25 Apr
If you’re new to LIC you’ll be happy to know that LIC has its own Food Festival. And this year’s 8th annual Taste of LIC is taking place on June 4th.
There will be tons of local restaurants attending and the guest of honor will be Christine Quinn and Helen Marshal. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget our Master of Ceremonies Jimmy Van Bramer.
You can purchase your tickets in advance here.
10 Apr
If you are a big fan of the Brooklyn Flea, then you’re in for a surprise.
There is an LIC Flea in the works and it’s coming here in June!
The Brooklyn Flea has been hogging the limelight a bit lately, but starting this June, Long Island City in Queens will be getting a flea market all to itself.
The market, which will be called LIC Flea & Food, will go up every weekend on the Queens waterfront, and will showcase “a unique mix of vendors focused on food and drink as well as antiques, collectibles, art, crafts, furniture, clothing, fashion, and more every Saturday and Sunday starting June 2013,” according to their website.
While no vendors have been made public yet, and the location has only been hinted at on their Facebook page, it appears as if will have a similar layout to the Brooklyn Flea, albeit with a much nicer view. According to the site, it’s been “curated with the diversity and spirit of Queens in mind. Home to the best food and some of the most unique vendors on the planet, we’ve recruited the best of the city so be prepared for a fleatastic experience.”
via The Daily Meal
9 Apr
If you thought our produce options were limited in LIC, think again.
Councilman Van Bramer has announced a plan to open a green market in the heart of Hunters Point this Summer with GrowNYC.
The proposed youth-run farm stand would be located at 48th Ave. and Vernon Blvd. and would be open on Saturdays from July through November. Of course, this is all contingent on the approval from CB 2.
As some of you remember GrowNYC had a farmer’s market in the same location a few years back and it just didn’t work out. This time around things will be planned differently.
“Bringing a Greenmarket back to Hunters Point/Long Island City has been a top priority for me and I am proud to announce it’s coming back,” said Council Member Van Bramer who also sponsored Queens’ first affordable farm fresh food program at the Queensbridge Houses. “Not only will we be bringing in locally grown farm fresh fruits and vegetables directly into Long Island City but we will be providing our local youth with jobs. I look forward to expanding healthy food options for Western Queens residents in the future.
Read more about GrowNYC at www.grownyc.org
4 Apr
For all you foodies (and healthy eaters) out there, we’re happy to announce the start of the new CSA in Hunters Point. As some of you know, the current Long Island City CSA’s pick up area was a good walk away from Hunters Point. This one will be taking place conveniently at Alewife!
Basic shares begin at $548 (that’s roughly $21 a week for heaps of high quality, locally and lovingly grown, organic produce. There are also add-on options for organic herbs, and local fruit.
Half shares will not be sold and you can sign up for the Hunters Point CSA here.
If you don’t know what a CSA is exactly, this video gives you a good idea on what to expect:
16 Mar
We had to place a question mark in our heading because a farmer’s market has been done before in Hunters Point, and because of the lack of interest, it was moved to Socrates Park.
A Westchester-based group is looking to start a weekly farmers market in Hunters Point, bringing farm-fresh produce, meat and dairy to the neighborhood, plus specialty items like pickles, jams and baked goods.
Down to Earth is seeking the proper permits to start the market, which would run Saturdays from late May or the beginning of June through November, according to the organization’s territory manager Dagmar Kostova.
She said they’re eyeing a location on 48th Avenue, between Vernon Boulevard and 5th Street, where another farmers market used to operate before closing down two years ago.
So we need to know, will you be buying from this farmer’s market if it does come to fruition?
via dnaInfo.com
25 Feb
As palates broaden, taste buds blossom and restaurants look for a new twists to old favourites I was pleased to discover a new taste combination whilst eating brunch at Crankys, on Vernon and 49th Ave. in Hunters Point.
Brunch dishes are pretty similar around town; eggs Benedict and it’s variants with spinach, smoked salmon and even sausage; omelettes, pancakes and waffles; fry-ups of eggs, steak, sausage, hash browns etc; all usually washed down with coffee, tea or juices.
Cranky’s have been offering mimosas as a brunch thirst quencher for a while and offer a very fine Bloody Mary. Winter, however, begs for something that is a little more warming than a chilled juice or iced tea; so I was pleased to be able to try their mulled wine, that traditional mix of red wine and spices that goes back to the time of Chaucer and his baudy taverns. In doing so I discovered a new, and now favourite, wine and food combination: Mulled wine with Croque Madame. For those who don’t know, Croque Madame is a variation on Croque Monsieur (Toasted Ham and Cheese sandwich), and includes a sunny-side up fried egg. Cranky’s version of this offers a choice of ham or turkey. I chose the traditional ham, a nice thick slice of tasty meat, which sat with gruyere cheese and a nicely made béchamel sauce, wrapped in a country bread and accompanied by a small dressed salad. I could have chosen the fries/frites but the pounds per square inch inside my shirt were a little on the high side. In retrospect I could have asked for the egg to be poached to avoid the frying but the meal was traditional and very pleasing, well cooked and flavorsome. The mulled wine was just right, lots of spice and at a temperature that meant you could drink it right away; a real heartwarmer.
Cranky’s serve their brunch Friday thru Sunday 9-4pm and it is clearly and deservedly popular, judging by the people waiting. If you are there on other days around lunchtime I can recommend their salads. The chef has a great way of marinating chicken and steak so that the meat stays moist on cooking and has subtle tastes of herbs and spices. My favourites are caesar salads with steak or chicken. The mixed salad is fresh and crisp, the meat moist and tasty with the salad dressing (a speciality) enhancing the mix in ways that give just the right mix of sweetness, oil and citrus.
Cranky specializes in French Louisiana Creole dishes, with a few available at lunchtime and more in the evening – try their delicious Gumbo soup and Fra Diablo spaghetti with seafood (freshly cooked to order). More on these in another edition.
Eric Hathaway
www.sometimeinlongislandcity.com
22 Jan
If you’ve walked around the neighborhood recently you’ve noticed ads that ask your need of fresh food in your life. Well, if you’re into CSA’s (or Community Supported Agriculture), then you’re going to love this news.
First of all, for those who don’t understand what a CSA is, it’s pretty much when a whole bunch of people subsidize a farm (in upstate NY) that grows veggies and fruits and during the warmer months of harvest brings you your share to enjoy. Some are certified organic, some are as close to organic as you can get. What’s great is that you learn about what’s in season and you can’t get fresher produce than this (unless you lived on the farm).
Many of us in Hunters Point have had to travel all the way to 37th Ave. to pick up our share for the current Long Island City CSA. As much as they’ve tried, they haven’t been able to get conveniently closer to a subway stop. Fortunately it hasn’t deterred membership, but it’s probably turned some people off.
The good news is that there is a new organization that is trying to bring a CSA into Hunters Point. They are currently looking for a farmer to work with and have many eager members hoping it will come to fruition:
20 Jan
Now that Lounge 47 is (unfortunately) closed, what’s next?
We’d like to ask YOU to guess what type of restaurant (or shop?) will open up in this space next. Be as specific as possible (ie, Thai, Peruvian or Real Estate Agency). The one who hits it on the nail gets a free meal on us from that establishment! We’ll accept predictions for the next week only!
Please post your predictions below.
16 Jan
The Tandoori Murgh Ke Tikke at Aanchal
An Indian Jewel in the Heart of LIC
Long Island City has a wide choice of Italian, French, Latin and Asian (S.E. and Chinese) restaurants to balance the range of burger joints, diners, and delis that populate its various neighborhoods. Other cuisines are less well represented, so it was with some delight that a friend told me about a recently opened Indian restaurant close to Court Square.
Aanchal sits on 23rd Street, just behind the Court Square Diner. Its decor has that authentic mix of Indian simplicity (plain wood tables) and faux luxury (moquette and wooden panels); together with unobtrusive TV screens showing Bollywood music videos, with the sound turned down to a level that allowed conversation. We arrived around 8:30pm and there was a lively Indian family celebration at one end of the restaurant. Although the waiter was apologetic we took this as a good sign. We were greeted well and served immediately with complimentary papadoms and sauces. There is no drinks menu, though, as the restaurant is not licensed.
Aanchal has a very varied menu which offers much more than the traditional western favourites of Tikka masalas, Kormas, Tandooris and the ubiquitous butter chicken. We chose a Tandoori Murgh Ke Tikke ($11.95) fenugreek flavored marinated chicken, and Lamb Roganjosh ($14.95). The waiter kindly let us know that the chicken is a “dry” dish, but we were prepared for that and would share our dishes, also ordering a bowl of raita ($2 –a cooling mix of yogurt, cucumber and herbs) and a garlic naan bread ($3.95). We were told to expect a 10-15 minute wait; always a good sign that the meal will be freshly prepared (not that this is a major issue with curries, but it’s good to have fresh herbs and spices, when appropriate), and were offered another round of papads by the observant waiter, noticing our swift demolition of the first round.
The dishes arrived together (as they should) and we enjoyed the range of tastes offered, complemented by the naan, rice and raita. The naan was especially good, clearly freshly cooked, moist and with a flavorsome mix of garlic, herbs and spices. Whilst we had asked for the lamb to be “spicy”, I suspect that they toned down Indian spicy to what they considered Western tastes, so if you want it “hot” make it clear. The chicken was moist and subtly flavoured, the red of the Tandoori spice contrasted with the green garnish (fenugreek leaves, no, more likely to be parsley?) and offered a dish that pleased the eyes as well as the palate. We finished off the lamb but there was enough chicken and rice left to be packed up for a trip home, to be enjoyed the next day (which it was!).
We will definitely return to Aanchal. If you like Indian food this place is as authentic as you’ll get this side of Curry Hill, and easier to get to for Queens residents; those on Manhattan who live close to the E, M and 7 lines and our neighbours in Brooklyn who are near to the G.
Aamchal also deliver and offer what looks like a tempting “All You Can Eat” lunch buffet for $9.99.
Eric Hathaway
9 Jan
Linguini and Clams at Manetta’s
What makes a good restaurant REALLY good is not always the food quality, not even the wine list; it is the establishment’s ability to maintain its standards on a very busy day. I took some friends to Manettas (10-76 Jackson Avenue) at the beginning of the holiday period to show off some LIC Italian cooking. We were fortunate to get a table in the main room, close to the fireplace, a homely feature that makes this place feel authentic and welcoming on a cold winter’s day. The restaurant was very busy with work and family groups and the staff were moving fast and efficiently from table to table.
Manetta’s has a blackboard to support the verbal “specials” list from the waiter and we chose a mix of menu items and specials. To start we had the house salad (Insalata Della Casa- $7.50) and breads to start, enjoying the variety in the salad, which arrived promptly and with a smile. The salad is a delicious mix of leaves, hazelnuts manchego cheese and apple, with a delicious balsamic dressing all wrapped in a cucumber slice nest.
For the main dish I chose the special of the day, a fish-driven home – made Ravioli – Bacala, Pinoli and raisins in a Grand Marnier Sauce ($17) that sat temptingly on the plate and did not disappoint in the subtlety of its flavours, the sauce complementing and not overpowering the fish filling. My companions chose the Linguini alle Vongole (Clams, $17) and the Spaghetti alla Carbonara ($13), an interesting mix of eggs, and cheeses with Pancetta. All dishes were well liked.
Homemade Ravioli with Bacala, Pinoli and raisins in a Grand Marnier Sauce
Desserts, too, did not disappoint, especially the excellent Crème Brulée ($6, creamy with a not too crisp cap), the Panne Cotta ($6.50) and the melt in your mouth Tiramisu ($5.50). Crème Brulées are a test of the skill and care of the dessert chef. Too often they can have a cap that is thick and brittle. This was light and flavorsome, with a cap that was thin and crisp; melt in your mouth rather than stick in your teeth. The tiramisu, too was excellent (yes I did have a taste of this as well); once again a light dish that did not leave you feeling over-fed at the end of the evening.
Manetta’s Creme Brûlée
I note that the prices of Manetta’s entrees are getting expensive, with some dishes getting close to $30, making this restaurant definitely one of the priciest in the neighbourhood, however the range of dishes and prices will suit a range of pockets. My lasting impression was, however, that this is an extremely well run restaurant with high standards in its cuisine and an attention to high service standards that shone on this busiest of days, with cheerful staff and a friendly greeting. It isn’t surprising that it is often busy, and deservedly so.
by Eric Hathaway
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