The Strand – Still Smoky and Delightful

A few weeks back, Dan and I attended a fun shin-dig at The Strand in honor of their big one year anniversary.  It’s hard to believe this place has only been open for a year, as it seems to already be such a staple in the community.  Its popularity doesn’t come without a price, as The Strand is known to be controversial in the nabe for its “merrymaking,” shall was say.  All’s well that ends well, I think, as The Strand seems to enjoy a loyal following, serving some yummy eats at their party.  Here were some of our foodie faves:    

Pulled Pork – Saucy and delicious, the pulled pork totally delivered with some chunks of nicely marbled meat.  I loved how juicy it was, and you didn’t even need a side or a piece of bread with it.  Since I haven’t been here in quite a while, it was nice to observe the improvements they’ve made with their sauces.

Brisket – Dan and I enjoyed this generously marbled meat, which had a lovely char on the outside, but was also very moist on the inside.  The meat fell apart easily and just like the pork, didn’t need much sauce as an accompaniment – we had the smoky baked beans for that.

Baked Beans – Really a meal on its own, the baked beans came in a bowl of hearty goodness.  Marbled with a few chunky pieces of beef, this tasty concoction reminded me a lot of a wintery stew.  On a rainy, cold night such as the one we experienced, it was the perfect thing.

Chicharron (aka fried pork belly) – Saving the best for last, Dan and I marveled at the genius of these little porky bites.  The texture was impeccable, as it was a little crunchy on the outside but chewy on the inside.  The flavor combined everything delectable including sweet, salty, smoky, and a little spicy too.  Umami was definitely reached here – oh, most definitely.

Service:
Since this was one big party, everyone was cheerful and hospitable, and we enjoyed good service at the counter as well as when seated.  Even though it was super crowded, we scored good seats, as everyone was happy to share a common space, and rejoice together for this festive occasion.

Happy Birthday Strand – here’s to many more!

The Strand Smokehouse - 25-27 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.440.3231
N/Q Train to Broadway
www.thestrandsmokehouse.com

Ovelia Turns 7 - Enjoy Their Awesome Specials

It's hard to believe that it's been 7 years since Ovelia, one of my favorite Greek eateries in the nabe has opened its doors.  The memory of when these guys started out is very distinct to me, as it's also around the time I started my blog.  In fact, I think back at it with much affection, as my Ovelia post was indeed the very first one!

I'm very happy to see the Giannakas family doing well and keeping this place as kickin' as ever.  They're running a few food and drinks specials in honor of their big birthday.  Enjoy these for the entire month of December, and share the Ovelia love with your friends:

This Friday:
7 Year Anniversary celebration with an open bar and meze from 9 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Meze Mondays:
All apps from the meze menu are $7 on Mondays (including their homemade sausage, and the octopus. Yum!)

Harpoons Rock 'n Rib Wednesdays:
Enjoy all their signature BBQ dishes with a Greek twist, and have something to wash them down with - $4 Harpoon draughts

Friday Brunch:
Love that the weekend noshing starts early, as you'll be able to order brunch menu items from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Happy Birthday Ovelia!

Ovelia Psistaria - 34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.7217
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.ovelia-ny.com

The Strand Smokehouse Throws it Down

On our way back from a friend's visit last night, Dan and I were still a bit hungry and decided to check out the new The Strand Smokehouse.  There's been a lot of local chatter about this place, with some mixed reviews, so I naturally wanted to experience it for myself.

I'm happy to report that from the minute we walked in to after we polished off our grub and drinks, it was nothing but down home goodness.

Atmosphere:
Described in their own words as "urban honkey tonk," the decor is an appropriate cross between modern and country, with lots of wooden picnic tables, high industrial ceilings, and country and bluegrass music piping through the speakers.

There's a large bar to your immediate left, which houses whiskey in barrels, and 16 locally brewed beers, which are said to change seasonally.  If you keep walking towards the back of the space, you'll find their food counter, which is just so approachable and easy.  All you gotta do is choose your meats and sides from the daily chalkboard menu and voila...you get your hot grub within a matter of seconds.  I just loved this approach, as you don't have to wait around as in a traditional restaurant, achieving instant gratification.

Due to all the picnic tables, the Strand feels very much like a beer garden, which is just a great indoor refuge during cold winter months.  The communal atmosphere is very conducive to being social, and I encourage you to bring a group of friends with you.

Food:
Dan and I hit the food counter and placed our order soon after, choosing a healthy mix of meats and sides.  As we got to The Strand on the later side, some of their daily options were already sold out, but despite that we still felt we got a good representation of their offering.

Meats - We couldn't not get the baby back ribs, so we went for a half rack and also a half pound of roast beef.  I enjoyed the latter a lot more than the ribs, which looked great, but were a tad dry and really needed a helping of Strand's signature Carolina-style BBQ sauce to spruce it up.  The roast beef however, was tender and juicy, and while it still benefited from the bbq sauce and the variety of dry rubs available, it didn't need much to stand out.

Sides - Choosing two really earthy sides of beets and baked beans, we were extremely happy with our decision.  The beets especially were perfectly executed with a slightly sweet-tangy finish that cut the richness in the meats.  Even though it didn't need much, I had fun putting the dry rubs on top, adding even more complexity and sophistication.

The beans, served at a perfect temperature really shined with their garlicky, starchy broth that made you think of home.  It was great to see a mix of white and red beans, which made this sometimes very simple dish a lot more interesting.

Service and Cost:
As I already mentioned, our food was ordered ahead of time, cafeteria style, which we loved. Not having to wait at all, as with traditional table service, it allowed for a quick casual meal, which is nicely enjoyed with just one person but even better I presume with a group. 

Costs are moderate but definitely don't break the bank.  Our meal and drinks set us back about $40 total.

3 Mmmms

The Strand Smokehouse - 25-27 Broadway, Astoria 11106
N/Q Train to Broadway

MexiBBQ's Brunch Goodies

This past weekend, I had the great fun of attending a lovely birthday brunch for my friend Jenny at MexiBBQ.  A bunch of us ladies (and one gentleman) came out to enjoy some yummy brunch treats with a BBQ twist.  I adore this style of food, and haven't yet tried MexiBBQ's version, so I was curious to see how they'd stack up.  Overall, they did pretty well, even despite that it was way crowded on a football Sunday, when half of Astoria is in one place.  

Since there were plenty of tantalizing things on the menu, my sister-in-law Diana and I got a dish each and shared them, which proved to be a fruitful strategy. Here's what we tried:

Hangover Cure - Delighted to notice chilaquiles on the menu, I had to try MexiBBQ's version, as I wanted to to see how they'd stack up next to mine.  They totally rocked it, as the tortillas were the perfect amount of crispy and soft (the chilaquiles I made were just soft), and dressed with a combo of salsa verde and salsa roja, sliced grilled chicken and chorizo.  The latter ingredient had a hint of spice to it, which was great, but that was also dulled out a bit by the silky eggs that topped this thing.  I loved breaking the yolk and letting it seep into every crevice of this dish.  Rockin!

Shrimp and Biscuits - Diana had her eyes on this dish as did I, so we shared.  Slathered in a hearty sausage gravy, this was no light bite, but it was great in small quantities.  The shrimp was cooked well, but in my opinion was breaded a little too much - I would've liked something a little softer on the gums - while the biscuits were buttery and tender and just like they should be.  It was a fun-to-try dish but I'm not sure I'd order it next time.

Service and Cost:
Despite the restaurant being really busy, the service didn't suffer at all and everything was brought out really quickly.  Drinks kept flowing nicely, especially for the ladies who chose the unlimited mimosa option.  Kudos to the good staff at MexiBBQ!

Costs are affordable and set us back about $10-$16 for a brunch entree and then an $11 extra if you went with the unlimited mimosa option.
Haaapppy Birthday Jenny!

2.5 Mmmms

MexiBBQ - 37-11 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.626.0333
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.mexibbq.com

MexiQ Charms Us Again

After watching a healthy dose of football last weekend, Dan and I paid a visit to MexiQ, the Mexican-BBQ fusion joint on 30th Avenue.  Having been there once before, and really enjoying the food, I wanted to introduce it to Dan, who I knew would love it.  Assumption confirmed...we got ourselves a convert. 

Here are some of the yummies we tried that night:

Crispy Pork Guacamole - Wanting to try this the first time around and not having the opportunity, I couldn't miss this chance.  Dan was only too happy to go along with the plan because let's face it, not many can say no to crispy pork.  What I envisioned and what we actually got was not far off - crispy golden bites of pork that were deliciously crunchy on the outside but nice and tender on the inside.  I wasn't sure how it would stand up to the guac, but the two complemented each other beautifully and were quite the duo.  The pork went fast, as you can imagine and we managed to polish off all the guac by the end of our meal too.

Tacos - Dan and I got two orders of tacos, which we split, as there were two per order.  Our choices included the baja fish grouper tacos as well as the bbq brisket tacos.  Both looked absolutely gorgeous on the plate, enveloped in a double layer of soft flour tortillas and each paired with a unique salsa.  I loved this little touch that really showed attention to detail - the fish tacos being paired with grilled pineapple salsa while the brisket tacos accompanied by a spicy creamy corn salsa. 

Although both tacos were really yummy, I preferred the fish tacos, which were light, flaky and were coated in a slightly sweet batter.  The pineapple salsa was the cherry on this Mexican sunday, adding a sweet and slightly spicy element too.

Beer - With over 48 craft beers on tap, it was hard to make a singular decision.  However, the minute I saw they had Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, I wanted nothing else.  I loved the spicy, sweet undertone with each sip.  The beer was hearty and robust and the perfect way to celebrate fall.

Service and Cost:

No complaints about the service, as we were paid attention to from start to finish.  I didn't feel that the service was absolutely polished and some of our waitstaff was a little awkward, but there were no major hiccups to report.

Costs are moderate to inexpensive and the dinner set us back about $45 total including tax and tip.  It was a good, casual way to spend a Sunday evening, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

3 Mmmms

MexiQ Kitchen & Draught - 37-11 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103 718.626.0333

N/Q Train to 30th Avenue

www.mexiqny.com

Studio Square's First Annual Summer Spit BBQ was Sizzlin'

Looking forward this year's first annual Studio Square Summer Spit BBQ, hosted by Chef David Burke and Jim Koch, the event delivered on all counts - food, drinks and culinary star power.  Through my experience at food events that showcase famous food celebrities, I was expecting Chef Burke to show up, mix and mingle and be on his way.  But that was so not the case - not only did he do the former, he worked his butt off, worked the fire pit, served the food and socialized with the crowd.

Lucky enough to come in during the VIP tasting hour, I got a chance to sample everything before it got crowded.  It was clear from the start that this event was well organized, thought out, and there were enough people helping out to keep it that way.

Here are some of the delicious things I tried:

Angry Pigs in Blankets - I loved Studio Square's take on this classic party appetizer, as it was spiced with some cayenne for that extra kick.  The pigs didn't taste oily and the blankets were deliciously buttery.  As you can see from the above pic, the presentation was creative and vibrant, taking these little piggys out for a stroll on the green grass.

Fried Green Beans - Again inventive with presentation, these were served out of Sam Adams beer cartons and they were delicious.  Crispy on the outside with a nice crunch also when you bit into them, it was a fun take on a simple comfort food.  The batter was infused with some smoky spices that gave the coating nice color, but not an overpowering taste.

Sweet Potato Chips - Wow! These were absolutely delectable - thin, crunchy, curly and sweetened with brown sugar and cinnamon.  They were a nice side with the meats and added an almost desserty element.

Chicken Wings - As soon as I spotted the glaze on these babies, I had a feeling they were going to be good. Sticky, mapley, a little spicy and also smoky, they had a touch of Asian influence in them.  The actual meat was moist and delicious and after eating a few, you needed more than a handful of napkins to rectify the situation.

Bacon on a Stick! - My favorite appetizer, it was served simply on a stick.  And what a beautiful sight it was to see thick slab bacon, cooked to perfection and glazed in a sweet maple mustard.  Each bite combined my beloved flavors of sweet and savory, making this both an appetizer and a decadent dessert.  Dessert not for the faint of heart, that is.

The Pig! - The whole roasted pig was truly a work of art, roasting beautifully on a large grill, brought in especially for this event.  It was a treat to witness Chef David Burke basting the beast and then cutting off chunky pieces for all of us to enjoy.  I had a few bites and had the pleasure of tasting the well done, charred skin, which was my favorite part.  In terms of the actual meat, it was soft, succulent and slightly sweet, albeit fatty, which is a given with pig.  Overall a splendid treat to top off the gluttony.

David Burke Signature Cheesecake Lollipops - I loved seeing a little dessert at the end of the buffet, with these signature David Burke treats. I grabbed a chocolate toffee creation that had dark chocolate crunchies on the outside and a cold, creamy-cheesecakey middle.  I overhead some people call them ice cream pops, and they could've passed for just that.  Mmmm...they were refreshing.

Besides all the food, Sam Adams, this event's official sponsor had all their big signature ales on tap, including my favorite, the Cherry Wheat.  The serving cup size was considerably smaller than if you visited on a regular day, but the beauty was that you can go back as many times as you pleased, so it pretty much evened out.

If you hadn't had the chance to experience this awesome event this year, I hope you consider it next year.  It was a blast!

Studio Square - 35-33 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.383.1001
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue or R/M Train to Steinway Street
studiosquarenyc.com

First Annual Summer Spit BBQ is This Sunday!

Image by Studio Square

A lot of you may have noticed the heavy-up promotion around a big, exciting event happening at the Studio Square beer garden this Sunday.  Summer Spit BBQ, hosted by celebrity food personalities, Jim Koch and famous restaurateur and Chef, David Burke promises to be a high-profile afternoon of eating, drinking and indulging.  Personally, I can't wait to check it out and am absolutely delighted and impressed that our wonderful little neighborhood is hosting such a food-influencer shin-dig.  Here are the deets - you can still buy your tickets ahead of time, which is highly suggested.

Summer Spit BBQ at Studio Square Beer Garden
Sunday, June 12th from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

The menu includes:
Passed and stationed hors d'oeuvres and sides

BBQ chicken and cheese dumplings
Angry pigs in blankets (sounds spicy!)
Grilled cheese with chorizo
Smoked gouda pops
Chicken wings
Grilled asparagus on bed of nails (hmmm...)
Smoked beef fat fries in cones
Fried green beans
Sweet potato chips
Chicharonnes

Entrees

Whole roasted pig
Pulled pork taco
Bacon with maple mustard pork bellies

Dessert

Peach donuts
Deep fried twinkies and oreos

Sounds like a total glutton-fest. YUM! Excited to see you there...

Purchase your tickets here.

Studio Square - 35-33 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.383.1001
N/Q Train to 36th Avenue or R/M Train to Steinway Street
www.studiosquarenyc.com

MexiQ Kitchen & Draught Brings on the Flava and Spice

MexiQ Kitchen & Draught - 37-11 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.626.0333
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

After a lot of enticing press coverage about MexiQ and given that I'm a huge fan of Mexican food and BBQ, I went to check it out last week with Fran, a friend and colleague of mine. What started off as a cold, rainy night, turned into a pleasant (and filling) evening of good food in a cheery, funky atmosphere. I'll get into the details in a minute, but in a nutshell, I think it's a major step up from its weak predecessor, Balu, that a lot of Astorians just couldn't wait to see go.

Atmosphere:
A cross between a bar and restaurant, MexiQ offers a fun, playful vibe with warm colors and cheery decor that isn't too gimmicky. Although the atual space hasn't changed from its predecessor, it's a lot friendlier and not as monochromatic. They've kept the TV screen in the far back right of the restaurant, but instead of scenes of tropical fish, which didn't have much to do with anything, it now showcases vintage Western flicks, further solidifying a Southwestern theme.

One other aspect which I have to stress is the awesome (and very eclectic music) we heard throughout our meal. Ranging from The Shins to the more obscure, Mumford and Sons, I really enjoyed their indie music mix--a rarity in 30th Avenue cafes, which are drenched in mass popdom.

Food:
Clear from its name, MexiQ dishes up modern Mexican food with BBQ flavor. Think chicken wings with spicy cilantro achiote BBQ sauce, Mexican style fried chicken, adobo rubbed ribs, pulled pork carnitas and more. Fran and I started off traditionally, with guacamole, then took it up a notch with the braised meat tasting, only to end on a sweet note with a tres leches cake.

Guacamole - Although there were four different types of guacamoles on the menu, we chose the most basic of its kind. I was a little disappointed at that, as the other flavors sounded really different, incorporating lime poached shrimp, roasted pork belly and even chicken cracklin'. No matter...the classic would do just fine, I thought. Even though it was passable, I'd leave it at that, as it lacked an injection of flavor and spice that some of the best guacamole has. Overall, I'd suggest more fire and salt.

Cazuela Tasting - Fran and I were excited to try this little smorgasbord of braised meat including carnitas, brisket and shortrib. First off, it looked gorgeous, divided into individual cast iron dishes with little shot glasses of fixins including sour cream, pickled red slaw, guacamole and MexiQ's spicy house sauce on the side. There were also two packets of soft flour tortillas, which we opened immediately and filled with the tender meat. I first tried the meats individually, stuffing each in a separate tortilla. But as time went on, I combined the three. All permutations were delicious and smoky, my favorite being the carnitas, which had a slightly sweet taste from a pineapple marinade. The coca-cola reduced shortribs were a close second, with a nice kick at the end and a slightly sweet touch from the coke syrup. Yum!

Tres Leches Cake - I was personally running out of room but Fran suggested we try dessert. We went with a tres leches cake that was hard to refuse. It was just divine - a moist, dense cake with tons of flavor on its own, and when drenched in MexiQ's concoction of 3 milks (tres leches) including coconut, condensed and whole milk, it was to die for. On top of that, it had silky caramel on top. Plain and simple, this dessert was legit.

Drinks - In addition to all the food, I wanted to mention that MexiQ has an impressive drinks selection, boasting 48 beers on tap. I took advantage of that and tried a special fall brew, the double chocolate stout from Young's. It was a great drink to sip on, on a cold Fall night and went perfectly with the hearty meat and corn based menu items.

Service and Cost:
Our waitress was nice and sort of low-key, which was good. She knew the menu well and checked in on us periodically, without being too overbearing. No complaints at all. I also liked that the servers who gave us our food explained what was on each plate thoroughly and knew their ingredients to the T.

Costs are moderate and include:

Appetizers - $6 - $32
Salads - $9 - $12
Quesadillas - $12 - $18
Entrees - $21 - $32
From the Smoker - $16 - $26
Burgers - $7 - $13
Sides - $4
Desserts - $8 -$9

2.5 Mmmms

MexiQ Comes to Astoria - How Will it Stack Up?

There's a new Mexican restaurant in town and everyone is talking about it.  Still just in its second week of operation, MexiQ is buzzing with customers and so far has garnered some pretty favorable user reviews. 

I peeked inside to find the large, modern space (previously Balu Lounge) to be warmer, more inviting and somewhat bar-like.  There's a large bar that occupies the left part of the restaurant and they have a plethora of flat screen TVs to watch your favorite sporting events.

In terms of the food, I'd call it upscale Mexican Barbecue with dishes such as Mexican fried chicken, tequila-and-oregano braised brisket, and other standbys such as tacos and quesadillas.  My plan is to try them next week, so I'll report back with a full review.  In the meantime, let me know what you thought if you've already tried it.

MexiQ Kitchen & Draught - 37-11 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
718.626.0333
N/W Train to 30th Avenue