The 8th Annual Taste of LIC is Coming

One of my favorite, local summer tasting events is the upcoming Taste of LIC.  I look forward to this event each year, as I relish in getting a flavor (and sometimes a sneak peek) of a number of local culinary stand-outs from LIC, Astoria and the neighboring area.  

It's a lot of fun to not only find your trusty staples here such as Tournesol, Manducatis Rustica, and Vesta, but also newcomers such as S. Prime Steakhouse, Casa Enrique, Van Alst Kitchen and others.

Aside from it being a good way to taste great local food, it's always fun to come out and mix and mingle with local business owners, as well as to meet old and new friends.  The whole thing is one big (well-organized) party.  Here are the details and how you can score your tickets.

8th Annual Taste of LIC
Tuesday, June 4th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - general admission
$50 per person - purchase your tickets

Please find a list of participating restaurants, food & beverage partners.
I can't wait to see you there!

Valentine's Day Plans in Astoria

Another instrumental day in the food world that's coming up is Valentine's Day.  As we get closer, I'm seeing more and more eateries reveal their V-Day menus and I wanted to share a few of them with you here.

The Queens Kickshaw - For a casual V-day, grab your hunny or your friends and head on over to this grilled cheese haven, where they'll be featuring a special 5-course prix fixe on the 14th and an anti V-day celebration on the 15th.  I was excited to learn that on V-day evening they'll be featuring a special Beet Pasta Alfredo.  40-17 Broadway, Astoria.  718.777.0913

Tournesol - If you love French food, you're going to really enjoy dinner at this quaint LIC bistro.  They've got a special menu for V-day, which includes dishes such as foie gras, coq au vin, a braised lamb shank, scallops risotto, crepe suzette and more.  The dinner will set you back $49/person and it'll be mighty romantic.  50-12 Vernon Blvd, LIC.  718.472.4355

Veslo - I love the looks of Veslo's V-day menu, which is a 3-courser for $50/person, featuring yummies such as clams casino, stuffed mushrooms, a crown rack of lamb, Croatian style crepes and more.  They'll also have some nice live music to get everyone in a loverly mood.  32-11 Broadway, Astoria.  718.728.0549

La Guli Pastry Shop - Preparing V-day dinner at home and don't feel like baking dessert? La Guli always delivers with lovely looking (and tasting) V-Day treats such as cookies, cakes, cannolis and other goodies.  One of my favorite things to get here even though it's not Valentine's Day related are the chocolate mousse mice - they're adorable.  29-15 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria.  718.728.5612

Chocolate Girl - Do you guys know about Gnosis Chocolate? Its founder, Vanessa is from Astoria and has been making delicious raw chocolate since 2008.  For V-Day, you can enjoy special seasonal goodies such as the "Passion Truffle Collection," featuring flavors such as Wild White Rose, Madagascar Mylk, Passionfruit Cupuacu and more.  You can also find their chocolates in the neighborhood at places such as Sai Organics, Astoria Wines & Spirits, Vitality & Health, Fresh Start Market, and Broadway Natural.  

New Year's Eve at Tournesol

With the holiday season officially being here, and nearly almost over, we still have New Year's Eve to look forward to.  And while some of you may know what you're already doing, others may still need some convincing.

Well here's just one option of many others that I'll post over the new few days, and it comes from one of my favorite little French bistros, Tournesol.  Besides loving the classic French menu of goodies, the New Year's Eve prix-fixe is wallet friendly too - just take a look, and if you're interested, make sure to reserve your spot soon, as Tournesol is on the intimate side.

Amuse Bouche

Course 1 (choose 1)
Butternut squash soup with truffle oil
Foie gras terrine with quince compote
Ballotine of rabbit with prunes and celery puree
Salad of Fourme d’Ambert with pears and walnuts

Course 2 (choose 1)
Salmon feuilleté with black rice and caviar sauce
Stuffed duck with truffles, zucchini gratin and seared mushrooms
Lobster papillotte with artichoke, broccoli and mango
Roasted rack of lamb with polenta and dates

Course 3 (choose 1)
Chocolate cremeux, kumquat sauce
Nougat glace with fig coulis
Pate a choux swan with praline cream
Roasted apple with apricot marmalade and sablé

Mignardises

$59/person (plus tax and gratuity) 

Tournesol - 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
718.472.4355
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave
www.tournesolnyc.com

Tournesol Turns 10 - Come and Celebrate!

In a neighborhood where things change more often than not, I really like to pay homage to establishments that have "made it."  Tournesol, the quaint French bistro, located in the heart of LIC's own Restaurant Row (aka Vernon Blvd) has certainly reached one of those milestones.  They're turning ten this month, and I couldn't be happier.  As many of you can attest, this restaurant has been consistently producing some pretty solid French bistro fare, and is the go-to place for something comforting, sophisticated yet unpretentious when it comes to French food.  

Celebrating their 10th in style, they're featuring a special menu to ring in just that from March 26 - 29 from 5:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Tournesol 10 Year Anniversary Menu - $20.02/person

Choice of

Lobster bisque
Pan seared foie gras
Endive salad with blue cheese and walnuts
Sea food gratin

And choice of

Lamb shank with confit veggies
White bean ragout of hake
Coq au vin de gaillac
Pan seared skate with fingerling potatoes

And choice of

Tart of the day
Chocolate mousse
Crème brulee

Tournesol - 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
718.472.4355
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave
www.tournesolnyc.com

Tournesol - Like Coming Back Home

After a very long but unintentional break, I returned back to Tournesol this week.  I dined with Meg, who suggested we check it out for their Monday - Wednesday dinner prix-fixe.  Never not in the mood for French food, I gladly obliged and after just a few minutes in the restaurant, we couldn't be happier that we came back.

Tournesol, we were glad to see, hasn't lost its touch.  On the contrary, it seemed to be as on-point as ever, proven by an almost full restaurant on a random Wednesday night.  Here's what we ordered:

Soup of the Day (Carrot soup with leeks) - I'm a sucker for carrot soup because to me, it just says comfort.  Our waiter described this one as also containing leeks, which completely excited both Meg and me.  As you can see from the above shot, the soup had a gorgeous pale orange color and its taste was lovely and mild.  The leeks were a nice addition, adding more texture and a gentle onion flavor.  They made the soup heartier and unexpected - it could've been a meal in itself.

Mussels with Frites - Loving the simple basics when it comes to French food, I eyed the mussels marinieres, which are just traditional mussels cooked in white wine, garlic and fresh parsley.  They were served with frites of course, which were just perfect for dipping into this timeless sauce.  The mussels themselves were plentiful and of good quality - I only had one unopened one, which I of course left alone, but all the others were big and meaty.

Braised Lamb Shank - Meg ordered this decadent entree, which was quite impressive in presentation.  The meat rested on a bed of cous-cous and was further dressed with roasted veggies as well as crunchy veggie chips on top.  I had a bite of the meat and it was really tasty - tender, succulent and absolutely falling off of the bone, as it should.

Dessert - We each got a dessert, which came with our prix-fixe deal.  I got the tarte tatin (an upside down apple tart) and Meg chose the Marquise au Chocolate, which consisted of dark and white chocolate mousse.  Both were excellent options and I enjoyed the light, homemade flavor of the buttery tarte tatin crust.  The plump apple on top of the crust was a pleasure to bite into, gentle in taste but just sweet enough to satisfy a dessert craving.

Meg's dessert was more decadent, and really amazing.  My favorite aspect about it was the fresh raspberry sauce that the mousse floated on.  Pairing the creamy, rich chocolate with this slightly tangy sauce made my tastebuds do the happy dance.

Service and Cost:
We were impressed with the professional service, and as I mentioned in an earlier review, the waitstaff is actually French.  They had the pacing part of service down pat and we liked that they let us chat as long as we felt like at the end of our meal.  Not unlike in a bistro in France, it felt relaxed, casual and delivered on quality.

Prices were moderate and for a 3-course prix-fixe we paid $25 - together with wine, tax and tip, our total was about $43 each.  Not cheap but so worth the amazingness I just described.

3 Mmmms

Tournesol - 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
718.472.4355
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave
www.tournesolnyc.com

LIC Holiday Food Guide

Yesterday, I brought you a mini Astoria food guide and today, we get into LIC.  If you haven't had the opportunity to explore it or share its culinary gems with friends and family, here's your chance:

1.  Tournesol - One of my favorite French bistros in LIC (right there with Cafe Henri), Tournesol offers a touch of French charm right in Queens.  Simple, elegant and clean French food will surely impress your giftee, through an offering of mussels, classic soups, rustic sweet and savory tarts and some pretty irresistible desserts such as creme brulee, soft bread pudding with creme anglaise, profiteroles and more!  You can get your gift certificates at the restaurant or they can ship them right to your recipient.  50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City. 718.472.4355

2.  LIC Market - This still-new restaurant and general store rolled into one is stepping it up this holiday season.  If you'd like to share fresh, seasonal and homemade goodies with friends, invest in their holiday-themed gift baskets, which boast an assortment of housemade spreads, jams, sauces, and some fun ingredients that every serious cook should have.  Prices vary and run anywhere from $40 - $95.  They take about a day to put together and you can order them in person or over the phone.  21-52 44th Drive, Long Island City.  718.361.0013

3.  Sage General Store - Another restaurant/general store combo, with fresh, wholesome and local food, it's been the talk of the town on many occasions.  Recently adding dinner to their repertoire, you can expect simple, quality food such as slow roasted pork, locally-raised spit roasted chicken, their famous mac 'n cheese of the day as well as specialty brunch items such as wood-burning brunch pizzas.  They're also notoriously successful for producing the most sinfully delectable bacon brownie.  24-20 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City.  718.361.0707

4.  SHI - My favorite place to take someone when I want to impress, a gift certificate to SHI will be well received.  Featuring a diverse menu of Asian cuisine including Thai, Japanese and Chinese, everything is carefully prepared and hits all the right flavor notes.  A couple of my personal stand-outs include a mango chicken/shrimp combo, the bacon wrapped shrimp appetizer, popcorn beef and General Tso's chicken.  Gift certificates can be picked up at the restaurant or ordered via phone.  47-20 Center Blvd, Long Island City.  347.242.2450

5.  Manetta's - If you're getting something for a lover of all things traditional, try Manetta's.  Their extensive selection of fresh pasta such as the linguini neri (black linguini) or the pappardelle with porcini mushrooms is quite delicious, but you can also get your pizza (pictured above), chicken parm, lasagna and ravioli classics.  Not to mention the freshly baked mini cookies, some of which use my beloved ingredient, Nutella.  Gift certificates can be picked up at the restaurant.  10-76 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City.  718.786.6171

2010 Taste of LIC - An Evening of Food, Fun and Freakindelicious Bacon Brownies

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending The Chocolate Factory's 5th Annual Taste of LIC held at Gantry Plaza State Park. Although the event was held here last year as well, I think due to last night's favorable weather, it was even more successful.  There was certainly an abundance of restaurants where you could sample more goodies and it was fun to see the new-kids-on-the-block (that haven't officially opened), showcasing their wares.

Below are my highlights of new things, old things and really unusual things that made me stop.

New Things/Places:

Madera - This newly opened Cuban Grill was represented with an offering of baked coconut shrimp, guava and cheese empanadas (which were delicious) as well as slow roasted pork and ropa vieja (shredded beef).  Although they had difficulty keeping their dishes warm, you could tell they were well made and I'd be curious to sample their food at the restaurant.  47-29 Vernon Blvd, LIC. 917.402.7019

Breadbox Cafe - Even though this place hasn't officially opened, the food looked and tasted promising.  It's nothing fancy, made up of simple salads, sandwiches, quiches and baked goods, but the ingredients seemed fresh and tasted delicious. It could become a good breakfast or lunch standby, and the owners mentioned that they'll also offer dinner.  47-11 11th Street, LIC.  718.389.9700

M. Wells - I was intrigued to learn that a Quebeco-American diner is coming to LIC.  The dish they served last night, a slow roasted pork dressed with a sweet maple reduction, was so memorable and left my mind and palate thoroughly intrigued.  I'll get back to you with more details about their official opening.  21-17 49th Avenue, LIC.

Old Things/Places:

Wunderbar - Wow, when I saw the generous offering of bratwurst, weisswurst and all the fixins such as German potatoes, sauerkraut, red cabbage and German-style onions, I couldn't miss it.  Wunderbar's representatives were really great and piled everything expertly in a disposable dish (pictured above) and even dressed it with spicy mustard.  The whole thing was just delectable and reminded me of being back in Eastern Europe. YUM! 37-10 11th Street, LIC. 718.937.2337

Tournesol - Tournesol never fails to deliver and as they do each year, they featured an egg/bacon/onion quiche paired with champagne.  Every year it's this dish and every year, I devour it.  Tournesol uses a really amazing, thick-cut hearty bacon that's wonderful to sink your teeth into. 50-12 Vernon Blvd, LIC.  718.472.4355

Lounge 47 - After hearing a lot of good things about their wasabi deviled eggs, I finally got to taste one.  And was it good!  Being a huge fan of deviled eggs in general, I had a feeling I'd enjoy this but wasn't ready for the subtle hit to your palate from the strong wasabi.  The flavors definitely woke your senses in the best possible way and the dish was addicting to say the least.  47-10 Vernon Blvd, LIC. 718.937.2044

Unusual Things/Places:

Sage's Bacon Brownie - The Sage General Store really brought it up a notch with their bacon brownies.  As soon as I heard the words bacon and brownie in the same sentence I was so down to try it.  The actual brownie was really chocolatey, using good quality dark chocolate and flavored with small bits of bacon.  The taste wasn't overpowering but powerful enough to recognize its distinct smokiness. It was truly incredible and I went back for seconds. 24-20 Jackson Avenue, LIC. 718.361.0707

Omni's Truffled Honey - This unique item from Omnipak Distributing Company was unforgettable.  Paired with crumbly parmesan cheese on top of rustic focaccia bread, it delivered the perfect bite.  The sweetness from the honey brought a smile to your face and you couldn't help but be surprised by the truffle essence that lingered on your tongue after each bite.  I'm certainly going to probe further and find out where this product is ditributed. 

El Ay Si's Homemade Candy - Distributed to all guests in a cute little paper bag with El Ay Si's insignia, these little treats were just adorable.  Individually wrapped in old fashioned wax paper, they consisted of rich, fudgy candy flavored with banana. How inventive yet nostalgic at the same time! The bag also included a $10 gift certificate to El Ay Si, which will surely come in handy.  47-38 Vernon Blvd, LIC. 718.389.8781

What did you think of last night's event?

Happy Mother's Day Astoria

Wow this week is busy with two big special occasions happening so close to each other - yesterday's Cinco de Mayo and of course Mother's Day, which is this Sunday.  Below are 10 fun suggestions for Mother's Day in Astoria and Long Island City.  I hope whichever route you take, you treat Mom to something nice and make her feel special.

Ovelia - Although they're completely booked for brunch, dinner reservations are still available.  There's no Mother's Day menu, but they are serving their Sunday Night 3-course prix-fixe for $25.  That's a great deal on a regular night, but especially for Mother's Day when a lot of restaurants jack up their prices. 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria. 718.721.7217

Bistro Les Minots - This quaint little French bistro is also doing an affordable $29.95 prix-fixe menu for Mother's Day with a 3-course French meal and even a complimentary glass of sangria.  The offer runs from noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday.  47-16 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.606.2535

Seva - My all-time favorite Indian restaurant in Astoria, they'll be doing business as usual on Mother's Day.  Because it's so intimate and often-times busy, I suggest you make a reservation.  My favorite dishes here are the apricot lamb curry as well as the chicken Korma.  And definitely get the naan! 30-07 34th Street, Astoria. 718.626.4440

718 - I love going to 718 for Mother's day and took my mom there two years ago.  She loved the clean, modern atmosphere and enjoyed her tarte flambee very much.  This year for Mother's Day, they'll serve brunch as usual and for dinner they're featuring a lamb special. Everything can be ordered a la carte, which is great. 35-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.204.5553

Akti - If you're in the mood for wonderfully fresh Greek food, give Akti a try.  They'll be serving their regular menu, which is fabulous for Greek meze and fresh fish.  I highly recommend the dip platter and the zucchini croquettes. 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.3530

BareBurger - In addition to being a big fan of their burgers, I've recently discovered their amazing brunch and highly recommend it for Mother's Day.  The menu will remain the same and so will the prices.  If you want to indulge, I urge you to try their organic omelette with Danish blue cheese, applewood bacon and caramelized onions. Need I say more? 33-21 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106.  718.777.7011

Zenon Taverna - This deliciously homey Greek restaurant will be offering a great deal for Mother's Day with a 3-course prix fixe (including your choice of a separate side dish with your entree) for $24.95.  Reservations are highly recommended. 34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.956.0133

Cavo - Want to take mom somewhere a bit fancy? Cavo is a great place, especially if the weather is cooperating because they have a large outdoor garden.  The Mother's Day offering is a 3-course meal for $35 per person.  You can come for brunch or dinner - service starts at 1p.m. 42-18 31st Avenue, Astoria. 718.721.1001

Tournesol - I think moms will enjoy a casual meal with panache at this adorable LIC bistro.  The cuisine is French and the menu will remain unchanged on Sunday.  However, they will be featuring a lamb special.  If you try it, definitely don't skimp on dessert - the bread pudding is amazing.  50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101. 718.472.4355

Manducatis Rustica - Tradition and homestyle cooking is the theme here with tasty thin crust pizzas, pasta favorites and homemade gelato.  The menu won't change so you can enjoy all their regular specialties at their gentle prices.   46-35 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101. 718.937.1312

Where to Eat on Easter Sunday

With Easter this Sunday, I thought it'd be helpful to provide some dining options in case you aren't feasting at home. The restaurant offerings below sound tasty and some are even cost effective, as not everything is a prix-fixe.

Prix-Fixes:

Beer Garden - Visit the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden this Sunday for their Easter celebration. In addition to the authentic Czech food for $19.95 per person, they'll have an Easter egg hunt and live music. 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102. 718.274.4925

Trattoria L'Incontro - In true Trattoria fashion, they'll be featuring a $60/person 3-course prix-fixe menu. While expensive, you'll get your money's worth with all the delicious, quality food that Trattoria is known for. Entrees will consist of meats such as lamb and filet mignon, and reservations are still available. 21-76 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.721.3532

Bistro Les Minots - A new French eatery in Astoria, they're having a $25 prix-fixe on Sunday with traditional Easter dishes such as a leg of lamb with mashed potatoes and classic French desserts such as chocolate mousse with fresh strawberries. Yum! 47-16 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.606.2535

Special Menu/Daily Specials:

Vesta - Their Easter menu features selections from brunch and dinner. My favorite item is the braised lamb shank (pictured above), and I guarantee that if you get it, you won't be disappointed. Vesta's signature dessert, the Baby Jesus cake is delicious and quite appropriate for Sunday's holiday. Everything is priced a-la-carte. 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.545.5550

718 - Another Frenchie spot, 718 is known for their tarte flambees, which resemble thin crust pizza. They'll have these along with their regular dinner menu all day on Easter. Brunch however, will not be available that day. 35-01 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.204.5553

Locale - Similarly to Vesta, Locale is offering a fusion of brunch and dinner on Easter. Special dishes include an Italian-style fritatta, steak marinated with peppers and avocado relish and fancy French toast. The atmosphere is very cool, contemporary and relaxing. 33-02 34th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106. 718.729.9080

Tournesol - This LIC French bistro will have a couple of daily specials on Easter but their menu offering will remain a-la-carte. They make a killer French onion soup and some really yummy desserts such as bread pudding with luscious Creme Anglaise sauce. 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101. 718.472.4355

Akti - Even though this place is Greek and they don't celebrate Easter until next weekend, it'll be fully open on Sunday, featuring a couple of daily specials. I'd recommend their catch of the day (grilled) and the zucchini croquettes. 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103. 718.721.3530

Regular Menu:

Piccola Venezia - Although they won't be featuring a special menu, they're known for fresh pasta and hearty meat dishes. Like Trattoria L'Incontro, Venezia is on the upscale side and the prices reflect that. 42-01 28th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.721.8470

Mojave - In the mood for a non-traditional Easter dinner? Try Mojave and enjoy a plethora of Southwestern dishes. Prices are moderate and the atmosphere is lovely and celebratory. Everything will be offered a-la-carte on Sunday. 22-36 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.545.4100

I wish you all a happy and healthy holiday, full of beautiful dishes--and chocolate Easter eggs!

Queens Restaurant Week Coming Soon

Image by www.discoverqueens.info

Like Manhattan, Queens is also holding its Restaurant Week soon--September 15-18, September 22-25. Usually it's been great because the prices are lower than in Manhattan, actually making Restaurant Week a good value. Not this year! I was surprised and annoyed to find out that the prices are on par with Manhattan Restaurant Week--$25 prix-fixe for lunch and $35 prix-fixe for dinner. I don't see the point, as most restaurants in Queens are a lot more cost effective than their Manhattan counterparts. So why put a big price tag on them and market them as a good deal? I simply don't get it.

Here's a list of the Astorian and LIC Restaurant Week participants. Some of them are worth checking out, but most of them I'd visit on a regular night.

JJ's Fusion - 37-05 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11103. 718.626.8888

Mezzo Mezzo - 31-29 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria NY 11105. 718.278.0444

Mundo - 31-18 Broadway #E, Astoria NY 11106. 718.777.2829

Pinocchio Palace - 32-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102. 718.932.4976

Riverview Restaurant (this one might be worth it) - 2-01 50th Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101. 718.392.5000

Tournesol - 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City NY 11101. 718.472.4355

Water's Edge (not worth it) - 4-01 44th Drive, Long Island City NY 11101. 718.482.0033

Winegasm -31-86 37th Street, Astoria NY 11103. 718.932.3331

Zenon Taverna - 34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106. 718.956.0133

But there is one thing, which actually sounds like a deal:

The first 200 people that reveal their favorite restaurant in Queens will be invited to a kick-off party and media event, which includes a three course menu, representative of the Queens culinary scene. And these participants will also be entered to win various Queens restaurant gift certificates. Visit www.discoverqueens.info and then click "contact us" to name your favorite Queens restaurant.

Good luck!

Tournesol - A Taste of the French Kitchen

Tournesol - 50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101
718.472.4355
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave
www.tournesolnyc.com

I've been wanting to try Tournesol for a long time now--ever since I tasted their amazing bacon and onion quiches at the Taste of LIC event back in June. My cousin Vicky has been there a couple of times and suggested that we go after our birthday massages last week. A great plan and we enjoyed a delicious meal.

Atmosphere:
The vibe at Tournesol is very homey and personal--you almost feel like you're in someone's dining room rather than a restaurant. Local artists showcase their works on the walls and a rustic bar rests in the middle of the room. If you look up, you'll see that the ceiling is in its original design--another sign of personality and uniqueness. Needless to say, Tournesol is small but that's part of its charm. You really feel like you're part of something special here and that the food is going to be prepared with care, instead of being mass produced. The staff is charming and actually French--their accents are endearing to listen to.

Food:
Vicky and I decided to order from the appetizer menu and share everything. I love this approach because it allowed us to try a variety of dishes and even dessert. Here's what we tried:

Grilled Calamari With White Beans - What immediately sold us on this dish was the grilled vs. the fried calamari as well as the chorizo. We weren't disappointed--the calamari was quite large and the white bean salad provided a heartier touch. I was a little surprised to find that the chorizo was dried (I would've preferred it in its traditional form) but it was still good--crispy and smoky.

French Onion Soup - This was by far the stand-out of my entire meal. The cheesy crust was bubbly, hot and well-done--as I like it. The broth couldn't be more flavorful, as it was packed with tons of garlic. While I'd probably avoid this dish on a first date, I was more than happy to finish it in my cousin's company. She tried it as well and also commented on the fabulous garlic flavor-- tres bien!

Goat Cheese and Tomato Tart - Hmmm, I'm not sure what I was expecting here but it didn't quite meet my standards. There was a little too much acid from the tomato and the goat cheese could've been crumbled into smaller pieces. The flavor was too strong and I could only handle a couple of bites. However, the heirloom tomatoes that dressed this dish were fantastic.

Grilled Shrimp Skewer - This was yummy and we both devoured it quickly. The shrimp was large and grilled to perfection--with a nice char taste. It was accompanied by veggie cous-cous and frisee salad--refreshing and light, it was a great summer dish. I'd definitely recommend splitting it between two people--the portion was generous.

Bread Pudding - Another memorable dish, this ranked high for me, along with the onion soup. It was super soft and decadent, with a ribbon of cinnamon running through it. A garnish of a fresh raspberry and mint leaves made this even more elegant and once dipped into the luxurious Creme Anglaise sauce, I was hooked. Although Vicky swore that she didn't want dessert, she simply couldn't resist this heavenly treat.

Service and Cost:
We didn't have complains about the service except that it seemed inconsistent. A new waiter every few minutes seemed strange but it didn't bother us because all of the waiters were very attractive (and polite) French men. We had one female waitress who took our dessert order and she was a bit short with us and not as friendly as the men. But overall, the service was nice and just like Tournesol itself, it was personal and homey.

Tournesol is wallet friendly. Appetizers range from $7-$11.50, entrees from $14-$19 and desserts are all $7. You can easily spend less than $30 per person here for a great dinner. They also serve brunch on weekends, which is affordable, with most dishes under $12.

3 Mmmms

Taste of LIC - Great Food, Gorgeous Setting

Last Wednesday, I had the great fun of attending the third annual Taste of LIC. And while I was expecting a standard tasting event, it was so much more because of its spectacular location in LIC's luxurious East Coast Tower. The event was held on the rooftop of this magnificent building, located on Center Boulevard on LIC's waterfront. The view was incredible and the food was divine. Here are some of my favorite food stops of the night. I'll definitely be hitting these places up in the future.

Café Henri - This low-key French café is in a prime spot just off the 7 train. Pastries and bread are clearly its area of expertise. An absolute stand-out was the pretzel croissant--salty and pretzel-like on the outside, and soft, chewy and croissant-like on the inside. They went like hotcakes and were unlike any pretzel I've ever tasted--and I even took some home with me!

10-10 50th Ave, Long Island City, NY, 718-383-9315

Tournesol - Another Frenchie spot, this one is on the south end of Vernon Boulevard. Its Taste of LIC station was a fine start to the evening with a hearty egg, bacon, and onion quiche, paired with sweet Domaine Brut champagne. They had an olive and onion focaccia, which was also good but didn't stand a chance next to the quiche.

50-12 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY, 718-472-4355

Communitea - This organic country-style tea and pastry shop provided a sweet finish to the night. The treats were bite-sized and my favorites included the toasted oat scone, served with a smooth clotted cream. I also went back for a homemade chocolate chip cookie, which was chewy and super light.

47-02 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY, 718-729-7708

Blend - I was excited to see some Latin fusion and had the chance to try their chicken croquettes with avocado chili. They were good but could've been a little creamier. The chicken arepas were solid though and overall their booth featured some interesting flavors, which I'd like to try for dinner sometime. I checked out their menu and the prices are inexpensive.

47-04 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY, 718.729.2800

Proceeds from the event benefited a local arts center, The Chocolate Factory. There was funky music on-site too, courtesy of The Vintage DJ.

I was sad to leave this lap of luxury where food was at your every disposal and booze flowed freely. Not a bad way to spend a summer night. Not bad at all.