FTW - Artopolis Cheese Pies

It’s been a while since I’ve set foot in Artopolis Bakery, as I’ve been trying to abstain from sweets and various types of baked goods.  Saturday however, was a different story, as I took the opportunity to indulge and bring some of their goodies over to my brother and sister-in-law’s lunch get together.

Naturally, I wanted to get Artopolis’ rosemary bread that goes well with hummus, olives and even just on its own.  But one can’t simply leave this place without picking up a few other provisions.

Cheese Pies – The bread counter at Artopolis not only serves a few varieties of rustic loaves, it also boasts a display of different cheese and spinach pies.  I chose two varieties of the former, one of which was savory, boasting a crumbly thick crust and a tender, savory middle.  Although I’m not 100% certain of the cheeses used in this particular pie, my guess would be something like feta.

The sweet cheese pie was everyone’s favorite, which resembled more of a danish, and it was further sprinkled with powdered sugar and cinnamon.  Heated up a bit, each bite was decadent, boasting a sweet/savory filling of anthotyro cheese.  Even the most discerning eaters found this pie delicious.

Spinach Pie – Who doesn’t love a classic spinach pie!?  This one was executed perfectly, with a pretty golden brown crust that was a little crunchy and crumbly too.  The bright green inside was earthy and vibrant, the spinach layers bejeweled with a few flecks of white feta.

Service and Cost:
Since the bakery was quite busy, it took me a while to get someone’s attention, but once I did, it was all good.  All in all, I was in and out in a matter of 10 minutes, which is more than acceptable on a busy Saturday.

Costs are expensive but worth every penny, setting me back $31 for two loaves of bread and 6 pastries.

3 Mmmms

Artopolis - 23-18 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105

718.728.8484

N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd or Ditmars Blvd

www.artopolis.net

Friday is National Eat Outside Day - For Real!

Recently learning about this random yet fun little food holiday through Mojave's newsletter, I was only too happy to start thinking about some of my favorite places in Astoria with the best outdoor spots.  Mojave of course tops the list, but here are a few others.  For the record, National Eat Outside Day is this Friday, August 31st.  Happy dining!

Mojave - My We Heart Astoria colleague, Meg recently shouted them out as having a beautiful outdoor space, and she has some pretty neat pictures up on the site.  I couldn't agree more and think Mojave is a great respite after a long grueling day in the city.  My favorites to get are their frozen margaritas (especially the mango), the plantain empanadas appetizer, Motherroad Roadhouse Chili (yes...even during the summer!) and any of their fajitas.  22-36 31st Street, Astoria.  718.545.4100

Ovelia - Being around for a few years now, Ovelia has always had fabulous sidewalk seating that snakes around the side of the restaurant.  It's also great when they open up their "garage door" window, which makes you feel like you're sitting outside even if you're technically inside.  There's so many awesome yummies you can grab here including their fried feta cubes, coated in black sesame seeds; fried-to-perfection zucchini croquettes; the spicy kafteri feta dip and more!  34-01 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.721.7217

5 Napkin Burger - Even though you normally may not think of this place as a choice for outdoor dining, their sidewalk seating is enormous, and it's right in the middle of the 35th Avenue action.  I love this place a lot because their food really accommodates any kind of diet restrictions, as both carnivores and vegetarians can chow down without compromise.  Although I'm far from a vegetarian, I often get their veggie burger, since it's so darn exceptional and filling.  Don't forget to get a side of sweet potato fries along with it.  35-01 36th Street, Astoria.  718.433.2727

Winegasm - Recently coming here with Mackenzi, we sat outside and enjoyed a really pleasant evening.  While the outdoor seating isn't as extensive as some of the other places I mention here, it's really nice and generally provides a private atmosphere.  If you're just stopping in for a quick snack, I urge you to try the mushroom crostini, which contains generous amounts of truffle oil and gooey fontina cheese.  31-86 37th Street, Astoria.  718.932.3331

At Home! - While we enjoy eating out as a special treat, there's nothing like cooking your own homemade meal and eating it on the porch, in the backyard, on the front stoop, front yard or what have you.  Some delicious resources that will surely keep you stocked with interesting foods include: Mediterranean Foods, Artopolis Bakery (just next door to Med Foods), Titan Foods, Parrot Coffee Market, Rosario's and more.  

Happy Eat Outside Day!