Mardi Gras at Sugarfreak

News of Fat Tuesday reminded me that Mardi Gras is coming fast, which is always a great excuse to party and indulge in festive Cajun food. I love me some spicy flavors, and right away thought of our very own, Sugarfreak, which serves Louisiana-inspired cuisine. They’re hosting a fun celebration next Tuesday, March 4th in all its festive glory – they’ll have: 

• $5 hurricanes 
• $4 craft beers 
• $1 oysters (I’ve had them here and they’re delicious) 
• King cake (swoon) 

And…lots of fun raffle prizes, sponsored appropriately by Abita. Join the party and tell ‘em who sent ya!

Sugarfreak - 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com

Bear's Valiant Effort on Chopped

Tonight was a big night on TV for Astoria, as Chef Natasha Pogrebinsky of Bear Restaurant was yet again featured on Food Network's Chopped.  Making her debut back in August and fighting her way into the final round, Natasha came back tonight in an attempt to seize a second chance at victory.

Watching the program, Dan and I waited with baited breath, as we rooted for Chef Natasha's success.  Unfortunately, while I can't report back a win, Natasha fought til the end for what was a very tight match and held her own next to some fierce competition.  

Extremely proud of this talented lady, I wanted to feature her creative eats she constructed on tonight's episode with some pretty obscure ingredients.  Congrats on a great competition, Natasha!  Looking forward to seeing you back in the kitchen.

Course 1 - Celery, prosciutto & lime bisque with crostini

Course 2 - Fried snapper ribs with tartar and pan-roasted snapper filet Course 3 - Deep fried cheesecake with dulce de leche cappuccino 
Bear - 12-14 31st Avenue, Long Island City NY 11106
917.396.4939
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.bearnyc.com

Beer Week is Here - Cheers to that!

For those of you who appreciate great beer,  you're in luck, as this week officially crowns NYC Beer Week.  Bars, breweries and all sorts of watering holes in and around this city and the boroughs are hosting beeriffic specials that'll get any beer advocate off their couch!  Here's a few ways that Astoria is celebrating, so get out there and enjoy a great brewski.

The Queens Kickshaw - Their Queens Tap Takeover event honors the best of the best in Queens from breweries such as SingleCut Beersmiths, Rockaway Brewing, Finway Brewery and even Beyond Kombucha.  You'll find this beer flowing all this week til Sunday evening.  40-17 Broadway, Astoria.  718.777.0913

SingleCut Beersmiths - Astoria's famous micro-brewery helps put a grand finale on Beer Week on Saturday with live music, brewery tours and special release beers.  Did you hear they're featuring the John Michael Rum Barrel Aged brew just for this occasion? 19-33 37th Street, Astoria.  718.606.0788

Sweet Afton - Even though they're not having a special Beer Week event per se, Sweet Afton has a great beer library with plenty of craft selections such as Founders Pale Ale, Peekskill Eastern Standard IPA, Smuttynose Brown Dog and of course our very own, SingleCut January Olympic Gold Lager.  30-09 34th Street, Astoria.  718.777.2570

Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden - It's cool to see that even a big institution such as the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden is celebrating craft beers this week with $4 mugs during happy hour and $18 pitchers on select beers (and appetizers). Nazdravie!  29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria. 718.274.4925

The Sparrow - Keeping things low-key during Beer Week makes this a perfect place to visit and beat the crowds.  Boasting an extensive list of well priced beers, including SingleCut, Bronx Brewery Pale Ale, Chimay Blue Trappist ale, and even some gluten free options such as New Planet Pale, you can't go wrong with this classic neighborhood haunt.  24-01 24th Avenue, Astoria.  718.606.2260

El Maguey y La Tuna - Mexican Comfort Food Passed Down by Generations

Everyone has a few key food buzzwords that get them going when eating out at restaurants (blue cheese, bacon, chocolate, avocado, and so forth), and for me, one of those buzzwords is "Mexican."  All the delicious things that go with that word get my tastebuds tingling for something spicy, cheesy, hearty and comforting.  That's why I was super excited to visit a small, charming Mexican restaurant called El Maguey y La Tuna, with a few other blogger comrades.

Atmosphere:
Situated on East Houston Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side neighborhood, El Maguey y La Tuna sits in the company of other great eats, so needless to say there's a lot to choose from.  I like that Maguey stands apart from the rest though, as it's positioned further East than the tight cluster of other restaurants that decorates this neighborhood.

While the interior is simple and no frills, it feels comfortable and authentic, sporting white subway tile walls and tables, authentic Mexican folk art and a smallish custom made bar.  It was fun to come here with a large group, but think that the intimate space is better suited for couples or smaller parties.  We observed a few folks dining here who seemed like regulars, which is always a good sign.

Food:
Receiving a generous sampling of shared plates that represented a little bit of everything on the menu, my comrades and I enjoyed the communal nature of this meal.  Everything was tasty and interesting, with the following standing apart as my favorites:

Flautas - These fried little beauties came stuffed with a hearty chicken filling that was juxtaposed by fresh flavors of avocado crema and a zesty pico de gallo.  Despite it being a fried dish, it felt light and airy and something I'd like to bite into again.

Mole Poblano - I adore a good mole poblano, mainly due to its rich color and the use of chocolate, which is ever so subtle.  Maguey's was executed perfectly, as it boasted a sweet, smooth flavor that hugged the white meat chicken that was tender and juicy inside.  Little white flecks of sesame seeds provided a touch of crunch.

Mole de 5 Chile - Never having tried this rendition of mole, I was pleasantly surprised by the pop in flavor from the dried chiles and spices used to construct the sauce.  Despite its fiery look, the taste wasn't overly spicy but certainly held its own next to the mild chicken.  A side of rice or a soft corn tortilla did the job of drinking up that delicious sauce and transporting it into our pining tummies.

Jalapeno Margarita - Always welcoming a spicy margarita in my mouth, this one came on the rocks and used fresh juices and sliced jalapenos, giving it a nice kick.  While it's not for the faint of heart, the flavor isn't over the top.

Ponche - Because this drink isn't technically on the menu makes it that much more special.  Maria, Maguey's chef gave us a touch of history behind it, shedding light on the fact that it's mainly served during holiday time.  Consisting of warm, cooked fruits such as apples, pears, oranges, prunes and even a few tropical fruits we've never heard of, it's Mexico's version of mulled wine - with some tequila in place of wine, of course.

Service and Cost:
We loved the personal way in which everything is handled at El Maguey y La Tuna, from the interior decor to the down home comforting dishes.  As mentioned, we got to chat with Maria Luisa, Maguey's chef who not only knew all the ins and outs of the family recipes, but felt closely connected with customers, giving them what they truly want.

Costs are wallet friendly, allowing you to eat like a king in the big city:

Appetizers - $3.95 -$12.95
Tacos - $6.95 - $8.95
Seafood - $12.95 - $15.95
House Specialties - $13.95 - $16.95
Desserts - $4.95

3 Mmmms

El Maguey y La Tuna - 321 East Houston Street, New York NY 10002
212.473.3919
F Train to 2nd Avenue
www.magueyylatuna.com

3 Fun Food Infographics - Part Tres

From time to time, I get inspired by the fun and informative infographics I peruse on Visual.ly, and not surprisingly, many of them are food related.  Excited by these three recent creations, I hope they inspire you to cook up something delicious with your various kitchen tools.

KitchenAid Mixer and Attachment Chart - Serious cooks advise!  We all love our KitchenAids, but sometimes their various attachments and uses are a complete puzzle.  I love how the way this infographic demystifies all that, and simultaneously shows off this tools' fun color designs.

by: PartSelect

Cooking Hacks Everyone Should Know - While seasoned cooks will know some of these tricks, there are a few novel ideas that definitely got me thinking of mixing things up for my next partay.

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Healthiest Cooking Methods - For those of you who try hard to cook at home and be healthy, this chart is an awesome resource to stick on your fridge.  You'll learn to maximize the vitamins and nutrients found in foods and to generally improve your cooking style.

by HealthCentral.
Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Porkfest this Weekend at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden

One of my very favorite neighborhood food events is back this year, which is Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden's Pork Fest.  Taking place around this time of year, the staff at the Beer Garden create an entire menu, consisting of delicious pork delicacies that originate from the Czech Republic and Slovakia (my mother country!)

I promise you'll fulfill your heart's desire with amazing pork specialties such as pork and dumplings, pork goulash, fried pork cutlet and more!

This tasty pig feast takes place all weekend, starting this Friday at 5 p.m. and goes til Sunday evening at 10 p.m.

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.274.4925
N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd

bohemianhall.com

Garces Trading Co & Provisions – Philly’s Medi Goodness

For those of you not familiar with Philly’s dining scene, it’s very much of a foodie’s town, with a few local chefs having a prominent imprint. One such food influencer is no other than Chef, Jose Garces, who boasts 7 upscale restaurants in the Philly area, many with a Spanish or Latin flair.

Atmosphere:
Located on the border of Old City and Washington Square in Philly, Garces Trading Company & Provisions is a fun place to stop, whether you want to get your fix of premium olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette or a full-on sit down meal. We chose the latter and made reservations in their dining room, which was spacious and welcoming, but nearly full on a Sunday.

Liking the simple yet elegant décor of this restaurant, we sat at a high table with rustic wooden stools, situated at the far back of the dining room. A good view of the bar and the extensive wine cellar, provided more intrigue, especially giving credence to their rich wine selection from Spain, Italy, France and beyond. 

Food:
Loving all the Mediterranean influences on the menu, Dan and I didn’t have a hard time picking out our dishes and almost wished we were with a bigger party so we can sample a larger part of the menu. Here’s what we tried:

House Made Mozzarella – Being staunch lovers of fresh mozzarella cheese, Dan and I were excited to try this version, which was still warm and sprinkled with Maldon salt and cracked pepper. Thoughtfully prepared, it was smooth, silky and provided a creamy texture in your mouth. Dan went as far as to proclaim it to be the “best mozzarella he ever ate.”

Baked Eggs – Resembling a Middle Eastern Shakshouka dish, I was in love with Garces’ rendition, which were essentially baked eggs in a spicy tomato stew. Other fragrant embellishments such as pieces of guanciale and manchego cheese made it that much more indulgent. A few pieces of black olive toast further sealed the deal for me, and Dan couldn’t stop stealing pieces off my plate.

Steak and Eggs – Dan’s entrée of choice didn’t disappoint, as he devoured pieces of perfectly cooked flat iron steak, thick cut fries with a beautiful black truffle Bernaise sauce on top. Even though it sounds like a pretty standard brunch dish, Garces’ sophisticated spin elevated it to the next level.

Macarons – I noticed a sign for French macarons as soon as we came in and knew I’d have to try them. We ordered two, including the chocolate rum and the vanilla lavender. The latter was exquisite, boasting sophisticated essence of lavender in the meringue cookie and a soft velvety filling that just melted in your mouth. The chocolate version was tasty too, but nothing to write home about.

Service and Cost:
The only aspect we found to be lacking at Garces Trading Company was the service. We found our waiter to be awkward and so slow with virtually everything. Even the bus boys had a peculiar demeanor, as they seemed surprised by our request to get sharing plates with our appetizer. Everything just seemed to be a little off, which was surprising in a professional eatery such as Garces.

Costs are fair and un-gourmet-like, given the high quality of the food. The entire brunch, including Mimosas set us back about $60 with tax and tip

2.5 Mmmms

Garces Trading Company – 1111 Locust Street, Philadelphia PA 19107
215.574.1099
philadelphia.garcestradingcompany.com

Fooditka in Philly - Reading Terminal Market

On this three day weekend, Dan and I decided on a road trip to Philly to satiate our historic curiosity, see good friends, and to taste some amazing food, of course.  Quickly learning that Philly is indeed a foodie haven, we bumped into all sorts of delicious sites that made our visit complete, already piquing our interest for an upcoming visit.

A big highlight of our trip was a visit to the historic Reading Terminal Market, which since 1893 has been a gathering place for the city's local food artisans.  Reminding me of Seattle's Pike Place Market, Reading offers up a medley of amazing food merchants from dairy & cheese, specialty desserts and confections, meats & poultry, Amish goodies, housewares, books & crafts and a lot more.

Dan and I took a proper look-see and were impressed by the sights, sounds, smells and most of all tastes.  Here are my personal faves:

Meltkraft - The second outpost of Valley Shepherd Creamery's retail location, this amazing "melt shop" can also be found in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  Immediately drawn by its pungent smell, I couldn't resist a heaping, cheesy sandwich and drew my eyes to the Melter Skelter (aka Raclette) with pickled green tomatoes, jalapeno and watercress.  The cheese was melted to perfection and created the most amazing, well-done crust on the outside of the bread.  Loving the thin pieces of green tomatoes, they added a hint of sophistication and a contrasting sour flavor.

Wursthaus - When Dan spotted a German schnitzel stand at the market, he had to go for the gold with this classic pork schnitzel sandwich.  Really generous in size, it was easily a foot long heaping sandwich with beautifully crispy pork cutlets, romaine lettuce and a spicy grain mustard on a fluffy kaiser bun.  I had a bite of the pork and despite it being fried, it felt light and fresh.

Flying Monkey Bakery - Being that I'm a sucker for dessert, it didn't take long to be drawn in by Flying Monkey's whoopie pies - and there were so many to choose from.  Loving a classic chocolate and peanut butter combination, I went for it, and immediately understood what the hoopla is all about.  The cookie dough is as soft as a cloud, while the filling is light (almost like a mousse) and really smooth.  A few sprinkles give it a jolt of texture, which was fun to bite into.

Have you been to Philly's Reading Terminal Market? What are some of your favorite food purveyors?

Reading Terminal Market - 12th & Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
215.922.2317
readingterminalmarket.org

New Gluten Free Quinoa Cakes

While I'm still dabbling in my Gluten Free diet (I've stopped it just in time for Valentine's Day), I wanted to share a fun and simple recipe I created for quinoa cakes.

Having leftover red quinoa from a side dish I made, as well as some leftover ground sausage with veggies, I decided to mix the two together, add some egg as binder and pan fry it up. The result was a deliciously golden quinoa patty (almost like a croquette) with a crispy outside and a warm, hearty inside.  Here's the simple recipe - feel free to substitute with or without the protein of your choice.

Fooditka's Quinoa Cakes (serves 2)

Ingredients:
Leftover red or white cooked quinoa (1 - 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup, ground chicken or turkey sausage (cook with veggies such as onions and pepper to create great aromatics)
1 egg
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together and pan fry in a non stick skillet for about 5 minutes/side.  Make sure to keep a close eye, as to not burn the your quinoa cakes.  Season lightly with salt and pepper to taste (as needed).  Serve cakes with a sweet or spicy sauce or chutney.  I enjoyed mine with a spicy BBQ sauce.

Happy gluten-free eating!

Fun Storm Shots from the Foodie Community

Another treacherous day for us by way of storm Pax.  When will it end?  I hope good things are on the horizon soon for us, but it's always important to keep a good attitude.  I wanted to share some of these fun snow shots I've been seeing in the nabe that shows off Astorians' awesome spirit.  Take that, PAX!

Singlecut is up to here with the snow. They'll reopen tomorrow, just in time for Valentine's Day! Queens Comfort is looking spunky in the snow - and they'll also reopen tomorrow.

Here's also another fun video from the awesomely silly peeps at Queens Comfort.

Cute little guy "doing his part," in front of Grand Cafe.

Post by Grand Cafe.

Omelette a la You at Rest-Au-Rant

Recently going out to brunch with Dan, Kimberly and Jonathan, we visited Rest-au-Rant, as we were taunted by their rich menu of breakfast treats.  Dan and I had to be a little careful, as we're doing the gluten free thing again, but noticed there were things to choose from.

Omelette a la You - Deciding to go with something as simple and basic as an omelette, Dan and I both chose this dish with the impetus to customize it in our own way.  The concept is straightforward and some may think expected, but Rest-au-Rant executes it really well.

Something that differentiates Rest-au-Rant's make-your-own-omelette offering is that you get up to 4 different ingredients to embellish your omelette with, and they all sound great. 

For my creation, I chose gorgonzola cheese (my fave!), prosciutto, tomato and onion.  Together, these ingredients created a deliciously hearty medley of salty, sharp, acidy and sweet flavors that complimented the egg beautifully.  A generous side of home fries and a side salad, which were also flavorful, did the trick of filling us up for a good part of the afternoon.

Service and Cost:
We received nice, friendly service and even little homemade chocolate truffles to cap off the night.  One unfortunate snafu was when the waitress forgot to send over the bacon jam we ordered, but it's probably for the best, as our bellies were already plump.

Prices are really competitive and only set us back about $25 per person with tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Rest-au-Rant - 30-01 35th Avenue, LIC NY 11106
718.729.9009
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue
www.rarbarlic.com

A Very Sweet Valentine's Day in Astoria

With Valentine’s Day just days away, you may be still be pondering about what to do in Astoria. Well…there’s plenty, and this round-up is just a little taste of it. Find a bevy of other options on my giant post of love on We Heart Astoria.

Astor Bake Shop – Chef George and his team always whip up something lovely and delicious, such as these fun, cheeky love cookies. 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria. 718.646.8439

Sweets First – I loved seeing this bevy of colorful cupcakes they’ve whipped up for V-day. Mix and match them with some cake pops for your special someone. 35-04 35th Avenue, Astoria. 347.741.4488

Tufino – There’s a major swoonfest going on around this lovely V-Day pasta, including special heart ravioli with housemade pesto, truffle cream, or vodka sauce filling. You can get them from this Thursday to Sunday. 36-08 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria. 718.278.4800

Woodbines – Moving over to LIC now, I was excited to learn about Woobines' V-day menu full of classic favorites such as steak au poivre, stuffed filet of sole, chocolate lava cake and more. See full Valentine’s Day menu here. 47-10 Vernon Blvd, LIC. 718.361.8488

Homemade sweets – I always enjoy making a special something for Dan and suggest putting a little love into your sweet treats. My personal favorites include: A Lemon Rosemary Tarte, Apple Croustade (pictured above), Bacon Chocolate chip Cookies, Old Fashioned Homemade Chocolate Cake

Filling Our Hearts and Bellies at Oneness Fountain Heart

After a full week of indulging in Florida, Dan and I were in the mood for something lighter, and therefore jumped at the chance to have dinner at the Oneness Fountain Heart restaurant in Flushing.  The inspiration for this restaurant intrigued me, as it pays homage to a well known spiritual leader and "a champion of peace," Sri Chinmoy, boasting an eclectic vegetarian menu. 

Atmosphere:
Located very much off the beaten path in Flushing, Oneness is a place you must access by car, but once you get there you'll be glad you made the trip.  I must say that from the outside, it doesn't much look like a restaurant or cafe, as the space is ultra bright - seeming to be illuminated by a multitude of lamps as well as gold wall fixtures that reflect light.

Once we stepped inside, we were welcomed by a bright and colorful dining room, adorned with more lamps, fountains and a concave ceiling that was further illuminated and made the room feel more spacious.  There were a few people inside, enjoying a leisurely dinner, but overall the restaurant was relaxed and subdued, representing its spiritual inspiration quite well.  It's certainly a place to relax and wind down after a long hard day.

Food:
Another aspect of Oneness that totally fascinated me was their chef who happens to be Czech.  Naturally, being from Slovakia, I wanted to meet Chef Horejsi and was totally surprised that a vegetarian and an Asian friendly menu would come from someone from a culture very much dependent on meat.

Appetizers - We started with two hearty appetizers, including these gorgeous zucchini rollups (pictured above) and the nacho blues chips.  The first was the most interesting to me, partly due to its sophisticated presentation and also because of the amazing colors it had going on.  The inside was stuffed with a a walnut paste that seemed almost meaty, and together it created a deliciously vibrant bite.  

Entrees - Inspired by the Asian style dishes on the menu, Dan and I went with the Mongolian Beef and the raw coconut Pad Thai.  Both were vegetarian of course, but you could've fooled anyone's with Dan's "beef," which was substituted with seitan, coated in a tasty soy glaze. Loving the juxtaposition of the tender "beef" with the crispy fresh veggies, we took turns devouring this dish.

My Pad Thai was a nice choice as well, also representing a full spectrum of colors and textures.  I enjoyed the thin strips of carrots, zucchini and coconut that served as the "pasta." 

Dessert - Definitely the highlight of the meal for me, the Berry Dream (aka Cashew Cream with Blueberries) blew us out of the water with its delicate texture and lightness with each bite.  The berries provided a touch of earthy freshness and a beautiful color contrast.

Another home run dessert was the homemade passion fruit, which was also a fluffy mousse confection with pretty dollops of passion fruit puree.  We certainly enjoyed it in the cold, but I imagine this dessert to be lovely in the warm summer months as well.

Service and Cost:
The waitstaff at Oneness is lovely, totally low-key and modest, just like the restaurant.  We enjoyed hearing about Chef Horejsi's background, learning that he's been a chef for 10 years, experimenting both in NY and Paris. Overall, it was wonderful to see a new innovative take on vegetarian food, and for once it not seeming like an afterthought but instead the main event.

Costs are very reasonable and include:

Appetizers - $4.75 - $8.95
Entrees - $6.95 - $13.95
Desserts - $4.50 - $4.95

3 Mmmms

Oneness Fountain Heart - 157-19 72nd Avenue, Flushing NY 11367
718.591.3663
www.oneness-fountain-heart.com

The Compost Cookie Rings in the Superbowl

Looking forward to the Superbowl last week, I planned on making something special for dessert.  Since I don't really dabble in making desserts much, given my frequent gluten free bouts, I was excited to try something new, and thought to recreate my favorite cookie at Momofuku Milk Bar, which is of course the Compost Cookie.  

For those of you not too familiar with this treat, it's truly a compost of sorts, as it combines a bevy of different sweet and savory ingredients such as chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, rolled oats, potato chips (yes, actual potato chips) and pretzels.  I love how chunky and rustic they are, as the recipe encourages you not to break up the savory ingredients so they're fully on display.  

Happy to find the original recipe right on Momofuku Milk Bar's website, I took to making these for Josh and Diana's Superbowl party.  They were quite tasty out of the oven but I botched them up a bit by burning the bottoms unfortunately.  Dan loved them from the get go, and gobbled up a few even before they made it to the Superbowl.

Compost Cookie recipe, courtesy of Momofuku Milk Bar

SOCHI Viewing Dinner at Bear

The SOCHI Olympics are coming, and I'm psyched.  Are you?  Part of the reason is that I've been surrounded by this event day in and day out in my full time gig at Getty Images, getting people amped up about these sports even before the competition starts.

I love to see that Astoria is getting into the spirit, and who better to kick things off than our very own resident Russian ambassadors, Natasha and Sasha Pogrebinsky at Bear.  I love that they're hosting a special SOCHI viewing party on Friday night.  Featuring a savory, comforting Russian style dinner, you'll find yourself eating authentic specialties such as Hunter's Stew with Parsnips, Cabbage Rolls with Sour Cream, Siberian Dumplings and other rich foods.

Reservations are strongly suggested so give them call, and spend the evening cheering on your favorite sportspeople. Let's go Team USA!

Bear - 12-14 31st Avenue, Long Island City NY 11106
917.396.4939
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.bearnyc.com

FTW - Artopolis Cheese Pies

It’s been a while since I’ve set foot in Artopolis Bakery, as I’ve been trying to abstain from sweets and various types of baked goods.  Saturday however, was a different story, as I took the opportunity to indulge and bring some of their goodies over to my brother and sister-in-law’s lunch get together.

Naturally, I wanted to get Artopolis’ rosemary bread that goes well with hummus, olives and even just on its own.  But one can’t simply leave this place without picking up a few other provisions.

Cheese Pies – The bread counter at Artopolis not only serves a few varieties of rustic loaves, it also boasts a display of different cheese and spinach pies.  I chose two varieties of the former, one of which was savory, boasting a crumbly thick crust and a tender, savory middle.  Although I’m not 100% certain of the cheeses used in this particular pie, my guess would be something like feta.

The sweet cheese pie was everyone’s favorite, which resembled more of a danish, and it was further sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon.  Heated up a bit, each bite was decadent, boasting a sweet/savory filling of anthotyro cheese.  Even the most discerning eaters found this pie delicious.

Spinach Pie – Who doesn’t love a classic spinach pie!?  This one was executed perfectly, with a pretty golden brown crust that was a little crunchy and crumbly too.  The bright green inside was earthy and vibrant, the spinach layers bejeweled with a few flecks of white feta.

Service and Cost:
Since the bakery was quite busy, it took me a while to get someone’s attention, but once I did, it was all good.  All in all, I was in and out in a matter of 10 minutes, which is more than acceptable on a busy Saturday.

Costs are expensive but worth every penny, setting me back $31 for two loaves of bread and 6 pastries.

3 Mmmms

Artopolis - 23-18 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105

718.728.8484

N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd or Ditmars Blvd

www.artopolis.net

Best Take-Out in Astoria and LIC

Since the weather doesn't seem to be cooperating on days like these, it's best to stay indoors and hunker down. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy the delicious eats offered by neighboring restaurants.  Here's a quick run-down of some of my faves - what are yours?

Seva - It was so nice to see Gramercy Tavern's Chef, Miroslav's Uskokovic's Astoria recommendations in which he mentioned Seva for best take out.  I tend to agree, as they offer an easy online delivery system, and are extremely generous with their take-away portions.  One personal dinner will easily tide you over for two nights.  30-07 34th Street, Astoria.  718.626.4440

BareBurger - Always in the mood for BareBurger, you can't go wrong with something like the Roadhouse or the spicy Habanero Express burger.  Even though fries are outstanding, I'd recommend having them in the restaurant so they're super fresh.  They've added a new burger to the menu, which is the Southern with pepperjack cheese, applewood smoked thick cut bacon, pickled green tomatoes and fried onion.  33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria.  718.777.7011

Crave - Dan and our friends in the nabe often turn to Crave for a late night snack.  Their delivery is pretty consistent, and you can order comfort food such as a delicious Cuban sandwich, various chips and dips, as well as their signature Crave  Bowls, or my personal fave, the poppable falafel balls.  28-55 36th Street, Astoria.  718.726.4976

Watawa - If you love sushi, Watawa is a must and I've never been disappointed with their in-house or take-out dining.  Some of my favorite rolls are the most simplest such as the yellowtail scallion, spicy tuna or the eel avocado.  33-10 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria.  718.545.9596

PFC (aka Palace Fried Chicken) - Some of the best fried chicken and hot wings come from this micro chain located both in Astoria and LIC.  The chicken is without a doubt a must, however, steer clear of the pizza.  I unfortunately speak from experience.  44-45 21st Street, LIC.  718.433.1661.  21-02 36th Avenue, Astoria.  718.729.4811