This past weekend, we celebrated the return of the LIC Flea, which also in a way symbolizes the start of spring. And while the weather didn't 100% cooperate (it was a tad windy, let's just say), we managed to have a great time and enjoyed checking out all the talented vendors and their bevy of creations. The food is of course a huge highlight for me, and I spied both new and returning vendors from last year. A few purveyors stood out to me during this first Flea weekend, including:
Trakia Pizza - This Astoria newcomer piqued some serious interest with their makeshift wood-fired oven. Not only is the pizza delicious, boasting a crispy, thin crust, but the guys who run the place are happy and jovial, emanating all sorts of positive energy!
King of Falafel & Shawarma - There's just something about seeing Freddy (aka King of Falafel), which makes you feel that all is right with the world. Smiling, joking and offering free samples of his irresistible falafel, we of course succumbed and had a few pieces that made our tastebuds dance. There's nothing like that perfectly crunchy crust of the falafel and a creamy, slightly spicy middle that he dresses with a homemade spice mix that comes from a secret recipe.
Gotham Cookies - Also a newbie to the Flea, their cookie display was elegant and certainly caught our eye. I was trying to be good and stay away from sweets that day, so I resisted, but Dan tasted the Peanut Butter Crunch and sang its high praises. I gotta say, that Apple Pie cookie also looked very enticing.
The Grateful Bread Baking Company - Remembering these guys from the Coffeed, Qns Urban Market event back in the fall, I wanted to try a few of their new varieties. The plantain/dark chocolate bread was a big stand-out, combining a mix of savory and sweet flavors, while the Buckwheat & Raisin stole my heart and I ended up buying a 1/2 loaf. It's nice that they let you purchase smaller portions as well, which make this more practical in a semi gluten free household.
Overall, we enjoyed our time at the Flea and look forward to coming back in the next few weeks. I'm also psyched for the Astoria Flea & Food to make its big debut on May 4th. Woot woot!
LIC Flea - 5-25 46th Avenue, LIC
7 Train to Vernon/Jackson Avenue
www.licflea.com
Spending part of this weekend at the LIC Flea, helping to ring in its inaugural day, a few of us including Dan, Emily, Daniel and I headed over to Sweetleaf afterwards for a few early evening cocktails. Hearing about Sweetleaf's cocktail menu, I had high hopes, judging by the standard of their other drinks and food.
Boasting 10 signature cocktails on the menu, we each tried something different with high marks all around. Note that their cocktail service starts at 6 p.m., which makes this a perfect pitstop for a post LIC Flea activity.
Tarzan cocktail - Choosing something spicy and tequila based is usually my go-to, and this is exactly what the Tarzan offered. Made up of slightly bitter pink grapefruit juice, tart lime juice, agave, and a spritz of seltzer, it was a perfectly refreshing, fruity drink. Even though it wasn't overly warm outside, the back couch room in which we sat was sunny, therefore creating lots of warmth, so this drink was the right antidote. I'd definitely get this again, especially in the midst of spring or summer.
My friends each got different cocktails, including the Whizz-Bang and the Mure Mule, also receiving high marks.
Service and Cost:
I can't say we were overly impressed with the service, as the staff seemed very blaze and too slow. We were astounded that our drinks took about 15 minutes to make, especially since we were the only ones buying cocktails at the time.
Each cocktail will set you back about $10, which is standard for a high quality libation.
2.5 MmmmsSweetleaf - 46-15 Center Blvd, LIC NY 11101
347.527.1038
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave
www.sweetleaflic.com
Last weekend, Dan and I made it out to the LIC Flea again, which was fun, especially since he's never been. I was happy to see some of the awesome food vendors from last time, but was sad that Little Wrinkles wasn't there, as we really needed to replenish their bodacious raisins (really...the best raisins I've ever had).
We did however, try out the Oaxaca food stand, which actually comes from the popular taco shop with a few locations in the city and Brooklyn. After indulging in tacos, Dan still wasn't completely satiated, so we went back to Bill's Balls for a meatball nacho platter. Mmmm...
Korean Taco - I always get excited when I see even hints of Korean flavors in a dish, as I generally love this flavor profile. Made up of bulgogi marinated steak, and topped with kimchi and a crunchy apple mango slaw, it provided a burst of flavor. The slightly spicy sauce that tied it all together was delicious too and added a little smokiness. My only negative about this taco was that it was so full that it was a little hard to eat.
Carnitas Taco - Dan got the classic carnitas taco with braised pork, pickled onion, cilantro and cotija cheese. The pork was tender and juicy, but not so much so that it created a drippy taco - it made for a most delicious bite, and was also filling, given the generous amount of meat inside.
Meatball Nachos - We couldn't resist this innovative spin on nachos from Bill's Balls, with a Philly Cheesesteak flavor profile. The meatballs were cut into bite sized pieces and embellished with grilled onions and a generous dose of beer cheese sauce. What can I say, it was a perfect take on street food and was so shareable. And at just $3 a portion, it was also a great deal!
If you haven't yet tried these food vendors at the LIC Flea, they come highly recommended and they'll be there through this month.
LIC Flea - 5-25 46th Avenue, LIC
www.licflea.com
Last week’s visit to the LIC Flea, got me poking around the neighborhood, and I also had the chance to peek into a few places I’ve been meaning to check out. One such eatery is the Cyclo Vietnamese Sandwich and Noodle shop, which boasts popular foods such as banh-mi sandwiches (my fave), pho, noodles salads, as well as clay pot rice dishes. While I saved all the eating for the actual LIC Flea that day, I made sure to grab a menu to entice me for next time. Here’s a peek. Have you tried Cyclo yet?
Noodle Soups (Pho)
Pho beef – with oxtail broth…$6 (Small)…$9 (Large)
Pho veggies and tofu…$6 (Small)…$8 (Large)
Super Bowl – pho with beef, chicken, shrimp and tofu…$14
Vermicelli Noodle Salads – these come with green leaf, cucumber, mint leaf, lime fish sauce, fried shallots and crushed peanuts
With marinated tofu…$8
With grilled lemongrass chicken breast…$10
With grilled pork chop or beef…$10
Sandwiches (aka Banh-Mi) – these come with pickled daikon, carrots, cilantro, cucumbers, soy sauce and spicy sriracha sauce
Classic Banh-Mi Sandwich – with Vietnamese ham, roasted ground pork and pate…$8
Banh Mi Ga – traditional Banh Mi with chicken…$8
Vegetarian Banh Mi – with tofu…$8
Clay Pot Rice Dishes – these are cooked over rice in a clay pot with a side of steamed Yu Choy and Soy Gravy
Clay Pot Ginger Chicken…$10
Clay Pot Tofu and Shitake Mushroom…$10
Clay Pot Vietnamese Beef Stew…$11
They also have a lunch special on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. during which they serve their regular fare but at lower prices, or sometimes combined with a side such as a salad.
I’m totally intrigued and can’t wait to check it out soon!
Cyclo – 5-51 47th Avenue, Long Island City NY 11101
718.786.8309
7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Avenue
www.cyclolic.com
Another yummy delicacy I experienced at the LIC Flea this past weekend were the best raisins I've ever had. I know what you may be thinking, "that's a pretty strong claim," but it's true. My experience with Little Wrinkles, the cleverly named company that specializes in homemade raisins, made from locally grown grapes, was pretty life changing.
About Little Wrinkles:
Founded by Jose Alba and Stephanie Venetsky, two local chefs from the East Village, the concept of Little Wrinkles came about from leftover grapes at their school's salad bar. Instead of getting rid of these little nuggets of goodness, they dehydrated them, and produced a refined raisin that not only looks gorgeous (significantly larger than your typical raisin) but tastes truly unique. I love that the grapes are sourced from local farms in New York and New Jersey, and are made sans preservatives, sugar or sulfites.
Muscat Wrinkles - Samples of plump, sumptuous raisins initially drew me in, and I got to sample a few different kinds before I decided on the Muscat. I liked these the best, as they looked to be the largest and proved to be soft and really juicy inside. Each bite was delightful, as the juicy flesh exploded in your mouth with each bite. Unlike raisins you'd find in the supermarket, which tend to be dry and lifeless, these had so much flavor and made for a great dessert substitute. I've already added them to my cereal in the morning as well as in a quinoa rice mixture today for dinner - both proving successful.
You can find Little Wrinkles at the LIC Flea as well as the Fulton Stall Market
www.littlewrinkles.com
Finally venturing to the LIC Flea today, I was welcomed by rows of local food vendors and therefore with plenty of choice for an impromptu lunch. Finishing a challenging workout at Tone Pilates, not long after, I was in the mood for some protein. It didn't take me long to decide on the sumptuous meatball sliders at the Bills Balls stand.
About Bill's Balls:
First hearing about Bill's Balls from Dan who spotted them at a street fair in Manhattan, I've researched their company a bit more and found out that they mostly do special events and catering. The company however, is based in Astoria. Boasting freshly rolled meatballs (by Bill himself), they feature up to eight different meatball varieties, including The Astoria, paying homage to our awesome neighborhood.
The Upstate Meatball:
There were three different meatball varieties to choose from today at the Flea, including Bill's Original, The Upstate and The American. The Upstate caught my eye immediately, as I noticed it was Bill's spin on the Buffalo chicken wing, in meatball form. In honor of Football Sunday, I thought, what the hell...why not?!
I wasn't disappointed by my choice, as the slider was absolutely gargantuan and oozing with chicken goodness. The ball itself was tender and moist as can be, boasting delicious chicken white meat, which was then slathered in tangy buffalo sauce, creamy blue cheese dressing and a celery chimichurri sauce. I loved the crunch from the celery and bits of carrots that cut the richness in the blue cheese sauce. Overall, the meatball felt substantial but not heavy in your tummy. I must compliment the eggy brioche bun as well, which held all these ingredients in place and totally held its own with all that buffalo sauce.
Service and Cost:
Welcomed by the friendly Bills Balls staff, they were kind and expedient with my order. I felt that great care was taken to construct my meatball slider, and I'd happily return for more ball goodness.
Each slider costs $6 or you can bring a friend along and get the 2 for $10 special. Take a look at their catering options on their site as well - they seem reasonable.
3 Mmmms
Bill's Balls - www.billsballsnyc.com
