Eating In Translation

What's Eating In Translation?

This website began as a collection of field notes on interesting food I'd tried, or planned to try, in and around New York. Since its launch, in January 2005, I've visited thousands of venues, from white-linen restaurants to elbows-on-the-table eateries, as well as street vendors, fairs, festivals, grocers, and greenmarkets — and my "to eat" list is longer than ever.

Spindler's Bake Shop

A standard portion of Spindler's "heavy" crumb cake, the bake shop's only crumb cake as best as I could gather, is about half the size of the slab shown here. By heft alone, it suggests a building block — except that it's cake, and more crumb than not.

Spindler's Bake Shop
247 Boulevard (Jefferson-Kipp Aves.), Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
201-288-1345
www.Facebook.com/Spindlers.Shop
Closed Sunday

Dua Kafe

"A sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk" is a common dessert in New York, hardly unexpected at a cafe so close to Loisaida. But only here, where the walls are hung with dozens of photos of Albanian celebrities, have I ever seen "tri leçe." The moistness of the cake became apparent the moment I cut through the caramel.

Also shown: my previous course, a slice of spinach byrek with yogurt; a portrait of Gjergj Kastrioti (the national hero better known as Skanderbeg) overlooking a video of the Kosovar singer Nora Istrefi.

Dua Kafe
520 East 14th St. (Aves. A-B), Manhattan
212-228-1696
www.DuaKafeNYC.com

Culinary Noodle Kitchen

"Sambal grilled chicken ribbon" was the one item on the chalked wall menu that wore a double-chili-pepper insignia. Evidently I wasn't a strong advocate for my chili tolerance; according to the check, my order was dialed back to "mild spicy." My consolation was a dense patch of minced garlic.

Culinary Noodle Kitchen
4202 30th Ave. (at 42nd St.), Astoria, Queens
718-606-1898
www.CulinaryNoodleKitchen.com

New York-area food events, September 12-19

The Jewish Cookbook
Thursday, September 12, 6:00-8:00
Honey's, 93 Scott Ave. (at Randolph St.), East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
www.Eventbrite.com/e/the-jewish-cookbook-launch-event-hosted-by-jewish-food-society-phaidon-tickets-68625850767
Tickets: $55

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Festival
Thursday through Sunday, September 12-15, various evening and weekend hours, rain or shine
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 10 Mill Rd., New Rochelle, New York
www.HolyTrinityNR.org/calendar/greek-festival-2019
Donation: adults, $2; children under age 12, free when accompanied by a parent

Blauvelt Sons of Italy Italian Feast and Carnival
Thursday through Sunday, September 12-15, various evening and weekend hours
Masonic Park Fairgrounds, 89 Western Hwy., Tappan, New York
www.BlauveltSonsOfItaly.org/italian-feast.html
Admission: adults, $5; children under age 12, free

Feast of San Gennaro
Thursday, September 12, through Sunday, September 22, 10:00-6:00
On and around Mulberry St., Little Italy, Manhattan
www.DoNYC.com/p/guide-to-san-gennaro
Free admission

Macedonian Food Festival
Friday, September 13, 4:00-8:00; Saturday, noon-10:00; Sunday, noon-8:00
Macedonian Orthodox Church St. Nikola, 55 Wentick St., Totowa, New Jersey
www.Facebook.com/events/316522912632107
Previously: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2018/09/st-nikola-macedonian-orthodox-church-food-festival.html
Free admission

Pig roast to benefit Immigrant Families Together

(Please note: In exchange for my help in promoting what I think is a worthy cause, I've received four tickets to this event.) On the final weekend afternoon of summer, Rodrigo Duarte — the proprietor of Caseiro é Bom ("homemade and good") in the Ironbound District of Newark, New Jersey — will bring a very special taste of Portugal to Long Island City, Queens. Duarte will roast a Portuguese Alentejano hog, the genetic forebear of the pata negra, and serve charcuterie made from this remarkable animal.

The ticket price also includes side dishes and desserts; a cash bar will be provided by the venue, Anable Basin Sailing Bar and Grill. Tickets ($40; free for kids under age 12 with a parent) are available from Dining for Justice. All proceeds benefit Immigrant Families Together.