mexico, so far and I can tell, is pretty authentic. The food is great, cheap and now there’s a pool table and a bar. It’s a largely Spanish-speaking crowd, but you can certainly manage in English. Even if you don’t order food, you’ll get free homemade tortilla chips and salsa which are excellent. The place is very well-lit.

In the front of the bar there’s a foosball table which only costs 50 cents. There’s also a jukebox. The pool table is in back – standard green felt, bar size stuff, and it only costs 75 cents. The cheapest game in town. It’s being used about half the time. The players are usually Mexicans with cowboy boots and hats and I don’t think they bought these because In Style magazine said they were must-buys for the season.

Astoria Billiards place on 30th Avenue
There used to be a great billiards hall on 31st street under the N train. It closed and a new greek / international foods store has moved in. Since then, this billiards place has put up a bright new awning. It is on the North side of 30th Avenue by 33rd street. It’s a nice, legitimate pool hall. It has one fatal flaw: it doesn’t serve alcohol. I’m not sure what this is about. Maybe they are really hardcore and don’t want the felt to get damaged. Maybe they’ve seen one too many fights. Maybe they lost their liquor license. I really don’t know, but it’s a bummer. The crowd is very ethnic, we’ve heard several languages spoken there. Everyone’s pretty friendly.

The tables are full-sized and there’s always a few available. As in typical pool hall fashion, you rent the table and are charged by how much time you use it for.

McLaughlin’s
McLaughlin’s is a very reliable, Irish pub. It’s as much about the bar flies as the bar. I’ve gotten to know many of them over the years. Hell – maybe I am one! The bar is on the South side of Broadway just West of the N train. It is owned by John McLoughlin who you can find behind the bar on Monday nights. Hello single, Irish 30-somethings: what are you waiting for? John McLoughlin is a pleasure to chat with and a great bartender. Tommy’s behind that bar most other nights and also quite a pro. They have the standard drafts and another tap that John’s been rotating for a few years. Tell him your favorite beer and it might be next in line. Once you get to know the bartenders, every third drink is free. McLaughlin’s is a clean, shiny pub. There’s a dart board in back and 3 TV including a huge widscreen in back. There’s no better seat to the Mets. They don’t serve food, but they don’t mind if you bring it or order in. There’s also a juke box with excellent selections including a variety of Irish folk music, which is played quite a lot actually. You’ll be impressed to see that the bar flies know all the words and are quite uninhibited about singing them out loud.

A few years ago I organized a pool team for McLaughlin’s for the league, but my timing was bad and the whole thing fell though. Regardless, from time to time, pool and been quite a phenomena at this pub and it’s a great table to play on. It’s in good shape, and you can often catch it unused. Once in a while one of the bar flies will challenge you and beat you one-handed.


There are maybe a couple of places to play on Steinway as well. I’d love to hear any of your thoughts on these or other places.

- Joey