News from Chef Reyes

Image by www.parkluncheonette.com

It's been almost a full month since I've seen my favorite neighborhood chef, Reyes who used to work at the Sparrow. As you heard me mention on numerous occasions, this man is an absolute food genius--and he has a way with burgers. I, along with other fellow Astorians was really sad when Reyes left our local hangout, across the street from the Beer Garden. I've been back since but it simply isn't the same. Pablo, a new chef has filled Reyes' shoes but it's left to be seen if his food will measure up--I hope that it does, as he is a friend of Reyes and the two have worked closely together.

So...when I got an email from my dear chef friend, I couldn't be happier to find out about his new locale. Unfortunately, Reyes is no longer an Astoria man and you can now find him running a kitchen in trendy Williamsburg. I will be sure to check him out soon and will happily report with details. (Mmmm, I can taste the delicious burger meat, just thinking about it).

Here are the deets behind Reyes' new digs. He boasts his own menu of specialty salads, sandwiches, burgers, entrees and even his favorite dessert--flan with strawberry ice cream.

His new joint also has live jazz every Wednesday and Friday at 8:30p.

Park Luncheonette

334 Driggs Avenue corner Lorimer Street (between Lorimer Street & Union Avenue) Brooklyn, NY 11222

718.383.3571

www.parkluncheonette.com

Akti - Still Going Strong

Akti - 34-19 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11103
718.721.3530
N/W Train to 30th Avenue

I'm a big fan of this relatively new Greek/seafood restaurant on 30th Avenue. I've now been there twice--the second time for a celebratory dinner with Dan's mom--and I continue to be impressed by it.

Here are a couple of new things that I tried my second time around:

Spread Assortment: We started out with an assortment of spreads, including taramosalata (fish roe spread), tzatziki (yogurt, cucumber spread) and tyrokafteri (roasted pepper and feta cheese spread). These were really popular with the whole table and we insisted on leaving them in front of us for most of the meal. We dipped not only our pita bread into them but also spooned them on the side of our entrees. The tyrokafteri continues to be my favorite because of the fabulous zing it leaves on your tongue. The tzatziki was also great--very cooling and fragrant from the cucumbers.

Octopus Stew: This dish really impressed me because it was very different from what I'm used to. When it came out, it looked like something that would be served at Mombar--sort of like a tajine full of slow cooked ingredients. The dish contained tender octopus with sweet shallots in a white wine reduction. The spices were extraordinary and with the broth, they created a deliciously sweet stew--I'm suspecting that anise was used because of the licoricey flavor. I'm going to be honest and say that while I loved this dish, it's not for everyone. If you enjoy pungent ethnic flavors, you'll love it and if you veer on the side of caution, I'd stay away.

Marinated Greek Olives: Kimberly had good things to say about these, so naturally we tried them. She was right--the olives were marinated in the most wonderful mixture of olive oil, parsley, oregano and garlic. I preferred the green ones but both types were very good.

Fried Calamari: Dan requested this specifically and it was solid. After having Akti's seafood now on different occasions, I could say with confidence that it's top notch. The calamari was large and shaped beautifully in round ringlets ,which were interspersed with wild tentacles. It came seasoned with parsley and lemon wedges, which added more freshness and great flavor. Please note that these do not come with marinara sauce--Akti is after all a Greek restaurant--but you can ask for some and the gracious waitstaff will be happy to provide it.

Greek Cypriot Village Sausage: Dan and I are big meat eaters so we naturally rooted for this--and it delivered. It looks very rustic on the plate--two large rounded links, bursting at the seams where the slits were made. It was a nice peasant dish, simple at its core but packed with so many fragrant spices and meat that I could've eaten another portion. The skin was especially good and crispy from the grill. It reminded me of my beloved kielbasa that I get at the Beer Garden.

Grilled Pork Chops: Dan's dad, David ordered this and he seemed pleased. I tasted it too but it wasn't my favorite dish--the meat was a bit tough and not juicy enough. But there were no complaints from David and he polished it off and even took some home with him because the portion was so large.

Grilled Red Snapper: As I mentioned, Akti really shines with their seafood. The snapper was delightful--light and flaky with nice hints of char from the grill and a citrusy tang from the capers. Make no mistake, this dish is rustic, (with the head still on) and if you'd like it deboned you have to ask for it. I enjoyed it very much and so did everyone else, commenting on its freshness and great flavor. By the time we were done with it, the head was all that was left.

Dessert: It was hard to say yes to dessert after the meal we just had but when they brought out a complimentary round, how could we refuse? Our sweet finish consisted of two types of honey cakes--coconut and walnut. I preferred the walnut because it was super moist and spiced with cinnamon. It was so airy and delicious that I'm certain I ate more than one piece. Dan and his parents seem to enjoy the coconut-honey cake more so that worked out nicely.

Service and Cost:
The service was outstanding, just like last time. Our waiter was on the ball, making suggestions, telling jokes, smiling and keeping the service flowing. He did a good job recommending wine to Dan's mom Vicki and he was attentive with all aspects of the meal.

The cost was again reasonable--the huge dinner, which I just described cost us about $40/per person (including alcohol). I have to be frank and say that we got a couple of things on the house but still, the prices won't break the bank--especially if you share a bunch of dishes with your dining companions.

3 Enthusiastic Mmmms

Foodista's App Platter - Impress Your Guests!

As I was telling you, Dan and I entertained two of our good friends, Lauren and Keith, last week. Even though we were going out to dinner, I wanted to be hospitable and provide some fun snacks for them to munch on. So...I put together this yummy--and eclectic--app platter. It was fun to arrange this food medley on a festive platter, especially if you have a nice, rustic one such as the one you see here--courtesy of our friends Julie and Josh.

Here's how you can put this bad boy together:

Ingredients (these are my suggestions but you can substitute with anything that you love and crave):

A bunch of seedless red grapes (you can use green too), broken into small bunches

A ripe peach, sliced

1/2 block or 4.4 oz of good brie (I like Camembert Le Chatelain)

A couple of slices or cubes (4 oz) of fresh mozzarella cheese

6-8 generous slices of peppered salami (I like Daniele brand). After slicing, cut them in half.

3-4 generous bunches of pita chips or other chips

Directions:

Arrange all ingredients on the platter in small quantities so that everything is in bite-sized pieces. Spread ingredients across the platter and alternate them so you have a nice color contrast and variety on a plate.

Your guests will be impressed by this food medley and while it's simple to make, it shows effort and good entertaining skills. Try one out for yourself and take a picture of it. I'll display it for everyone to see.

Pinocchio is Back

A couple of weeks back, I noted the close for renovation of 30th Avenue gyro and pizza king, Pinocchio Palace. Well it's back in action and as busy as ever, judging from what I saw this past Sunday. I peeked inside to see the new digs and liked what I saw--an airy, clean space with a modern flat screen TV, which was tuned to a soccer match. The interior redesign seems contemporary but not so much so that you wouldn't recognize this place. The exterior is still the same, with the exception of a new maroon awning--I don't think it matches with the blue Pinocchio sign but oh well.

I asked about the menu and it hasn't changed much since the renovation. There are a couple of low-sellers that were dropped such as the Doners and the sandwiches but the pizza and gyros continue to be their show stoppers. When asked about the pizza specifically, a Pinocchio waitress replied "Of course we'd never change that!"

Go on and check out the new space and let me know how it suits ya.

Pinocchio Palace - 32-02 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102

718.721.9636

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

Locale - Dessert Stole the Show

Locale - 33-02 34th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106

718.729.9080

N/W Train to Broadway

www.localeastoria.com

This was my second time at Locale and I enjoyed myself even more than the last time when I came for brunch. The food was better and the company was equally great--our friends Lauren and Keith came out to see us from Long Island. We wanted to bring them out to a cool, funky place that was nice enough for a Friday night treat but laid-back enough where we could casually enjoy each other's company. Locale delivered on all accounts.

Atmosphere:

Even though I've described Locale's atmosphere in my last review, I have to point out that I much rather preferred its setting for dinner than for brunch. The lighting is dim and creates an intimate mood, accentuating the shabby-chic decor of Matisse-like paintings and exposed brick walls. It was a perfect way to spend a Friday night dinner with friends but I'd also recommend it for a quiet romantic dinner.

Food:

Locale offers a mix of Mediterranean fare, from pasta and paninis to chicken, meat and fish. Everything was prepared well and tasted fresh. Although not everything stood out, for the most part, the dishes met and even in some cases exceeded expectations.

Gnocchi Sorrentina: I chose this dish because I wasn't in the mood for anything meaty and because I have a soft spot (no pun intended) for gnocchi. Locale's version definitely delivered. First of all, they were enormous and so soft that they melted on my tongue. The tomato sauce, which they were dressed in was fresh and had a nice crisp flavor. There were medium sized chunks of fresh mozzarella resting on top--they melted slightly from the hot gnocchi and sauce, making it even more delicious. I'd strongly recommend this dish for dinner.

Rigatoni Bolognese: This was Dan's dish and he had a hard time deciding between that and the Frutta di Mare pasta special. After opting for the Bolognese, he was more than satisfied with his choice. I had the pleasure of tasting this and it was all that a Bolognese should be--chunky, meaty, hearty and the pasta was cooked al-dente. I especially liked that the pasta was a small version of rigatoni--it made the meat easier to scoop up.

Other Entrees: Keith ordered the Tuna special, which was mixed in with penne, garlic, radicchio and black olives. While this sounded amazing it was a bit on the salty side and Keith wasn't overly impressed. It's unfortunate and true that specials could be a hit or miss situation. I read somewhere that too many specials could mean that chefs are trying to get rid of old ingredients--except in a place like Trattoria L'Incontro, where specials are what you come for.

Lauren got the lemon chicken and I think she liked it. She wasn't too vocal about it, which made me think it was just OK. It looked light and nothing too out of the ordinary--I certainly wouldn't call it a stand-out.

Dessert: This is where Locale turned up the heat and even before I start describing our desserts, I'll say that I very much recommend coming here for this course alone.

The first dessert, The Decadent Bomba (don't quote me on the "decadent" part) was a 3:1 consensus--I was the difficult one because of my slight aversion to peanut butter. But when this dish arrived at our table, it was so beautiful that I couldn't resist a taste. It reminded me of tartufo and this one was made up of peanut butter gelato with a chocolate center, embellished with caramel sauce and more hot fudge. Lauren, Keith and Dan absolutely loved it and Dan couldn't stop talking about it the whole weekend.

The second dessert was a great standby, which we got mainly for my sake--the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Again, it was out of this world and the chocolate was a perfect mix of heaven and luxurious decadence. The fresh vanilla bean gelato that accompanied it was also excellent, providing a refreshing contrast to the warm chocolate--a pure and simple must in my book.

Service and Cost:

Our waiter was really nice and very enthusiastic about the menu. When asking him for recommendations, he replied with effusive but believable raves such as "I LOOOOVE the Frutta di Mare" or "The Bolognese is also GREAT." Nice guy and a good server. The only thing that irked me a little is that he seemed impatient with us at the end of the meal and told us that people were waiting for our table (hint, hint). He was just being fair I guess, and if I was on the other end of that I'm sure I would've appreciated his tenacity.

Cost-wise, Locale is pretty moderate and won't hurt your wallet. Pasta ranges between $11.95-$15.95, chicken dishes range between $12.95-$19.50 and dessert ranges between $3.50-$7. Dinner cost us about $36 per person including tax and tip--not bad.

2 Mmmms

Pasha - A Convenient Bosnian Grill

Pasha - 28-27 31st Street, Astoria, NY 11102

718.726.0230

N/W Train to 30th Avenue

I've been noticing Pasha, the new Bosnian cevapcici counter, on my way to the gym--it happens to be conveniently located underneath the subway. Everytime, I hear the word cevapcici--grilled minced meat served with flatbread, onions and sour cream--I think about my childhood and the vacations my family took to the former Yugoslavia. I remember the summers in Serbia, where we spent our days on the rocky beaches and our evenings in town, eating these delicious meaty treats.

Pasha provides a small glimpse of that childhood memory, as they serve traditional style cevapcici but their menu is also mixed to please a variety of palates. Below is a sampling of their menu. I'm excited to report back to you once I sample their cuisine--which I hope will be soon.

Bosnian Sandwiches: From the grill, they come served on fluffy pita bread with tomatoes, onion, lettuce and your choice of hummus, ayvar or sour cream).

Cevapcici - Minced beef, lamb kabob...$5.95-$8.95

Pleskavica - Bosnian-style burger...$8.95

Sudzuk - Spiced, smoked sausages...$5.95-$8.95

Healthy Corner: Served on toasted whole-wheat pita bread with mesculin greens

Mediterranean Breakfast Sandwich - Hot pita, hummus, sheppard salad and eggs sunny side up...$4.95

Healthy Tuna Snack - Hot pita bread, tomatoes, black olives, julienned carrots, red onions and light mayo...$5.25

Power Sandwich - Egg whites, turkey, fresh mozzarella, light mayo and tomatoes...$5.95

Salads:

Sheppard's Salad - Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, peppers, dill, olive oil, lemon sprinkled with feta cheese...$4.95...add $3.00 extra for grilled chicken

Pasha's Salad - Spring mix, chick peas, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, grilled mushrooms, crumbling of feta cheese, olive oil and vinegar...$5.50...add $3.00 extra for grilled chicken

Bosnian Cucumber Salad - Yogurt sauce, fresh cucumbers with dill and a little bit of garlic...$3.50

Desserts:

Tufahija - Sugary, walnut-stuffed apple, Bosnian style...$3.00

Tulumba - Honeyed pastry barrels, an old-time favorite...$2.00

Palacinke - Crepes with choice of nutella, banana and strawberries...$4.50

Pasha would be a good place to stop before going to a picnic in the park or when you're in the mood for a different kind of take-out.