Queens County Market is Back for the Summer

It's been a few months since I visited the last Queens County Market back in May at the Queens County Farm, which was a lot of fun.  Continuing to look forward to this event, I appreciate the innovative locales Katrina, the market's founder and organizer comes up with to keep things interesting.

This month, I'm excited to see the market branch out into a new neighborhood in Queens, which is Corona.  I think this area is extra relevant this month, as the U.S. Open is going on exactly at this time and for this reason, the neighborhood is more populated than usual.  

Taking place at the Corona Greenmarket, you'll be able to experience a lot of local food greatness in the form of fresh fruits, veggies, prepared specialty foods, spices, gourmet desserts and more.  A preview of the vendor list will come as we get closer, but for the time being, here are the deets so you can save the date:

Queens County Market
Friday, August 22nd from 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Roosevelt Ave & 103rd Street (Take 7 train to 103 Street/Corona Plaza)

Queens County Market at SingleCut Beersmiths is Another Hit

This past Sunday, the We Heart Astoria ladies and I went over to Singlecut for another awesome rendition of Queens County Market.  This was my second time experiencing it, in a different venue and once again, it was fantastic.  

The Setup:
I loved the setup in the back where all the beer magic happens (the brew room), which allowed for ample space for the exhibitors and for the patrons as well.  There's a huge square butcher block table in the middle of the room where people congregated with their freshly bought treats - exchanging ideas, opinions and recommendations.  This back space was also great because it allowed for privacy from the front-of-the-house tap room that was quite boisterous.

The Food:
Although I enjoyed pretty much everything I tried at the market, there are a few stand-outs that I'd like to highlight here:

Native Coffee Roasters  - This is my new obsession, and I was happy to meet Brian, the founder and creator of this fragrant delight.  Brewed right here in Astoria and distributed in a variety of local outlets including, Mackenzi's SITE, Native coffee exemplifies everything an artisan product should - great quality, flavor and real people behind it.  Look out for a fun Native coffee giveaway on We Heart Astoria soon.

New Amsterdam Baking Company - It was so refreshing to see this company at Queens County Market, as it was their very first day in operation.  The owners, a husband and wife team, were not only genuinely excited to be there, they produced an excellent product.  Look out for their specialty bundt and bourbon cakes.  My personal favorite was the double chocolate pretzel bundt with salted caramel.  

Malu - I never cease to be impressed by Malu and their incredible homemade flavors of ice cream.  On Sunday, I was lucky to try the bourbon maple bacon with actual bits of chewy bacon inside.  It was absolutely delectable and a must try.  The vanilla ice cream that the bourbon maple bacon was intertwined with was also exemplary. 

Check back with Queens County Market for their next event happening in June - I know it'll be awesome!

Queens County Market at Sac's Place is a Hit

As some of you know, yesterday Sac's Place hosted yet another fabulous Queens County Market.  I went over there to check it out for its novelty factor, but also because I wanted to come out and support Meg in her book signing.  The afternoon was a really fun experience, as a lot of folks from the neighborhood came out to support local food artisans.  It was really inspiring to see the beautiful things that our local experts are making, and I was happy to lend my support where I could.  I was surprised to see some vendors from Brooklyn too, which is OK, but I loved seeing Queens dominate with awesomeness.

Here are some of my highlights:

Charlito's Cocina - Because I love me some cured meat, I couldn't refuse trying theirs, including the smoky chorizo, which was flavored with paprika, garlic, and Mediterranean sea salt.  Additionally to the meat , I was really intrigued by their vegetarian "salami," which came in a fig flavor.  It looked like a salami for sure, but deep, earthy fig flavor couldn't fool your tastebuds.  It was just fabulous on its own or perhaps coupled with its meaty siblings.

Mel's Melting Pot - I also enjoyed this station, which boasted a big variety of chutneys, ketchup and apple sauce.  While the chutneys and ketchup looked amazing, I decided to sample the spiced applesauce with quince, which was refreshing and not overly sweet.  It tasted really natural and seemed like a good way to enjoy a little snack.  Mel's also recommends putting it on pancakes or even pork chops. 

The Chocolate Swirl - Of course I have a huge soft spot for Lisa's amazing treats and that's partially the reason why I came to the market.  Happy to see her newest addition, which are the Girls Scout cookie flavors such as Samoas and Thin Mints, I bought a cake pop in each.  So far, I've sampled the Samoa cake pop, which was incredible and really tasted exactly like my favorite nostalgic cookie.  All I had to do was close my eyes, as I was envisioned reaching into that familiar cookie box.

Meg's book of course! - It's always a highlight to see my friend Meg doing what she does best - spread her enthusiasm for good quality food in Queens.  It was lovely to see a lot of folks asking her questions about the book and the copies literally flying off the table.  Great job, Meg! I've got my book all marked up with places to hit.

The Queens County Market takes place usually every month at rotating venues - stay tuned on their site for more information about the next event.  

Girl Scout Cookie Cupcakes Alert

Image by The Chocolate Swirl

Who doesn't love them some Girl Scout cookies?! I do, I do!  My faves are no doubt the Samoas aka Caramel deLites, as they're sometimes called, so when I found out that my favorite local baker, Lisa B of The Chocolate Swirl was making them into cupcakes and cake pops, I nearly lost my cookies so to speak.  The idea is totally rad and so wonderfully nostalgic, that I can't wait to see how its executed.

You can get your delicious Girl Scout treats starting this weekend, as Lisa will be selling them at the upcoming Queens County market at Sac's Place.  Come by from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. and bring your sweet tooth.

Queens County Market at Sac's Place
Sunday, February 24th from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
25-41 Broadway, Astoria

The Chocolate Swirl