Akti Update - The Curtains Have Lifted

Earlier this week, I told you about a new Greek restaurant--Akti--that's scheduled to open. I walked by again yesterday and the window covering has been lifted, exposing the work-in-progress dining room. I was able to stop and chat with one of the employees working on the space. Asking him when Akti will open, he replied "probably next Friday afternoon." Another interesting tid-bit I found out is that Akti is owned by the same people as Table 30, its across-the-street neighbor. More news to follow--I'm looking forward to trying it.

Akti Restaurant - Corner of 35th Street and 30th Avenue. 718.721.3530

Corn with Paprika-Cilantro Butter

I whipped this up quickly as a side dish to go with our beloved Trader Joe's burritos. I had no recipe and made it up as I went along. The secret to the corn's yummy taste was a two prong cooking method--boiling and grilling. You can skip the grilling if you want but you'll miss those pretty char marks. Enjoy.

Ingredients: (serves 2)

2 pieces of corn on the cob (remove husks)

1 tablespoon of soft butter or margarine

1/4 teaspoon of paprika

Small bunch of fresh cilantro chopped

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Boil the corn in a medium pot for about 15 minutes or until tender. To check the progress of the cooking, take a fork and poke the corn to see if its texture is to your liking. If so, turn off the heat and set aside. Get the grill (or the grill pan) going on high and lightly drizzle with olive oil or cooking spray. Put the corn on and grill for another 10 minutes or until you see char marks. Make sure to keep an eye on it and turn every 4-5 minutes.

For the butter, mix the paprika and cilantro into the softened butter. Spread the butter on the hot corn, season with with salt and pepper and garnish with a sprig of cilantro.

We devoured this dish and loved the way it complimented our burritos--the fresh cilantro was the make or break ingredient and provided a zesty yet clean flavor.

Bistro 33 - Dan's 2 Cents

Dan is of course my steady dining companion (and fiancee). He was part of our double date on Saturday night at Bistro 33. Feeling so strongly about this place, he wanted to add his 2 cents below. If his commentary doesn't convince you to visit Bistro, I don't know what will. Enjoy!

Bravo to the people at Bistro 33!

Let me first say that I am not exactly the most patient of men, especially when I am hungry. As Foodista explained, we waited for a table for 4 people for about an hour. Usually this would drive me up the proverbial "friggin' wall". And indeed it was beginning to. We had our drinks to keep us busy of course, but nonetheless, I was starving. Then, out of nowhere came the crawfish tempura. It was delicious and effective because my thoughts of going elsewhere (I suggested Fatty's at least once) evaporated. When we finally did sit down, the meal that followed was absolutely phenomenal. My lamb kicked ass, and the soup we had for an appetizer kicked ass, and together they formed an unstoppable combination of ass-kickery the likes of which I am unaccustomed to eating. Needless to say, I was satisfied, and the quality of the food balanced out the lengthy wait for a table. And then the bill came and we saw that they had not charged us for the drinks we had had earlier. What a move! With that gesture (coupled with the stellar fare) they basically made me a repeat customer. I will be going back, and more than once more I'm sure.

I should also say that the restaurant is much more capable of accommodating a party of 2, as opposed to a party of four. If it had been just Foodista and me, we would have sat right down. So I would have to say that I recommend it highly for a date or something. But know that if you do go with more people, you will probably be taken care of if the wait gets out of hand.

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105. 718.721.1933 www.bistro33nyc.com

Corner 26 Taverna - Greek Comfort Food

Corner 26 Taverna - 26-02 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

718.777.5511

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

Living only a block and an avenue from this local Taverna, I've been meaning to try it for some time. I finally had the chance to go last week and was quite happy with my visit. Hands down, the most authentic Greek food--and atmosphere--I've experienced to date. But don't expect anything fancy, Taverna is a simple place with an intense family feel.

Atmosphere:

Like I said, this place is modest and traditional--no frills. The space is small, seating up to twenty indoors and about fifteen outdoors in the warm weather. The tables are a bit cramped and we unfortunately got stuck near the door--enduring its constant opening and closing, feeling the chill of the night.

The walls have two gargantuan paintings of the Mediterranean Sea and of the Greek villages that surround it--kind of overpowering but at the same time powerful. The patrons that visit Taverna are definitely regulars. They know what's on the menu and they mostly speak Greek. Yes, we did feel a little out of place here, but my philosophy is "When in Astoria..." The background music was a favorite ambiance builder for me. It was all traditional Greek--uplifting, boisterous and folky.

Food:

The menu isn't extensive and contains Greek classics--lamb, fish, various spreads etc. The descriptions of the dishes are very clear so you know exactly what you're getting. Here's what we tried:

Fried Whiting with Scordalia: For those unfamiliar with Whiting, it's a white fish that's found in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. I was expecting a nice big fillet but what I got were four huge pieces--tails and bones still intact. More than what I'm used to, but once I got past the "authentic" presentation, I demolished it with gusto. The fish was simple yet flavored superbly--with hints of butter and lemon on the side. The actual fish was so light that eating four pieces didn't take very long. The side of scordalia (cold garlic mashed potato salad) was also tasty but a bit heavy on the stomach--I think they used too much garlic.

Gyro Platter: This was Dan's dish and he pretty much finished it all. The lamb was to his liking and wasn't greasy, as is the case sometimes with gyro meat. He also commented that the pita was toasted well and the tzatziki tasted homemade. The fries were exceptional and not soggy--which was the complaint about Pinocchio Palace.

Dessert: We were delighted to receive a complimentary dessert of semolina and cinnamon squares. They were light, sweet and bite sized--hitting the spot. The gesture was lovely and did not go unnoticed.

The Wine: This is one of the best deals on wine I've seen in Astoria. Taverna offers Greek house wine for $3 a glass and $4.50 for a small pitcher. I tried the house white and I liked it a lot and would definitely get it again.

Service and Cost:

Taverna has a hostess and a waitress and they're both the same person. She was friendly, quick and of course Greek--speaking the language fluently. She took our orders promptly and made sure we were happy with our meals. Because the restaurant was busy, she couldn't spend time at our table to give us that special touch but under the circumstances we understood.

I cannot believe how reasonable this place is! We paid a total of $26 for two large entrees, a beer and wine. Appetizers range from $4-$9, entrees from $8-$18 and side dishes from $2.50-$4. Make sure to bring cash though, Taverna does not accept credit cards.

2 Mmmms

Bistro 33 - Superb Food and Service Save the Day!

Bistro 33 - 19-33 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105

718.721.1933

N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)

www.bistro33nyc.com

This was my second visit to Bistro and besides being impressed, I wholeheartedly support the way they run their business--and treat their customers. I came here as part of a double-date foursome on a Saturday night. Needless to say, Bistro was busy and we had to wait long--but they took such great care of us that we're already looking forward to going back (and soon).

Atmosphere:

Bistro exudes simplicity and un-pretentiousness. And although the place is very small, seating around 20-25 people, you don't feel cramped--the floor to ceiling windows also help, giving the place a very open and inviting feel.

The dining room consists of small wooden tables mostly for two and some for larger parties. There is a cool little nook in the front left corner that provides more privacy--and from a design perspective, it looks serene, facing a hand-painted wall with falling leaves.

Food:

Bistro 33 is run by classically trained chefs from the French Culinary Institute--and it shows. The food is not only superb tasting, it's presented impeccably and offers a fusion of French and Japanese cuisine.

We got to sample a bit of everything, as the girls went for the sushi and the guys got the hearty meat dishes. Here's what we feasted on:

Crawfish Tempura: This was a complimentary starter that was offered to us while waiting for our table. We were pleasantly surprised at this offering and especially at its generous portion. The crawfish was crispy and spicy--not so much that you had to wash it down with wine or water, but just enough to get the tastebuds working. It was perfect and scarily addicting--I highly recommend it for a starter.

Corn Soup: Veggie soups get a bad rap for being bland but not this one! This creamy concoction included roasted sweet corn, red bell peppers and crispy prosciutto. Dan and I shared it because it was so hearty, but we both secretly wished we got our own. The texture was luxurious yet chunky and the prosciutto flavor was very pronounced. It tasted like a sweet corn on the cob wrapped in bacon--unreal and a must in my book!

Island Roll and Dragon Roll: To say that Bistro excels in sushi is an understatement--the freshness, inventiveness and flavor of their rolls blow my mind. I ordered a combination of the Island (mango, avocado, red peppers, cilantro, cucumber and tomato) and the Dragon (eel, cucumber and avocado) rolls. Where one provided a hearty bite (the Dragon) the other presented a burst of freshness and sweet flavor (the Island). They're a fun combination that will leave you super full.

Other Dishes:

My dining companions shared my enthusiasm of Bistro's food. Dan ordered the lamb which came in a port wine reduction and garlic potato gratin. He's usually the first to complain when a portion is small--as this one was--but he loved the lamb so much and appreciated its taste that he just nodded and smiled happily. Jay got the braised shortribs, cooked alongside a Granny Smith apple. Wow! I wish I ordered this, as Jay boasted about the tenderness of the meat and the juiciness of the apple. Lisa went for the spicy tuna roll--tempura style--and the red spider roll (with soft shell crab). She's sometimes a tough critic of sushi but this foodie was enjoying her sushi and smiling from ear to ear.

Service and Cost:

The service and overall treatment of customers was phenomenal. To be honest, we were a bit put-off for waiting an hour for our table, but Bistro made it up to us. They not only provided us with a free appetizer, but they also comped our drinks (that's $10 a piece). We were so delighted about this that we almost forgot about the wait. Besides that, our waitress was pleasant, knew what she was doing and did an all-around good job.

Cost-wise, it's pretty moderate--not cheap but not overly expensive. Appetizers range from $3-$11, entrees from $9-$25 and sushi from $4 for a basic roll to $10 for a speciality roll. Bistro also offers a $14 brunch which gets you an entree, coffee/tea and a cocktail. Not as cheap as some Astoria specials but this food is on a way higher level.

3 Mmmms

Akti - When Will It Open?

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely among the curious Astorians who walk by this place weekly. And every week, I ask myself "when is this place going to open?" I tried calling the number on the sign but no one answers. If anyone knows the inside scoop about Akti and when they plan opening, shoot over a comment. What I know to date is that they'll serve authentic Greek cuisine for lunch and dinner. I spied a "help wanted" sign in the window about 3 weeks ago but it's now gone. I can just smell an opening! Stay tuned...

Akti Restaurant - Corner of 35th Street and 30th Avenue. 718.721.3530

Gargantuan Turkey Burgers with Avocado Salad

Trying to use ingredients in our fridge and pantry, Dan and I cooked up a gargantuan turkey burger feast. We paired the meat with two zesty salads--avocado and potato-apple. It was easy, fun and made for an enjoyable group-cook. So...be prepared to do some chopping and don't be afraid to get your hands dirty!

Giant Turkey Burgers: Serves 4

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs of ground turkey

1 large egg

1/4 cup of chopped onions

2 cloves of minced garlic

1 generous handful of breadcrumbs (with Italian seasoning, if possible)

4 large Kaiser rolls

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Defrost the turkey and place into a medium to large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and combine with your hands. Make sure to incorporate everything evenly but do not overmix--you'll know when the consistency is right. Take a generous handful of meat in your hands and form it in the shape of round-oval patty. Continue doing this until you've used up all the meat.

When the patties are ready, place them on a pre-heated and slightly oiled grill pan. Grill on high for 4-6 minutes per side or use your judgement depending on the thickness of your patties. The burgers should have a slightly charred exterior and a well-done interior.

When finished, place each patty between a lightly toasted kaiser roll.

Avocado Salad: Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 large, ripe avocados, cubed (1 inch cubes or however you like it)

1/3 cup of chopped onions

1 handful of fresh cilantro, chopped

The juice of 1 good lime

Salt and pepper to taste (more salt than pepper)

Directions:

Place all prepped ingredients in a small to medium bowl and mix with a fork. It's OK if the avocado gets slightly crushed. Make sure to keep tasting the mixture periodically and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Don't be shy to use a lot of salt--it really enhances the taste of avocados.

When ready, top burger with avocado salad or you can serve it on the side.

Potato-Apple Salad: Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 large Idaho potatoes

1 large Granny-Smith apple, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

1/4 cup of onion, chopped

1/2 cup of mayonnaise

2 tablespoons of soy sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook the potatoes with the skins on until soft (about 20 minutes). Be careful not to overcook them--check their texture with a fork. Let potatoes cool for 10 minutes and then peel and cube them into 1 inch squares.

In a medium to large bowl, mix the potatoes, apples, celery and onions. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise with the soy sauce and then transfer it to the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper and mix thoroughly. Make sure to keep trying and adjusting the seasoning, as needed. This dish should be savory with an unexpected sweet crunch from the apples.

Happy Eating!