Masq - A Tasty Trip to NOLA by way of NYC

Truth be told - even though I've never been to New Orleans yet, I do relish some delicious Cajun food and therefore jumped at the chance to have dinner at Masq restaurant. Enjoying this flavorful and plentiful food with a few of my foodie comrades, we sat down at a generous press dinner, as we enjoyed the flavors of the South.

Atmosphere:
Located in the Midtown East area of the city on 49th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue, Masq is easy to get to by subway or the bus. It feels very much like a cozy neighborhood hangout, and occupies an entire brownstone building, which is quite unusual.

From the minute you step inside, you ingest the cozy, sultry vibe that can only feel like New Orleans itself, as I imagine it.  At the front of the house sits a custom made horseshoe shaped bar, where neighborhood folks gather for classic NOLA cocktails, especially during happy hour. Walk a few more steps and you'll find a cozy dining room with vintage tables, chairs and eclectic artwork, which is where we sat.  It all felt comfortable yet still a little different and special, which is why I imagine Masq to be a great place to come to with a group of friends celebrating an occasion.

I must note that the very back of the restaurant serves as a mini performance space where young artists, including singers, comedians, musicians and the like can have a go at their craft on Tuesday evenings.  We had the pleasure of seeing this during our visit and I really enjoyed eavesdropping on some of the acts.

Food:
Masq's menu is carefully constructed to honor the best of NOLA's cuisine, but it also pays homage to American classics, which we all enjoyed. I thought the diversity in the menu a smart choice, especially if you dine in larger groups and are trying to please various palates.  Here are a few of my highlights:

Mac 'n Cheese Croquettes - Think of this as a mac 'n cheese with a NOLA twist.  It's perfectly crispy on the outside, but soft and gooey on the inside, adorned with flecks of fiery jalapeno and chunks of smoky bacon.  The spicy remoulade that decks the plate is the icing on this deliciously fried "cake."

Asian Marinated Salmon - As you can imagine, this dish falls into the new American category, and it was a big win for everyone at our table.  Boasting a beautifully golden crust with the perfect amount of char, it's marinated in honey and garlic soy sauce, hinting at a bit of an Asian influence.  Since this is quite a rich dish, Chef Marc paired it with a simple salad of peppery, leafy greens.

Shrimp Po' Boy - I looove me a po' boy, and this one was a big hit, as it came in the form of a slider.  Let's face it, everyone loves miniature food, so the novelty of this alone made my dining companions and me very happy.  Once we bit into its fried deliciousness, the flavors rang true with a little sweetness from the shrimp and some spicy flavor from a similar (if not same) remoulade used on the mac 'n cheese.  A side of crunchy cole slaw helped cut the richness of this Southern treat.

Jambalaya - Being at a New Orleans style restaurant and not trying the jambalaya would be a crime, naturally.  Masq's version was bursting with flavor and included a few original touches such as a dollop of tangy goat cheese on top that created a delightfully creamy sauce, as well as some Cajun spiced chicken.  While I enjoyed this dish, I found it to be pretty spicy, which is saying a lot for me.

Sabayon - Sealing this delightful meal with some dessert was absolutely in the cards, and I was excited to see an elegant cocktail glass filled with sabayon (aka zabaglione in Italian) and fresh berries.  I appreciated the simplicity of choice here, as the fruit cut the richness in the creamy sabayon and I found my glass emptied in minutes.  Imagine that!

Service and Cost:
Similar to the vibe here, the service feels personal and casual.  True that you can celebrate special occasions, as I mentioned, but you're never made to feel too formal, which is nice. Having the pleasure of meeting Chef Marc Getzelman, his passion for NOLA cuisine rang true and inspired me to visit soon.

Costs are on the moderate side, and it's nice to see you won't break the bank when trying something a little different.

Appetizers - $8 - $16
Mains - $14 - $25
Sides - $4 - $7
Dessert - $7 - $8

3 Mmmms

Masq - 306 East 49th Street, New York NY 10017
212.644.8294
6 or E Train to 53rd Street
masqny.com 

Labor Day Brunch in Astoria

I can't believe it's already September, and Labor Day is here.  While I'm sad that the summer is unofficially over, I'm excited for the fall as well, as it brings with it delicious, hearty eats, and I can't wait to indulge.  But back to Labor Day...

If you're in the nabe and looking to enjoy a leisurely brunch, here's a quick round-up to help you out.

Sugarfreak - For a comforting brunch, stop in to Sugarfreak for some yummy Cajun food.  On the menu, you'll find Southern staples such as Shrimp and Grits, a breakfast po boy, my personal favorite, bananas foster French toast and more!  Brunch starts tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.  36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.726.5850

LIC Market - If you'd like to jump start your day early, LIC Market will serve brunch from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.  The menu is diverse, which is great for folks with all sorts of cravings and special diets.  My favorite brunch item is the Bullseye Eggs with two eggs fried inside an earthy piece of 7-grain bread.  21-52 44th Drive, LIC.  718.361.0013

Queens Kickshaw - In the mood to sleep in tomorrow? You totally can and still be able to catch brunch at the Queens Kickshaw from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.  There's plenty of interesting indulgences here, including a unique version of Scotch Eggs, cold poached eggs in miso butter, biscuits and grits and other incredible eggibles.  40-17 Broadway, Astoria.  718.777.0913

New Yummies from Sugarfreak

Since it's already been an exhausting week and it's only Tuesday, Dan and I decided to treat ourselves to something comforting and yummy.  As it happens, he's never been to Sugarfreak, and I thought he'd really enjoy it, so we went for an impromptu dinner.  Both of us tried new things that really impressed us and we walked out happy, satiated and eager to come back real soon.  Here's what we enjoyed:

Crawfish/Shrimp Bisque - Dan spotted this on their specials menu and it sounded good.  It was especially appropriate since the weather really cooled down, and we wanted something warm and comforting to perk us up.  While the soup took a while to come out, it was pretty good. The broth was rich and hearty and had a real nice, warming spice to it.  There were generous chunks of shrimp and crawfish inside that were fun to find and devour.  But the best part was the buttery and still crunchy crouton that floated on top and really soaked up all that nice broth.

Chicken and Waffles - I'm a sucker for a classic chicken and waffles and like to compare this dish in different spots to see how it stacks up.  While I'd say that the waffles here knocked it out of the park, the chicken was a bit on the dry side and I was expecting something on the bone rather than a breast.  However, the rich bananas foster sauce that decked those beautiful waffles was a good way to get over the slightly dry chicken meat, and actually made the whole combination quite delectable.  Although it was a hefty portion, we couldn't help but finish the whole thing.

Blackened Catfish Po Boy - Dan loved his choice of main and even though it looked huge, he kept talking about how light it was.  I didn't believe him and took a bite only to share his experience.  Each taste was real light and airy, the bun being a good vessel to hold the delicate fish, but at the same time, it wasn't too dense on its own either.  The spicy Cajun flavorings brought it all together and the spicy mayo sauce that came as a side was a nice way to further jazz up this sandwich (or the fries that it came with).

Service and Cost:
Even though the restaurant was real busy, the service was attentive and our waitress checked on us quite a few times.  She took notice of the fact that we were getting a wee bit impatient when waiting for our soup, and really helped to expedite things along.  I like that she bought us a tasty shot of beer to make up for the wait, which didn't go unnoticed.

Costs are pretty fair for the generous portions and the good quality food.
The dinner I just described set us back about $72 in total, including drinks, tax and tip.

3 Mmmms

Sugarfreak - 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com

Sugarfreak Brunch was a Freakin Success

My We Heart Astoria colleagues, Meg, Mackenzi and I recently met for brunch at Sugarfreak to discuss some We Heart Astoria business.  The meeting was not only incredibly productive, we really enjoyed munching on some hearty, comforting grub.  It's been a while since any of us have been there, and as it happens, brunch here was new to us all.  Here's what we tried:

Hush Puppies - I was so glad when Mackenzi suggested we get this, as I can't exactly turn down fried corn bread.  Surprised by how giant Sugarfreak's version was, I enjoyed them nonetheless.  The outside was crispy as can be, albeit a little oily, while the inside was tender, moist and bready.  Dipping these babies into the spicy remoulade sauce totally hit the spot and made this very New Orleans.

Charbroiled Oysters - Even though I just had oysters the day before at the North Fork Wineries, I was happy to try this version, which was totally different.  Boasting some really generous pieces, their Blue Point oysters on the halfshell had a nice golden color and a really meaty interior.  It felt great to scoop up the meat of the oyster and eat it alongside little pieces of crispy, buttery bread.

Jambalaya and Eggs - Since I loove me some jambalaya, this had my name all over it.  There were two fried eggs on top of the actual jambalaya, and I'm happy to report that they had perfectly runny yolks that you can spread over the spicy rice interior.  Although I had the jambalaya here before, I totally forgot how awesome it was, peppered with chunky pieces of andouille sausage and even some seafood action.  The whole thing was incredibly hearty and something that can tide you over for well half the day - hands down.

Dessert - Although we were so incredibly full, we couldn't refuse a generous offer of a dessert trio, including a butterscotch rice pudding topped with popcorn, a classic order of begneits, and also their bourbon bread pudding.  Out of those, the rice pudding was my absolute favorite.  Loving the juxtaposition in texture between the crunchy popcorn and the soft, silky pudding, the flavors were also totally in sync.  The homemade whipped cream was the cherry on this proverbial cake, and I just couldn't get enough of the whole combination.

Service and Cost:
We received great service here, as everyone was super attentive, even during the peak of brunch.  Our waters were refilled without even one look at our waiter, and dirty plates cleaned before we could lick our chops.

Costs are reasonable and include:

Brunch entrees - $13 - $14.50
Starters - $7-12
Sides - $4-$7.50

3 Mmmms

Sugarfreak - 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com

The Next Astoria Book & Supper Club is Coming

Image by Astoria Book & Supper Club

I told you about it before, and now it's back again with a bang - the Astoria Book & Supper Club is at it again with another exciting event.  And with everyone's busy summer schedules, you have until mid-September to get your act together with the book, which is A Confederacy of Dunces.

Lucky for us, the book is set in New Orleans, and the menu will reflect just that - taking advantage of the vibrant rich flavors and seasonings, characteristic of this region.  Just take a look at this seriously tastebud tantalizing menu:

A Sazerac cocktail and homemade Cajun-style potato chips 

Char-Broiled Oyster

Shrimp and grits balls - a play on shrimp and grits, these are deep fried: crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside

The Ignatius dog - what happens when you cross a hot dog with classic Muffaletta

Crispy soft shell crab - with remoulade sauce and roasted corn salad

King cake - with a hidden baby Ignatius

Saturday, September 15th at 7:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at 8:00 p.m. 
$40/person and you can also BYOB or add $15 to include booze
To find out more, check out Astoria Book & Supper Club

Mardi Gras is Here - Celebrate at Sugarfreak

Even though we're far from NOLA, the joyous occasion of Mardi Gras isn't lost on us tomorrow, as we'll be celebrating right here in Astoria.  What better way to ring in this festive holiday than at Astoria's token Cajun eatery, Sugarfreak.  I was glad to see they're up for celebrating, paying homage to their New Orleans' roots in just the right way.  Hope you have a chance to check out the fun specials they have going on tomorrow, including:

Drinks Specials - $5 Hurricanes and $4 draft beers
All-you-can-eat Mardi Gras buffet for $35/person

You can start to hydrate yourself as early as 3 p.m. and the eats will be available from 5:30 p.m. on.

Bring your friends and your appetite!

Sugarfreak - 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com

Fun Unlimited Cocktail Brunch at Sugarfreak

Thought this would be a fun way to start the weekend... Sugarfreak is offering a mighty sweet brunch special on both Saturday and Sunday, and here's the scoop:

Add $10 to any brunch entree and receive unlimited Mimosas or Bloody Marys

Brunch starts from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and includes homestyle Cajun dishes such as:

Yaka Mein - Creole beef noodle soup with scallions and a boiled egg
Shrimp and Grits - with Creole sauce served over hot buttery grits
Bananas Foster French Toast - Topped with bananas, served with bacon or sausage
Cajun Eggs Benedict - with buttermilk biscuits topped with tasso ham, poached eggs and Cajun Hollandaise, served with Sugarfreak home fries
Pork Debris and Eggs - Hearty pork and andouille sausage gravy served over your choice of 2 fried or poached eggs with buttermilk biscuits
Louisiana Breakfast - Two eggs any style served with your choice of bacon or sausage, grits or home fries and a biscuit
Sugarfreak Breakfast Po-Boy - Louisiana French bread with Jimmy Dean sausage patties, fried eggs, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and tabasco mayo

Sugarfreak - 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com