Important Sparrow Update - Reyes Has Left the Building

Even though it's still LIC week, I had to interrupt it to bring you the latest news about Sparrow and its chef Reyes who I love very much. Reyes is the mastermind behind Sparrow's delicious eats including their phenomenal burgers, sandwiches and of course the decadent pain perdu. So it was with great dismay that I learned yesterday that not only was Reyes leaving Sparrow, last night was his last hoorah. He was gracious and wrote to me personally to break the news. I was shocked and sad but wish him all the best and much success in the future.

With that said, Dan and I went over there to pay our respects to the man, the legend, the burger genius. He was expecting me and came out of the kitchen to say hi. We conversed and I thanked him for all that he does. His future plans are still unknown but he said that he wants to "explore more, learn more and to move forward." I have no doubt that he'll succeed and can't wait for the day when he tells me where we can find him next. Mark my words, I will follow this man wherever he ends up--and Dan is right there with me.

And although we already had dinner, we saved room for a Reyes dessert. Chocolate mousse was the special treat last night and not only was it presented beautifully, with Reyes' careful touch but it tasted oh so luxurious. I kid you not when I say that we finished it in less than a minute--destroying this generous piece and licking the plate clean (see picture for proof). The best part of the mousse cake was the cinnamon-liquor embellishment on the side--it was fun to dip the cake into it and the liquor gave it an unexpected kick. You can always count on Reyes to deliver something special and make the ordinary unique.

It was a bittersweet goodbye last night but I'm glad that we saw this culinary genius off. Good luck Reyes--Astoria will miss you!

Where will he go next? I promise to let you know...

Slovak-Czech Varieties - My Home Away from Home

Slovak-Czech Varieties - 10-59 Jackson Avenue, LIC, NY 11101

718.752.2093

7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave

Strolling around LIC with my cousin Vicky, she told me about a Slovak-Czech specialty store that she passed while walking from her boo's house. What!? Can it be? A little piece of my home country right in the 'hood! Actually, I wasn't that surprised because I've heard about this place from my Slovak friend Katarina. I knew it was there I just didn't know exactly where.

We found the place by mere process of elimination, "Ummm, I think this is the block," Vicky said. We walked and poked our head out in anticipation and low and behold, there it was. The itty-bitty Slovak-Czech Varieties store. If I didn't know about the treasures it holds, I wouldn't go in because it looks shabby and dirty from the outside. But once inside, the "oohing" and "ahhing" didn't stop. We recognized almost everything and got very excited, exclaiming effusively. The woman working behind the register didn't know what to make of us! American-looking girls with weird Slovak accents; she though we were some strange Slovak impostors. We asked her for help finding some of our beloved Slovak treats. She was sweet and we ended up conversing briefly at the end of our visit--good times.

Here's what you could expect to find at this store:

Snacks Galore: Tons of European chocolate treats. They have Milka, Delissa, Kinder and even one of my favorite wafer bars called "Fidorka." Actually, wafer treats are a Slovak and Czech obsession and this place carries a lot of varieties.

Cold Cuts and Cheeses: Looking for European-style salami and sausage? Slovak-Czech Varieties carries imports from Hungary and of course Slovakia and the Czech Republic ($7.50 on average). I highly recommend the smoked cheese and even the "bryndza" a sharp sheep's cheese that is very hard to find in this country. If you do go for the "bryndza," I'd recommend pairing it with dumplings or egg noodles.

Homemade Delicacies: I was happy to discover that you could buy "knedlik"--a dumpling bread. It's a moist, hearty side-dish, which goes especially well with mushroom or pork gravy. Want to try it before you buy it? They serve it at Astoria's Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, Koliba and Zlata Praha. Slovak-Czech Varieties sells this for $7.29/loaf.

Wooden Toys and Fine Crystal: Slovakia and the Czech Republic are known for their meticulous craftsmanship. You can find various tchotchies such as handmade figurines, children's toys, bookmarks, and of course their famous crystal vases, bowls, ashtrays, and other unique goods.

I'll definitely be hitting this little Slovak-Czech haven again soon. On my way out, I saw a children's book that my mom recently got in Slovakia for my little cousin Emma. It made me smile. For all you Slovaks and Czechs, I have no doubt this store will do the same for you and for ya American friends, I know you'll appreciate it too.

Lounge 47 - A Groovy Brunch in LIC

Lounge 47 - 47-10 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

718.937.2044

7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave

Brunch is one of my favorite meals and I was excited to check out this casual spot in LIC--an untapped neighborhood for me. I learned about Lounge 47 from a fellow blogger Jon from EateryRow and what sold me was their endearing outdoor garden. It was unfortunate that the weather was too chilly for me to experience it, but I'll be sure to come back and enjoy some sun and more grub soon.

Atmosphere:

Lounge 47 is a funky, 70's era kind of place. The lamps are a bright orange color and the walls are pretty bold too, with brown and orange geometric wallpaper. The space is set up like a lounge in the front, with a comfy chaise, low tables and a nice bar; and like a restaurant in the back, with simple wooden tables and chairs. The back of the house leads to a quaint outdoor garden, which is rustic and colorful--it actually has trees and bushes, which a lot of so-called outdoor gardens in the area don't.

The clientele at Lounge is young and trendy. You'll notice hipsters wearing ultra cool clothes, chatting away happily over eggs and French Toast. I even saw some families with kids and they were cool too--the middle aged mom sitting just one table away had a hipper haircut than me! Overall, Lounge offers a chill vibe and is a pleasant hideaway on weekend mornings.

Food:

While the food satisfied me, it didn't wow me by any means. I'd call it solid and satisfactory but wouldn't rant and rave about it. Here's what we tried:

Mini-Muffins - These were my favorite part of the meal and they came out as a complimentary starter, in place of bread. It was obvious that the muffins were freshly baked--they were sweet, moist and a little crunchy on the outside--just the way I like 'em. Two varieties were served--corn and banana. And while the corn looked better, the banana muffin simply hit it out of the ballpark in terms of taste--it wasn't overly sweet and tasted so natural. You could sense that real fruit was used to create this lovely snack.

Huevos Rancheros - Wow! This sounded absolutely amazing on the menu--eggs, tortilla chips, pico de gallo, jalapenos and avocado. What more could a girl ask for? I have to be honest though and say that I was a bit disappointed. The most surprising ingredient in this dish was the curry. I didn't dislike it and actually started enjoying it until it became overpowering and I didn't care for it anymore. There was also a problem with the avocado that was sliced on top of the eggs--it could've been cut thicker. The thin slices weren't hearty enough and seemed to melt into the eggs. Meh...

Spinach Egg white Omelet - This was my cousin Vicky's dish. She enjoyed it and let me taste it. Again, good but not excellent. I thought that the eggs could've used more seasoning but she cleaned her plate and seemed satisfied.

A side note about the portions--they are generous and you get great value.

Dining Tip #1: Go for the burgers--they're pretty gnarly and even won a TimeOut New York award.

Dining Tip #2: Don't forget to try Lounge's signature Wasabi Deviled Eggs--talk about hot!

Service and Cost:

No complaints about the service, it was quite good. Our waitress was nice and unobtrusive. She gave us good recommendations and tips about each dish. For example she told me to get jalapenos on the side with my huevos--a smart choice considering that I probably would've passed out from all that heat.

Lounge offers great value for brunch. $13 will get you an entree, those delish mini-muffins, coffee and a morning cocktail. And if you do go for the burger and the Wasabi Delived Eggs, they'll cost you around $8.50-$11 and $3 respectively.

2 Mmmms

P.J. Leahy's - A Mets Bar Serving Local Faves

P.J. Leahy's - 50-02 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

718.472.5131

7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave

P.J. Leahy's is convenience at its best--a cozy Irish sports bar right outside of the 7 train, which also happens to be a hangout for Mets fans. This casual corner bar serves trusty beer and liquor varieties and of course familiar, feel-good bar food. Leahy's runs tons of specials throughout the entire week, which offers a great way to save dough. You'll find a sampling of them here:

Irish Breakfast or Brunch: $7.95 from 11a-2p on Saturday and Sunday. This special comes with a complimentary breakfast cocktail such as a Bloody Mary, Mimosa or you can get a plain o'l Bud.

Prime Rib: $10.95 every Thursday - Sunday

Bar Specials:

$5 Pint Vodka and Pink Lemonade

$3 Scotch and Soda

$10 Pitcher of Bud

Food Specials:

Beef Stew...$7.95

Broiled Tilapia...$10.95

Hot Open Brisket...$8.95

Hot Open Roast Beef...$7.95

Enjoy your comfort grub and drink. I'd suggest coming here after a Mets game to celebrate a big win (not like the shameful whooping they endured today).

Brasil Coffee House - Starbucks What?

Brasil Coffee House - 48-19 Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, NY 11101

718.729.5969

7 Train to Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave

www.brasilcoffeehouse.com

I was pleasantly surprised to find a different coffee shop in this nabe and no Starbucks in sight. Although the Brasil Coffee House is a chain, it's a small chain consisting of 2 locations in LIC, 1 in Manhattan and another one in Miami. And just like its name suggests, they serve fresh brewed Brazilian coffee and even some authentic treats like Pao de Queijo (Brazilian cheese bread).

Atmosphere:

What a cool space! It looks ordinary from the outside--modern building with casual outdoor seating--but the inside takes you back to the old country. Immediately upon stepping in, you're welcomed by a beautiful mural painting of a Brazilian coffee plantation.

The furnishings are charming antiques and the coolest piece is a Baroque credenza, which functions as a coffee condiment station. And while the entire space is large, it feels very much like your living room at home. Another positive is that unlike a Starbucks, the Brasil Coffee House offers a relaxing, low-key atmosphere--good for studying, reading the morning paper or a good book.

Coffee and Food:

My cousin Vicky tried their house blend and she was pretty happy with it. She admits that she's no coffee connoisseur but described her cup o' joe as "solid and certainly a step above Starbucks."

I myself bought four pieces of the Pao de Queijo, brought it home and served it as a side with my dinner of salmon and cous-cous. It was delicious even when reheated. The portion was generous--I like my pao to be substantial and not the size of a munchkin. The bread and the cheese formed a perfect marriage--a savory and somewhat stringy treat.

Want to make your own coffee and treats--Brasil style? Check out Brasil Coffee House's online recipes.

Service and Cost:

Not much service here; you order from the counter and sit down. Our server was polite though and sported a charming Brazilian accent, which is always a plus in my book.

The prices of coffee are average and my cousin paid slightly less than $2 for her house blend. My Pao de Queijo came at a premium for a whopping $.50 per ball. What ever happened to garlic knot prices--4 for $1!?

2 Mmmms

LIC Week on the Foodista

Image by www.timeout.com

I decided to make this week an official Long Island City week on the Foodista. Visiting this fun area recently got me very excited and I was amazed at how laid-back and culture-packed it is. The restaurants are trendy without being pretentious--they have that lovely, shabby-chic feel. The cost of dining in LIC won't hurt your wallet and the neighboring trendy boutiques and quirky art galleries might surprise you. I'll be covering eateries and watering holes primarily in the Vernon Blvd region, which is right off the Vernon Blvd/Jackson Blvd subway stop on the 7 train.

I hope that my LIC adventures encourage you to hop on the 7 and try it for yourself. You'll be pleasantly surprised--I guarantee it!

Go Wasabi Ditmars is No Longer

Some sad news for the Ditmars neighborhood--Go Wasabi on 29th Street and Ditmars is now closed. There's several sad looking notes posted on the windows and the door reporting that they've been closed since April 18th. Looks like Watawa and Sakura will rule this side of the 'hood in terms of sushi.

Although Go Wasabi Ditmars is no longer, its sister restaurant on 30th Avenue is very much alive and kickin'. Check them out for some solid sushi options and enjoy the live Jazz on Friday and Saturday nights.

Go Wasabi - 29-11 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105 - CLOSED

Go Wasabi - 34-02, 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103 - OPEN

718.204.7354

www.gowasabi.com