Click the heading above to view food & wine events this month in Queens. Click the following links to go directly into one of these Queens Neighborhoods: Astoria, Flushing, Jackson Heights, Jamaica, Long Island City and Sunnyside.

---

Eating To Live ... or Living To Eat?

Astoria Chef Sacramone & Nutritionist Strike A Deal

May 18, 2012 / Astoria / Food in Queens / Queens Buzz. I had the opportunity to attend a couple of programs sponsored by Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens about food and nutrition. The first I attended was a presentation given by Chef Rocco Sacramone of Trattoria L'incontro in the Ditmars neighborhood of Astoria.

Rocco and Allison Caplowaith, Mount Sinai Clinical Nutrition Manager, collaborated in putting together a menu that met Rocco's taste standards and Allison's nutrition standards. During the presentation there was some jesting back and forth - as one can imagine - about whether we eat to live .. or live to eat. That's Rocco smiling as he prepares one of the items on the menu.

You can click here in May to read our report about nutritious and delicious food in Queens.

---

Chinese & Korean Cooking in Flushing Festival of Herbal Tonic Soup Asian Cooking In Flushing Queens February 11, 2012 / Food & Wine / Flushing / Queens Buzz. I attended an herbal tonic soup class arranged by Dr. Hsing-Lih Chou at Flushing Town Hall. Dr. Chou presents one Asian cooking class each year at the same location, featuring some aspect of traditional Asian home cooking. This year he introduced us to two Asian cooking aficionados: Madame Hwei-Yun Hsieh and Mr. Kelby Leow. Ms. Hsieh was to treat us to a lesson on how to cook her famous Chinese Sesame Oil Ginger Chicken Soup, while Mr. Leow would introduce us to his famous Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup. Dr. Chou explained that he had selected these two soups in order to ‘balance’ each other, as one had a robust flavor and the other had a more subtle flavoring. Click here to read more about how to cook Chinese and Korean herbal chicken soups - Asian cooking in Flushing Queens.

Dutch Cuisine & Recipes Dutch Cuisine Past & Present King Manor Presents Delicious Dutch Foods & Recipes October 16, 2011 / Jamaica Neighborhood / Food & Wine / Queens Buzz. In tandem with the NY Open House and the Historic House Festival weekend, King Manor selected an historic food theme that would have pleased New Amsterdam Mayor Peter Stuyvesant. There were two sections to this historic presentation. The first was a reenactment of colonial Dutch cooking by Diane G. Fish, who is a living historian with a specialty in Civil War reenactments. To the delight of all there, including myself, she’s also an avid foodie who’s well acquainted with Dutch cuisine. And the second section was a lecture and presentation by a renowned historian and food writer, Peter G. Rose. Peter took us back to the Dutch kitchens in the Netherlands of the 1700’s and traced the migration of Dutch foods into the colonial world. Many of the things she would discuss, we had the opportunity to sample prior to the lecture … click here to read the rest of our report on Dutch cuisine & recipes in Queens New York.

Farmers Markets Tapering Down

Most Queens Farmers Markets Still Open

Updated October 17, 2011 / Sunnyside Neighborhood / Food & Wine / Queens Buzz. Click the link below to see how long the farmers markets in Queens stay open this season. The Travers Park farmers market in Jackson Heights stays open year round.

I sauntered over to the Sunnyside Farmers Market Saturday morning to see what I might see. The market provides an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, jams and dairy, and a number of garnishes.

The Sunnyside Farmers Market is one of the GrowNYC markets. Grow NYC manages most of the Queens farmers markets but three are managed by another agricultural organization - Community Markets. Both organizations appear to sign up reliable, high quality food vendors.

Click this link for a listing of the farmers markets in Queens.

---

Queens Farmers Markets / Green Markets In Queens, Astoria, Long Island City, Jackson Heights, Sunnyside, Woodside, Corona, Flushing, Jamaica, Glendale Queens Farmers Markets May 9, 2012.  Check HOURS, MAPS, ITEMS / SELECTION of the 12 BEST Farmers Markets / Green Markets in Queens, w/ savvy shoppers' tips. This report includes the Astoria Farmers Market, Sunnyside Farmers Market, Jackson Heights Green Market, LIC Long Island City Green Market, Flushing Farmers Market, Corona Farmers Market, Jamaica Farmers Market, and in between. Click here for dates, times, locations of the Queens Farmers Markets 2012.

Queens CSA's Queens CSA's Community Supported Agriculture In Queens Queens Neighborhoods / March 22, 2010 / Queens Buzz. Spring is here and the planting season will soon be upon us. Living in the city we're less attuned to mother nature's cadence than the farmers we rely upon who produce our food supply. But the planting / growing seasons will soon begin and hence the local CSA [Community Supported Agriculture] groups are in the process of selling shares. Unbeknownst to many of Queens denizens there are a number of CSA's which are currently in the process of signing up members to participate in this years harvest. Essentially the way CSA's work, is to enroll participants for weekly fresh food deliveries for about five months, in exchange for a flat fee and [in some cases] for a few hours of volunteer work. But there's a bit more to the story than that, including different food options, share options, community events and CSA history. Click this link to learn more about CSA's in Queens and where and how to participate in one - including links to CSA websites.

Queens Street Fairs - Street Festivals Queens NY Street Fairs 2012 - In Queens NY Queens Street Fairs Popular March 21, 2012 / Queens Buzz.  This report contains the dates and maps of most of the Queens Street Fairs and Festivals in the neighborhoods of Astoria, Long Island City LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Corona, Flushing, Forest Hills, Jamaica NY and more. Click here to view our report, including links to maps, of Queens Street Fairs & Festivals 2012.

Astoria Street Fair - Astoria Queens NY Astoria Street Fair Photos The Broadway Merchants and Professionals Association sponsored a good old fashioned street fair for Memorial Day weekend in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens NY.

Rosario's Italian Food Store - Astoria Rosario's Italian Food Store Italian Food Stores Near Ditmars Ditmars Astoria / Queens Buzz. I recently ventured into Rosario’s Italian food store, just underneath the NW subway terminal near Ditmars Blvd in Astoria. Rosario’s has a well-kept authentic Italian gourmet grocery store and delicatessen. Click here to read the rest of the story about Rosario's Italian food store in Astoria Queens.

Cassinelli Food Products - Fresh Pasta Queens Fresh Pasta Made Daily In Queens NY Cassinelli Food Products Company This is a report about the Cassinelli Food Products company. It's one of the last old world Italian pasta making companies in Queens. The Cassinelli pasta company makes fresh pasta in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens daily. Click here to read the full report about fresh pasta in Astoria Queens NY.

A Taste Of The World 2011 Photos A Taste Of The World 2011 Photos Fun Way To Sample Many Queens Restaurants May 11, 2011 / Flushing / Queens Restaurants / Queens Buzz. I attended the 9th annual Taste Of The World at Caesar’s at CitiField in Flushing last night. There were over 40 restaurateurs who presented samples from their kitchens to a crowd that numbered in the mid hundreds. It was a perfectly clear night, with temperatures in the 70’s and a gentle breeze passing by as I descended the subway stairs in front of CitiField. I took the elevator up to the club and found it bustling with activity. Click here to read our review and view photos of the Taste Of The World 2011 in Flushing.

A Taste Of The World 2010 & Photos A Taste Of The World 2010 & Photos Queens Leading Culinary Event Feeds Hundreds May 18, 2010 / Flushing / Queens Buzz. Queens leading culinary event happened last night at Caesar's Club in CitiField in Flushing in spite of a very dark wet drizzly evening. Hundreds of people came from around the borough to sample the food and beverages provided by some 30 or more vendors. We found a wide variety of cuisines to sample, and in the process learned a bit more about the culinary history of the borough. Two businesses received awards for serving the community for 80 and 50 years. These businesses continue to this day and were successfully handed from one generation down to the next. Click here to read our full report about A Taste Of The World 2010 & Photos in Queens.

Food & Wine In Flushing

A Taste Of The World At CitiField 2009

Aphrodisiac Classes At Queens Botanical Gardens

---

Queens Green Markets Season Ending [NEWS BRIEF] Queens Green Markets / Farmers Markets are open through November / December 2008. This article includes maps showing the location of each neighborhood green market and details which ones are closing and when.

Wine Stores In Jackson Heights & Elmhurst Wine Stores In Jackson Heights Table Wine - Jackson Heights Jackson Heights Neighborhood / Food & Wine / Queens Buzz. A fairly new wine store opened in Jackson Heights this past year called Table Wine. It appears to be a nice addition to the neighborhood as it’s a boutique wine store run by a husband and wife team from Queens. Ernesto, one of the owners, invited me to join them for a wine tasting one Sunday evening in March to meet a French vintner of some of the wines Table Wine sells. Click here to read the rest of the story about wine stores and wine tastings in Jackson Heights & Elmhurst.

Food & Wine In Jackson Heights

Jackson Heights Food & Film Festival 2008

---

Jamaican Jerk Festival Fiery Hot

Festival Provides Spicy Mix Of Food, Fashion, Music & Dance

July 24, 2011 / Jamaican Neighborhood / Fashion & Music / Food & Wine / Queens Buzz. I traveled down to the first annual Jamaican Jerk Festival having only an approximate idea of what to expect. I'd read about other Jamaican Jerk festivals and decided that the first one in Queens would be a good opportunity to check it out.

Roy Wilkins Park is on the southern edge of the Jamaica neighborhood, accessible via the LIE or via the subway to Jamaica Station and then the number 5 or 85 bus down along Merrick Blvd. They had situated the festival around the southern edge of the park, where there are trees which provided much needed shade.

My first stop was the cultural stage, where there music was played, models walked and wore new designs, and I saw Afro-Carribean dances performed. Jamaican jerk is a spicy hot culinary treat, generally added while the chicken or pork is simmering on the grill. We'll post more about the Jamaican Jerk Festival, including a slide show of photos when time permits.

---

Food & Wine In Jamaica

Food & Wine Shopping In Jamaica

---

A Taste Of LIC 2011 - Story & Photos A Taste Of LIC 2011 Story & Photos Of Taste Of LIC June 7, 2011 / Long Island City LIC / Queens Restaurants / Queens Buzz. It was a warm breezy evening as I made my way to the western most edge of Queens. There underneath the twin cranes overlooking Gantry Park were the festive white tents of the 6th annual Taste Of LIC. I was early and the 50 or so participating restaurants and food and beverage suppliers were busy preparing for the big feast. I walked around underneath the tent photographing and talking to those who would accommodate me. The offerings looked delectable and the people staffing the booths were both knowledgeable and hospitable. There were a number of new entrants in the mix, making their debut on the Long Island City culinary scene. Click here to read our report with photos of Taste Of LIC 2011.

Queens Eats - Queens Harvest Food Co-op - LIC Queens Eats For Local Food Co-op November 18, 2010 / Long Island City LIC / Queens Buzz. Wednesday night hundreds of foodies, environmentalists and the local intrepid converged at the Foundry on 13th Street in LIC where the Queens Harvest Coop hosted Queens Eats, a fundraiser. Guests were treated to hors d'oeuvres, or what one chef once described to me as grazing food. In addition to the food, there was wine and a generous number of raffle prizes; the proceeds of which will go toward starting a natural food co-operative in Long Island City sometime in 2011. The photo to your right is looking up toward the second floor / skylight at the Foundry LIC, with the moon and neighboring vine laden brick wall in the background. Click this link to view a slide show and obtain a bit more info about the Queens Eats / Queens Harvest Co-op event. Salud.

Food & Wine In LIC / Long Island City

Organic Food & Supermarkets in Queens

American Meat - Indie Food Film American Meat - Unfinished Film Documentary About Current State Of Food & Farming Film Making in Queens / Sunnyside Neighborhood / Food & Wine / Queens Buzz. I managed to obtain an invitation to a screening of American Meat, which is an unfinished documentary film, at Cafe Marlene in Sunnyside. The screening was sponsored by Queens Harvest Co-op, which is an organization working to build an organic food cooperative in Queens. The film is a rather eye opening look into how the economics of food / meat production in this country have taken us down an unsustainable path. A path which not only has significant health implications, but possibly even more dire consequences. The film provides an intelligent, behind-the-scenes look at how economics have been driving: 1) food production methods, 2) the composition of what's in the meat being sold at the grocery store, and 3) what we're feeding our children and ourselves. The film was envisioned and began production in the spring of 2007 and the producers are hoping to finish it in 2011. Click here to view our preview of the unfinished documentary film entitled American Meat independent film at Cafe Marlene in Sunnyside and hosted by Queens Harvest Co-op.

Farmers' Market 2008 - Sunnyside NY Farmers Market In Sunnyside Queens The Farmers' Market in Sunnyside opened in April 2008 for the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons. At the market they sell freshly caught fish and other seafood, fresh produce and meat, and baked goods.

Food & Wine In Sunnyside & Woodside

Octoberfest In Sunnyside Gardens Park 2008

---

Click Queens Restaurants

---

Click to view Queens Shopping & LifeStyle