04/02/13 12:00pm

Here’s a roundup of our top posts in March 2013. As usual, food is a big interest as well as the ever more invisible dividing line between Queens and Brooklyn. ‘A newbie’s guide to Astoria subway stops – the N/Q’ takes the top spot though – and thanks again ghoes to Bushwick Daily for its inspiring A Newbie’s Guide to Bushwick Subway Stops.

5. Do you know where the border between Queens and Brooklyn lies?

Brooklyn-Queens border

What actually divides Queens and Brooklyn? There’s no great wall or border patrol to mark the line between Brooklyn and Queens. The Queens-Brooklyn border issue has been confounding the two boroughs, especially residents of Ridgewood and Bushwick, for hundreds of years.

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03/19/13 10:00am

White Bear Dumplings

White Bear wontons are amazing

So, we’ve asked about Mexican food and Thai food, and now we’re moving on to Chinese food, which of course is a big deal in Queens, especially Flushing. There are a lot of places to choose from. Where do you like to eat Chinese food? Any region is welcome. And do you prefer Chinese street food, fancy sit down, or hole in the wall? Or are you more of a Golden or New World Mall kind of person? We’d love to know – leave us a comment here or via twitter at @queensnycity!

03/08/13 9:30am

Here’s a roundup of our top posts in February 2013. Again, food is a big interest among our readers, with baked goods, brunch, Vientamese food, and dumplings catching the collective eye. And Steinway pianos got some love this past month as well – we are proud that these incredible instruments are made right here in Astoria.

5. Breton invasion – two extraordinary French bakeries in Jackson Heights and Forest Hills

Queens-Forest-Hills-La-Boulangerie-gateau-breton

The fact that the great borough of Queens would be home to two fantastic classic French bakeries is not terribly surprising. But that both chefs should prevail from the same region of France – Brittany – is. La Boulangerie, an artisan bakery and café located at 109-01 72nd Road just off Austin Street in Forest Hills (GMAP), and Cannelle, a pâtisserie and café at 75-59 31st Avenue in Jackson Heights, situated in the Walbaum’s mall (GMAP), are both the creation of Brittany natives. Both strive to bring high-quality, authentic French baked goods to sophisticated New York City palates and, tellingly, both businesses are thriving.

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02/28/13 12:00pm

Chopsticks + Marrow, written by Joe DiStefano, covers food both inside and outside of Queens. He’ll be joining us here on QueensNYC each Thursday.

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At just under $10 this six-course meal of Sichuan snacks won’t break the bank

Much like downtown Flushing’s Chinatown itself, the New World Mall food court is diverse and constantly evolving. One of the latest additions is a two-week-old outfit that goes by the rather unassuming English name, “Szechuan Dish.” The Chinese on its sign “Mei Sichuan” and  “Chéng Dū kǒu wèi,” which more or less says beautiful Sichuan, Chengdu flavor, gives a much better idea of the beautifully flavorful, fiery things coming out of Stall No. 25.

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Chopsticks + Marrow, written by Joe DiStefano, covers food both inside and outside of Queens. He’ll be joining us here on QueensNYC each Thursday.

a-g-himalayan-fresh-food

Even on a snowy night people line up for momo at A&G Himalayan Fresh Food

Momo—the beef dumplings beloved of Tibetans—are everywhere in  Himalayan Heights. So popular are the crimped top little packages that I have taken to calling the neighborhood’s Tibetan restaurants momo parlors. For more than five years there has been a lone food cart stationed underneath an Indian jewelry store where momos were steamed day and night. In that time halal food carts and trucks have proliferated along 73rd St., but for the longest time there was just that one momo cart.

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02/06/13 2:00pm

Here’s a roundup of our top posts in January 2013. Friends, you like reading about new real estate development in western Queens, great movies (Rise of the Guardians) at the Museum of the Moving Image, dumplings (a perpetual fave), and that awesome story about rock gods The Who donating new equipment to LIC Bar.

5. Hunters Point South building at 1-50 50th Ave moves forward with approved zoning

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On December 18, the zoning for the Hunters Point South building that will be at 1-50 50th Avenue has been approved, according to the Department of Buildings. The plan exam is still listed as “disapproved.” The original plan submitted in mid-April was disapproved, then resubmitted in early October – that, too was disapproved.

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02/05/13 10:00am

Biang! Dumpling Flushing

Dumplings have been on our minds here at QueensNYC. Of course there’s this great list of top dumplings in Queens, the epic soup dumpling battle, and we often dream of momos – they are a celebratory food for Losar (Tibetan new year) and you can easily get them in Jackson Heights. But we’re always on the lookout for new places to find these beauties. We’d love to know where your favorite dumplings are – any kind really. And do you eat them on their own or in a broth? Do you like spicy sauce with your dumplings? Leave us a comment here, or via twitter at @queensnycity.

01/17/13 11:00am

Chopsticks + Marrow, written by Joe DiStefano, covers food both inside and outside of Queens. He’ll be joining us here on QueensNYC each Thursday.

flushing-dumplings

Quite possibly America’s best potstickers. Image source: The SunBreak

Here’s a newsflash: “Find Some of America’s Best Chinese Food … in Flushing.” Or so Jay Friedman declared last week in The SunBreak. Pondering next month’s Chinese New Year Seattle-based Friedman writes:

But what if I could be anywhere in America for Chinese food? The San Gabriel Valley in the Los Angeles area would tempt me (and wouldn’t disappoint), but at this point, I find myself leaning toward Flushing, New York. …There’s an international melting pot of food in the borough of Queens, and Flushing’s the place if you want a full array of Chinese cuisine.

I had the pleasure of showing Friedman and his brother around downtown Flushing back in August. (more…)

12/31/12 3:45pm

Happy New Year’s eve, everyone!

We hope you all have a wonderful time tonight ringing in the new year, even if it means getting a good night’s sleep. If you’re looking for some ideas for NYE, we’ve got ‘em – consider comedy with a Saturday Night Live star followed by a burlesque show at The Laughing Devil in LIC: a meat festival at the new Strand Smokehouse in Astoria; or a cruise around Manhattan on the Skyline Princess.

Here’s to a great 2013!

Mouthwatering top meals in Ridgewood via Ridgefood

We loved this post about top meals of 2012 in Ridgewood by the Ridgefood folks – beautiful photos, too! The top dishes include Santa Fe Pecan Sausage from the Ridgewood Pork Store, Grandma Pizza from Rosa’s and Homemade Snickerdoodles, Pljekavica, Cevapi, and Marinated Red Peppers from Bosna Express, everything at Johnny’s Cafe, stews from Parrot Coffee, homemade gravlax with fixins (they made it themselves!), and Potato Pancakes and Chicken Cutlet from Hetman. Um, yeah, we’ll be spending more time in Ridgewood, for sure – between this and the awesome Gottscheer Hall, Ridgewood is calling our name.

The Tops of 2012 from QNYC

We put together a few lists of the top posts you read here on QNYC in 2012, including the top 10 posts, top 5 food posts, and top 5 real estate posts. Seems like everyone wanted to read about Hurricane Sandy, expensive homes, new developments and taste treats like dumplings and brunch. And if there is anything you’d like to see on the site in 2013, drop us a line. Thanks so much for reading, friends!

The Queens Writers Fellowship is open again

Local Astoria writer Zora O’Neill runs the Queens Writers Fellowship – it’s basically a desk in her home where one could get some focused writing done. Are you looking for a place to write and really GTD (get things done)? Apply for her writers fellowship! “The extra desk could be yours, along with coffee, possibly a hot lunch and general camaraderie. Tell me what your schedule is like, and what you’re working on.” Queens residency preferred but not required.

La Chifa in Jackson Heights – Peruvian fried rice, you will be ours

We were excited to read about La Chifa, a new Peruvian-Chinese spot on Northern Blvd in Jackson Heights. The food is essentially Chinese food for Peruvian tastes. We love lomo saltado – fries, gravy, and meat – as well as chaufa, which is Peruvian Chinese fried rice, yum. The Tallarin Taypa is made with noodles topped with beef, chicken, pork, quail eggs, green bell peppers, onions, carrots, mushrooms, and broccoli. Their ceviche also sounds delicious.