Holiday Blogger Love

Happy Christmas, everyone, as my British friends would say.  I hope you're all having a wonderful day celebrating in the way that feels right to you.

Dan and I are heading out to see our brother and sister-in-law and family soon, but before I go on my merry way to eat myself silly, I wanted to leave you off by paying homage to some of my fellow food blogger friends.  Let's see the fun ways you guys are spending this holiday season...

Just took two Christmas stollens out of the oven. They look great and smell amazing! http://t.co/4ltUWZwUgL
— harmoniousbelly (@harmoniousbelly) December 25, 2013

Aren't these the cutest Christmas mice ever?! http://t.co/p82BWdlx00
— Connie Chong (@UrbanBakes) December 24, 2013

My year of living and eating in Western #Queens - http://t.co/UPWE1mnbY0
— tastoriaqueens (@tastoriaqueens) December 25, 2013

Pre browning my leg of lamb with a blow torch might not make the tastiest roast but it sure is fun. http://t.co/Ufbo30KRn0
— Tyson Ho (@ArrogantSwine) December 25, 2013

Makin' chocolate-covered bacon over at @AaignerChocolate Aigner Chocolates in Forest Hills. pic.twitter.com/XGLq96fYcC
— Anne Shisler-Hughes (@theglobalgrocer) December 20, 2013

Happy Holidays, everyone! 

Christmas in Astoria Mini Round-Up

Image by Astor Bake Shop

Happy almost Christmas, Astoria.  I hope everyone is looking forward to the holidays and that you have some nice things planned with friends and family.  For those of you enjoying it in Astoria and still need something to do, here's a a mini roundup of some great neighborhood eats.

Bear - Enjoy a wholesome, traditional Christmas dinner at this cozy neighborhood resto.  A four course meal will set you back $45/person and you can take advantage of three seatings, including on the earlier side at 3 p.m. or at more traditional dinner times at 6 or 8 p.m. See full dinner menu here.  12-14 31st Avenue, LIC.  917.396.4939

Vesta - Their customary Feast of the Seven Fishes is happening again this year with an impressive 5-course prix fixe, with a pistachio crusted wild striped bass as the "fish"course.  The legendary Baby Jesus Cake will be available for dessert, and is totally worth every calorie.  $65/person (add $20 with wine pairing).  21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.545.5550

Mojave - Serving their regular menu items on Christmas Eve, you can enjoy a sophisticated Southwestern meal until 9 p.m. so if you're looking for early dinner plans, this is a great option.  Some of my favorite menu items here include the roasted plantain empanadas, shrimp fajitas, and the motherroad roadhouse chili.  22-36 31st Street, Astoria.  718.545.4100

Via Trenta - A delicious option if you're in the mood for modern Italian food, they'll be open til about 11 p.m. on Christmas eve.  Highly recommending their burrata cheese salad, any kind of salumi, and of course their 12 varieties of crusty pizzas, you'll walk out happy and satiated.  36-19 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.545.2090

Astor Bake Shop - If you're staying in for Christmas or going to a friend or family member's house, it's always nice to bring a festive dessert to cheer up their sweet table.  This beautiful cranberry quince tarte (pictured above) certainly caught my eye!  12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria.  718.606.8439

Traditional Slovak Holiday Foods

Currently in  my home country of Slovakia, and despite coming for a sad occasion, I'm happy to experience the holidays the Eastern European way.

For those of you who are acquainted with this culture, you'll know that like in any Western country, holiday time is a huge deal, and especially in cities, where the locals set up holiday tents, full of pretty little handmade gifts and plenty of festive food and wine.  This of course completely fascinated us, and we really enjoyed the boisterous atmosphere of people being together in the middle of a busy city square, enjoying each other's company with some delicious food and piping hot mulled wine.

After some careful scanning of the entire food offering at the main city square in Bratislava, we decided on a potato "loksa" (or crepe) and skewered potato rings, which resembled potato chips.  While there were plenty of meat dishes with all sorts of grilled sausage and kielbasa to choose from, we decided to go vegetarian and ordered some mulled white wine to wash all that starchy goodness down with.

Potato Loksa with Cabbage - Although this wasn't my first choice when it came to holiday food (what I really wanted was a langos, but they didn't have), I settled for a loksa, something similar to what my grandmother used to make.  Looking very much like a crepe, we had the opportunity to fill it with white cabbage, meat or even a sweet filling like nuts or poppy seeds.  I chose the cabbage, which was intermingled with grilled onions, and though it was tasty and the dough delicate and tender, it was on the oily side and I think I would've loved (instead of liked) it if it was warmer.  Peter and my dad fully agreed on this point.

Grilled Potato Skewer - I was intrigued by this dish when I saw people walking around with it, consisting of crunchy potato rings that were peeled in a continuous loop.  Loving their well-doneness and the rustic way they were prepared with the skins still on, I shared one of these with my dad and Peter.  We all agreed that the potatoes tasted like a cross between being scalloped and potato chips.  They had that nice, flaky crunch to them, but were also a little soft in the middle.  And since they were wonderfully thin, you didn't need to dip them into anything such as ketchup or mayo, they had enough moisture on their own.

White Mulled Wine - Why not get some nice, warm mulled wine to go along with this holiday goodness, I thought.  The wine, as most whites in this region, comes from the Tokaji region, which crosses over into parts of Slovakia and Hungary.  Known for their sweet wines, this one definitely qualified and warmed the bones, tasting like a sweet elixir that relaxed you and enhanced your festive mood.  I had a red variety the night before, and I found the white to be a lot lighter and easier to drink.

We ended the night, turning in early after a very long but also a wonderful day, full of family and long lived, beautiful memories.  I hope your holiday time is also treating you well, and I can't wait to hear about some of the ways in which you're enjoying it.

Hviezdoslavovo Namestie
811 02 Bratislava, Slovakia

Vesta's Feast of the Seven Fishes

Image provided by Vesta

Vesta, the relatively new Italian eatery on 30th Avenue is hosting a "Feast of the Seven Fishes" on Christmas Eve. The celebration--and the eating--begins at noon and lasts until 9pm.

Why seven fishes?
It's actually an Italian custom that started in Southern Italy but spread throughout the entire country. Eating fish is meant to honor the birth of baby Jesus, but the "seven" hasn't been fully explained--some extend the feast up to thirteen dishes!

Here's Vesta's offering - you can opt for a traditional dinner menu or take advantage of a $34.95 prix fixe. The choice is yours...

Prix Fixe Menu - $34.95

Antipasto:
Baccala Crostini - Salted cod pate on grilled pane di casa
Calamari & Cracked Wheat
Shrimp & Citrus Horseradish
Octopus & Preserved Lemon

Pasta:
Lobster Ravioli - With chanterelle mushrooms

Entrees:
Pan-roasted Diver Scallops - With asparagus, cipollini onions & walnut pesto
Striped Bass - With faro, eggplant, tomato and kalamata olives

Traditional Dinner Menu - A La Carte

Butternut & Acorn Squash Soup...$5.50
Roasted Red and Yellow Beets - With mixed greens, hazelnuts and goat cheese...$6.95
Margherita Pizza...$10.95
Lasagna Sunday Dinner Style - With three meat ragu...$12.95
Free-bird Chicken - With roasted breast, asparagus and creamy polenta...$15.95
Pan Roasted Salmon - With warm lentil salad and a prune reduction...$18.50
Bavette Sirloin Steak - With herb roasted potatoes...$18.95

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.vestavino.com