Get Ready for a Pig Roast (and a Clam Bake)

I'm excited to report that another fun summer food event is coming to LIC.  This one from a favorite local and seasonal eatery, LIC Market.  Now officially in its second year of business, they're celebrating by bringing us another one of their signature Pig Roasts and Clambakes rolled into one.

You may remember this event debuting last year, and it was such as success that it's back again this year.  The offering is quite stellar and the price point is the same as last year, a modest $25/person.  Take a look at the deets below and hope you decide to make a debut there as well:

LIC's Pig roast and Clambake
Saturday, July 28th, 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 29th , 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Aside from all the food, you'll be able to indulge in some hefty drinks specials, including $25 beer buckets and half priced mimosas. 3 oinks to that!

LIC Market - 21-52 44th Drive, LIC NY 11101
718.361.0013
7 Train to 45th Road/Courthouse Square
www.licmarket.com

M. Wells - A Very "Different" Spin on Diner Food

M. Wells Diner - 21-17 49th Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101
718.425.6917
7 Train to Hunters Point Avenue
http://www.mwellsdiner.com/

M.Wells Diner has certainly built up popularity since its recent soft opening about a month ago.  A Quebecan twist on traditional diner food, it's raised a lot of eyebrows (and crinkled some noses), but overall the response has been very positive.  It's refreshing to see that people have a hunger for originality and good quality ingredients.  I share that hunger too and had to give it a try last week for lunch.

Atmosphere:
Located in an area of LIC that's still industrialized and not as charming as the neighborhood near the Vernon/Jackson stop, it's nice to see that establishments such as this one are livening things up.  While the outside of the diner has a very typical, old-fashioned facade, the interior is slightly more charming.  There are several rustic, communal tables to the left of the entrance, decked with small vases with wild flowers.  A sprinkling of booths are found on the opposite side for parties of two to four and a long counter up front for people dining solo and those who want to observe the goings-on in the kitchen.

I appreciated the open atmosphere and having that prime access to the chefs and the kitchen staff. It was almost like being behind the scenes except there you were, looking into their world.  I enjoyed this voyeuristic aspect very much, even though I felt like I shouldn't be looking - but clearly I observed and soaked everything in.  It's almost like getting a front row seat in the theater...a food theater of sorts.

Food:
M. Wells is currently serving breakfast and lunch, as they open their doors at 7 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. On the menu, you'll find unique spins on classic breakfast and lunch dishes such as an egg baked in tomato stew, tortilla Espanola (a Spanish style omelet), a Cubano sandwich elevated to the next level and much more.  For my meal, I went with the special, a Patee Chinois, which is a Quebecan shepherd's pie and some good old fashioned chocolate ice cream.

Patee Chinois - I was immediately intrigued after listening to my waitress describe this dish - "a Quebecan shepherd's pie with braised pork tongue and fresh corn topped with a creamy dollop of mashed potatoes and a crust of parmesan cheese." Wow! This was right up my alley and I couldn't wait for it to arrive.  When it did, it smelled divine and bubbled like hot lava.  My first bite was heavenly, as I tried the pork tongue, which was surprisingly tender and juicy.  This wasn't a lean type of meat at all but that's what made it so damn tasty and succulent--and the corn kernels that were interspersed throughout gave each bite a nice crunch.  The mashed potatoes and the crusty cheese on top sealed the deal with even more decadence, and because the whole thing was so rich (and so not a hot summer meal), I was only able to eat half of it.  But I took the rest home and savored it a few days later.

Chocolate Frozen Custard - This dessert sounded really interesting and different but boy was I fooled (or is it that I'm incredibly dense?!) because it was actually ice cream. DOH! I guess when you put two and two together, that is the definition of ice cream.  Anyway, whichever way you put it, it was really, really tasty and really, really rich.  Each bite did indeed taste like a luxurious custard that slowly dissolved on your tongue.  It might've been totally psychological, but I think it was the best "frozen custard" I've ever had! 

Service and Cost:
I had two waitresses who were both great and super knowledgeable about the menu.  It seemed like they not only knew about the contents of each dish but also about where its ingredients came from.  I was quite impressed with this and it seemed like everyone (including the waitstaff) had some sort of stake in this place.  And that...I think is a good thing.

Costs are moderate for a diner and include:

Breakfast - $3.50 - $12
Lunch - $5 - $12
Dessert - $3.50 -$5

3 Mmmms

Sage General Store - Still a Winner (Especially for Brunch)

I was so glad when this weekend presented an opportunity to brunch at the Sage General Store. Known for their fresh, organic and locally-sourced food, I'm always looking for an excuse to visit.

Sage currently operates for breakfast and lunch on weekdays and brunch on weekends. I've been hoping that they'd extend service into dinner but my wish hasn't become reality yet - but I hope they consider it.

Similarly to last time, my experience was pleasant and fulfilling. I opted for an egg dish, neglecting the sourdough pizza yet again. Although I said this last time, I'm really going to try one of these babies in my next visit. Here's what Jess and I did try:

Ranchero Burrito - I feasted on this heaping plate of brunchdom, which included a soft tortilla filled with organic scrambled eggs, caramelized onions, smoky ham, tomato and cheese. The eggs were my favorite, as they were soft and fluffy and tasted like eggs should, delicate and slightly custardy. The spicy salsa that accompanied this dish was a nice way to sharpen the flavors, especially since most ingredients were on the gentle side. The side of mesculin salad was nice, fresh and also came with a creamy balsamic dressing that ended each bite with tang. Another bonus to this dish was a medium cup of coffee or tea--your choice.

Spinach and Jack Cheese Organic Omelet - Jess chose this as her entree and also complimented the eggs. Although I didn't taste it, the breakfast potatoes it came with looked impressive--they were on the spicy side, seasoned with chili powder.

Something new we spotted at Sage were hand dipped cookies by a local Astoria supplier called This Chick Bakes. Not only are these cookies made with natural ingredients, accommodating all diets (vegans too), they're incredibly creative--boasting flavors such as green tea & lemon, pomegranate white tea, black white & orange, cafe latte, chocolate dipped peanut butter, raisin chocolate coconut oat and more.

Service and Cost:
Just like last time, our servers were relaxed, friendly and not afraid to make conversation. They were attentive and made us feel at home, not in the least bit rushed or hassled.

Costs are inexpensive with both of our entrees under $10, including coffee. Organic, delicious and cheap? That's what I call a deal!

Sage General Store - 24-20 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101
718.361.0707
E/V/G/7 Train to 45th Road/Courthouse Square
www.sagegeneralstore.com