Tonight was truly an awesome evening, as I got to attend a fabulous soiree, organized by my friends Mackenzi and Meg at Mackenzi's store, SITE. The party was in honor of Meg's fabulous Queens foodie bible called the Food Lovers' Guide to Queens, which she worked so diligently on. I truly love this book, as it does a great job of really respecting Queens' food scene and letting all its many gems shine. We're all so proud of the work that Meg has done for the community, which was proven by tonight's huge crowd of supporters.
I also wanted to thank Meg for putting yours truly into her book, by listing Fooditka as a trusted food resource, but even better by putting one of my near and dear family recipes into its pages. The recipe is for our Ceresnova Bublanina (or Slovak cherry cake). Bringing the recipe to life at the party by serving up the cake, people seemed to really enjoy it and I was so happy to relay the nice feedback to my mom, who helped me make this particular cake.
The Food:
In addition to this, there were so many other amazing local treats featured tonight such as Astor Bake Shop's sweets, Sac's Place pizza, pasta and meatballs, as well as Il Bambino's paninis. Everything was a total hit and people really stuck around to enjoy the food and chat with their Astoria neighbors. I was happy to see new connections being made and a few reunions too. The food no doubt, was a uniting factor and it wasn't just once that I heard someone commenting on the buttery king cake, the fudgy cookies or the bodacious meatballs.
Thanks to my friends for putting on such a lovely affair and to my gracious and fantastic Astorians who make these type of events so worthwhile. Also, if you're looking to get your hands on Meg's book, look no further...and enjoy!
Hi Astoria!
I sincerely hope that everyone is doing well and has survived the big storm with minimal damage. In a time of need and when our community needs us most, it's important to support our local businesses, as commerce has been severely affected, and especially our beloved small businesses. As we give our local heroes some much deserved props, here are some fun things you can do to help, starting tonight on Halloween. Hope you have fun doing it! There's also another fun round-up of things to do tonight on partner site, We Heart Astoria.
Bear - Stop by for their Halloween/Hurricane special featuring deviled eggs with mackerel, a cucumber sandwich on focaccia bread, a fabulous homemade pumpkin pie and much more - all these items are just $5. 12-14 31st Avenue, Long Island City. 917.396.4939
Veslo - Sure their big Saturday night Halloween partay is over, but they're fully open for business tonight and serving their delicious Dalmatian specialties such as octopus salad, an Adriatic shellfish combo, goulash, gnocchi in a hearty veal sauce and more. 32-11 Broadway, Astoria. 718.728.0549
Sac's Place - Featuring fun Halloween menu specials, come in for dinner and enjoy their homemade, comforting dishes such as bocconcini mozzarella with red & yellow roasted tomatoes; spinach fettuccine with ham, peas & mushrooms in garlic oil; grandma Dorothy's homemade apple pie and others. 25-41 Broadway, Astoria. 718.204.5002
Thymari - Ring in a lovely Halloween dinner at this modern Greek taverna. They're not only known for their delicious Greek meze but also for fancy cocktails, including an apple cider martini that's available now (and especially for Halloween). 32-07 34th Avenue, Astoria. 718.204.2880
BareBurger - All BareBurger Astoria locations have been reopened, so why not go in and enjoy a fabulous burger and a shake in costume?! Bring the kiddies along with you and treat them to a cubby meal, served with your choice of carrot sticks, apple slices and fries (and an organic juice box). 33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.7011; 23-01 31st Street, Astoria. 718.204.7167
Just a friendly reminder that Father's Day is this Sunday! I'm personally very excited, not only to celebrate with my Dad (pictured above) but also with my 91 year old grandfather, who is visiting from Slovakia. I can't wait to spend the day with both of these role models in my life, and I hope you take the time to honor the special men in your life as well. In honor of the big day, I wanted to provide you with a few suggestions for treating your Dad, Grandad, Uncle, Brother, or whoever you choose in the right way.
Cavo - This is a pretty awesome deal, as Dads eat FREE on Father's Day. The way it works is that Dad receives a free combo entree, which includes a 10 oz. hangar steak with lemon shrimp scampi, served with steak fries and a charred tomato. You must have at least four persons in your party to take advantage of this deal, and reservations are strongly encouraged. 42-18 31st Avenue, Astoria. 718.721.1001
Thymari - The still newish Greek food joint on 34th Avenue and 32 Street (old Philoxenia space) will be serving their dinner menu all day on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Special to this day in particular - Dad can also get a Kreas Pikilia (meat platter) with pork, country sausage, chicken and beef sliders. Manly plate, I must say...and a complimentary beer for Dad with dinner also comes with the deal. 32-07 34th Avenue, Astoria. 718.204.2880
Christos Steakhouse - I usually recommend this for a Father's Day treat, as it's absolutely wonderful for a special occasion, and there's no way to go wrong here. You can treat Dad to a classic Porterhouse or Ribeye and a plethora of mouth-watering sides such as smoked feta mashed potatoes, cream spinach, lobster mashed potatoes (with huge lobster chunks) and their signature dessert, Baked Astoria. 41-08 23rd Avenue, Astoria. 718.777.8400
Bear - If Dad is more adventurous and curious to taste some inventive eats, I suggest a visit to Bear, who feature a Sunday supper (it starts at 5 p.m.), right after their Sunday brunch which you can also take advantage of that day. If you join for dinner, you can expect rich, delicious delicacies, that are seasonally appropriate, such as a New England Clam Bake, a slow-roasted Long Island Duck, pork ribs in a house cherry-plum BBQ sauce and more! 12-14 31st Avenue, Astoria. 917.396.4939
Sac's Place - If Dad is more of a traditionalist, Sac's is a great choice for some classic red-sauce Italian food. They excel in coal oven pizza, which comes in six different styles, including a Mama's old fashioned pie. Pasta staples such as Manicotti, six types of ravioli, two types of gnocchi and plenty of meat dishes are also a sure way to satisfy Dad. Reservations are recommended, as Sac's gets busy. 25-41 Broadway, Astoria. 718.204.8724
This past weekend, my We Heart Astoria colleagues and I had the wonderful experience of visiting Sac's Place Italian restaurant. After lots of meaningful exchanges with them on various social media platforms, we agreed on a date and time to get together and break bread. We went in not knowing what to expect and came out as devout converts.
Atmosphere:
Just like its exterior suggests, Sac's Place is a simple yet cozy Italian joint with formal sit down and casual take out options. The dining space is split up into the restaurant and the pizzeria, and we sat in the former, which is located in the front. I love the cozy feeling it evoked and a lot of that has to do with the dim lighting, rustic embossed wooden tables and a lovely fireplace.
We noticed a few large parties enjoying a celebratory Friday night dinner, one of them apparently ringing in a big birthday. It spoke well of this place and the staff seemed accommodating and welcoming to everyone's needs. People felt comfortable to enjoy a big occasion here, and overall, I got the feeling that Sac's brings in a lot of loyal customers.
Food:
We couldn't wait to order something delicious, and pizza was of course one of the prime suspects. Aside from that, we went kind of light, ordering a salad course, gnocchi and some polenta to share. In the end, we were happy with all our options, as we didn't get overly full and got to enjoy everything to full capacity.
Pizza - The kind folks at Sac's recommended we start off with a small classic pie, and that's exactly what we did. I liked the conservative portion, as it was the perfect way to whet our appetite. Each bite produced a lovely sensation, as you got a generous amount of fresh mozzarella, their homemade marinara sauce and lots of fragrant oregano. Even though the latter ingredient was pronounced, it certainly wasn't overpowering. And let's not forget the delicacy of the brick oven crust that had just the right amount of char on the bottom.
Apps - We ordered two apps, which happened to be on the specials menu, including a fresh cucumber salad with sliced red onions and feta cheese as well as a polenta dish with eggplant, cheese and their fresh marinara sauce.
Both dishes were amazing but for me, the salad was the clear stand-out, as it was simple, fresh and so vibrant on the palate. Each ingredient complemented the other really well, the cheese adding some nice tang to the clean, gentle flavors of the cucumber, and the red onion and red wine vinegar, putting some zing into the whole equation. Needless to say, we polished this salad off pretty quickly.
Gnocchi - Each one of us loves gnocchi, and we couldn't wait to try Sac's version. I'm happy to say that it delivered, with delicate, oblong shaped pieces that were deliciously hugged by Sac's signature marinara sauce. If you're looking for something simple and classic, I'd highly suggest this dish - and despite what a lot of people say about gnocchi, these particular ones were nice and light, and airy.
Dessert - Because we shared everything, we saved room for dessert and chose two options, including the homemade apple pie a la mode and an almond ice cream, chocolate glazed treat. Out of the two, I had a strong preference for the latter, as it was a little unusual and had a definitive almond flavor that spoke volumes. I don't have to tell you that I adore anything glazed with chocolate, so that was an extra bonus on my end, and the raspberry sauce on the bottom didn't hurt either.
Service and Cost:
As I already hinted above, the service was friendly and hospitable, and through some conversations, we found out that all the recipes that make up the menu have been passed down from generations. There's just a feeling of home when you sit down to a meal here and the staff treats you like family - it's really refreshing.
Costs are affordable and include:
Antipasti - $7.95 - $10.95
Coal Oven Pizza - $5 - $20.95
Pasta - $5.95 - $16.95
Fish, Pork, Chicken - $12.95 - $20.95
3 Mmmms
Sac's Place - 25-41 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.204.5002
N/Q Train to Broadway
As many are just thrilled about the big game this Sunday, restaurants are no doubt planning big parties with lots of food and drinks specials. It's going to get wild! While I usually do a round up of where to go out, this year I'm switching it up by giving you the scoop on the best places to take-in when hosting your own football shin-dig. Whatever you do, enjoy and let's hope the G-Men bring it home!
Sal, Chris & Charlie's Deli - Want to ring in the Suberbowl with a big sandwich? This is the place to go, as any true Astorian knows they make the most delectable sandwiches in town with fresh, premium cold cuts and great quality cheeses. The bread is fantastic, sealing the deal on this big time hero. Pre-order yours pronto to get it in time for the big game. 33-12 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11102. 718.278.9240
Key Food - I know what you may be thinking..."Key Food...really?!" Yeah, really. Their big hero sandwich is also legit and generally more affordable than the full monty at Sal, Chris and Charlie's. It's packaged conveniently and comes with all your necessary condiments like mayo, mustard, and a side of potato salad and cole slaw. 32-21 Newtown Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.728.9403
Palace Fried Chicken - One of the best places for wings in Astoria, you can get them as hot or mild as you want to. They do a nice job with take-out, as the wings arrive fresh and piping hot. The fried chicken and biscuits are also really delish and make for a perfect football snack. 27-01 21st Street, Astoria NY 11102. 718.932.8855
The Chirping Chicken -For more chickeny goodness, try the Chirping Chicken where the bird is king. There's tons of football friendly options to choose from such as buffalo wings, chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, and whole or half chickens too if you're interested. 30-15 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106. 718.721.7766
Pita Pan - Although not your traditional football grub, I love their take-out options including the healthy souvlaki sticks, chicken or beef gyros and even a variety of pizza if you're so inclined. I like that they offer a whole wheat option on the pizza and the portions aren't gargantuan if you're trying to tone things down. Their delivery is pretty quick too, but allow for extra time on Superbowl Sunday. 37-15 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.204.1633
Sac's Place - If you're in the mood for really nice quality brick oven pizza, treat your guests to Sac's. You can choose from your basic margarita pizza to fancy options with prosciutto, meatballs, gourmet cheeses and more. Pasta is a nice complement to your order, and since it's pretty filling, it'll go a long way. 25-41 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106. 718.204.5002
La Vita Mia - Another yummy place for pizza take-out, I love the great quality of their dough on their traditional pizzas, but especially on the thicker-crust Grandma pizza. You'll pay a premium for the latter but it's worth every penny. Their wings are pretty delicious as well. 28-01 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102. 718.267.0310
La Guli Pastry Shop - Making the food at home but still looking for a gorgeous dessert? My colleagues at We Heart Astoria just spotted this beauty from La Guli Pastry Shop, which is making Giants themed cakes in honor of Superbowl Sunday. Order yours in advance or pick up a couple of spontaneous treats on game day. 29-15 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105. 718.728.5612
Make Your Own Big Sandwich - If you're the one making the grub for the shin-dig, consider making your own big sandwich. For great quality cold cuts, I highly recommend Rosario's Deli, and in terms of bread, you can't get anything better than at Rose & Joe's right across the street - especially their olive bread, it's amazing! Rosario's - 22-55 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105. 718.728.2920. Rose & Joe's Bakery - 22-40 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105. 718.721.9422
Bacon Deviled Eggs - You may remember that I first tried making these a week ago for the championship Sunday party and they were a hit. I love them for a football party because they're bite sized, easy to eat, and the bacon makes them stinkin' delicious. See my recipe here.
Sac's Place, the long-time pizza and Italian food staple in Astoria is giving back this holiday season by offering customers great specials from now until just after the new year (January 3rd). Whatever the day of the week, stop in for one of these enticing deals:
Monday: Free live music
Tuesday: Up to 3 free toppings on any pizza (in-house dining only) Wednesday: 20% off of every item on the menu (in-house dining only) Thursday: Free sampling of Sac’s estate wines and one free glass of your choice with any entrée. Not a wine drinker? Enjoy Sac’s ½ price Martinis all night.Sat/Sun: Italian Holiday Brunch with a Free Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Bellini or Iced Tea cocktailSac's Place - 25-41 Broadway, Astoria 11106
718.204.5002N/W Train to Broadwaywww.sacsplace.com
Sac's Place - 25-41 Broadway, Astoria 11106718.204.5002N/W Train to Broadwaywww.sacsplace.comA lot of people have raved about Sac's coal oven pizza and although I've had it once already, it was just a quick bite that wasn't truly savored. Dan and I decided to give this place a real try and ordered their much-talked-about coal oven marinara pizza with sauteed peppers. We ordered this pie to go and I do realize that with take-out, quality sometimes suffers but this pizza didn't meet any expectations--low or high. I'm sorry to report such disappointing news and I hope that it was a fluke but our anticlimactic pizza was also coupled by sloppy and inefficient service. First though, the pizza...Marinara Pie with Sauteed Red Peppers:As I mentioned, I was so looking forward to this pizza. After all, they boast high quality ingredients such as homemade mozzarella and Italian San Marzano tomatoes baked in an authentic coal oven. Naturally, I was expecting the best--crispy crust, light-tasting toppings and a hot pie. However, the pizza we got didn't have any of this foretold goodness.
First off, it wasn't hot, it was barely lukewarm (granted we were 5 minutes late for our pick-up so we'll take partial blame but 5 minutes shouldn't make such a difference). The crust wasn't crispy at all, in fact it was too weighed down by toppings, making it soggy. Dan reheated it on our pizza stone at home and that improved it slightly but overall it still wasn't as crispy as it should've been. The seasoning also needed help and we had to reapply salt, pepper and oregano to improve its bland taste. I think you get the point, Sac's pizza made for a disappointing end to a long week.Service and Cost:Sac's is divided into two sections, the restaurant and the take-out counter. I walked into the restaurant by mistake and got a glimpse of the atmosphere. It seemed quiet, nice and well run. Now the take-out area was something else. There was a long line of waiting customers and one person seemed to be doing all the work--reheating the pizza and ringing up the customers. This just didn't seem fair and I'm guessing that the quality of our pizza suffered for this reason. The guy wasn't too friendly but how could you blame him? I'd be crabby too if I had to serve a long line of customers while another "colleague" stood next to me chatting up a customer like he had all the time in the world. Not right.
In terms of the cost, Sac's is expensive. We paid $15.50 for a 14" crappy pizza, which we had to fix up at home.
No Mmmms
