Posted by: JoeDiStefano
on Aug 23, 2011
Family Food seems to have inherited some of the CD’s from the last tenant.
Sandwiches sometimes pop up in the strangest places. Take Family Food, a steam table Indian joint in Jackson Heights that’s scarcely a month old. It occupies a space recently vacated by Sona Music. Judging from the bhangra music on the sound system the family here has inherited some CDs from Sona.
Lined up in the same tray as the mirchi pakora (batter-fried long hot pepper), and samosa was a triangular pakora I’d never seen before. “It’s bread,” the girl behind the counter said of the chickpea flour battered triangles, which looked suspiciously like a sandwich cut in half diagonally.
Family Food’s bread pakora.
Sure enough the menu listed it as bread pakora ($1). I still wasn’t sure whether it qualified as a sandwich or just deep-fried bread. Perhaps it was kin to the wish sandwich the Blues Brothers sang of: two pieces of bread with no meat.
Think of it as a samosa sandwich.
As it turns out the bread pakora is a sandwich of sorts, if a carb-laden one. Inside the chickpea-battered bread is a tasty mixture of potatoes shot through with cilantro and various spices, including fennel seeds. Think of it as a samosa sandwich, or perhaps a desi chip butty. Either way it's one of the strangest and cheapest sandwiches in Queens.
Family Food, 73-04 37th Ave., Jackson Heights, 718-533-0100
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Posted by: JoeDiStefano
on Apr 28, 2011
Sikhs preparing hundreds upon hundreds of roti at a
langar in Richmond Hill. Note the Goya Masarepa dough.
Queens has its fair share of hybrid cuisines: Indian-Chinese, Korean-Chinese, Guyanese-Chinese, and Peruvian-Chinese. At one time there was even an Indonesian-Latino restaurant. One combination I've been hoping for is Indian-Latino, can you imagine a dosa packed with guacamole, or curry-scented al pastor tacos? To the best of my knowledge Indian-Latino doesn't exist yet. I did however witness a crew of Sikhs making hundreds of roti with Goya Masarepa dough at a langar in Richmond Hill for Diwali this past winter.
Langars are communal kitchens that churn out vegetarian food for hundreds and in some case thousands of worshippers. While making the grub the workers chant “Sat naam wahe guru,”or, “only his name is true.” Witnessing the preparation of these communal meals is truly a window into another culture.
Pakora man was tasked with frying up loads of crunchy veggie fritters.
As you read this dozens of volunteers are hard at work at the langar in Richmond Hill in preparation for New York City's largest free vegetarian buffet. It will take place this Saturday in Madison Square Park. It's held in celebration of Vaisakhi, a holiday that commemorates the founding of Sikhism.There will also be a parade, that kicks off at 11:30 a.m. For more information check out Sikh Day Parade. Don't expect any Indian-Latino food though.
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Posted by: JoeDiStefano
on Apr 24, 2011
Guess the mystery dish and win a subscription to Edible Queens.
Congratulations to World's Fare reader Yvo for winning last week's round of Name That Food. She was the first player to correctly identify the mystery dish as a kati roll with egg and onion. I purchased the handheld Indian snack at Tawa Food in Jackson Heights. For years Tawa Food has been known for its army of South Asian grannies rolling out dozens upon dozens of roti. Lately the new owner has decided to add kati rolls. Yvo 's fabulous mystery prize is a World's Fare Food Tour with yours truly.
Think you know what this week's dish is? Place your guess in the comments below. First correct answer wins a subscription to Edible Queens. This week's round of Name That Food ends Friday at 12 p.m. at which time the winner will be notified via e-mail.
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Posted by: JoeDiStefano
on Nov 24, 2010
How green was my sandwich.
With Thanksgiving and its requisite gobbling of turkey and family favorites, which in my case include lots of eggplant parmigiana and stuffed mushrooms, today we take a look at a vegetarian sandwich. Yes, despite all evidence to the contrary I do occasionally eat vegetarian food. And when it comes to vegetarian cuisine in Queens, Indian in is king.
The triple-decker Mumbai grilled sandwich ($6.49) at Mumbai Xpress is no lightweight. I never really thought I’d say this about what at first glance looks like a panini with a vaguely Indain accent, but this sandwich is mind-alteringly good. The combination of thinly sliced green peppers and onions along with creamy potatoes and a shmear of Amul cheese and Amul butter make this not only one of the best vegetarian sandwiches around, but one of the best sandwiches period. Crunchy, creamy, and spicy it’s a bite of Bombay in Floral Park.
Next week Sandwich Wednesdays returns to gluttony as usual. Got a favorite Queens sandwich? Send it my way at joe@ediblequeens.com, or leave a note in the comments.
Mumbai Xpress, 256-05 Hillside Ave., Floral Park, 718-470-0059
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