18 minute read
Delicious Dishes of Queens
Our Restaurant Issue highlights the passionate Queens borough restaurateurs and entrepreneurs who work every day to ensure a thriving and delicious food and restaurant scene, from their heart and hands to you. We thank them, we support them, and we proudly present them here for everyone to try their delicious dishes!
MAKINA CAFE // EDEN EGZIABHER
Makina Café brings brightness and energy to our food scene with a dynamic team and menu. Owner Eden Egziabher brought the first Ethiopian/Eritrean food truck to NYC five years ago, serving an iconic, easy-to-eat menu that includes chicken tibs, (marinated with berbere, onions, garlic, parsley, and spiced oil), miser (spicy whole red lentil stew), and ater (split pea stew), among other Ethiopian/ Eritrean delights. Five years later, Egziabher is doing what she does best, again, by bringing her unique dishes to a brick-and-mortar cafe in Sunnyside, Queens, slated to open in the fall. The café will feature an elevated version of the food truck menu with some of the familiar food truck options. Egziabher plans to source her coffee from women in Ethiopia and has recruited a female architectural and design team to make that happen. Makina Cafe has a following, and the residents of Sunnyside are looking forward to the brick-and-mortar location where Egziabher will bring yet another cultural experience with an extensive coffee selection and a well-thought-out cocktail menu. Egziabher, in an interview with SunnySide Post, expressed her interest in digging deeper into the neighborhood to contribute to Sunnyside and Queens. The food trucks will remain in operation.
TASTE BUDS MATTER, LLC // CHEF DAVIS
American born with Native American and South African heritage, Chef Davis, often better known as Chef Littlebit, is a private chef, caterer, youth and community advocate, holistic food educator, and the founder of Taste Buds Matter LLC. Taste Buds Matter specializes in creating foodbased workshops and programs for the community to develop healthy lifestyle habits through eating, which Chef Davis believes is an instrumental step toward connecting with the inner self. Chef Davis doesn’t let anything get in the way of continuously exploring her curiosity. Lately, she is excited about permaculture. Davis has partnered with students in Kenya and Cameroon through virtual workshops where she teaches what she knows about healthy eating, and they, in turn, teach her about their local plants and vegetables. Chef Davis has a small garden of her own, teaches workshops, is available for events, and promotes healthy eating as a lifestyle choice. Taste Buds Matter offers a wide variety of meal prep programs, services, and demonstrations. Chef Davis got her first catering event in 2015 with NYC’s League of Women Voters. She hasn’t stopped expanding, learning, and educating the youth about healthy living as it coincides with agriculture, storytelling, community, self-care, and humanity. Chef Davis is a dynamic traveling private chef with a wide selection of options for food services.
BEVO’S KITCHEN // GRACIA CLARY-LEONCE
135-45 Belknap St., Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 bevoskitchen.com
Originally from St. Lucia, founder of Bevo’s Kitchen, Gracia Clary-Leonce, is a positive presence with a winning smile. Gracia is passionate about the fresh ingredients and flavors of her culture and likes to remind us to eat healthy “Because you are what you eat.” Bevo’s Kitchen is a family-owned and operated catering space that has been in business for 45 years and has everything one needs to support a healthy lifestyle. Bevo’s offers meal prep programs and natural products made without preservatives. The menu includes jerk pepper tofu, bow tie butternut squash mac & cheese, Caribbean roti bowls, doubles, and exotic beverages made from fruits native to the Caribbean, but also has a wide range of other healthful products such as granola, and spiced pumpkin butter, among other jarred goodies. Gracia has a degree in biology which helps her to create dishes that are good for you. Bevo’s Kitchen frequently participates in events such as the New York Vegan Festival in Manhattan, the New Jersey Vegan Fair, and, most recently, Long Island’s Second Annual Juneteenth Cultural Festival with a range of Caribbean dishes. Bevo’s Kitchen has several seasonal summer stands at various markets across Long Island. You can find Bevo’s Kitchen Products at the Farmer’s Market in Oyster Bay, Babylon, Long Beach, Roslyn, and Valley Stream. Bevo’s Kitchen will also be at the Atlantic Antic Festival in Brooklyn this October.
LA COMADRE TAQUERIA //
RAMIREZ FAMILY
75-10A Jamaica Ave., Woodhaven, NY 11421 lacomadretaqueria.com
Take inspiration from the incredible family behind La Comadre Taqueria in Woodhaven, a staple for authentic homemade Mexican food. This family-owned and operated restaurant has been in business for thirteen years, and each family member plays a crucial role in the restaurant’s daily operation. Originally from Puebla, Mexico, a region known for its deep culinary traditions, the family takes pride in their homemade tortillas and mole recipe Carolina makes alongside her mother in the taqueria’s kitchen. The family eats their meals at the taqueria daily; it is their home and their kitchen where they eat as a family. The daily menu ranges from tacos, tortas, mushroom quesadillas, Mexican beverages, jamaica or tamarindo agua fresca, and sopes. Sopes are a traditional street snack; one order comes with three small dish-shaped tortillas with toppings. La Comadre serves breakfast as well. Desayunos options include, eggs any style, huevos en salsa verde, and pancakes acompanados con huevo. The taqueria was originally a traditional Mexican bakery. The family pivoted after the pandemic and dug deep into their culinary roots from Puebla, Mexico, to offer something new to the neighborhood. If you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to peek at the menu, window décor, and interior design done by the family’s youngest, Angelica.
NICK’S BISTRO //
ALFRED VITSENTZOS AND MARIO SALVVAS
104-20 Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills, NY 11375 nicksbistro.com
Take a look at Nick’s Bistro, the Greek/Mediterranean force in Forest Hills, and you’ll find a family oriented, quintessential neighborhood restaurant and bar on a corner with a beautiful outdoor space. Seated at Metropolitan and 72nd Avenues in Forest Hills, this family style restaurant is loyal to their community, and adapted to the neighborhood’s request for a Greek-American restaurant with a flair. Nick’s Bistro kept its employees on staff during the pandemic and donated thousands of meals to frontline workers at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital, and Jamaica Hospital. The owners, Alfred and Mario, have known each other since they were four. As the chef, Mario learned everything he knew from working at their restaurant when he was younger. Mario’s uncles are typically the first ones in the kitchen daily, with the same vigor and love they put into the restaurant they owned and operated for thirty-five years in Astoria. Mario takes pride in using fresh ingredients and constantly strives to improve the menu. The menu has something for everyone - a beet salad, Greek-style mussels, filet mignon Philly cheese steak press sandwich, plant-based gyro, fresh fish, pasta, and a wide selection of authentic Greek side dishes. Specialty cocktails, desserts, and coffee are also available, so join the family and dine inside or in the charming outdoor dining area!
COOKING WITH COREY //
COREY AND BRANDI COVINGTON
The Coffee Shack at AMDA, The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, a private conservatory for the performing arts located in New York City, is powered by Cooking with Corey, an independently owned and operated meal service company. Cooking with Corey was founded by a husband-and-wife team, Brandi and Corey Covington. Brandi has a background in education, and Corey has spent most of his life cooking. This chef/husband and wife team says love is the main ingredient in every mouthwatering item they serve. Creamy herb and chicken with cauliflower mash, rasta pasta, scrambled tofu, spinach, and potatoes are just a few items on their meal prep plan, and catering options are extensive. The catering options range from continental and French breakfast to mac and cheese and sliders. Both born and raised in Queens, Brandi and Corey credit their staff for their hard work, especially through the pandemic. Brandi spoke of their team with sincere gratitude, “There are so many moving parts to this business, and our staff has been incredible.” Visit the website and social media for Cooking With Corey events, catering options, meal prep programs, and cooking workshops.
SELO RESTAURANT //
ELVIS AND SUZANA TOMINOVIC
3305 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106 selonyc.com
Elvis Tominovic brought Selo Restaurant to Astoria, a stylish and unique fusion spot with homecooked meals just like nonna used to make. The inspiration behind Selo, which means village, was inspired by Elvis’s wife Suzana during the pandemic. Selo was born out of a nostalgia for gathering, with the central belief that life should be focused on good energy and fun. Selo serves Croatian, Serbian, Balkan cuisine with a modern twist and has live music, a full bar, and a warm and inviting atmosphere that brings families together. Elvis, from Croatia, and his wife Suzana, from Serbia, created a unique dining experience highlighting Serbian and Croatian specialties, with elements of Greek, Italian, Turkish and Hungarian cuisine. One of the most popular items on the menu is the house schnitzel, which looks a lot like a big hot dog; it’s a sausage of minced meat dipped in a roasted pepper spread that is mouthwatering. You can also try Gurmanska (ground meat with cheese, bacon, and onion), Karadordjeva (rolled and fried schnitzel with Balkan-style clotted cream), and Cevapi (Balkan sausages with ajvar and onion). Selo’s is a family affair – Elvis and Suzana’s mothers (and Elvis’s sister-in-law Sanja) help run the restaurant and cook a lot of the amazing dishes.
RICAS PUPUSAS & MAS // VARGAS FAMILY
At Ricas Pupusas & Mas, be prepared to use your hands to eat your pupusas the way it’s done in El Salvador. Irma Vargas shared her journey from a makeshift pupuseria in front of her church to her very own storefront with the New York Times Critic’s Pick. Ricas Pupusas & Mas is a family-owned and operated business. Mrs. Vargas works tirelessly in her kitchen while her daughters tend to the front-ofthe-house duties. The menu has several options for pupusa fillings, with a base of beans and cheese. Among other menu items, quesadillas, tamales, tacos, and dessert are also available, and let’s not forget the beverages, Salvadoran horchata, smoothies, and natural juices. The decor of Ricas Pupusas & Mas is quaint and charming. When you approach the counter to order or settle your bill, you’re most likely being tended to by one of Irma’s daughters. If you’re lucky, you can catch a glimpse of Irma in and out of her kitchen, observing her customers and taking pride in the massive endeavor of being a small business owner.
NANA’S LOVE, LLC // CATANYA GILLIAM
134-37 166th Pl. 13B, Jamaica, NY 11434 nanaslovecatering.com
Catanya Gilliam is passionate about international cuisine, and the empanada happens to be the perfect form for her to express herself. The dough is like a blank page to Catanya, beckoning to be filled with whatever inspires her. The choices are infinite, making her empanadas her signature menu item. Empanadas range from Catanya’s Chicken and Potato, Jay’s Spicy Veggie, Maryjane’s Lump Crabmeat & Lobster, and Grandad’s Garlicky Spinach. The menu has several other filling options as well as empanada packages. Assorted trays of empanadas are available with a 24 to 48-hour notice. Nana’s Love also offers a variety of savory dishes from Southern, Latin, and Caribbean for your catering needs. Nana’s Love operates out of Essential Kitchen, the first shared commercial kitchen space in South Queens. Essential Kitchen is also an Incubator and Business Suite created for local culinary professionals, small foodbased businesses, and community-based organizations. Catanya credits Essential Kitchen for helping her grow her business and for the ongoing guidance.
Catanya Gilliam can also be found at the Laurelton Farmers Market this summer.
SASHARI AND HILDA MELENDEZ
The story behind Bleu Royale Cakes is of sisters Sashari and Hilda Melendez. Like so many other baking stories, this one, too, began at home. Hilda had been baking professionally from home for over five years. After Sashari graduated from college, the two joined forces to open a bakery. Their Tres Leches cake jars are one of their most popular items, among other Puerto Rican desserts. Sashari and Hilda use all-natural ingredients sourced directly from the Island of Puerto Rico. Their baked goods are authentic; they travel to the island for guava, local vanilla, and other ingredients that make their cakes and pastries authentic.
Hilda is the baker, while Sashari runs the storefront and handles customer service. Bleu Royale Cakes specializes in baked goods, custom cakes for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers, and much more. They make deliveries to all five boroughs, and if you stop by Bleu Royale, you can order a fresh cup of coffee, cookies, cupcakes, muffins, pastries, and cake slices! The sisters recently opened a second shop, Royale Sweets and Supplies, on Rockaway Blvd. Royale Sweet and Supplies is the place for cake decorating supplies, ready-to-go cakes, sweets, and much more.
ALTHEA’S TROPICAL DELIGHTS //
ALTHEA CASIMIR-MAGLOIRE
Althea Georgiana Casimir-Magloire, migrated over 30 years ago to New York City from the beautiful Caribbean island of Dominica. Althea’s professional background as an accountant and entrepreneur, combined with her passion for baking and desire to help her island recover from a devastating hurricane, resulted in the launch of a one-of-a-kind brand. Althea’s fundraiser for Dominica’s recovery inspired her to launch a business, one she’s genuinely passionate about and one that could help both her New York and Caribbean communities. As a member of the Board of Directors of Birch Family Services, Althea also helps people with developmental disabilities lead fulfilling lives. Althea’s central specialty is the rum cake. Celebrated throughout the Caribbean, rum cakes are a homemade treat for many households. Now anyone can enjoy them year-round and in alcoholic and nonalcoholic forms. Gluten-free and sugar-free options are also available. Flavors range from mango pepper rum cake, coconut pineapple rum cake, sorrel rum or fruit cake, and Caribbean fruit cake, among other exotic tropical fruit fusions. Althea’s Tropical Delight also offers something savory with meal prep options; one can order the rasta pasta with jerk wings, escovitch fish, curried chickpeas and potatoes, and brown stew chicken. Catering options are also available.
19-33 37th St, Astoria, NY, 11105 singlecut.com
SingleCut BeerSmith was founded in 2012 by music-obsessed brewer Rich Buceta, who wanted a place for people to experience hops and vinyl side by side. The name derives from the luthier term when a guitar is made with a lower cutaway. SingleCut offers a wide variety of beers, ranging from stouts to white lagers to pale ales and IPAs; something for everyone. Whether your preference is from the tap or straight out of the can, you won’t be disappointed. If by chance you’re interested in a fun relaxing activity SingleCut is your go-to place. Trivia nights, mixtape Bingo, and tastings are all available to satisfy our recreational taste buds. Their new cans are stamped metal on the front which provides a little bit of texture as you grab a cold one - distinct details all designed for a more pleasurable experience. Dan Bronson has been the GM at SingleCut for the past 7 years and says “Getting to see this borough’s incredible hospitality and nightlife industry flourish has been one of the highlights of my career! Here’s to a fantastic bounceback year for all Queens businesses and summer full of celebrating the Queens community.” SingleCut BeerSmith is physically located at 19-33 37th Street in Astoria, Queens, via social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @SingleCutBeer. Visit their website www.singlecut.com to learn more about their beers, events, tap rooms, and other exciting information.
SABOR RESTAURANT & BAKERY //
CRISTIANA FRANCO
1520 College Point Blvd, Queens, NY 11356 saborrestaurantbakerynyc.com
Sabor Restaurant & Bakery is a Colombian and Dominican restaurant and bakery offering both sit-down and to-go service in College Point, Queens. Sabor has a unique style to their service; they have regular menus and a steam table that displays different foods daily. Upon walking into the restaurant, you are welcomed by the friendly staff and enchanted by the smell of the steam table displaying home-cooked-style meals. The baked goods are also displayed. Sabor Restaurant & Bakery uses fresh ingredients daily, and pastries are baked fresh each day.
The wide selection of baked goods includes Pan de Bono (Colombian style bread), Pan de Queso (Colombian style bread w/ cheese), Arepa de Choclo (sweet corn cake), and Arepas de Choclo con Queso (sweet corn cake with cheese). Breakfast menu choices feature traditional dishes, Arepa Rellena Con Huevos Pericos y Queso (stuffed corn cake with Colombian-style eggs), and much more. Indulge in lunch and dinner options from the menu or steam table.
MADEFRESH ORGANICS // JULIANA RIVERA
Juliana Rivera of Rosedale launched the organic juice business after she fell ill in 2015 and had to be rushed to the emergency room with a ruptured gallbladder. “I was not taking care of myself,” Rivera said. “I was not eating the right food.” It was then that she knew she had to make a major lifestyle change and embarked on her own journey to heal herself. While recovering from surgery, she took the time to study nutrition and began juicing as a means to remove the toxins from her body. Her method worked and a year later she launched the brand from her kitchen counter. Her fresh juices are made using only organic ingredients from locally sourced farms on Long Island and are always made fresh on the day of delivery because they are not pasteurized—having only a 5-7 day shelf life—and preserved using only lemon and ginger. Her juices can also be shipped nationwide, in which case, they are made fresh and then flash frozen to keep them cool, but not rock solid. Rivera says her best seller is her spicy lemonade, a cleanse drink she created from childhood memories of her grandfather’s garden while growing up on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Her other best-sellers include her all-green vegan, merry berry, and morning blast juices. None of the juices contain any added sugar or sweeteners but are made sweet naturally using fresh fruit ingredients such as mangos, berries, apples, and bananas. They can be ordered online, both wholesale and retail, and delivered anywhere within the Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau County communities. Rivera also said that they are working to expand their products to include veggie wraps, salads, black bean tacos, and superfood booster shots. Cleanse packages can be shipped anywhere in the country and range from 1-Day, 3-Day, and 5-Day regiments. To learn more about Rivera and her organic juices, visit madefreshorganic.com or follow @officialmadefreshorganic on Instagram.
PA’ SU MADRE //
ROBERTO ROJAS
86-14 37th Ave., Queens NY, 11372 Pasumadre.com
From its roots in Puebla, Mexico during the ‘70s, to its future in Queens, New York, the Chipotlan hot sauce that fills the bottles of Pa’ Su Madre is a family tradition that lives through many generations. Roberto Rojas, the man behind the Long Island City-based hot sauce company, emigrated to NYC in 1987. With no money and nowhere to go, Rojas was homeless for two months, sleeping on a bench inside Grand Central Station in Manhattan. But his hard working attitude got Rojas to where he is now with Pa’ Su Madre, which he founded in 2014 with the help of who he calls his “partner, friend, lover, and wife,” JazmínVigoya. “I’ve always been passionate about food,” Rojas said. “Back in my country, I used to be my mother’s helper in the kitchen and learned from her.” Today, Pa’ SuMadre proudly offers 27 flavors of hot sauce—including strawberry, mango, pineapple and peach—as well as salsa, mole, and chips. Rojas said that the chips are a recent addition to the company, and that they are “totally different from any chips you already know,” due to the fact that they’re made with real ingredients and no powders, flavors, or excessive amounts of salt. Pa’ SuMadre’s products are available online at pasumadre.com for purchase, as well as in local grocery stores in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. “In life, it’s important to enjoy what you do, and this is what I love to do: hot sauce. That’s my passion,” Rojas said in a documentary about his life created by Michael Cimpher. “I wake up making hot sauce. Go to bed making hot sauce. That’s what I do 24 hours,” he continued. “I keep doing it because I believe in my dream.”
