And they’re back! Student Biryani Cart in Jackson Heights, Queens
Student Biryani Food Cart
Btw 37th Road & 74th Street (right across from Gourmet Restaurant)
Jackson Heights, Queens 11372
When I was informed by one of my readers, Sasha, that the Student Biryani cart was no longer there, I was devastated. Please see my previous post by clicking on this link: Infamous Taste of Pakistan – Student Biryani Food Cart. My friend and I went over there to confirm if that was the case and it was. Honest to god in my humble opinion, this man whips one of of the best chicken biryani I have ever tasted. The flavors from that biryani is so diverse and intense (from saltiness to sweetness and spiciness) that makes it hard to resist. Not all biryani’s are created equal and you will definitely know when you have tried this. To know that it was my last time tasting something so unique and flavorful was of great sadness to me. But I can say with full confidence that the Student Biryani Food Cart is back with a fresh new look and attracting more customers than ever.
The question my friend and I always wanted to be answered was, where in the world did the food cart disappeared to for all those months?? That biryani chief was going to be drilled by both of us like a cop interrogating an unsuspecting suspect.
Corn in a Cup! 86th Street, Brooklyn – Vendor Series
Corn in a Cup
Located outside of Istanbul Restaurant
2202 86th St
(between Bay Parkway & Bay 31st St)
Brooklyn, NY 11214
Nearest train station: M, D – Bay Parkway
Now you must be wondering, corn in a cup? Is it worth spending money on corn that you can easily make at home? I for one surely asked that same question, and let me tell you, the answer is, yes, yes, and yes! I am excited for this simple and delectable creation simply because of the convenience and the pure simplicity of it. It does sound rather strange, but as my best friend says it best, and let me paraphrase because I can’t remember the exact words, “When you are having fun and enjoying your day, food that is healthy, new and conveniently available will an instant hit.” And that can’t be more true, in my opinion. We were both drawn to the colorful corn logo and the powerful corn aroma that resonated from the cart and knew it had to be tried.
Alright, let me show you what they offer:
There you have it. I am not a fan of cheese or butter in my corn and neither is my friend so we chose the Mumbai. We requested that the butter not to be added and the girl who was making it smile politely and told us no problem. The ingredients are so simple and the process of making this spiced corn is even easier. I watched the girl scoop up a cup of steamed corn which is conveniently located behind the menu, and she poured it into a metal silver bowl, like you see people preparing to toss a salad, to get ready to give birth to the Mumbai. With multiple spiced shakers, she added salt, cayenne pepper for the much needed heat, garlic powder and last but not least, lemon juice and mixed well. The result:
Delicious, delicious corn! So when we you see this corn in a cup vendor, stop by and grab a cup! You definitely will not be disappointed!
Until next time,
<3 FCG
P.S., you can easily make this at home. I did and it was good. But for some reason, but as good when I’m eating it outside on the go.
Cafe Astoria Bakery – Belarusian Marshmallow Candies
Cafe Astoria's Belarusian Marshmallow Candies
Cafe Astoria Packaging for Belarusian Marshmallow Candies
As I was making my rounds at work during my lunch break, my co-worker Tina stops me by her department and generously offered this mysterious looking pastry to try. At first I thought that it was glutinous rice flour with walnuts, but when I took a closer look, it was not made of that material. Tina, told me that her mother bought her this from Taiwan and asked whether I had tried this before. Of course I did not, and when I tried it, all I can say that it tastes like a powdery marshmallow with walnuts. There was something unique about it. It wasn’t oozing with flavor, it was a simple desert that literally is a combination of walnuts and marshmallow. Somehow I enjoyed it and it was a unique eating experience. Now whether this was a Taiwanese specialty or not, I had to find out.
Cafe Astoria is located in Taipei, Taiwan.
7, WuCheng St, Sec 1
(02) 2331-7370
Hours: 8:30 am-8:30 pm
From what I learned from the above website and on the Wall Street Journal page, this gourmet cafe is known for their marshmallow candies and great over a cup of coffee. The owner who was from Belarus, opened their first shop in Shanghai and then moved to Taipei. This candy is a Belarusian treat and it is very light and fluffy. Eating this is like eating a piece of cloud. At least that’s how I’d imagine it to be.
If you are fortunate to be in the neighborhood, stop by and share your eating experience there!
Until next time,
<3 FCG
Chinese New Year Cake – Neen Go
Pan Fried Chinese New Year Cake
Growing up, the Neen Go (Chinese New Year Cake) is pretty much one of the many star items on the dining room table. I was never attracted to the look and the taste of the cake. For such a simple and dull looking cake, as a child, I simply could not fathom why it was such an important item to have before the starting of the lunar new year. There are so many other delicious cakes, like the prosperity cupcakes, but none of them are as important as this neen go.
Neen go, which literally translated in Cantonese, “Year High” or in another words, highly prosperous year, is one of the many items offered the day before New Year’s to the Kitchen God. Yes the Kitchen God and this is the widespread belief. The new year cannot kick off to a fresh new and prosperous start without this cake. And so, a week before the new year, I decided that I would like to make this cake. I did come across with a few snafus, recipe problems not the user’s fault, and then I found the light at the end of the tunnel with the help of my dear co-worker Mei-Ling who offered me a foolproof recipe. The attempt to take on the responsibility of making this VIP cake has befuddled my sweet mother. She could not take me seriously and decided that it is better to use her inexperience hands over mine to make the cake.
Now here is the now infamous recipe from Mei Ling:
The Sweet Spot at the Sweet Spot Dessert Bar NYC
Spot Dessert Bar
13 St. Marks Place
East Village, NY
212-677-5670
Spot Dessert Bar
I must have passed by this sign way too many times and had no idea that it is a dessert bar. Located on the bristling street of St. Mark’s Place where many new and upcoming restaurants fight for survival, Spot seems to be hidden away. Apparently, Spot is plenty known within the local community through word of mouth and I will explain later. I personally don’t like it that they’re located in the basement, right beneath Pho restaurant, but on the positive note, the restaurant doesn’t get overcrowded like at a chain restaurant like Applebees or TGI Fridays.
Spot Dessert Bar NYC
