Beer Garden - Gorge Fest Galore!

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden - 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102

718.274.4925

N/W Train to Astoria Blvd

www.bohemianhall.com

The Beer Garden is one of my favorite places to visit in the summer. I know that I'm not alone here, as thousands of people both from Queens and Manhattan hit this place up on weekends--seems like everyone has caught the Beer Garden fever. I learned my lesson from previous frustrating weekend visits and I now only come here on Sundays, when I could actually score a seat. This past Sunday was fun because I was accompanied by my family, good friends Kimberly, Kim & Ken, Ivona & Joe--and of course Dan. We nearly wore out our welcome, staying for nearly five hours, during which much great food and drink were consumed. Below is a summary of our Sunday night gorge fest.

Klobasa (Grilled Kielbasa) - We ordered this as a starter from the grill and although they're large, we got two servings just to be on the safe side. This proved to be a wise decision because we devoured them within minutes, as each piece was juicy and tangy from the grain mustard that we used as dipping sauce. The sausage skin was firm and crunchy--a nice contract with the tender, succulent interior. YUM! Our dining companions agreed that this was a stand-out.

Vepro Knedlo Zelo (Pork with Sauerkraut and Dumplings) - This is my dad's favorite dish and he always orders it when we come here (or any Slovak restaurant for that matter). He really wanted to show our friends how it's done in Slovakia so we ordered three huge portions which seemed absolutely bottomless. I had my fair share and loved it--as always. While it sounds ironic, the sauerkraut was actually sweet and the pork was beautifully tender and moistened by a rich pork gravy. The gravy really made this dish and added flavor to the already moist "knedle" or dumplings. Not only was this tasty but the portions were so large that you got amazing value for your buck.

Segedinsky Gulas (Szegediner goulash and dumplings) - This was even better than the Vepro pork, probably because it was prepared in a cream sauce--why does all the bad stuff taste like heaven? The meat was so wonderfully tender that it fell apart upon contact with the fork. This dish too was served with sauerkraut that was sweet and seasoned with paprika--one of my favorite spices. I'd recommend this for first timers.

Pirohi (Potato Pirogies with Red Cabbage and Sour Cream) - This is a good alternative for vegetarians. My reason for wanting it was for the red cabbage, which is even sweeter that the sauerkraut. Honestly speaking, the dumplings were a little weak--really nothing special and probably just frozen ones that were boiled. While they tasted fine, I wasn't crazy about them but I did adore the sweet--almost candy-like--cabbage. Next time, I'll skip the pirogies and just order a side of red cabbage.

Bramborove Placky (Potato Pancakes with Sour Cream and Apple Sauce) - I've had this dish many times and while it's usually crispy and delicious, it was on the soggy-hard side. How disappointing and anti-climactic! It might've been my fault for reaching for them late in the meal but they just didn't taste right.

Palacinky (Thin Pancakes with Strawberry Jam and Whipped Cream) - These are very different than some of the crepes you'll find in Astoria--the dough is airy and a lot thinner. While I liked them, I thought they were drenched too heavily in whipped cream and chocolate sauce which melted messily, thus creating a sloppy mess. Not pretty to look at and just mediocre to eat. Meh all around.

Service and Cost:

The service as always is a joke. You have to chase down a waitress and practically beg her to serve you, which I did. And quite nicely might I add--I approached her in Slovak and said all my pleases and thank yous. It worked and the food came quickly too.

For the obscene amount of food that I mentioned above, the check was just a little over $110. This fed a total of 7 people, which is really quite the bargain. The beer was another story at $14 a pitcher but they have to make their money somehow. Overall, a fun time was had by all and our bellies protruded nicely towards the end of the night (at least mine did). Mmmm it was so worth it!

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.