Blue Bottle Coffee and Other Treats at Queens Comfort

Image by Blue Bottle

Being somewhat of a coffee snob, which these days isn't too difficult in Astoria, I noticed that Queens Comfort is upping its coffee game by offering Blue Bottle Coffee.  Originating in Southern California, I've sampled this coffee in San Francisco as well as through their outpost in Manhattan and really enjoyed the taste.  I haven't seen it served in Queens yet, which is why it excited me that Queens Comfort will serve the iced New Orleans Style variety.

In other Queens Comfort news, I also spied a crazy looking Chunky Monkey banana chocolate chip donut this weekend.  Courtesy of the Donut Diva, this thing screams ultimate comfort and makes me curious how it measures up to its namesake ice cream. Have you tried it?

Queens Comfort - 40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
646.597.8687
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.queenscomfort.com 

Celebrate Queens Comfort's 3rd Anniversary

Everyone loves a little down home Queens Comfort in their life, and judging by the steady lines that appear in front of this place each weekend, they must be doing something right.  I recently caught wind of the fact that their 3rd year anniversary is coming, which in some ways seems long overdue.  It sounds gluttonously delicious and I thought to spread the word with you.

Queens Comfort - 3rd Year Anniversary Party
Sunday, March 30th
10:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Enjoy lots of delicious, fried, baked and smoked foods, old school beats and various shenanigans.

Queens Comfort - 40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103

646.597.8687

N/Q Train to 30th Avenue

www.queenscomfort.blogspot.com

Fun Storm Shots from the Foodie Community

Another treacherous day for us by way of storm Pax.  When will it end?  I hope good things are on the horizon soon for us, but it's always important to keep a good attitude.  I wanted to share some of these fun snow shots I've been seeing in the nabe that shows off Astorians' awesome spirit.  Take that, PAX!

Singlecut is up to here with the snow. They'll reopen tomorrow, just in time for Valentine's Day! Queens Comfort is looking spunky in the snow - and they'll also reopen tomorrow.

Here's also another fun video from the awesomely silly peeps at Queens Comfort.

Cute little guy "doing his part," in front of Grand Cafe.

Post by Grand Cafe.

Eat Sunday Brunch Now!

After a whole week of eating and indulging, what's another day - go big, or go home, I say.  On a lazy Sunday like today, I thought it'd be fun to put together a quickie round-up of delicious brunch options happening in the nabe today.  Whether you decide to stay in or eat out, hope you enjoy every bite!

Queens Comfort is featuring their Sunday Fun-day brunch with get this...chocolate chip banana bread donuts.  Need I say more?! 40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria. 718.728.2350

Still feeling festive this weekend?  With Brooklyn Bagel's Eggnog cream cheese flavor of the week, you can still channel the holidays and enjoy some carbie goodness.  35-05 Broadway, Astoria.  35-09 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria.  36-14 30th Avenue, Astoria.

The new eatery on 30th, Marketa has been open for a few weeks now and is proudly offering brunch.  Just take a look at the menu - the deep fried French Toast looks awesome!  37-17 30th Avenue, Astoria.  347.813.4437

Nothing like a delicious duck dish to pique my interest - just look at what Alobar is offering for brunch today, Duck Sloppy Joes!  46-42 Vernon Blvd, LIC.  718.752.6000

Also, if you feel like whipping up something delicious for brunch, here are some recipes to get you started.  Gluten free banana pancakes recipe.  Baked eggs au gratin recipe.  Lemon, basil and egg bread pudding recipe.

Astoria Mac N' Cheese Delight Round-Up

Thinking about how much I love a good mac 'n cheese, I was inspired to put together a quick round-up of Astoria and LIC eateries that are doing it a little bit differently.  So here you go, a non-traditional take on our beloved nostalgic treat:

Image by Queens Comfort

Queens Comfort - When I spotted this enticing picture, I immediately thought "why haven't I thought of this before?!" - a chicken parm in mac 'n cheese format?!  Don't walk.  Run.  40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.728.2350

Sweet Afton - This tangy, well-done mac 'n cheese comes piping hot in a cast iron skillet.  Once you dig in, you'll enjoy the medley of sharp cheeses including Irish cheddar, gruyere and muenster.  30-09 34th Street, Astoria.  718.777.2570

Queens Kickshaw - Known for their expertise in grilled cheese sandwiches, the Queens Kickshaw's mac 'n cheese is a big standout as well.  Loaded with a hefty combination of gruyere, cheddar and smoked muzz, it's then topped with French beans and caramelized onions.  40-17 Broadway, Astoria.  718.777.0913

Sage General Store - My We Heart Astoria colleagues and I loved sampling the legendary mac 'n cheese at this LIC staple.  The well-done, crunchy crust is impeccable, featuring cayenne breadcrumbs that give this 5-cheese mac a nice punch.   24-20 Jackson Avenue, LIC.  718.361.0707

Image by Meg Cotner

The Shady Lady - I have to give a nod to Meg's awesome write-up of The Shady Lady, and especially as it relates to mac 'n cheese.  There are three different types to choose from including the classic, carbonara and truffles and shrooms.  Sign me up!  34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria.  718.440.9081

More than just Meat at Queens Comfort

Tonight was special, as I went out to support and celebrate the accomplishments of one of my favorite food blogger comrades, Bradley Hawks. For those of you not familiar with Bradley’s work in the food world, it’s quite remarkable how he has his fingers in so many honey pots, and I always marvel at how much he juggles. Not only does Bradley write and edit BORO Magazine, he’s also a contributor to the Village Voice, writes his own blog, guest posts on We Heart Astoria, and takes beautiful photographs for many local restaurants in Astoria and LIC.

Probably known most famously for the latter, Bradley’s photos always entice, tease and make the mouth water. In fact, tonight’s celebration was all about his photography, as Queens Comfort proudly showcased some of Bradley’s best works.

Aside from marveling at the beautiful shots of sushi, burgers, pizza, sandwiches and the many other wonderful foods that serve as muses for Bradley’s photography, Meg and I also enjoyed some quintessential Queens Comfort eats. After a long day, we were both loving all their little indulgences and concurred that the quality of everything we had was great.

BBQ Tofu Sandwich – Seeing an enticing picture of this sandwich from none other than Bradley, I was excited to see it on the menu and went for it. It didn’t disappoint, and in fact far surpassed expectations, as it was a beautifully composed dish with fried tofu, crispy slaw, a tangy Siu Hauu sauce, enveloped in a buttery brioche bun. The tofu was really crunchy on the outside, decked in a golden fried crust, and it was tender and substantial on the inside. I love how that sauce permeated into the little nooks inside the tofu that gave it a very delicious Asian flavor.

Donuts – The first thing we smelled when we came in were the donuts, and they looked divine to boot! We loved watching them be prepared - first the glaze was added and then they were topped with a little fried donut hole.

There were two varieties we tried including the Oreo and the PBJ. I preferred the latter, as it was glazed first with some creamy peanut butter and then topped with a light strawberry jelly. The inside was cakey and wonderfully soft, while the outside was a little crunchy. Although it was tempting to finish completely, I had to hold myself back so I can try its Oreo companion. Even though I liked it a lot, I thought that the Oreo cookies could’ve been more prominent in the donut, and there wasn’t much going on in terms of the creamy white filling. I felt this donut wanted to achieve that nostalgic Oreo-ness but only got there halfway.

Service and Cost:
Despite it being a busy night at Queens Comfort, the service was pretty quick. Even though it would’ve been nice to refresh our waters and get us some more napkins, the actual food came out in good time, and we didn’t have to wait long for the check either. Overall, the staff is friendly and pretty laid back. I felt that we could’ve hung out for a while even after we finished eating.

Costs are affordable, but know that it’s still a cash only establishment. I paid a total of $16 with tax and tip for my sandwich.

3 Comfortable Mmmms

Queens Comfort - 40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103

646.597.8687

N/Q Train to 30th Avenue

www.queenscomfort.blogspot.com 

New Year's Day Brunch at Queens Comfort

For some, New Year's eve festivities may have already started, while others may already be thinking about how to recover tomorrow...  Just to help you think ahead, I wanted to let you know that Queens Comfort will be hosting a New Year's Day brunch tomorrow, bright and early, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

They'll have their full brunch menu available, which contains delicious comforting staples such as the Eggs Mc'Ruffin pictured above, as well as other specialties such as their Breakfast Burrito, a Spicy Chicken and Bacon Enchilada, Thick Cut Brioche Custard French Toast and much more.

Image by Queens Comfort

Image by Queen Comfort

I've been spying the insane-looking pics of their homemade donuts they've been posting on Facebook  and maybe they'll have some available tomorrow too.  Just check out these ridiculously incredible flavors, such as Oreo and fruity pebbles (pictured above).  What will it be tomorrow?

Queens Comfort - 40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103

 646.597.8687

N/Q Train to 30th Avenue

www.queenscomfort.blogspot.com

Thanksgiving Comes Early at Queens Comfort

While we're all probably looking forward to Thanksgiving next week, there's nothing like starting early - and Queens Comfort are just the folks to give it to you.  There's no doubt that when you think of Thanksgiving you think of rich, comforting foods that put you over the limit with your calorie allotment, but who can think about that during this delicious time?!

Lucky for us, Queens Comfort is starting with all the turkey indulgence, with their Thanksgiving Brunch Party this Sunday.  Join them for obscenely comforting dishes such as:

"Plymouth Rockers" - Deep fried apple walnut stuffing balls with chipotle cranberry sauce
Brunch favorites such as the Farmhouse Hash, Spicy Chicken & Bacon Enchiladas, Eggs McRuffin, Thick Cut Brioche Custard French Toast and more
And don't forget about all the music, courtesy of DJ Myricles, DJ Eric Rodriguez, spinning classic hip-hop, soul and funk.

This Sunday, November 18th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Queens Comfort - 40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103

646.597.8687

N/Q Train to 30th Avenue

www.queenscomfort.blogspot.com 

Queens Comfort Amplifies Brunch

Ever since I saw that enticing picture of the brioche French Toast on their site, I've been thinking about hitting up Queens Comfort's brunch.  Lucky for me, Kimberly was totally game for it this weekend, and together we indulged in a super rich meal that started off our weekend on a sweet note.

I've visited Queens Comfort on one other occasion, and really enjoyed the rich treats they put out.  Recognizing that their entire menu is super rich, and therefore can only be consumed in moderation, I was ready for something like that, considering how health conscious I was this entire week.  The yummies we feasted on included:

Brioche French Toast - Completely floored by its larger than life appearance, the brioche French Toast consisted of two huge pieces of bread, coated in a custardy egg batter and then topped with two generous mini scoops of maple butter, with a side of maple syrup too.  While I appreciated the richness, I think they overdid it on the butter, and I had to take a lot of it off, otherwise it would've been like eating straight out of a Paula Deen cookbook.  

I loved the toast's texture, as it was soft, silky and edges were a little crispy too, which was ultra delicious.  Something I didn't care for was the half done middle, where the egg part was still runny.  Although I didn't let that ruin my experience and I put those pieces aside, it put a damper on what could've been a perfect French toast. 

Queens Comfort's Version of an Egg McMuffin - Kimberly's dish was something truly special - a unique twist on the Egg McMuffin if you will.  Besides being absolutely gargantuan, it was packed with comforting goodness from top to bottom.  Taking a generous bite of this delectable entree, it included a soft yet crispy-on-the-edges English muffin, tangy gruyere cheese, which was then topped with a heaping portion of scrambled eggs, chives and bits of chewy bacon.  Each bite was truly exceptional, as I loved how the smokiness of the bacon married with the well done, stringy cheese, the fluffy eggs and the soft bread.  It's obvious that the dish isn't for the faint of hearts and if you'd like to have a try instead of completely diving in, I'd suggest you split it with your dining companion.

Service and Cost:
This is where I think Queens Comfort missed the mark a bit, as the service left something to be desired.  I'll give them that the restaurant was super busy, and that we came in during peak brunch hour, but we still felt that our servers weren't as attentive as we would've liked.  Another slight annoyance was that for such huge dishes as we ordered, the plates were way too small and we had to be super careful about not spilling any of its contents over the side.  Although sharing plates seemed like an obvious necessity, we had to ask for them twice.

Costs are affordable and include about $11 - $14 per brunch entree.  Coffee, tea, OJ or the beverage of your choice is separate, however note that this joint is still BYOB and you can bring your own champagne or prosecco to make mimosas.

2.5 Mmmms

Queens Comfort - 40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103

646.597.8687

N/Q Train to 30th Avenue

www.queenscomfort.blogspot.com 

Last Minute Christmas Eve Plans

Image by Queens Comfort

While most of you already have Christmas Eve plans, changes always happen and some of us are last minute folks.  And in that case, I wanted to bring you this quick list of 5 things to do tonight on Christmas Eve - whether you're spending the holidays with good friends or with a significant other, any of these suggestions will be fun to do tonight.

Rest-Au-Rant - This quaint little wine bar will be open both on Christmas Eve and day, with a complete feast waiting for you.  A celebratory menu of boullabaisse with Rouille, whole cornish hens with roasted winter veggies, pumpkin mousse with a walnut-caramel crunch as well as a glass of red or white wine will greet you.  All of this for just $35/person.  30-01 35th Avenue, LIC NY 11106.  718.729.9009

Vesta - Vesta always has something to look forward to each year on Christmas Eve with their famous Feast of the 7 Fishes dinner.  Reservations are highly recommended and space is probably already limited but it's absolutely worth it to give a call and find out if you can still attend.  If so, you'll enjoy a special 4-course traditional Christmas menu with various fish and shellfish specialties and Vesta's amazing Baby Jesus cake for dessert.  Mmmmm... 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102.  718.545.5550

The Queens Kickshaw - This almost a year old amazing coffee house and grilled cheese haven will be holding a very special event this evening in honor of Christmas Eve.  Woks and Lox, the very first Asian and Jewish Christmas dinner is the mastermind of Veronica Chan (Director of Content at Gojee.com) and Jeff Orlick (Founder of Jeffrey Tastes and 5-Boro New York Pizza Tour), as they unite both cultures with a very special Jewish-Asian dinner and a Nosh Party, complete with food, drinks, games, contests, music and more.  While the dinner portion is already sold out, you can still attend the Nosh party from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Get your tickets here.  40-17 Broadway, Astoria NY 11103.  718.777.0913

Zenon Taverna - It's nice to see that one of my favorite traditional Greek restaurants is open for business today and tomorrow.  Reservations are highly recommended and they'll be serving their usual specialties all day and evening.  Some of my favorites include the keftedes (Greek meatballs), loukaniko (homemade Cypriot sausage), grilled halloumi cheese and their sweet semolina cake, flavored with rosewater.  34-10 31st Avenue, Astoria NY 11106.  718.956.0133

Queens Comfort - For something a little different on Christmas Eve, try the brunch at Queens Comfort.  Specialties include thick-cut brioche French toast with cinnamon sugar butter and maple syrup (pictured above), BBQ shrimp and grits, a fried green tomato sandwich and more.  They're open from 10 a.m. till the evening so come on in.  40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103.  718.728.2350

Queens Comfort - Even Your Granny Will Go Weak at the Knees

Queens Comfort - 40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103

646.597.8687

N/Q Train to 30th Avenue

www.queenscomfort.blogspot.com

After hearing some pretty darn wonderful things about Queens Comfort, I could hardly contain my excitement when my We Heart Astoria colleague and friend Meg suggested we try it.  Mackenzi, our other partner in crime joined as well, and we indulged in a deep fried adventure of comfort food that made our bellies and our spirits happy.

Atmosphere:
Just like its name suggests, the surroundings at Queens Comfort are...well comforting.  A warm, nostalgic feeling overcomes you when you set foot inside its cozy dining room.  Rustic wooden tables that are set up in a communal format evoke memories of a large family meal, meant to be shared with the ones you love.  Old photographs, vintage Americana accessories and exposed brick walls make the vibe laid-back and casual, making it clear that at Queens Comfort, tradition is king.

Despite the social atmosphere, we noticed a few diners sitting solo, enjoying their meal with a good book or an e-reader of choice (that part quickly brought us back to reality).

Food:
The simple yet mouthwatering menu set our tastebuds aflutter.  Each of us having distinct preferences made us choose very different dishes.

Fried Green Tomatoes - An easy consensus for us, we couldn't wait to try this appetizer.  It's hard to find good (or any for that matter) fried green tomatoes in NY, and the last place I had them was in Austin Texas, where they totally rocked my world.  I have to say that Queens Comfort's far exceeded my expectations - they were substantial in size and had a wonderful crispy (but not oily) exterior and a nice firm and slightly tangy interior.  Served with a side of goat cheese remoulade, this elegant sauce elevated the dish from country to chic.

Skillet Fried Chicken - Although I was at first hesitant to order the fried chicken, as I'm often disappointed by its oiliness, in the end, I couldn't be happier with my decision.  Sandwiched between a flaky, buttery, sweet, salty and smoky maple/bacon biscuit, the chicken represented comfort raised to the nth level.  Made of surprisingly juicy white meat, the chicken was battered in a thick flour and egg coating that also had a generous amount of hot sauce incorporated into it.  This latter component made the chicken slightly spicy but not overwhelmingly so.  Simply put, this classic country dish was done right, and I'd be surprised if a Texas granny worth her salt didn't agree.

Other Comforting Dishes - I had a bite of Meg and Mackenzi's food too and was generally impressed.  Meg ordered the smoked pulled pork in Stumptown BBQ sauce, which looked incredible but was slightly lacking in flavor.  This might just be a personal preference, but I like my pork on the sweet side and this version didn't reflect that. 

Mackenzi's baked mac 'n cheese was delicious and boasted a well-done top coat that was nice and golden brown.  The pasta was cooked properly and oozed with chedda.

Drinks - Even though this food begs for good ol' fashioned brew, we shared a bottle of vino, which I brought over.  Because Queens Comfort is still BYOB, I encourage you to bring over your favorite beverage and they'll serve it to you graciously.

Service and Cost:
Generally the service was very good and quite personal.  I enjoyed the playful banter we had with our waiter, but at times I felt that he didn't know quite as much about the menu as I'd hope.  I didn't hold it against him, as I'm sure the staff is very much still learning everything and I expect this aspect of the experience will be polished soon.

Prices are wonderfully affordable and include the following:

Sandwiches - $7.50 - $8.50
Snacks - $3 - $7
Soups - $6
Dessert - $1.50 - $2.50

3 Old Fashioned Mmmms