Lava Cafe - Coming to Town!

Another gorgeous day in Astoria--a perfect opportunity to walk around and see what's cookin' in the hood. I only had to walk one block to see that a new cafe called Lava is in the works to open. It looks like they have more work to do but I’ll keep my eyes open and keep you informed.

Lava is located right next to Remote Sports Bar on the corner of 27th Street and 23rd Avenue. It'll be a nice addition to the block, as this neighborhood is dominated by Greek eateries such as Corner 26 Taverna, Stamatis, Telly's Taverna, Zorba's Souvlaki Plus--I think you get it.

I'll report back with more news as I impatiently await this new café to open.

Lava Cafe: Corner of 27th Street and 23rd Avenue, Astoria, NY 11105

Eleni's - Sweets with "Za-Za Zou"

Eleni's New York - 75 Ninth Avenue (in the Chelsea Market), New York, NY 10011

212.255.7990

C/E/L Train to 14th and 8th Avenue

www.elenis.com

I'm sure that most of you are familiar with Eleni's cookies of NYC. They're known as "playfully unique cookies" that are "edible art" because of their meticulous handiwork and intricate design--and of course for being featured on Sex and the City. What I love about them is that every cookie tells a story--whether celebrating a new baby, a wedding or simply for your beloved something (golf, designer handbags, dogs). And though the themed cookies are what Eleni's is known for now, she started her company baking her mother's oatmeal cookies out of her NYC apartment. And that is what connects this fine desserts company to other neighborhood establishments that I support--strong family roots and delicious traditions passed on from generations.

What does Eleni's have to do with Queens?
This might come as a surprise but Eleni's bakery is located in Long Island City. Their sweet sensations, which are produced in our neck of the woods are shipped out to their shop in Chelsea and to other locations around the country.

My Eleni's Care Package:
Just yesterday, I received a delicious treats package from our friend and fellow reader, Anna. She graciously provided me and my Joey in Astoria colleagues with the beautiful goodies you see here.

Single Sensation: A festive tin of 36 adorable, bite-sized chocolate chip cookies--crunchy and chewy, these are made with fine semi-sweet chocolate. The packaging is key because it helps keep the cookies fresh. Not only are these delicious, they make for a fun party treat--put them out for a sweet finish at the end of your fiesta and they'll go fast.

5th Avenue: An impressive assortment of 12 giant cupcakes. They offer a sampling of four decadent flavors--red velvet, reesses, chocolate ganache and oreo madness. These babies sure make a statement, with their colossal size and ornate frosting. One note about the frosting is that even though it looks too rich, it's very light and does not give you a nauseating aftertaste as some cupcakes do. Its texture is like airy whipped cream--a sinful bonus!

If I haven't convinced you yet, check out Eleni's when you're in Chelsea Market or browse their online catalogue anytime. They deliver anywhere in the country so New Yorker or not, you can go to town!

A Taste of Queens - In Manhattan

What a beautiful day in NY! I started my morning by reading John's entry about Queens: A Taste of the World coming to Herald Square. So...I decided to walk to Macy's Herald Square during lunch, just in time for their live demonstration. The featured restaurant was Papazzio of Bayside, accompanied by their baked goods partner, Cascon Baking Company from Whitestone. What can I say, both are run by two, nice Italian guys who are not only charming but know their food. Here's a recap of my lovely lunch tasting:

While I just missed the antipasto and the primi piatti, Chef Dominick Bruccoleri served a light Shrimp and Prosciutto and Rigatoni alla Messinase (rigatoni pasta with diced chicken, mushrooms, fresh spinach in a creamy marinara sauce). Both plates looked amazing and it has to be said that the entire tasting offered unbelievably generous portions (dessert included).

Chicken Bianco (with onions, mushrooms, artichokes, rosemary in a light white wine sauce): This dish didn't look so appetizing but it was furthest from boring in flavor--the chicken was delicate and the sauce was light. I wasn't very hungry but I finished my entire plate because it was that good.

I was able to get my hands on all three recipes. Email me at critic@foodistanyc.com if you want to give them a whirl.

Now...for the dessert:

All dessert options can be ordered from Cascon Baking Company or from Papazzio's dessert menu.

Oreo Cheesecake (AKA The Cheesecake Slam): All I have to say is WOW! The portion was incredibly generous and everyone was ooohing and aahing about it. It was rich yet airy and the Oreo provided just the right amount of chocolate flavor. I'd definitely order this next time and possibly even buy a full cake for a special occasion.

Red Velvet Cake: This is one of my favorite desserts of all time so I'm always looking out for a good one. While I loved the spongy cake part, the frosting didn't do it for me. Its consistency wasn't thick enough and it could've used stronger flavoring. What I did like about it was that it had a distinct essence of lemon.

My lunch experience was a lot of fun and I urge you to try both of these Queens establishments.

Papazzio: 39-38 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 718.229.1962

Cascon Baking Company: 7-04 149th Street, Whitestone, NY 11357 718.767.5700

Creamy Chicken Orzo - Quick Comfort Dish

On my way from exploring Pastalicious , I got inspired to make a hearty pasta dish of my own. I wanted something filling but not so much that it would weigh me down. Searching through my favorite Food Network Star's--Giada De Laurentiis--recipes, I found one for Creamy Orzo. I've seen Giada make this on TV and it looked awesome.

My Variation:

To give this dish some protein, I added cubed chicken and sauteed it with diced tomatoes. I also put a lot less cream in my dish than Giada (1/2 cup vs. Giada's 1 1/4 cups). And while shredded parmigiano cheese seemed to disappear from my fridge, I added shredded smoked mozzarella (but I think that you can substitute whatever cheese you like). And finally, do not use 1 lb of Orzo as Giada suggests, unless you'd like to feed a small army. I used slightly less than 1/2 pound and Dan and I still have leftovers.

Dan uttered a lot of "Mmmms" after feasting on my/Giada's Creamy Chicken Orzo. Enjoy!

Pastalicious - The Pastabilities are Endless!

Pastalicious - 25-13 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102

718.728.2130

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

I first heard about Pastalicious, a pasta eat-in/take-out joint from Margot. Distracted by other eateries in town, I didn't give it much thought until I received a menu from them in the mail. The "pastabilities" as this quirky place likes to put it are endless and the best part is that everything is customizable. So I took a walk over there yesterday and scoped out the scene. Cool-looking place, friendly staff, cheery decor--overall I say it's worth a try. The pasta looks delicious and while I haven't tried it yet, I heard it's very good. The exterior could use a refresher or a good scrub but it's really what lies beneath that's so intriguing.

Check out a sampling of their fun menu here:

All pasta comes in 2 sizes: One Size Fits All and Party Size (feeding up to 6 people)

Pasta Our Way:

One Size Fits All...$10.99, Party Size...$43.97

Fusilli Al Pastalicious (steak, wild mushrooms, zucchini)

Gemelli Carbonara (pancetta, wild mushrooms, creamy white sauce)

Gnocchi Al Pastalicious (sausage, onions, buttery sauce)

Macaroni and Cheese (three kinds of cheese, ham)

Pasta Your Way:

One Size Fits All...$6.99-$8.99 (includes pasta, sauce and cheese) or $10.99 (includes pasta, sauce, cheese and unlimited toppings); Party Size...$27.97-$35.97 (includes pasta, sauce and cheese) or $43.97 (includes pasta, sauce, cheese and unlimited toppings)

First you pick your pasta. A sampling includes: fettuccine, spaghetti, capellini, rigatoni, jumbo shells, gnocchi, penne, whole wheat spaghetti, tortellini, ravioli and much more.

Second, you choose your sauce. A sampling includes: pomodoro, bechamel, alfredo, chicken bolognese, red pesto and much more.

Third, you choose your toppings. A sampling includes: fresh tomatoes, shrimp, pancetta, olives, capers, prosciutto, meatballs, mixed mushrooms and much more.

They also offer make-your-own salads with plenty of fixins.

As always, if you'd like to see the full menu hit me up at critic@foodistanyc.com

Pastalicious delivers between the hours of 11a-11p.

Am I whetting your appetite? To make your own pasta, look out for my Creamy Chicken Orzo recipe tomorrow...

Grafton Street - Reinventing the Boston Pub

Grafton Street - 1230 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138

617.497.0400

Red Line T to Harvard Square

www.graftonstreetcambridge.com

I was originally looking forward to trying Boston's trendy South End eateries but when that didn't materialize, we opted for a trusty standby--good ol' pub food. We ended up at Grafton Street in Cambridge, which is a modern take on old fashioned pub grub. We were pleasantly surprised by the supple menu and everyone had a chance to try something different.

Atmosphere:

Grafton Street looks and feels like a cross between a modern chain restaurant and a pub--the lighting is dim, the wall decor is whimsical and the atmosphere is social. The space is pretty extensive and they're great at accommodating larger groups. Our party of six was able to sit comfortably at a semi-private area set off from the other tables--there was even a retractable curtain to give us extra privacy. A cool centerpiece that we all admired was the oversized lamp, positioned directly above our table--it was definitely a show-stopper that seemed inspired by Asian culture. A bit out of place I thought but nonetheless cool and different.

Food:

The menu offered a lot of variety and we all took advantage of it, as everyone ordered something different. Some dishes were expected staples (Fish and Chips, Cobb Salad) but others were inventive and surprising (Deviled eggs 4 ways, Atlantic Salmon Pizza). Here is a sampling of our diverse dinner:

Deviled Eggs 4 Ways: This was one of our starters and we chose it because it presented an unusual spin on a classic dish. The four variations included grilled tuna, queen olives, chives and olive tapenade. In all of these, the yolk was luxuriously creamy and my favorite variation was the tuna--a). because I've never had it before and b). because it had a delicious smoky taste.

One Perfect Cheese: Another unexpected starter, this one was an embellished cheese platter. Warm crusty bread was the centerpiece, surrounded by four corners of toppings--cheese, honey, an assortment of toasted nuts and dried apricots. While this plate was incredibly simple, stacking all four toppings on the bread made it come to life. The best part was drizzling the honey on the nuts and cheese--a decadent treat.

Atlantic Salmon Flatbread Pizza: This combination was quite different from a traditional pizza and included grilled salmon bits, dill havarti, shaved red onions, horseradish cream and capers. The only pizza-esque thing about it was the crust! I enjoyed it immensely because of its crunchy (not greasy) dough. The horseradish sauce was creamy and surprisingly gentle--it awakened my senses in a pleasant way. I know that salmon could sometimes be overcooked and fishy but this one was super light and grilled so well that I was able to eat most of my portion.

Other Dishes: Some of the other entrees that were devoured included Peter's Sweet Potato Agnoloti (pirogy shaped pasta filled with sweet potato and topped with bacon, brown butter, lemon and baby arugula), Fiana's Butternut Squash Risotto (topped with cranberry jam, sage and pecorino), Mami's Roast Half Chicken (with grilled Brussels sprouts and potato puree), Oci's Fish and Chips (beer battered cod with house cured steak fries, spicy tartar sauce and coleslaw) and Ida's Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad (with all the traditional fixins). While I tried almost all of these, my favorite was Peter's pasta dish. It tasted like dessert from the sweet potato and the thick bacon was spectacular.

Service and Cost:
Our waitress was a young college student, I presume. She was bubbly and knowledgeable and knew when to probe us and when to leave us alone. Our dishes were nicely spaced out between the starters--I hate it when the main course comes right after you finish your apps.

Dining here is very affordable, given the large portions and the quality of food. Appetizers range from $5.95-$13.95, entrees from $7.95-$18.95 and dessert from $6.75-$7.95. They also brew a variety of fresh teas from Irish Breakfast to China Green--all teas are $3. Your wallet will not suffer when dining here, especially with large groups.

2 Mmmms

L.A. Burdick - Boston's Handmade Chocolates

L.A. Burdick - 52-D Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138

617.491.4340

Red Line T to Harvard Square

www.burdickchocolate.com

I went to Boston this weekend to see my brother and to go to my cousin Miriam's baby shower. It was nice to revisit my college town and reminisce about my favorite things and places in Beantown. A culinary highlight of my trip included an amazing handmade chocolate shop called L.A. Burdick. I've tried their confections before at a wedding and was amazed at the richness and purity of the chocolate. But being in the actual Burdick shop and cafe was the ultimate sweet treat.

The Chocolate:

Burdick's offers handmade chocolate confections in various forms--they have two adorable animal options: penguins and mice, more traditional square truffles, chocolate dipped fruit and of course their famous hot cocoa. They offer great options in terms of party favors for weddings, baby showers or any other special occasions. Something that I especially liked were their chocolate cigars--masculine yet decadently sinful.

What I Tried:

The Burdick's that we tried in Cambridge-Harvard Square was a shop and a cafe. And while I admired their pastries such as The Burdick (almond wafers and rum ganache topped with white chocolate and pistachio) or the giant Linzer Torte, what I really wanted was their hot cocoa.

I heard about the intense richness of Burdick's chocolate potion but simply had to witness it first-hand. The cocoa came in a small mug and once the thick liquid hit my lips I understood why--it was like drinking the best quality chocolate in its purest form. The cocoa needed no additional dessert to go with it, it was that filling. Its presentation was lovely and included a foamed silhouette of a woman--or at least that's what my chocolate addled brain was telling me.

My experience at Burdick's left me utterly satisfied and impressed. I'll think back on it fondly and will certainly consider buying it next time I want to reward someone with a special treat.