The U.S. Open, my all time favorite sports tournament is almost in town, and I can't wait. While I relish all the tennis action these exciting two weeks bring, I'm not always jazzed about the food options offered at the stadium. It's for this reason I'm providing you with a quick round-up of delicious eats you can grab prior to or after visiting the Open without fail. All of these suggestions are located close to the 7 train line, so they offer easy convenience.
Biang Noodles in Flushing - This popular noodle shop will satisfy your gametime hunger with more than a dozen different varieties of noodles, skewers, bread dishes such as sliders, dumplings and even authentic Chinese desserts. Make sure to bring cash, as Biang doesn't accept credit cards. 41-10 Main Street, Flushing. 718.888.7713
Venturo in Sunnyside - Loving Vesta's little outpost in Sunnyside, it's just a few short steps from the 7 train and couldn't make it easier to stop off and get some fresh, delicious food. In addition to dinner and wine, they serve lunch so you can hit them up during the U.S. Open day sessions. Recommended dishes include the homemade thin crust pizzas, the pasta free lasagna and of course their Baby Jesus cake for dessert. 44-07 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside. 718.406.9363
Jahn's in Jackson Heights - If you'd like to treat yourself to a celebratory old fashioned sundae, Jahn's is your pick. Boasting north of 14 different sundae varieties, you can get everything from a classic vanilla hot fudge sundae to something funky and unusual such as the Kitchen Sink Sundae which feeds up to 10 people at once. 81-04 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights. 718.651.0700
Currently on vacation in Florida, Dan and I spent a few days chillin' in Miami. I look forward to hanging out here each time, as there's never a shortage of culinary wows, and it's always a scene I love to explore. This time around, we ventured over to Miami's up and coming Design District and lunched at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink.
Atmosphere:
Just a few miles away from South Beach lies the charming and very much developing neighborhood, also known as the Design District. Neighboring Wynwood, which is also known for its many art galleries and intricate mural art, The Design District is becoming a great neighborhood to also check out new restaurants. Michael's in particular has been on my list for quite a while, as it's known in food circles as the go-to-place for delicious, locally grown food.
As we walked up to the restaurant, we noticed it's nestled around a few upscale art and fashion boutiques, creating a little inside courtyard, which in turn serves as Michael's outdoor dining area. Although it was warm outside, it looked as it would rain soon, so we headed indoors.
Upon walking in, I was glad we chose to dine inside, as I was really digging the atmosphere. It was simple and clean, with a red and black motif. The lighting was especially beautiful with these low light fixtures that hung on really long wires that almost came down table side. The artwork was pretty spectacular too, doing justice to its artistic locale.
Food:
The lunch menu was filled with a generous selection of locally sourced salads, sandwiches, pizza and larger entrees. We were definitely hungry but at the same time didn't want to overdo it, so we each chose a main dish and then topped off the meal with a perfect dessert.
Heirloom Tomato Salad - I couldn't refuse ordering this, and even our waiter called it a "must have." Staring at their counter full of irregularly shaped heirloom tomatoes told me that this ingredient is plentiful here, and therefore they must know what to do with it.
Even though it was simple, I loved everything about this salad, as it was juicy and refreshing, sophisticated, as well as healthy. The yellow beets, which were also incorporated were gorgeous and provided a little sweetness to this otherwise tangy medley. An addition of beautiful Roquefort cheese was welcome, giving this salad a hint of richness and creaminess.
Crispy Florida Shrimp Sandwich - Taking a bite of Dan's sandwich was also nice, as it brought home that fried goodness. One thing I didn't love was the actual shrimp, which reminded me of fried clam strips. This isn't a bad thing at all, but it's just not what I expected.
Since we're on vacation and Dan wanted to bring this to the next level, he also ordered a side of bacon. Totally out of this world, it was everything a perfect bacon slice should be - salty, smoky, a little crunchy and lean.
Home Brew Sundae - So glad that we saved room for dessert, this sundae put us over the edge. Consisting of layers of genius, aka homemade malted caramel, pretzels, toasted marshmallows and beer ice cream, it provided a beautiful ending to our meal. Loving the juxtaposition between sweet, bitter and salty, the sundae delivered on sophistication by way of simple ingredients. Like I said - genius!
Service and Cost:
The service as Michael's, like its food, is pretty genuine. Our waiter was attentive but not in your face, and knew this food really well. I like that he stated his recommendations with confidence and his suggestions turned out to be sound.
Costs are pretty expensive, but for a memorable, high quality meal, I think they're worth it. Lunch set us back about $72 in total with tax and tip.
3 Genuine Mmmms
Michael's Genuine Food & Drink - 130 NE 40th Street, Miami FL 33127
305.573.5550
www.michaelsgenuine.com
Last week, Meg, Dayna, a new friend, Dalena and I met in Jackson Heights to try out Alchemy Texas BBQ, which I'll tell you about later this week. But first thing's first - dessert! We stopped in at Jahn's for classic ice cream sundaes after the hearty BBQ grub. It was the perfect end to this lovely food outing, and I just can't stop thinking about how much I enjoyed it. For those of you who love classic ice cream desserts in a nostalgic atmosphere, Jahn's is for you.
Atmosphere:
Being a staple in the neighborhood for more than 60 years now, Jahn's is more than just a family restaurant, it's an institution. Transforming you back in time, if you appreciate the good old, you'll love the classic booth seating, ball lighting, dark wooden panel decor and just plain retro style. There's a counter up front where you pay for your bill, just like in old fashioned diners.
We loved it all and immediately felt at home , nestling into our booth and perusing the extensive back of the menu that's purely dedicated to ice cream. This is exactly the reason we came.
Ice Cream:
Having to choose between the myriad of ice cream sundae choices at Jahn's wasn't easy but we clearly managed. Besides having your classic flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, mint chip, and cookies & cream, they also have plenty of specialty sundaes that they call Tummy Ticklers. How cute! I also couldn't help noticing the mother of all sundaes, which is the Kitchen Sink - serving about 8-10 people and coming in at a whopping $51.95. Yep, you read that right!
Classic Sundae - Even though the fancy stuff looked great, I opted for something simple and timeless, which was their pistachio sundae with hot fudge and whipped cream. It was perfection in every way, as the ice cream contained chunks of actual pistachio and almond too. The ice cream to hot fudge ratio was quite perfect and the fresh whipped cream was as light as air. Even though some folks aren't so into maraschino cherries, I kind of like them and devoured mine in one quick bite. As you see, the portion was quite large, but so delicious that I managed to eat it all.
Apple Pie Sundae - Dayna went for this decadent dessert, which contained big pieces of apples on top, reminding me of pie filling. Actually, I think that's exactly what it was. Another sweet success, we all took turns at trying it and really enjoyed the saucy topping and how it paired perfectly with the rich chocolate chip ice cream.
Service and Cost:
The old fashioned service at Jahn's is part of its charm, and even though everything here is no frills, it just feels friendly and wonderful. Our waiter was helpful and really lax about leaving us to just chat after finishing our ice cream - I felt right at home.
Costs are wallet friendly and include anywhere from $3.15 to $8.95 for ice cream. Definitely not bank breaking!
3 Sweet Mmmms
Jahn's - 81-04 37th Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
718.651.0700
7 Train to 82nd Street
