Sunday, November 30, 2008

Quick updates: 2 closings, 3 openings

CLOSED: Ariana Afghan, a halal market formerly on 42-49 Main Street in downtown Flushing. I used to take folks there on my Flushing Noshwalk. Similar Afghan and Persian products can be found at Al-Aziz Grocery at 43-29 Main Street, across from the Queens Botanical Garden. Although I don't have the exact address, there is an Afghan Market further south on Main Street near 73rd Street in the mostly Orthodox Jewish and Israeli area of Kew Gardens Hills. I take people there when I lead a tour there (which I don't do often, because it's mostly a custom tour destination).

CLOSED: Hemsin Turkish Restaurant, formerly at 39-17 Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside. I used to direct people there when MOMA was temporarily located in Long Island City. Another Turkish restaurant temporarily replaced it but couldn't make a go of it. I will probably revised my Noshwalk to include Turkish Grill at 42-03 Queens Boulevard.

OPEN: Euro Shop Meat Market at 42-07 Queens Boulevard. a few doors down from Turkish Grill This newish market is, to my knowledge, the only dedicated Hungarian market in Queens. (Hungarian Meat Market continues to operate on 2nd Avenue in Yorkville, Manhattan.) The young couple who own it promise to offer home made goulash and stuffed cabbage as the weather gets cold. When I led my Sunnyside Noshwalk this fall, we bought some delicious walnut filled pastries.

OPEN: Java Village, a new Indonesian place at 86-10 Justice Street in Elmhurst, which has a growing Indonesian community (and an Indonesian Cultural Center). I got a delicious, spicy kale dish and also an Indonesian coffee soda.

OPEN: Mo Gridder's, a barbecue place at 603 Crescent Street in Belmont. The owner has another place in Hunts Point but I think he was brilliant to move here - to capture hungry Fordham students, employees from nearby St. Barnabas Hospital and locals who want an alternative to Italian goodies! I've added it to my tour: We get a platter of spicy chicken wings!

SOON TO OPEN (or already open!): AYADA, a new Thai place on Woodside Avenue between 77th and 78th Streets. On my Elmhurst tour, we had a wonderful encounter with the folks who run Ally's Grocery at 76-13 Woodside Avenue. It's a Thai grocery that has many ready-to-eat Thai dishes, or some that need to be heated up. Well, I guess they decided it was time to "go for it" and open a restaurant. It was still in the works when I led my tour in mid-November...

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