A special thank you to all who participated in July's itunes Gift Card Giveaway. Stay tuned for more opportunities to win great prizes. Until then, remember that food is love and love is food!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
We have a winner!
A special thank you to all who participated in July's itunes Gift Card Giveaway. Stay tuned for more opportunities to win great prizes. Until then, remember that food is love and love is food!
Monday, July 9, 2012
JULY GIVEAYWAY ~ VOTE AND BE ENTERED IN THE DRAWING
It's that time again folks! Time to vote for your favorite of the last four reviews. Your selection will challenge us to recreate one of the featured entrees. Your vote is important so vote now right here on TastingQueens.Blogspot.com/Tweeting your selection to @TastingQueens or posting to www.facebook.com/TastingQueens. One of the lucky voters will be selected for this month's gift card giveaway. It could just be you! Thank you for your participation and we look forward to the challenge.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Sak Pase? Dining on Good Haitian Grub
Summer heat and a mellow day running errands with a good friend should always end with a good meal. Attempting to just that, my friend and I drove from Five Towns Queens to Cambria Heights in search of some good Haitian food.
My assumption that I would enjoy the culinary offerings of this country is solely based on it's geography and cultural history. Haiti is located in the subtropics on the western third of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Caribbean, which it shares with the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic. The neighboring islands include Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. After the arrival of the Spanish, by 1550, the indigenous culture of the Taino Indians had vanished from the island, and Hispaniola became a neglected backwater of the Spanish Empire. In the mid-1600s, the western third of the island was populated by fortune seekers, castaways, and wayward colonists, who were predominantly French.
We drove along Linden Blvd starting as far back as 235th Street, coming to a stop at Port-Au-Prince on 221st Street. It took all of three minutes inside to let us know that it would not do for us this trip, so we got in the car to make other arrangements. Standing outside my window were two men who weren't shy about staring and whispering to each other, so...I decided to make good use of their interest and check their knowledge of the neighborhood restaurants. We were directed a few block away to La Boisserie Creole Restaurant (227-02 Linden Blvd in Cambria Heights Queens).
It stood out immediately from the brick design on the curb surrounding the restaurant and I admit feeling a bit excited to see the inside. Our server seated us and I began to take in our surroundings while my friend spoke to the manager about the nature of our visit. I must say that I was a bit disappointed as the decor was quite dated and resembled a circa 1985 catering hall, with bright colors and a combination of wine glasses and water jugs stuffed with cloth napkins. There were helium balloon decorations everywhere that I wasn't so sure how to feel about. The stained glass added a nice touch and there were various forms of art hung all around. Fingers crossed, I told myself that still, the food must be good.
Our server brought the menus and we quickly discovered that she spoke very little English. Nevertheless we managed to order Fri Kodenn (Fried Turkey) and Poul ak Sos Kreyol (Chicken with Creole Sauce). They were served with Rice and Beans/Haitian Black Rice and a Garden Salad.
Our entrees were suppose to be small but what was set before us was a very large plate with our own mini mountain of rice. How were we ever going to find room? Well, it began with the first bite of the Black Rice. Loose, seasoned and wonderfully spiced Jasmine rice filled sent my mouth into a happy place. The Rice and Red Beans did not disappoint either. It was a thing of perfection! My chicken was (lightly fried leg and thigh) was also very good, expecially when dipped in the tangy, spicy Creole Sauce. That Sauce could be poured over cardboard and it would be delicious.
The Turkey was not so well received, however. It was tasty but a bit dry and over cooked. We were also served what appeared to be the ankle of the bird, making for bony bite after bony bite. When our server returned to ask how things were, we took the opportunity to attempt to explain the turkey dilemma and to our surprise, our mini Charades game worked and she returned with a saucer of actual turkey meat.
So for decent service despite the language barrier, good food and a family friendly atmosphere, we give our tour of Haiti an solid B. Good job La Boisserie Creole Restaurant. Byen fè!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Tomo Japanese Cafe
For a very long time I promised my sister Shannice to take her to have her favorite cuisine, Japanese. I have never seen a teen so into Sashimi and Sushi. I took the perfect opportunity to make good on my word one day when school was out. Not wanting to leave anyone behind, I took my nephew along for the adventure.
We arrived at Tomo Restaurant (located at 8914 Queens Blvd, Flushing NY 11313) just in time for lunch. Armed with big appetites, a camera and some info about our blog, we entered the newest establishment anxious to get our tasting on. After standing near the entry for a few moments, we noticed the "host" sitting behind a desk in the right corner near the door. We walked up to her and told her it would be 3 for lunch. The "host" called over a waitress, who then seated us, placing the menus on the table without as much as a greeting and then walked away. "Hmm..." I thought, not a great beginning at all. I am HUGE on service, as I think a lot of times it can put a not so great culinary experience to a great overall experience if the service is warm and wonderful.
I took a moment before placing our order to inform the server of the reason for our visit and ask that she pass our material about the blog on to her manager. We then selected the Harumaki for our appetizer. It's a crispy fried shrimp and vegetable spring roll served with rich, thick soy sauce. It was hot and delicious.
Our orders for entrees were Spicy Shrimp Sushi, Tuna Sushi, Yellow Tail Sashimi, Squid Sushi and Sashimi and one of the lunch special Bento Box of Pork Katsu. We noticed a tea pot on out table but the tea in it was cold and when asked about it our server just shook her head.
After a bit of a wait, the Seafood orders came first and they were all wrong. Everything on the plates were in Sashimi form and the disappointed looks on my lunch dates faces were unmistakable. Nevertheless they decided not to have their meals changed as they were quite hungry. The Pork Katsu was served shortly after and was a delightful surprise. It was filled with Tuna Sushi, Fried Pork, a Garden Salad, White Rice, Miso Soup and a sauce made with soy sauce, ginger and sugar. The Sashimi, although thickly cut was "pretty good" (to quote my sister) but the Bento Box was the hit of the day. Everyone left their fish and ate my fried pork.
During the meal, I started to take some photos of the food and decor. Not wanting to leave my meal at the mercy of the chop sticks of my dining partners, asked the waitress if she could take a pic of the back portion of the restaurant(a hung Kimono, bamboo dining booths and Sushi station) for me. She said yes at first then asked my what it would be used for. I explained to her again the purpose of my visit and she then said she needed to ask permission first. We continued to eat while she went to the back to speak with someone. Returning to the table, our server handed me back the camera and said that it wasn't allowed. "Pardon?" I asked, "why is it not allowed?". She said she didn't know but the guy at the back said no. I then asked to speak with her manager or the "guy" but she then quickly told me that he wasn't available.
This was the strangest experience ever! I have never had this happen before and in the words of my younger sister, it was an "Epic Fail). Thankfully we got a few pics before we were restricted (Smh).
So...for decent food, bad service, a backroom manager who refused to speak with a patron and not being allowed to take photos, we are giving Tomo Japanese a C-!
Our orders for entrees were Spicy Shrimp Sushi, Tuna Sushi, Yellow Tail Sashimi, Squid Sushi and Sashimi and one of the lunch special Bento Box of Pork Katsu. We noticed a tea pot on out table but the tea in it was cold and when asked about it our server just shook her head.
After a bit of a wait, the Seafood orders came first and they were all wrong. Everything on the plates were in Sashimi form and the disappointed looks on my lunch dates faces were unmistakable. Nevertheless they decided not to have their meals changed as they were quite hungry. The Pork Katsu was served shortly after and was a delightful surprise. It was filled with Tuna Sushi, Fried Pork, a Garden Salad, White Rice, Miso Soup and a sauce made with soy sauce, ginger and sugar. The Sashimi, although thickly cut was "pretty good" (to quote my sister) but the Bento Box was the hit of the day. Everyone left their fish and ate my fried pork.
During the meal, I started to take some photos of the food and decor. Not wanting to leave my meal at the mercy of the chop sticks of my dining partners, asked the waitress if she could take a pic of the back portion of the restaurant(a hung Kimono, bamboo dining booths and Sushi station) for me. She said yes at first then asked my what it would be used for. I explained to her again the purpose of my visit and she then said she needed to ask permission first. We continued to eat while she went to the back to speak with someone. Returning to the table, our server handed me back the camera and said that it wasn't allowed. "Pardon?" I asked, "why is it not allowed?". She said she didn't know but the guy at the back said no. I then asked to speak with her manager or the "guy" but she then quickly told me that he wasn't available.
This was the strangest experience ever! I have never had this happen before and in the words of my younger sister, it was an "Epic Fail). Thankfully we got a few pics before we were restricted (Smh).
So...for decent food, bad service, a backroom manager who refused to speak with a patron and not being allowed to take photos, we are giving Tomo Japanese a C-!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Climbing the Himalayas ~ A taste of Nepal and Tibet.
Did you know: Contact with the neighboring countries and cultures like India and China has had a major influence on the food and culture of Tibet and Nepal. It's geographic location, climate and altitude also helped to fashion their unique cuisine and agricultural practices.
On one of the final days of Winter, I found myself wondering the streets of Jackson Heights on a whim. My spider senses told me that a great experience was to be had if I would just get out and explore.
I got off the E train on the Roosevelt Ave/74st stop and wandered through the area not sure of what I'd find. The aromas from the kabab spots, Mexican restaurants and various Asian food hubs were almost overwhelming but one place caught my eyes almost immediately.
Thakali Kitchen a Nepalese and Tibetan restaurant, located at 74-14 37th Ave in Jackson Heights stood out with it's bold red awning and chandeliers that shone brightly and could be seen from the street. I walked around a bit more but then decided that this was the place to have lunch.
Presented with two menus, one from Nepal and the other from Tibet I wondered how I would ever choose an entree.
The waitress came over and offered to help me as she said that my preliminary order would have been enough food to feed a small army. Instead, she suggested that I try the Chicken Thali platter as it would have a variety of sides that were eaten by both countries.
Not long after I was presented by a large circular silver tray with an array of food on it. There were small dishes of Lentil Dhal, Pickled Vegetables, Spiced Potatoes with Green Beans, Sauteed Bok Choy with Sesame Oil, Plain Yogurt and best of all Chicken Curry. These all surrounded a large mound of white rice and a stack of Carrots, Cucumbers and Green Chili Pepper.
Everything on the plate was super tasty and the Yogurt served to cool my tongue after eating the Pickled Vegetables and raw Green Chili Pepper. The Lentil Dhal was a bit bland as the only thing you could taste were cilantro and lentils.
This meal was quite filling and I was sincerely happy that I didn't order all that I had planned to in the beginning.
After looking over the dessert menu I decided to have the strangest thing on the menu...Butter Tea. Yes, this tea was literally made with butter and did not have any sweetness to it at all. Instead it was creamy, salty, hot and packed a huge buttery punch. A very interesting flavor to say the least. I got through four or five small sips but could go no further, especially after eating an array spices, rice and peas.
Overall, it was a great experience. The weather was perfect, the food was good and I returned home with many delicacies, vegetables and great spices from grocery shopping in the area.
So for great location, helpful service, nice decor and good food Thakali Kichen gets a well deserved B+. Great for families or a fun date night.
On one of the final days of Winter, I found myself wondering the streets of Jackson Heights on a whim. My spider senses told me that a great experience was to be had if I would just get out and explore.
I got off the E train on the Roosevelt Ave/74st stop and wandered through the area not sure of what I'd find. The aromas from the kabab spots, Mexican restaurants and various Asian food hubs were almost overwhelming but one place caught my eyes almost immediately.
Presented with two menus, one from Nepal and the other from Tibet I wondered how I would ever choose an entree.
The waitress came over and offered to help me as she said that my preliminary order would have been enough food to feed a small army. Instead, she suggested that I try the Chicken Thali platter as it would have a variety of sides that were eaten by both countries.
Not long after I was presented by a large circular silver tray with an array of food on it. There were small dishes of Lentil Dhal, Pickled Vegetables, Spiced Potatoes with Green Beans, Sauteed Bok Choy with Sesame Oil, Plain Yogurt and best of all Chicken Curry. These all surrounded a large mound of white rice and a stack of Carrots, Cucumbers and Green Chili Pepper.
Everything on the plate was super tasty and the Yogurt served to cool my tongue after eating the Pickled Vegetables and raw Green Chili Pepper. The Lentil Dhal was a bit bland as the only thing you could taste were cilantro and lentils.
This meal was quite filling and I was sincerely happy that I didn't order all that I had planned to in the beginning.
After looking over the dessert menu I decided to have the strangest thing on the menu...Butter Tea. Yes, this tea was literally made with butter and did not have any sweetness to it at all. Instead it was creamy, salty, hot and packed a huge buttery punch. A very interesting flavor to say the least. I got through four or five small sips but could go no further, especially after eating an array spices, rice and peas.
Overall, it was a great experience. The weather was perfect, the food was good and I returned home with many delicacies, vegetables and great spices from grocery shopping in the area.
So for great location, helpful service, nice decor and good food Thakali Kichen gets a well deserved B+. Great for families or a fun date night.
Friday, March 23, 2012
If Eating Italian Is Wrong, I Don't Want to Be Right...
Nestled in the heart of The Shops at Atlas Park is an Italian gem called Venezia Ristorante (80-60 Cooper Avenue Glendale, NY 11385).
This Italian eatery features stunning light fixtures, comfy seating and a well stocked bar in the center of the room. The dim lights and rich red drapes that frame the floor to ceiling windows are also a wonderful touch, giving this intimate space a romantic feel. Although I was there to celebrate my younger sister's recent academic achievements we felt warm and welcomed.
I explained the purpose of the visit to my server and he was more than happy to assist me with the menu choices. We decided that we would let the chef be creative and sample some of his best offerings. Why hadn't I done this before?
Easy conversation with a glass of Pinot Grigio for me and Ginger Ale for her was interrupted by the presentation of fresh baked Italian Bread and herb seasoned Olive Oil. Since we are both bread lovers, this was the perfect start to the night.
Next came the Calamari Friti aka Fried Calamari. Since I've started reviewing restaurants I've been searching for the perfect fried squid and finally I found it. The Calamari was hot, crisp, well seasoned and was served with a traditional Marinara Sauce and also a fresh Salsa Puree. Both Sauces were delightful and I would strongly recommend this for one of your starters here.
We were still enjoying the Calamari when a gorgeous plate of deep reds and bold greens was placed before us. This Beet Salad featured a sweet and tangy Arugula, Gorgonzola Cheese with Honey and Walnuts. It was a great way to cleanse the pallet after the previous fried course and we enjoyed every bite.
My sister and I are perfect together for these reviews because for a teenager, her pallet is well developed and we seem to like the same things so the next course was a real treat. It's very tricky to pair seafood and cheese together but the Seafood Ravioli with Cheese Sauce was a happy marriage. The fresh pasta was light and supple revealing an amazing shrimp filling that worked well with the rich Cheese Sauce. I can't say enough great things about this dish.
Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Arugula Salad and a butterflied Pork Chop, golden fried and crispy was set before me and the aroma was glorious. The Potatoes were smooth and the truffles added a nice earthy flavor. You can't go wrong with with fried meat and the Pork Chop was fried perfectly. The Seasoning was a bit mild but when paired with the salad the bite with brightened.
My sister had the Pane Mare which was half of a round Italian Bread hollowed out and filled with Mussels, Clams, Shrimp, Calamari and Salmon in a Marinara Sauce. The sauce from the seafood and marinara sauce soaked into the bread and created a pizza like experience. This is a great dish to share as there is something for everyone to love. Seafood lovers should definitely give this big boy a try.
I was stuffed by the third course but had to find the strength to push on as my not so secret crush Adam Richman of Man vs Food would have. Somehow, somewhere room was made for dessert. Tiramisu a la Titi was my sister's choice and I couldn't help but be pleased with her selection. Mascarpone Cream, Expresso, Cookies and Cocoa Powder...how can that not satisfy all that ails you? This dessert was light with a clean finish. The coffee was not overpowering as it can be sometimes, instead it was just the right compliment to the cheese and chocolate. It was the first taste of Tiramisu for my sister and a great way to end the night. Kudos to the chef for six delicious courses.
For excellent service, stylish decor, great food and location, we give Venezia Ristorante our first A+. This place is great for date night or a quiet meal with friends. We highly recommend a visit.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Τηγανητό καλαμάρι aka Fried Calamari
You chose "To Greece" as your favorite blog post of the last four, challenging us to recreate one of the featured dishes. The dish we should remake was clear to us from the very beginning. We would make our take on Fried Calamari, fresh and crispy unlike the one we sampled at Tasty Grill.
This is a quick, tasty recipe that will please any seafood lover. Click the "smell" button on your browser and get into the mood for food.
1lb fresh, cleaned squid (tubes and tentacles)
1 cup flour
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 cups oil for frying (or enough to cover pan 2 to 3 inches)
Rinse squid thoroughly. Pat dry and cut into 1/3 of an inch rings. Season squid with salt, pepper, garlic powder and lemon juice and let it marinate for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
Combine flour and seasoned bread crumbs in a large bowl and set aside. Remove Calamari from the refrigerator and place near flour mixture.
Heat oil in medium pan and bring to 350 degrees F or until bubbles form around the handle of a wooden spoon inserted into the oil. In small batches drench squid into flour mixture and coat thoroughly. Lightly shake off excess flour and fry until golden brown (about 1 min). Drain on paper towel and repeat until all the squid is fried to a golden brown.
Sauce:
2 gloves garlic chopped
1/4 med onion chopped
2 large tomatoes chopped
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 sml green chili
1/2 tsp salt
In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp oil and add tomatoes and onions. Cook for 2 minutes on medium heat. Now add garlic and chili and cook further for 2 minutes. Pour tomato sauce into the pan and stir in the salt. Simmer on low for 5 minutes. Chill and serve with Fried Calamari.
This is a quick, tasty recipe that will please any seafood lover. Click the "smell" button on your browser and get into the mood for food.
1lb fresh, cleaned squid (tubes and tentacles)
1 cup flour
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 cups oil for frying (or enough to cover pan 2 to 3 inches)
Rinse squid thoroughly. Pat dry and cut into 1/3 of an inch rings. Season squid with salt, pepper, garlic powder and lemon juice and let it marinate for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
Combine flour and seasoned bread crumbs in a large bowl and set aside. Remove Calamari from the refrigerator and place near flour mixture.
Heat oil in medium pan and bring to 350 degrees F or until bubbles form around the handle of a wooden spoon inserted into the oil. In small batches drench squid into flour mixture and coat thoroughly. Lightly shake off excess flour and fry until golden brown (about 1 min). Drain on paper towel and repeat until all the squid is fried to a golden brown.
Sauce:
2 gloves garlic chopped
1/4 med onion chopped
2 large tomatoes chopped
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1 sml green chili
1/2 tsp salt
In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp oil and add tomatoes and onions. Cook for 2 minutes on medium heat. Now add garlic and chili and cook further for 2 minutes. Pour tomato sauce into the pan and stir in the salt. Simmer on low for 5 minutes. Chill and serve with Fried Calamari.
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