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.

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!

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-!