Baked by Melissa Cupcakes Found in Astoria

It was so lovely outside yesterday, and therefore a perfect opportunity to take a walk around the neighborhood.  Meg and I did just that, as we walked to Astoria Park in hopes of seeing the pretty Christmas Tree they decked out last week.

On our way there, we stopped at The Candy Bar, which was a lot of fun.  It's a colorful and cheery candy store, with lots of old fashioned candy and treats for folks of all ages.  There's lots of things I recognized from my childhood including cow tales, giant gummy bears, bazooka gum, Pez and more.  It's a place that you can totally get lost in, with lots of bright colors and even an area in the back that hosts kid's birthday parties.

Cupcakes:
Meg and I took a stroll through and I noticed something unusual - Baked by Melissa cupcakes.  One of my favorite little treats that are now sold all over Manhattan, and even at Terminal 5 at JFK airport, I was ecstatic to see them at The Candy Bar, and asked if they're indeed what I thought. My suspicions were confirmed and then I asked about the price, which was just $.50 per cupcake or 50% cheaper than what you get them for in the city.  I don't want to hype this up too much, as I'd like to keep this our little secret, but I hope you get out to enjoy them.

The Candy Bar - 19-31 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.956.6706
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd

Bistro 33 is Turning 5 - Come Celebrate!

Here ye, here ye...a longtime neighborhood cafe, Bistro 33 is celebrating a milestone birthday, as they turn the big 5.  Although this place has been around longer than that, they're celebrating 5 lovely years in the Ditmars locale.  Here's what you can expect at the party next week, so gear up, come hungry, and bring your friends to enjoy it with you!

Bistro 33 5th Birthday Party
Wednesday, June 13th from 5 p.m. - whenever

$5 for...
Barbecue menu
Pitchers of beer
Margaritas and sangria

The birthday theme will be prominent throughout the event, channeling your inner child with party games, pinatas, ice cream and cake.  Sounds like an adult's dream...Yum!

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.bistro33nyc.com

Guest Chef at Bistro 33 - This Thursday

This Thursday, September 24th, Bistro 33 will be featuring a special guest chef from Hell Gate Social, Chef George Rallis. Offering a 5-course prix-fixe, Chef Rallis will cook up an exciting combination of comfort food and Japanese cuisine, infused with creativity. The menu includes:

Popcorn - Sweetbread, brown butter, capers, yuzu aioli
Tuna Martini - Tuna, avocado, Japanese pickle, Kirby cucumber, caviar & wasabi-yuzu-soy sauce
Sandwich - Duck confit, wild mushroom bread pudding
Salmon Tartare - Sweet shallots, black summer truffles
Sweet - Devil's food cake, peanut butter mousse, chocolate ganache

Thursday, September 24th
$55 per person
Reservations available at 7:00 p.m. or 9:30 p.m.

And if you're in the mood for more sweets, check out Bistro 33's new ice cream parlor called Side Door (located around the corner from the restaurant). They serve creamy, old fashioned ice cream, fudgy brownies, root beer floats and nostalgic penny candy.

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
718.721.1933
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.bistro33nyc.com

Enter the Side Door - Bistro 33's New Ice Cream Parlor

Bistro 33's Side Door - Entrance is just to the side of Bistro 33
19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.721.1933
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.bistro33nyc.com

Curious about Bistro 33's new ice-cream joint, Side Door, Dan and I went to check it out last night. Still in its soft opening, it was pretty chill (no pun intended), given that it was a rainy night--but that's not to say that it was lacking customers. There were a couple of loyalists that came and went, enjoying a nice scoop of creamy ice cream and old fashioned candy.

Atmosphere:
Just like Bistro 33, Side Door has a relaxing, casual vibe. Several welcoming tables and chairs offer a place to sit as well as an inviting bar up front where you can enjoy your treats--casually conversing with your server, or staring indulgently at the penny candy that's situated there. The overall feeling is laid-back and lovely, much unlike a crowded Coldstone Creamery where things get hectic. Music is another strong element, with soft, alternative tunes such as The Shins projecting through the speakers.

Ice Cream:
Although Side Door doesn't make their own ice cream, they're upfront about it, mentioning they use Bassetts--a legendary brand of ice cream, which has been around for almost 150 years--as their supplier. You can get a regular scoop (or two) or get it all served on a brownie like I did. The latter is tempting, especially because the brownies are freshly baked on the premises.

Butterscotch Vanilla on a Brownie - This was my ice cream choice, which you could see pictured above. So rich, so flavorful and so awesome to finally taste real ice cream, considering the fro-yo, low-fat infested world we live in. The flavors were decadent and the texture was thick and buttery, mixing beautifully with the dark chocolate fudge brownie. On its own, the ice cream was fabulous but with the brownie, it was out of this world. Dan, who didn't get a brownie kept stealing bites off my plate to mix with his peanut butter swirl ice cream.

Peanut Butter Swirl - Dan loves anything with peanut butter so his choice wasn't surprising. If you're a serious peanut butter head, I wouldn't skip this. Just like my butterscotch vanilla flavor, it was rich and intense but not so much so that it was overpowering.

Besides ice cream, Side Door's other offerings include old fashioned root beer floats, cheesecake, smoothies, coffee drinks, nostalgic candy and even Greek yogurt, which you can get with honey and walnuts.

Service and Cost:
The service matched the surroundings - it was friendly, relaxed and casual. We got what we ordered on the spot, chatted briefly with the owners, and were invited to stay as long as we liked. It's a very lax environment, which I welcome after a long, hard work day.

Costs are moderate for ice cream at $4/cup, but you're getting quality and flavor. Nothing is above $10, making this a great place for a much needed treat.

3 Mmmms

Bistro 33 Revises their Menu

Back in March, I mentioned Bistro 33's menu change to a tapas-style offering. While this is still the case, there have been some changes made to accommodate some of us that like traditional, individually plated entrees. The new additions include:

Starters:
Blue Cheese Walnut Salad - Candied walnuts, Stilton blue cheese, tomato, carrot, onion, raspberry vinaigrette

Crispy Duck Confit Salad - Duck leg, mixed greens, poached apricots, toasted almonds, citrus vinaigrette

Goat Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomato, Basil Flatbread

Entrees:
Katsu Pork Chop - Panko breaded pork chop, garlic mashed potatoes, green apple-wasabi brulee

Salmon Burger - Salmon filet, lettuce, tomato, cucumber sweet-chili relish, fries

Black Angus Beef Burger - Bacon, gruyere cheese, lettuce tomato, red onion, fries

Rack of Lamb - Shiso spatzle, red wine sauce

Chicken Grand Mere - Half chicken, potato, mushrooms, bacon

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105
718.721.1933
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.bistro33nyc.com

Kumo - Affordable Sushi Lunch Special

Another new restaurant that I noticed on Ditmars was Kumo Japanese Restaurant. It's a tiny yet quaint sushi place with affordable prices, including their lunch roll special. I haven't tried it yet but think that stopping in for lunch might be a good way to test it out.

Lunch Roll Special - 11a.m. - 4p.m.

Any two rolls - $6
Any three rolls - $8.75
Served with miso soup or salad

A sampling of the menu includes:

Appetizers:
Vegetable gyoza...$3.50
Tuna teriyaki...$6.95
Fried oyster...$6.95

Roll or Hand Roll:
Salmon roll...$3.50
Eel cucumber roll...$3.75
Spicy shrimp roll...$4.50
Chicken tempura roll...$4.50
Octopus roll...$4.75

Vegetable Maki:
Carrot maki...$2.75
Sweet potato maki...$3.50
Avocado cucumber...$3.00

Specialty Roll:
Yankee roll - Rice in the center with seaweed outside then deep fried, topped with shredded crabmeat, cucumber & spicy mayo...$8.25

Kamikaze roll - Soy paper wrapped shrimp, tobiko, tamago & avocado...$6.95

American dream - Cooked salmon, eel, avocado, seaweed, salad & crunch...$6.50

Cajun tuna roll - Cajun tuna, asparagus with spicy mayo & tobiko...$6.75

Spicy girl roll - Spicy salmon, tuna, yellowtail, avocado & crunch rolled with marble seaweed & tobiko on top...$9

Entrees:
Tofu teriyaki...$8.25
Chicken teriyaki...$9
Seafood teriyaki...$11.25

Curry Rice (servedvwith curry sauce over rice):
Fried shrimp curry...$6.50
Chicken cutlet curry...$6.50
Pork curry...$6.50

Kumo Japanese Restaurant - 37-18 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.278.8808
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Spiced - Indian Inspired Thai and Chinese Food

As I mentioned earlier this week, there are a few new Thai restaurants in the Ditmars area - one of them being Green Curry and the other is Spiced. They're right across the street from each other and therefore hard to miss. Spiced caught my eye especially because I haven't yet seen a restaurant that serves Indian inspired Thai and Chinese cuisine. I thought this was interesting so I grabbed their menu and liked what I saw. As is customary with Asian cuisine, prices are super competitive, and they're even offering 20% off of your dinner. Worth checking out, in my opinion. Here's a sampling of the menu:

Appetizers:
Chicken Lollipop - Crispy pulled back winglets shaped like lollipops, served with spicy dipping sauce...$5.95

Rocket Shrimp - Jumbo shrimp, batter fried & served with chili garlic sauce...$6.95

Honey Chili Tofu - Crispy tofu glazed with a honey chili sauce...$4.95

Sweet Corn Soup - Creamy corn soup with choice of chicken, crab meat or vegetables...$2.95

Chicken Dishes: $7.95
Chicken Manchurian - Cubed dark meat chicken spiced with Indian flavors of ginger, garlic or coriander leaves, prepared Manchurian style

Szechuan Chicken - An arrangement of authentic Indian spices and sliced chicken in a spicy sauce prepared Szechuan style

Chicken Thai Curry (choice of red, green or yellow) - Creamy chicken curry cooked with bamboo shoots and coconut milk

Lamb/Duck Dishes:
Fried Chili Lamb - Crispy lamb sauteed with onions and fresh green chili...$9.95

Crispy Duck in BBQ Sauce - Crispy duck seasoned with fresh herbs and topped with Chinese style BBQ sauce...$13.95

Lemon Pepper Duck - Fried duck topped with a lemon pepper sauce...$13.95

Seafood Dishes:
Shrimp on Fire - Shrimp sauteed in black pepper sauce...$9.95

Whole Red Snapper - Pan fried crispy whole red snapper topped with a choice of chili, ginger, garlic or black bean sauce...$15.95

Lobster Hong Kong Style - De-shelled lobster with green peppers, onions and cashews cooked in a red wine sauce...$16.95

Veggie Options: $7.95
Broccoli and Baby Corn (choice of brown or black bean sauce) - Sauteed broccoli and baby corn topped with a choice of sauce

Vegetable Manchurian - Crispy vegetable balls spiced with Indian flavors of ginger, garlic and coriander leaves, prepared Manchurian style

Szechuan Eggplant - Batter fried eggplant cooked in a sauce with a blend of Indian spices, prepared Szechuan style

Noodles:
Hakka Noodles - Soft egg noodles stir-fried with a choice of chicken or vegetables...$6.95

Singapore Noodles - Angel hair noodles stir fried with shrimp onion and vegetables...$7.95

American Chop Suey - Crispy fried noodles topped with a sweet and tangy sauce and eggs, with a choice of chicken or vegetables...$9.95

Their lunch special is just $5.95

Spiced - 35-12 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.626.8180
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Green Curry - Another Modern Thai Option

Green Curry - 35-13 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.777.7013
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

I've been hearing about several new Thai eateries that recently opened up on Ditmars Blvd. One of these more modern restaurants, includes Green Curry authentic Thai cuisine. It looks appealing inside - I grabbed a menu and was interested in some of their offerings. A sampling of their cuisine includes the following. Oh and notice the affordability factor, it's a definite draw.

Appetizers:
Golden Taro - Crispy shredded taro wrapped with tofu skin; served with a special tamarind sauce...$5.95

Chicken Puffs - Ground chicken, potato, water chestnut, onion, carrot and curry powder wrapped in a Thai pastry...$5.95

Thai Dumplings - Ground chicken/shrimp, water chestnut, mushroom and carrot wrapped in wonton skin; served with sweet soy sauce...$5.95

Mee-Grob - Shrimp, chicken and crispy rice noodles mixed with a tamarind sauce...$7.95

Tom Kha Gai Soup - Pieces of chicken cutlet cooked in coconut milk, sliced galanga, fresh lime juice and chili pepper...$4.95 bowl....$9.95 hot pot

Yums - Authentic Thai Spicy Salads:
Nam Sod - Well cooked ground pork marinated with roasted chili, peanut, fresh lime juice and shredded ginger...$8.95

Yum Goon Chieng - Chinese sausage marinated with fresh lime juice, chili pepper, tomato, cucumber and red onion...$8.95

Noodles:
Pad Woon Sen - Sauteed shrimp and chicken with bean thread noodles, mushroom, baby corn, egg and napa...$10.95

Goy See Mee - Soft egg noodles topped with gravy, chicken cutlet and vegetables...$9.95

Lard Na (Choice of beef, chicken or pork) - Sauteed broad noodles topped with broccoli in black bean gravy...$10.95

Veggie Options:
Pad Broccoli - Sauteed broccoli with garlic and oyster sauce...$7.95

Tofu with Mixed Vegetables - Sauteed tofu and fresh vegetables in a golden brown sauce...$8.95

Veggie Duck Basil - Sauteed veggie duck with chili-garlic sauce, onion, basil leaves and strips of chili pepper

Entrees (Meat or Fish): beef, chicken or pork...$9.95, shrimp...$11.95
Pad Priew Wan - Thai sweet & sour sauce with pineapple, tomato, onion and cucumber

Pad Kraung Keang - Red curry sauce with onion, chili and fresh sweet basil

Pad Khing - Black bean sauce with shredded ginger, mushroom, chili pepper and scallion

Keang Massaman - Sauteed meat with massaman curry paste, coconut milk, potato, onion and peanut

Pla Lard Prik - One of the most popular Thai dishes; deep-fried red snapper topped with a special sweet and spicy tamarind chili sauce...$18.95

Pla Jiean - Deep-fried red snapper topped with a combination sauce made of ginger, mushroom, and ground pork...$18.95

Pla Chu Chee - Hearty, aromatic herbal curry fish dish. Deep-fried red snapper with red curry sauce, coconut milk and kaffir lime leaves...$18.95

They also offer a daily lunch special for $7.95 from Monday - Friday between 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Trattoria L'incontro - Reopens Wednesday

Trattoria L'incontro, one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Astoria has been closed since July 13th for its customary summer vacation. They reopen this Wednesday the 29th so get ready to revisit this Italian heaven for their delicious homemade pasta, brick-oven pizza and amazing seafood. I'm especially fond of their gnocchi and frutta di mare. Enjoy!

Trattoria L'incontro - 21-76 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105
718.721.3532
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.trattorialincontro.com

The Inside "Scoop" from Bistro 33

On Monday night at Bistro's Best Dish Battle, I chatted with Chef Gary who gave me some interesting "intelligence." He mentioned that Bistro is opening up an old-school ice-cream parlor later this summer. He described it as a 20's style parlor with old fashioned ice-cream, floats and even servers with bow ties. It sounds absolutely charming and so very Bistro. It's rumored to open next door to the restaurant, which will be a lovely addition that will get Gary's followers--and new customers--visiting more frequently. Stay tuned for more details but in the meantime...get excited!

Coming soon next door to Bistro 33

19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
http://lilbistro33.com/index.shtml

Bistro 33 - Best Dish Battle Recap

Last night, I judged a cooking contest at Bistro 33 called The Best Dish Battle. The event showcased three talented home cooks, who took over Chef Gary's kitchen for the night and produced delicious dishes for everyone to enjoy.

Even before going into some of the food descriptions, I must give praise to each finalist for doing a bang-up job! I, along with my fellow judges were incredibly impressed by the professional way in which everything was handled. Not only is it hard to cook for a handful of people, but to successfully serve a full dining room of 30+ is quite the achievement. So...congrats to all!

The Judges:
My colleagues came from all sides of the food spectrum, including a chef with a catering company, to a freelance writer for TimeOut NY and amNew York and even two passionate neighborhood foodies. They were all wonderful, providing lively commentary and fun stories throughout the evening--a dull moment never existing.

The Food:
There were three main dishes served last night, providing a little bit of everything--pork, poultry and seafood.

Asian Chicken Dumpling Soup - The first dish of the night, we were careful in judging it because we wanted to see how it'd measure up to the rest. Right from the beginning, I liked the broth. It had a lot of flavor and wasn't too heavy--it was salted generously but that didn't bother me. The dumplings were lovely on the outside and generally pleasing on the inside too. I thought that the chicken filling was a tad dry but it wasn't a deal breaker. My favorite component was the lime for spritzing the broth. It gave the senses a jolt, making this soup sing with freshness.

Salmon Packets with Black Bean Sauce - I was a tad underwhelmed when the salmon came out because it seemed small and there also was no "packet." But I was impressed that the fish was cooked perfectly and that the black bean sauce wasn't overpowering, gentle on the palate. However, the dish begged for something else...something crunchy or zesty to give it that much needed freshness. I'd gladly eat this with a side salad of crunchy slaw and maybe even a fruit like mango.

French Onion Pork Chops - This was innovative and interesting because it was virtually a deconstructed french onion soup, complete with bread, cheese and plenty of onions. Out of the above mentioned dishes, this felt the most cohesive, presenting a complete meal that didn't beg for additional ingredients. It did however have faults - one being the toughness of the pork and another the lack of caramelized onions. I, along with my fellow judges thought that the onions could've been fried and the pork perhaps served off the bone. However, we enjoyed this option immensely, especially loving the flavorful broth, which soaked up the bread beautifully.

The Winner: French Onion Pork Chops!
Will be featured on Bistro 33's menu this Saturday, June 27th

Kudos to all participants and to Bistro 33 for hosting this wonderful event, which promoted a sense of community as well as much-deserved recognition for passionate, home cooks. Thanks everyone!

P.S. - I think that a video of the event will be available soon on Bistro's website - stay tuned for more details.

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.bistro33nyc.com

Bistro 33's Best Dish Battle - I'm Judging!

Tomorrow night is Bistro 33's Best Dish Battle, and yours truly will be judging along with three other neighborhood foodies. The event will showcase three best amateur cooks, showing off their most impressive skills. Everyone's invited to join in the fun, sample the food and put in their 2 cents by voting for their favorite. I'm expecting it to be a fun evening filled with tons of yummies. Below are the details if you're interested in attending:

Bistro 33 Best Dish Battle

Monday, June 22nd at 8:00 p.m.

$33 per person - includes three courses (one by each contestant) and one vote

19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY
718.721.1933
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.lilbistro33.com

Bistro 33 Celebrates Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Bistro 33! If you remember, they celebrated their birthday last year with burgers and beer. Sadly, the burgers ran out quickly so they changed things up a bit and are now charging a $20 cover, ensuring that you will get what you pay for. Below are the details - it was quite fun last year but I'd suggest getting there as early as possible.

Bistro 33 - Beer and Burger Birthday Bash

Thursday, June 11th from 6 p.m. - close
$20 per person

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105
718.721.1933
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.lilbistro33.com

Amateur Cooking Contest at Bistro 33

An example of one of my best dishes - basil chicken wrapped in prosciutto

I know that I just touted Bistro 33 this week, but I couldn't help myself when I saw an interesting email pop up in my inbox. To sum it up, Bistro 33 is having an amateur cooking contest and everyone is invited. The details are still sketchy but this is what I know so far.

Bistro 33's First Best Dish Battle Event
How to Enter - Submit a recipe for your best dish by April 24th, 2009. The three winning recipes will cook off at Bistro 33, with the crowd and a few guest judges deciding the winner.

The date of the event is still TBD.

The winner will receive "culinary gifts" and local stardom.

If you'd like to enter, email your recipe to lilbistro33@aol.com

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.bistro33nyc.com

Bistro 33 Has a New Tapas-Style Menu

One of my favorite neighborhood eateries, Bistro 33 has changed the format of their menu. Instead of the traditional three-course set-up, they're now serving their dishes tapas-style where everyone can taste and share a bit of everything. Personally I'm happy about this, as I love sharing my food. There's always so much on the Bistro menu that I want to try but haven't been able to in one shot. Until now...

Below is their new menu, which does not include sushi, as this part of the offering hasn't changed much.

Enjoy and check it out for yourself--the prices remain moderate and I'm assuming that the superb quality of the food hasn't changed.

Cheese Plate
3 cheeses...$6
5 cheeses...$9
7 cheeses...$13

Served with wasabi dijon mustard, cornishons, balsamic–mirin glaze & Italian black figs

Stilton Blue - England, pasteurized cow’s milk, medium soft
Gruyere - Switzerland, raw cow’s milk, semi-hard
Fontina D’Aosta - Italy, raw cow’s milk, semi-soft
Piave - Italy, Pasteurized cows milk, semi soft Asiago - Italy, pasteurized goat’s milk, semi soft Manchego - Spain, sheep’s milk, hard
Mimolette - France, pasteurized cow’s milk, hard...add $3
Chevre Goat - France, goat’s milk, soft
Brie - France, Raw cow’s milk, soft

Mixed Greens - Mesclun, carrots, tomatoes, red onion, Mustard vinaigrette...$5

Crab Salad - Lump crab meat, avocado, mango, tomato-ginger coulis...$9

Shrimp a la Plancha - House made yuzu ricotta cheese, mango and orange supremes over baby arugula tossed in an orange vinaigrette...$13

Duck Carpaccio - Dried cherries, port wine reduction...$11

Chorizo and Manila Clam - Roasted spring onions and cognac cream sauce...$9

Bouillabaisse - Monk fish, manila clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, curry tomato broth...$11

Crawfish Tempura - Louisiana Crawfish, spicy mayo, toasted sesame seeds...$9

Moules Frites - PEI mussels sautéed with garlic, thyme & white wine butter sauce topped with pomme frites...$9

Scallop Sobaccine - Seared sea scallops with soba pasta, uni butter, piave cheese...$12

Lobster Mac & Cheese - Elbow pasta, fontina, gruyere & mozzarella cheese baked with Maine lobster...$12

Black Cod - Roasted miso glazed black cod with grilled asparagus...$12

Salmon - Pan seared salmon with roasted garlic potatoes & sauce a l’americaine, tarragon oil...$12

Kakiage - Tempured seafood, carrots, scallions topped with shaved gruyere cheese...$10

Foie Gras & Tuna - Seared hudson valley foie gras & yellow fin tuna, asian pear chutney, dry sour cherries, spicy candied cashews & orange blossom hachimitsu...$14

Pork Belly - Braised in udon broth, scallion salad, chili oil...$12

Duck - Duck leg, poached apricots, and toasted almonds...$9

Petit Filet - Oven roasted with asparagus & horseradish sauce...$16

Pork Crostini - Slow cooked Berkshire pork, crispy prosciutto, gruyere cheese, shredded pickles, and dijon-soy mayo...$7

Truffled Fries...$6

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.bistro33nyc.com

Agnanti - Astoria's Most Acclaimed Greek Joint?

Agnanti Meze: 19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.833.7033

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.agnantimeze.com

Last Friday, Dan and I ventured to Agnanti, Astoria's most popular Greek restaurant. I can't even recall how many times I've seen this place mentioned on TV and on countless food and non-food related websites. We brought friends, Lauren and Keith in for the ride and while everyone enjoyed themselves, we weren't at all wowed.

Atmosphere:
Agnanti gets super busy at night and especially on the weekends. I made reservations ahead of time and it was a good thing too, the place was jam-packed when we got there. The medium-sized dining room was filled with a diverse group of diners--young Americans, older Greeks, families with kids, the list goes on.

I liked that the restaurant was nice and warm, as it was a particularly chilly evening. In spring and summer months, they offer outdoor seating, which I've taken advantage of. Inside, you'll see lots of nostalgic pictures on the walls and a couple of cool artifacts that showcase Agnanti's history. One thing in particular that I love is the old hearth (which was actually turned on) with nice-looking clay pots, jugs and containers--it's evident that this place brims with personality and history.

Food:
Sampling Agnanti's food once before, I knew that it would be good. While I was impressed the first time, this time I was slightly underwhelmed. My experience was no doubt tainted by the strange service but I think that the food suffered too. We ordered the following:

Melitzanosalata (eggplant spread) - One of Agnanti's signature dishes, I've tasted it before and once again, loved it. While my dining companions thought that it looked unappetizing, (it was grayish in color), I thought that it simply resembled mushed eggplant with garlic. The taste was strong and very garlicky but somehow it agreed with me. It was delicious when smeared on warm pita wedges, which we had to order separately. This seemed strange to me--how could you eat spread without a palette?

Tomatokeftedes (tomato croquettes) - We tried to order more veggie dishes to accommodate our dining companions. I recommended this because I've tasted it once before and remembered it being nice, light and quite different from traditional croquettes with creamy fillings. They were juicy and fragrant from the herbs but also a little oily--and the outside wasn't as crispy as you'd expect. Next time, I'd love to try the cod croquettes or even the zucchini/cheese croquettes.

Fried Calamari - Despite Agnanti offering so many interesting seafood dishes, we went for this simple one because it's Dan's favorite. The large, piping hot plate looked impressive and the calamari tasted good too. It was fresh and the batter in which the calamari were fried was crunchy and yummy. Dan disagreed with me--he thought this dish lacked something, which he couldn't identify and I don't think that he'll get it again.

Soutzoukakia from Smyrna (meat balls) - Three of us ordered the meatballs for our entree, as they sounded simple and good. While the meat itself was tender and flavorful, I think that the sauce took away from it. It was on the bland side and not something representative of a Greek dish, in my opinion. I liked Dan's biftekia much better because it didn't need sauce to compete with its delicious flavors. My dining companions agreed with me--they weren't completely enamored with the meatballs either.

Biftekia - Dan ordered this Greek specialty, which I've tasted before at other restaurants. While simple, it was a home run. The meat was light, seasoned with Greek spices such as oregano and thyme, delivering an earthy flavor. Served with white rice and veggies such as tomatoes and onions, it was refreshing and hearty enough for dinner but didn't leave you feeling overstuffed.

Dessert - Agnanti offers complimentary dessert, consisting of Greek yogurt topped with a sour cherry compote and cinnamon. It's surrounded by semolina cake squares, which aren't flavorful on their own but are quite delicious when paired with yogurt. While this isn't a traditional, rich way to end a meal, I really loved it because it made for a great palate cleanser. Dan didn't agree--I think he was looking for something more traditional like chocolate or ice cream.

Service and Cost:
Similarly to last time, the service was hot and cold. It started out well and our server was attentive. Toward the middle of our meal however, we were asked to switch tables because Agnanti didn't plan accordingly for a big party. We were gracious enough to switch our table, which was both disruptive and annoying. Our new table wasn't as private as the first one and we felt squished. It was nice that Agnanti offered us a free round of drinks for the inconvience but the service continued to plummet. Orders were brought out at the wrong time and we couldn't help but feel forgotten. There is much room for improvement as far as service is concerned.

In terms of cost, it was inexpensive to moderate. Dinner, including one round of drinks set us back about $30 per person with tax and tip. Appetizers range between $ 6 - $12.50, entrees are between $7 - $21.50. Portions are generous and dessert as mentioned, is complimentary.

2 Mmmms

Bistro 33 Birthday Brunch

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.lilbistro33.com

This weekend was my husband, Dan's 30th birthday and we celebrated pretty much the whole time from Friday through Sunday. After an amazing dinner at Vesta, which I'll get to later this week, we chose to indulge in a Saturday brunch at Bistro 33, Dan's other favorite Astorian hangout. While we were tired and undoubtedly hung over, it was an enjoyable experience that we had to get out of our system. Here's what sustained us for much of the day:

Cajun Fritatta - I was dying to try this ever since Margot's boyfriend, Dillon got it last summer. A big fan of andouille sausage, I was looking forward to this aspect in particular. It was a bit on the spicy side but I welcomed the kick that it gave my senses. The crawfish, nestled inside was also nice and I loved the tentacle-iness of it all. If you order this, know that it's super hearty and that Bistro's chefs don't mess around with spices. The only thing I'd change is the limp, tasteless greens that came on the side--I'd substitute them with nice hash-browns instead.

Pancakes with Apple Butter - This was Dan's choice, and because it was on the lighter side, it soothed his "after-party" stomach. The pancakes were soft and fluffy and served in Bistro's customary silver-dollar size. The apple butter topping was rich and flavorful, further topped with soft cubes of baked apple. I thought highly of this dish but it had a completely different feel than mine - desserty rather than robust.

Service and Cost:
The service was fine - attentive enough but not overly personal. We got a different server towards the mid-point of our meal, which was acceptable but inconsistent. Overall, the service is nothing to rave about or to complain about.

We paid $14 per person (without tax and tip) for the dishes I described above including a cup of coffee/tea and a morning cocktail. Not a bad deal but there are better ones out there in Astoria.

2 Mmmms

Celebrate Mardi Gras at Bistro 33

My beloved Bistro 33 will be celebrating Mardi Gras tomorrow with New Orleans inspired cuisine and drinks. And what's even better is that you could find 2 for $10 specials, as is customary every Tuesday night. Check 'em out - they do crawfish (pictured above) really well so this might be worth the trip to the "park side" of Ditmars.

Mardi Gras at Bistro 33
Tuesday, February 24th
New Orleans-Style Food and Drink

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.lilbistro33.com

Martha's Country Bakery - Great for Birthdays!

My cousin Eva turned 33 this past weekend--and we had an impromptu celebration for her. Remembering a Red Velvet cake that I once ate at her house, I thought that it'd be a good birthday treat in her honor.

Dan went to no other than Martha's Country Bakery to pick up Eva's cake. It was a small 5 inch Red Velvet layer beauty, which looked simply divine. Even though there wasn't much surface area to write on, Martha's was creative and stuck a plastic "Happy Birthday" sign into the cake, writing Eva's name on top. I thought that was a neat approach! A cherry filo dough pastry was also bought for non-cream cheese frosting eaters (aka Dan).

The Cake:
Besides its pretty exterior, this cake was one of the best Red Velvet desserts I've ever had. I think that the dough really spoke for itself, as it was light, airy and super moist--it would've been good even without the frosting. But don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the frosting as well--and so did everyone else. The creamy, velvety mousse embellished the cake and made it more luxurious. Eva's girls devoured it with pleasure--just look at little Camryn above enjoying her "Happy Cake," as Matt referred to it.

Cherry Pastry:
I had to sample this delicacy as well and wasn't disappointed. Martha's excellence lies in using good quality ingredients and this pastry was no exception. The cherry filling was flavorful and included slightly sour cherries instead of overly sweet/syrupy ones. The dough was perfectly flaky and delicious, my only complaint was that there was too much powdered sugar on top--so I brushed it off.

Price:
While the cakes and pastries aren't cheap, they are worth the price. The small cake and the pastry that I described above set us back about $15--not too bad for a birthday celebration.

Martha's Country Bakery - 36-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.545.9737

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.marthascountrybakery.com

Bistro 33 - This Week's Wine Wednesday

A little update about Bistro 33's Wine Wednesday special...

This week's selection includes the following domestic and international wines. Remember that every second glass is FREE!

Fontanelle Chardonnay - Castello Banfi Estates, Italy
Domaine Serge Loporte Sancerre - France

Wild Horse Cabernet Sauvignon - Paso Robles, CA
Buena Vista Carneros Pinot Noir - Sonoma, CA

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.lilbistro33.com