Tag: dessert

11/05/15 10:39am

Mango Mango’s Infinitely Delicious ‘Million Layer’ Durian Cake

The Hong Kong equivalent of New York cheesecake.

I’ve been eating my way through Flushing’s New York Food Court for about a year. Yet somehow, I only just got around to trying Mango Mango yesterday. The bowl of spicy soup I’d just finished had put me in the mood for something sweet to cool down.

I wasn’t in the a mango mood though, and almost left the food court without getting dessert. Then I saw the hand written special sign reading “mille crepe durian (slice).” There was also a mango version, but I was more intrigued by the durian. (more…)

cake, Chinatown, dessert, durian, Flushing, Mango Mango, New York Food Court

10/15/15 9:49am

Of Pineapple Kesari and Taste Memory

3 Comments

Pineapple kesari called to mind sweet, comforting memories.

One of the things I love most about giving food tours of Queens is the opportunity to rediscover the delicious flavors of such neighborhoods as Flushing through the eyes of my guests. Every now and then I discover something new too, like the pineapple kesari, I found at the Ganesh Temple Canteen on a recent tour.

Typically I order a gigantic paper dosa at the Canteen. The crisp megaphone-shaped crepe never fails to impress. “Is that a sweet?” I asked when I saw a hand-written sign that read “Today’s Special: Pineapple Kesari.” Even before the lady behind the counter said yes I knew I was going to order it. (more…)

Cream of Wheat, dessert, Flushing, food tours, Ganesh, Indian, kesari, pineapple, Temple Canteen

Videos

09/24/15 8:18am

Watch Ganesh’s Food-Filled Birthday Party in Flushing

Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most festive times for Hindus in and around Flushing. During the nine-day birthday party for the elephant-headed god, Šri Mahã Vallabha Ganapati Devasthãnam (aka the Ganesh Temple) on Bowne Street is a hive of activity. Ganesh Chaturthi always concludes with the Grand Ratha Yatrã, a parade through the streets of Flushing.

This year the parade was held on Sunday, Sept. 20, but I wasn’t able to make it. I did however have the good fortune to hang out with James Boo of 1 Minute Meal Films a few days before while he filmed modaka archana, the making and offering of the sweet modaka. The coconut-filled treat is renowned as Ganesh’s favorite food, so much that one of his many names is modakapriya. (more…)

1 Minute Meal Films, dessert, Flushing, Ganesh Chaturthi, James Boo, laddoo, modaka, Šri Mahã Vallabha Ganapati Devasthãnam, sweets, Temple Canteen

News

06/05/15 12:01pm

Get Your Indonesian Feast on in Astoria This Sunday

This grilled fish is one of the best things at the Indonesian Food Bazaar.

The Food Bazaar at Astoria’s Masjid Al Hikmah is perhaps my favorite of the many homegrown food festivals that take place throughout Queens. Several times each spring and summer more than a dozen vendors selling soups, satay, and other Indonesian goodies set up in the mosque’s parking lot. The next one is this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (more…)

Astoria, dessert, fish, Indonesian, Masjid Al Hikmah

Twofer Tuesday

06/02/15 10:45am

Thai Delicacies from the Sugar Club Festival

Sugar Club’s i tim ka ti is only served during festivals.

PLEASE NOTE THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED

As regular readers of this blog know, Sugar Club, with its vast selection of Thai junk food, desserts, and prepared foods is one of my favorite Elmhurst haunts. On the last Sunday of the month the shop has been holding a market and festival. Somehow I’ve missed the last two festivals, but I’m glad I stopped by this Sunday. (more…)

bibimbap, closed, dessert, Elmhurst, festivals, ice cream, rice, Sugar Club, Thai, Thai Town

05/28/15 9:04am

A Duo of Delicious Desserts in Elmhurst’s Thai Town

Dig it. Plant Love’s signature ice cream comes served in a flower pot.

PLEASE NOTE BOTH OF THESE RESTAURANTS ARE CLOSED

There was time when what most excited me about Thai food was incendiary spice levels. I still love a good spicy Thai dish, but what gets me going these days are noodles and Thai desserts. Yes, there are Thai places in New York City where the pinnacle of dessert is fried ice cream. Thankfully Elmhurst’s Little Bangkok is not such a place. In fact it’s home to two of my favorite places for Thai dessert, Plant Love House and the aptly named Sugar Club. (more…)

bananas, closed, dessert, Elmhurst, ice cream, Plant Love House, roti, Sugar Club, Thai, Thai Town

04/20/15 10:35am

Sugar Club’s Emerald Mango Elevates Thai Dessert

4 Comments

Photo: Sutthaya Chalassathien

PLEASE NOTE THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED

“Have you tried mango sticky rice?” the kid who makes my Thai coffee at Sugar Club asked one Saturday afternoon. “Yeah sure,” I thought to myself as I sipped my coffee. “It’s just mango and warm sticky rice with condensed milk.”

He seemed inordinately excited about it though, so one day a few weeks later, after having some noodles at Pata Paplean and paying my respects to the Emerald Buddha at Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram, I returned to try Sugar Club’s take on the classic Thai dessert. When it landed on the table I immediately saw why my young friend was so jazzed about. With its cloud of whipped cream atop homemade mango ice cream and fresh cubes of mango all surmounting pale green sticky rice, Sugar Club’s creation is part Thai dessert, part sundae. (more…)

closed, dessert, Elmhurst, ice cream, mango, sticky rice, Sugar Club, Thai, Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram

02/23/15 11:32am

Ornella’s Sanguinaccio is Bloody Good Pudding

Ornella’s sanguinaccio is bloody marvelous.

When it comes to offal I’m one of the least squeamish people around, gladly gobbling everything from Southern fried chitterlings to Chinese lamb face salad. Friends often call me the Andrew Zimmern of Queens. That’s high praise, but there are some things even I can’t abide, like the coppery tasting blocks of blood often found in Chinese soups. A can get behind a savory morcilla enriched with rice and spice and I like a good British black pudding. And then there’s sanguinaccio. (more…)

Andrew Zimmern, Astoria, blood, dessert, Giuseppe Viterale, Italian, offal, Ornella Trattoria Italiana, pork, sanguinaccio, St. Joseph's Day

The Seven

09/15/14 12:23pm

Our Favorite Noodle Dishes in Queens