Queens Supper Club Goes to Flushing!

I always look forward to attending the once-a-month Queens Supper Club, organized by my friend Anne from Cityspoonful blog and her friend Leigh.  The dinners are always adventurous, interesting and most of all, affordable.  Dan came along for this one, and had an awesome time hangin' with my adventurous foodie crew.

So where did we go this time, you may wonder?  Flushing! We ventured to the New World Mall, which is known for their amazingly diverse food court on its lower level.  The rest of the building serves very much as a shopping haven for all sorts of things including clothes, electronics, toys, specialty food items, cosmetics and more.  If you haven't yet been, I strongly encourage you to check it out.

Atmosphere:
Located literally right outside of the 7 subway and also not far from the Flushing/Main Street LIRR station, you won't miss the large building, which is the New World Mall.  
Upon setting foot in the mall, I was right away amazed by its magnetic energy and all the bright colors.  It sort of reminded me of the many underground malls I went to in Tokyo, and I felt pleasantly nostalgic, ready and excited to uncover its goods.

The immense food court, which was our main destination was just down the escalator, and once we got down there, we marveled at its offerings.  I just couldn't believe how much there was explore, from homemade dumpling stands to noodle bars; from frozen treats to all sorts of stir fry.  

Food:
Our strategy was to first make a full round, checking out all the stands, and then in our second round to actually buy stuff.  I liked this approach a lot because it let you scope out the scene and formulate a plan of action - and it also helped to see where most people were gravitating.  Dan, Meg and I sort of went splitsies on everything, which was a nice way to go.

Red Bean Sesame Bun - Even though this was more desserty than anything, we got one on the fly and ate it on line, while making other food decisions.  The dough was flaky and delicious, while the inside was soft and gooey and super sweet from the red bean paste.  Again, this dessert was nostalgic, as Dan and I had lots of red bean goodies back in Japan.  Good times...good flavor!

Seared Pork Buns - In the same stand where we got the red bean bun, we also got these amazingly huge seared pork buns.  They came in a box of six, and the portion was enormous, where we each got to have two of them.  I loved their well done, slightly crispy top and the soft doughy sides.  The filling was of course the best part, consisting of soft ground pork mixed with Asian spices, one of which I think was lemongrass, adding a nice zing of freshness.

Surf and Turf Stir Fry - As we went around the food court and took note of which stands drew in the biggest crowds, the ones with stir-fry definitely qualified.  Dan and I were intrigued, as we noticed a whole lot of spicy options, with all sorts of meats and veggies.  One thing that really impressed us is how these were served, in large wooden bowls that you'd normally use to house a family style salad.  They were huge, and looked absolutely delicious!

Once we got to the front of the line, we got food stage fright, as we didn't know what to go for.  Some of it looked downright foreign but still interesting, while other stuff seemed a bit scary (like the crab).  After a few quick moments of deliberation, we went with a surf and turf bowl, combining shrimp, thin pieces of beef, squid, tofu and various types of veggies.

The whole thing was done at the speed of light (in about 3-4 minutes) and off we went, to sit down with our impressive bowl of ingredients.  Wow! All in all, the dish was awesome.  I loved the spicy sauce that was interlaced throughout all our diverse ingredients, giving it a lot of quick, sharp heat, that luckily dissipated quickly.  The protein was delicious, especially the shrimp, which we ate with the shell still in tact.  For those of you not yet convinced, I urge you that it's a great way to enjoy shrimp, adding beautiful and unexpected texture.  The beef and the tofu were really tasty as well, and paired with veggies such bok choy, bean sprouts, bamboo and more, this dish was overall exciting and super satisfying.

Dessert - Even though we were pretty stuffed, we made room for dessert.  Trying two things including the famous Snopo frozen treats (in two flavors) as well as a chilled mango and tofu dessert, we ended things on a sweet and refreshing note.

Out of the two, Snopo definitely shined for me, as I got to try the taro bubble tea and a lemon/yogurt smoothie.  The former was something totally different, with big droplets of tapioca balls, which were slightly chewy, thus adding a really interesting texture.  The tea itself was nicely chilled and tasted a little bit nutty.  

In terms of the other drink, which Dan ordered, it was a totally new take on a smoothie - slightly tangy from the yogurt and ending each gulp on a clean, refreshing note from the lemon.  It was a nice palate cleanser for sure.

Service and Cost:
Even though some of the stands had big lines, they all went pretty quickly and the service was efficient.  While I was a bit like a fish out of water at some of the stands, feeling awkward to approach the servers in English, it worked out well and everyone was friendly and welcoming.  Overall a great experience, which I'd love to repeat.

Costs are super cheap, but please note that all places accept cash only.  For all the foods I just described, we paid about $25 total, which is a great deal for apps, a main dish and dessert.

3 Mmmms

New World Mall - 40-21 Main Street, Flushing NY 11354
7 Train to Flushing
718.353.0551
www.newworldmallny.com

Ode to Dumplings - From the Czech Republic

Budvar Restaurant - Praha 6, Aviaticka 1092/8
224 24 25 77
Prague, Czech Republic

This is going to be my last Honeymoon adventure story, as I think I touched upon all areas of our trip--except for Eastern Europe. Despite the fact that the below experience happened very close to the Prague airport, (you must think..."how authentic can that be?") it was pretty awesome.

The back story is that we had about a four hour layover between Prague and Kosice--my home city. We tried to see the city of Prague in between but the timing just didn't work out so we resorted to checking out the airport vicinity.

We immediately found a hotel with a pretty cool, authentic Czech restaurant called Budvar--also stands for a Budweiser-type beer. Budvar is a Czech beer that's sold in the U.S. under the name Czechvar because of trademark limitations. Anyway, we were excited to try some authentic beer and good, hearty and not to mention, starchy foods.

Atmosphere:
The ambiance was nice and also modern--everything had a sleek, red and gray motif and besides me knowing that I was near the airport, you really couldn't tell by the look of it. The minimalist bar had a couple of impressive bottles of liquor on display but the overall look was very clean and uncluttered. It put us at ease after travelling almost the entire day.

Food:
We were looking forward to a warm, cooked meal. Looking through the menu, a lot of the "Americanized" dishes like steak and seafood looked very expensive. However, we didn't come here for that. We wanted the most basic, peasant-ey, Czech food they had to offer. Finding the dishes that we craved under the "student's section," we noticed how inexpensive they were, which made us happy. Dan ended up getting the beer goulash and I got the svieckova (or beef tenderloin in cream sauce). Here's more...

Beer Goulash - Dan made a wise choice with this one. The meat was so incredibly tender that you barely needed to use your knife. The beef/beer sauce that came with it was hearty and wonderful to dip your "knedlik" or dumplings into. Which brings me to describe more goodness...the dumplings! There were two different kinds, one of which I've never tasted before. The first one was your traditional dumpling that was airy and bread-like while the second one was thick and potato-ey and also contained chewy bacon bits. The latter was obviously my favorite--me loving bacon so much--and Dan agreed. In spite of the huge portion that you see above, we made it disappear in minutes.

Svieckova (Beef Tenderloin in Cream Sauce) - Another meaty dish, this was my choice and it definitely hit the spot. I liked it very much but it didn't compare to the amazingness of Dan's meal. The meat was flavorful but there wasn't much of it--probably because it was tenderloin, which is expensive both here and abroad (thanks for that tid-bit Mom). However, there was plenty of fantastic beef cream sauce and dumplings. I was able to polish most of them off and drench them in the beefy concoction. There was also a dollop of whipped cream and cranberry sauce on top of the meat, which I've never seen before. It tasted great but I didn't know what it was doing there--it almost seemed like they were trying to Americanize it. All in all, it was wonderful and I gladly demolished my portion.

Service and Cost:
Our waiter was wonderful and very charming. I was able to speak broken Czech to him (it's similar to Slovak but not entirely) and he appreciated that. He also spoke English quite well, which pleased Dan, although he was trying his luck with Slavic words. Our dishes came out very quickly--much appreciated during our hungry state.

The costs at Budvar were just too good to be true. For 2 large entrees, 2 large beers and 2 teas (I was sick), we only paid about 350 Czech Crowns or about $18. Unheard of, I tell you! If you ever find yourself stuck at the Prague airport, I urge you to go there.

3 Mmmms

Beer Garden - Gorge Fest Galore!

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102

718.274.4925

N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

www.bohemianhall.com

The Beer Garden is one of my favorite places to visit in the summer. I know that I'm not alone here, as thousands of people both from Queens and Manhattan hit this place up on weekends--seems like everyone has caught the Beer Garden fever. I learned my lesson from previous frustrating weekend visits and I now only come here on Sundays, when I could actually score a seat. This past Sunday was fun because I was accompanied by my family, good friends Kimberly, Kim & Ken, Ivona & Joe--and of course Dan. We nearly wore out our welcome, staying for nearly five hours, during which much great food and drink were consumed. Below is a summary of our Sunday night gorge fest.

Klobasa (Grilled Kielbasa) - We ordered this as a starter from the grill and although they're large, we got two servings just to be on the safe side. This proved to be a wise decision because we devoured them within minutes, as each piece was juicy and tangy from the grain mustard that we used as dipping sauce. The sausage skin was firm and crunchy--a nice contract with the tender, succulent interior. YUM! Our dining companions agreed that this was a stand-out.

Vepro Knedlo Zelo (Pork with Sauerkraut and Dumplings) - This is my dad's favorite dish and he always orders it when we come here (or any Slovak restaurant for that matter). He really wanted to show our friends how it's done in Slovakia so we ordered three huge portions which seemed absolutely bottomless. I had my fair share and loved it--as always. While it sounds ironic, the sauerkraut was actually sweet and the pork was beautifully tender and moistened by a rich pork gravy. The gravy really made this dish and added flavor to the already moist "knedle" or dumplings. Not only was this tasty but the portions were so large that you got amazing value for your buck.

Segedinsky Gulas (Szegediner goulash and dumplings) - This was even better than the Vepro pork, probably because it was prepared in a cream sauce--why does all the bad stuff taste like heaven? The meat was so wonderfully tender that it fell apart upon contact with the fork. This dish too was served with sauerkraut that was sweet and seasoned with paprika--one of my favorite spices. I'd recommend this for first timers.

Pirohi (Potato Pirogies with Red Cabbage and Sour Cream) - This is a good alternative for vegetarians. My reason for wanting it was for the red cabbage, which is even sweeter that the sauerkraut. Honestly speaking, the dumplings were a little weak--really nothing special and probably just frozen ones that were boiled. While they tasted fine, I wasn't crazy about them but I did adore the sweet--almost candy-like--cabbage. Next time, I'll skip the pirogies and just order a side of red cabbage.

Bramborove Placky (Potato Pancakes with Sour Cream and Apple Sauce) - I've had this dish many times and while it's usually crispy and delicious, it was on the soggy-hard side. How disappointing and anti-climactic! It might've been my fault for reaching for them late in the meal but they just didn't taste right.

Palacinky (Thin Pancakes with Strawberry Jam and Whipped Cream) - These are very different than some of the crepes you'll find in Astoria--the dough is airy and a lot thinner. While I liked them, I thought they were drenched too heavily in whipped cream and chocolate sauce which melted messily, thus creating a sloppy mess. Not pretty to look at and just mediocre to eat. Meh all around.

Service and Cost:

The service as always is a joke. You have to chase down a waitress and practically beg her to serve you, which I did. And quite nicely might I add--I approached her in Slovak and said all my pleases and thank yous. It worked and the food came quickly too.

For the obscene amount of food that I mentioned above, the check was just a little over $110. This fed a total of 7 people, which is really quite the bargain. The beer was another story at $14 a pitcher but they have to make their money somehow. Overall, a fun time was had by all and our bellies protruded nicely towards the end of the night (at least mine did). Mmmm it was so worth it!

Koliba - Slovak Comfort Food

Koliba - 31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.626.0430

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.kolibarestaurant.com

Any excuse that I can make for eating Slovak comfort food at Koliba, I make. Yesterday's excuse was getting together with friends, Ivona and Edita and showing them a piece of Slovakia in Queens. It was only a short month ago that I went out with this fun duo and the three of us devoured huge plates of dumplings in Brooklyn's Slovak restaurant, Milan's.

My friends were happy with Koliba's food and I was glad. We were a lot fuller this time because we got more food--and it was a bit heavier than at Milan's. It's true that our tummies suffered the next day but in the end it was so worth it. Good Slovak food and company can't be beat.

Here are some of the dishes that we enjoyed:

Fried Dumplings with Eggs (Vyprazany Knedlik s Vajickom): This dish was completely new to me and we got it as a starter. It looked like scrambled eggs with bacon except that the "bacon" was really fried dumplings. It was awesome and also really filling. The fried dumplings had a sweet aftertaste and reminded me of the Italian pastry, zeppole. What made the dish hearty were the eggs and the cold salty toppings of pickles and roasted red peppers. Although I loved it, I don't think I'd get it next time because of the large portions of their main courses.

Beef with Cream Sauce (Svieckova): This was my dish and while I've had it elsewhere, I haven't yet experienced it at Koliba. It consisted of tender beef in a meaty cream sauce, topped with fresh cranberries. Although the cranberries were an American aberration, they provided a nice sweet finish to the meat. The beef also came with a side of bread dumplings or knedlik, which I adore--its spongy consistency is a delight and when dipped into the cream sauce, the deliciousness is indescribable.

Fried Cauliflower (Vyprazany Karfiol): I was having a hard time deciding between the beef and the cauliflower--so when Ivona decided to get the latter, I was glad because I could try both. My mom makes a mean fried cauliflower and my standards for it are high. Koliba's version didn't disappoint and the cauliflower was fresh on the inside and super crispy on the outside. Once dipped into the tangy tartar sauce, the flavor of this fried treat was at its best. The portion was humongous and I got to sample 2 very large pieces from Ivona's plate.

Fried Cheese Stuffed with Ham (Vyprazany Syr so Sunkou): Another Slovak classic, this is so much more than your typical fried mozzarella. Edita had her eye on it and devoured it with gusto. I got to sample it and it was divine--the cheese was super stringy and the fried crust was thick and again, really crispy. I didn't taste the ham in the cheese but assumed it was there. Edita didn't have any complaints except later on that night--fried food tends to be heavy so eat this large portion of fried goodness with caution.

The service was good, as usual. But like I mentioned, I think that you have a serious advantage if you speak Slovak. Our waitress was friendly and we talked to her about our home country. She revealed that she was from a small rural village, which all three of us have never heard of. For a large country like the U.S. this might not seem weird, but given that Slovakia is so teensy, we were surprised to learn about a new place.

The prices here are very reasonable. Our dinner which included an appetizer, three entrees and three generous glasses of Czech beer cost us $66 (excluding tax and tip).

3 Mmmms

Milan's - My Roots Called So I Answered

Milan's Restaurant - 710 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

718.788.7384

D Train to 25th Street

www.milanrestaurantny.com

I was talking with my family friend Ivona about the Slovak-Czech Varieties Store in Long Island City. She mentioned how much she loves it and that she sends goodies from there to her sister Denisa in Texas. Our nostalgic talk sparked up a good idea and the next thing I knew, I was in Brooklyn at Milan's Restaurant with Ivona and another friend Edita, eating our beloved Slovak delicacy, Bryndzove Halusky.

Atmosphere:

Although the name could be deceiving in the states, Milan's has nothing to do with Italy and everything to do with Slovakia and the Czech Republic. And if you're curious, Milan happens to be a popular male name in Slovakia and is of course the name of this restaurant's proud owner. We had the pleasure of meeting Milan himself and shooting the s*%#t with him--he's quite the character but more on that later.

Visually, Milan's is the epitome of a typical Slovak restaurant--so much so that you can't help but think to yourself "Toto, we're not in Brooklyn anymore." The restaurant is divided into two sections--the everyday dining room and the special occasions private room. I prefer the private room and wish that it was open for regular dining. While this area boasts charming wooden tables and chairs, Slovak crafts and even a stuffed deer's head on the wall, the main room is as simple as can be. In it, you'll find hard tables and chairs with an 80's look and small vases with faux flowers that serve as centerpieces. Although I didn't hear any background music this time, my friends told me that on occasion you'll hear Slovak folk and modern pop tunes coming from the speakers.

Food:

It's evident that we didn't come to Milan's for the atmosphere--our visit was strictly for our beloved Slovak food, Bryndzove Halusky. But before I go into a Halusky hallucination, let me tell you more about our starters and drinks.

Treska and Chlieb:

Treska is a type of fish salad that you'll mostly find in Slovakia--and of course at Milan's. It's a type of cold, sour white fish salad that's much better than a typical white fish found at your local deli. For starters, it's made from a fillet of sole and is enhanced by onions, carrots, mustard and lots of yummy mayonnaise. It tastes best when spread on fresh country bread (or chlieb).

Milan's Treska was amazing--very fresh and very spreadable. The tanginess of the mayo was the best part and I had a hard time not slathering my bread with it for a third time. Ivona and Edita were strategic about their treska consumption--they didn't let any go to waste an in fact bought tubs of it to bring home. Milan's sells these individually and they look like little cream cheese tubs. I managed to snag one as well and am reaping the benefits as we speak.

The Beer:

Ivona and Edita were looking forward to this like no other. And they were right--the beer here is more like a work of art rather than an alcoholic beverage meant for consumption. It comes in a large pint glass with lots of fluffy foam on top--enough to make a Slovak drool. My dining companions went for the Staropramen (Czech beer) while I ordered the Zlaty Bazant (Slovak beer). Both were incredible and enhanced the flavor of our food.

Bryndzove Halusky:

Why is this the best and most coveted Slovak food? It's all in the cheese (or bryndza) that (again) can't be found in most places in the states. It's a sheep's cottage cheese that's ultra creamy and obscenely hearty. Pair this with the gnocchi-like, potato dumplings (halusky) and you got a winning combination. In American terms: think of the best macaroni and cheese you've ever had and multiply that by 100--that's Bryndzove Halusky.

We got a triple order of these sinful dumplings--Edita and I went for the bacon topping while Ivona opted for the cooked onion. They were pure heaven both literally and figuratively. Why? Well, they looked like little soft clouds that you just wanted to bounce on. The bryndza was warm, melted and so thick that we couldn't finish our generous portion. Despite taking more than half of my portion home, I managed to pick out all the thick cut bacon and eat it on the spot. I secretly wished that there was more but it was probably better that there wasn't. My dining companions agreed--they devoured their dishes and took most of their portions home.

Besides the dishes I just mentioned, Milan's serves a variety of Eastern European specialties such as Hungarian Goulash, fried cheese with tartar sauce, homemade Kielbasa, stuffed cabbage and much more.

Service and Cost:

There's much to say about the service because upon stepping into Milan's, you're treated like a friend and a part of the family. We of course spoke to our waiter, Milan himself, in our mother tongue and he was loving it. He got so chummy with us at the end of the meal that he shared some of his neighborhood secrets with us and even gave us chocolates and a treska on the house--what a guy! He's a genuinely nice, hard-working man with a lot of character and Slovak pride.

You can't go wrong with Milan's when it comes to cost. Everything is super reasonable and as I noted, the portions are so large that you're getting incredible value. Our Halusky was $7.50 per plate and that's a dinner portion! Treska was on the house but we bought so many extra tubs to take home that Milan was happy to accommodate us. The beers are cheap too--$4 for a pint of authentic Czech beer. Where else can you get such a deal?

3 Times 10 Mmmms