Eating In Translation

Beyond the Courts: CB's U.S. Open Eating Guide 2021

"Each year in late summer, some of the best athletes on the planet converge on Flushing Meadows Corona Park to compete in the United States Open Tennis Championships. ... The tournament site does provide hungry fans with several cafés and casual bar-restaurants as well as a pair of 'food villages.' But when in Queens — where some of the best food in the city is so close at hand — why would we confine ourselves to the boundaries of the tennis center?" Read more on Culinary Backstreets.

New York-area food events, August 12-19

Uptown Night Market
Debuts Thursday, August 12, 4:00-10:00; repeats monthly through November
"Under the famous Harlem arches," Twelfth Ave. at West 135th St., Manhattan
www.UptownNightMarket.com
Free admission

La Festa Italiana, Jersey City
Concludes Thursday through Sunday, August 12-15, 5:00-11:00
Vicinity of Holy Rosary Church, 344 Sixth St. (Brunswick-Monmouth Sts.), Jersey City
www.LaFestaJC.com
Free admission

Puerto Rican Festival and Parade, Jersey City
Saturday and Sunday, August 14-15, noon-9:00
Festival: Columbus Dr. between Marin Blvd. and Warren St., Jersey City
Parade: kicks off at noon on Sunday near Lincoln Park; in past years it proceeded toward City Hall, 280 Grove St., not far from the festival
www.JerseyCityCulture.org/event/puerto-rican-parade-and-festival/2021-08-15
Free admission

Burmese Food Street Fair
Sunday, August 15, 11:00-4:00
Woodside Ave. between 78th and 79th Sts., Elmhurst, Queens
www.Facebook.com/110617121305326/photos/a.114472140919824/114809520886086
Free admission

Greek Jewish Festival
Sunday, August 15, noon-4:00
Outside the Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum, 280 Broome St. (Allen-Eldridge Sts.), Manhattan
www.KKJFestival.com
Previously: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2019/06/greek-jewish-festival.html
Free admission

Paramus Food Truck Festival
Sunday, August 15, 11:00-7:00
Paramus Park Mall, 700 Paramus Park (East Main entrance, in front of Old Navy and L.L. Bean), Paramus, New Jersey
www.Facebook.com/events/116503843877635
Admission: adults, $5; children ages 5 and under, free

Hey Stamford Food Festival
Thursday through Sunday, August 12-15, 1:00-9:00; repeats August 19-22
Mill River Park, 1050 Washington Blvd. (near West Park Pl.), Stamford, Connecticut
www.HeyStamfordFoodFest.com
Tickets: general admission, per day, $15

Santa Rosalia Society Festival (a.k.a. the 18th Avenue Feast)
Thursday through Sunday, August 19-29, various evening and weekend hours
18th Ave. between 67th and 75th Sts., Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
www.QueenOfTheClick.com/2021/07/16/18th-avenue-feast-in-brooklyn-2
Previously: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2012/08/lucys-palace.html
Free admission

Ongoing
Queens Night Market, Saturday
Bronx Night Market, Saturday
Red Hook Food Vendors, Saturday and Sunday
Governors Island food carts and trucks, busiest Saturday and Sunday
Greenpoint Terminal Market, Saturday and Sunday
Grand Bazaar NYC, Sunday
Smorgasburg, various days and locations

On the radar
New Jersey African Restaurant Week Festival, Newark, August 21-22; Grenada Sports Day, August 22; Indonesian bazaar at Greenpoint Terminal Market, August 28; Plus Polish Festival, Tappan, August 28-29; Japanese street fair, August 29; Trenton Pork Roll Festival, September 4; West Indian Day Parade, September 6; Macedonian Food Festival, Totowa, September 10-12; Pig Island, September 11; Nansen Lodge Scandinavian Heritage Fair, September 11; Indonesian bazaar at St. James Episcopal Church, September 11; Ferragosto, September 12; Feast of San Gennaro, September 16-26; Slavonic Festival, Rahway, September 25

33 Bah Kut Teh

During my first meal at this new Malaysian food-court stall, I didn't try the namesake herbal pork soup. The owner tells me he comes from Penang (the mainland, not the island), and I couldn't pass up his fully loaded asam laksa. I'm not sure if the plentiful fish was mackerel or some sort of sardine, but it's hard to mistake thin-sliced torch ginger.

33 Bah Kut Teh
13335 Roosevelt Ave. (Prince St.-College Point Blvd., inside the New York Food Court, stall 19), Flushing, Queens
929-204-4651
www.33BahKutTeh.com

New York-area food events, August 5-12

Giglio di Sant' Antonio Feast
Thursday through Sunday, August 5-8, various evening and weekend hours
Pleasant Ave. between East 114th and East 116th Sts., Manhattan
www.EastHarlemGiglio.org
Free admission

Indonesian bazaar at the St. James Parish House
Saturday, August 7, 11:00-4:00; repeats monthly
Parish house of St. James Episcopal Church, 84-07 Broadway (St. James-Corona Aves.), Elmhurst, Queens
www.Facebook.com/events/404133487585956
Previously: www.Flickr.com/search/?user_id=61177627%40N00&sort=date-taken-desc&text=indonesian%20james&view_all=1
Free admission

Gran Festival de Comida Boliviana
Saturday, August 7, noon-late
Local Club Cultural Dominicano, 4119 108th St. (41st-42nd Aves.), Corona, Queens
www.Facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2652241611750689&set=pcb.2652241768417340
Free admission

Morenada Central de New Jersey (Bolivian) Kermesse
Saturday, August 7, noon-???
922 West Side Ave. (Sip-Stuyvesant Aves.), Jersey City
www.Facebook.com/CRBNJ/photos/1226938811112566
Free admission

Creole Food Festival
Saturday and Sunday, August 7-8, 2:00-8:00
Skinny's Cantina on the Hudson, 701 West 133rd St. (at Twelfth Ave.), Manhattan
www.CreoleFoodFestival.com
See website for ticket details and for the lineup of chefs on each day

Indonesian bazaar at Masjid al-Hikmah
Sunday, August 8, 11:00-5:00; repeats monthly during warmer weather
4801 31st Ave. (at 48th St.), Astoria, Queens
www.Facebook.com/events/620260445612352
Previously: www.Flickr.com/photos/EatingInTranslation/albums/72157623906730604
Free admission

Ecuadorian Parade of New York
Sunday, August 8, noon-???
Northern Blvd. from 69th to 87th Sts., Jackson Heights, Queens
www.Facebook.com/ECCNY/photos/a.672460499562745/2143679325774181
No festival is formally scheduled, but look for opportunistic food vendors on the south side of the boulevard, especially where the parade winds down
Free admission

Pakistan Independence Day Brooklyn Mela
Sunday, August 8, 12:30-???
Coney Island Ave. between Foster Ave. and Ave. H, Kensington, Brooklyn
www.Facebook.com/BrooklynMela/photos/a.415123575202114/4154715097909591
Previously: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2016/08/pakistani-independence-day-mela.html
Free admission

Uptown Night Market
Thursday, August 12, 4:00-10:00; repeats monthly through November
"Under the arches," Twelfth Ave. at West 135th St., Manhattan
www.UptownNightMarket.com
See website for ticket details

Hey Stamford Food Festival
Thursday through Sunday, August 12-15, 1:00-9:00; repeats August 19-22
Mill River Park, 1050 Washington Blvd. (near West Park Pl.), Stamford, Connecticut
www.HeyStamfordFoodFest.com
Tickets: general admission, per day, $15

Ongoing
Queens Night Market, Saturday
Bronx Night Market, Saturday
Red Hook Food Vendors, Saturday and Sunday
Governors Island food carts and trucks, busiest Saturday and Sunday
Grand Bazaar NYC, Sunday
Smorgasburg, various days and locations

On the radar
Greek Jewish block party, August 15; Burmese street fair, August 15; Santa Rosalia Society Festival (a.k.a. the 18th Avenue Feast), August 19-29; Grenada Sports Day, August 22; Indonesian bazaar at Greenpoint Terminal Market, August 28; Japanese street fair, August 29; Trenton Pork Roll Festival, September 4; West Indian Day Parade, September 6; Macedonian Food Festival, Totowa, September 10-12; Pig Island, September 11; Ferragosto, September 12; Feast of San Gennaro, September 16-26; Slavonic Festival, Rahway, September 25

Selo Restaurant

Balkan brunch: uštipci (oosh-Teep-see), dense, bready fried dough with prosciutto, Serbian bacon, and kajmak (Kye-mak). Also served, if you prefer, with rose hip jam and Nutella.

H/T @Garsleat

Selo Restaurant
3305 Broadway (33rd-34th Sts.), Astoria, Queens
718-932-0101
www.Facebook.com/SeloNYC

New York-area food events, July 29-August 5

Chinatown Nights
Friday, July 30, 8:00-11:00
Forsyth Plaza, Forsyth St. at Canal St., Manhattan
www.ThnikChinatown.org/nights
Free admission with online registration, where donations will be encouraged

Bayonne Coptic Festival
Friday, July 30, through Sunday, August 1, 11:00-11:00
St. Abanoub & St. Anthony Coptic Orthodox Church, 1325 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Bayonne, New Jersey
www.Facebook.com/events/4281095941943307
Free admission

Sranan Dey (Suriname Day)
Sunday, August 1, noon-8:00
Roy Wilkins Park, Merrick Blvd. at Foch Blvd., St. Albans, Queens
www.Facebook.com/SrananDey
Previously: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2015/08/sranan-dei-suriname-day.html
Free admission

Peruvian Bicentennial Parade and Festival
Sunday, August 1, midmorning-???
The parade, scheduled to begin at 9:30 in Passaic, New Jersey, proceeds through Clifton to the Little Lima district of Paterson; the festival follows on Memorial Dr., several blocks to the east
www.Facebook.com/Peruvian.ParadeInc.7/photos/3488492661253638
Free admission

Giglio di Sant' Antonio Feast
Thursday through Sunday, August 5-8, various evening and weekend hours
Pleasant Ave. between East 114th and East 116th Sts., Manhattan
www.EastHarlemGiglio.org
Free admission

Ongoing
Queens Night Market, Saturday
Bronx Night Market, Saturday
Red Hook Food Vendors, Saturday and Sunday
Governors Island food carts and trucks, busiest Saturday and Sunday
Grand Bazaar NYC, Sunday
Smorgasburg, various days and locations

On the radar
Indonesian bazaar at St. James Episcopal Church, August 7; Ghana Fest NY, August 7; Gran Festival de Comida Boliviana, August 7; Uptown Night Market, August 12; Greek Jewish block party, August 15; Burmese street fair, August 15; Santa Rosalia Society Festival (a.k.a. the 18th Avenue Feast), August 19-29; Grenada Sports Day, August 22; Japanese street fair, August 29; Trenton Pork Roll Festival, September 4; West Indian Day Parade, September 6; Pig Island, September 11; Ferragosto, September 12

A Snacker’s Guide to Flushing

Flushing is home to countless restaurants — I couldn't begin to tell you how many I've visited — but for a resident who's running errands, often there's time for no more than a light bite or two. Although I don't live in Flushing myself, I've discovered that snacks are a great way to get a taste of the neighborhood while on the go. See a few of my many favorites on Culinary Backstreets — and tell me some favorites of your own!

Guelaguetza NYC

Tacos al pastor, with pineapple, and de carnitas, largely hidden beneath onion and cilantro, by a New Jersey visitor to this annual New York festival.

Guelaguetza NYC
Socrates Sculpture Park, 3201 Vernon Blvd. (at Broadway), Astoria, Queens
www.Facebook.com/events/262698332282852
(The 2021 festival was held on July 25)

New York-area food events, July 22-29

St. Irene Chrysovalantou Festival and Bazaar
Thursday through Sunday, July 22-25, 5:00-11:00
Vicinity of the Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Orthodox Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou, 3607 23rd Ave. (at 36th St.), Astoria, Queens
www.StIrene.org
Free admission

St. Ann's Italian Festival
Thursday through Monday, July 22-26, various hours
Vicinity of the Church of St. Ann, 704 Jefferson St., Hoboken, New Jersey
www.StAnnHoboken.com/feast
Previously: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2013/07/st-anns-italian-festival.html
Free admission

Thunderbird American Indian Powwow
Friday through Sunday, July 23-25, various evening and weekend hours
Queens County Farm Museum, 7350 Little Neck Pkwy., Floral Park
www.Eventbrite.com/e/42nd-annual-thunderbird-american-indian-powwow-tickets-160654204049
Admission: adults, $15 one day/$30 three days; children ages 2 to 12 and under, $8/$16

Guelaguetza NYC
Sunday, July 25, noon-5:00
Socrates Sculpture Park, 3201 Vernon Blvd. (at Broadway), Astoria, Queens
www.Facebook.com/events/262698332282852
"This festival celebrates the beauty and traditions of Oaxaca. ... Mexican folk art and food on sale!"
Free admission

Ongoing
Queens Night Market, Saturday
Bronx Night Market, Saturday
Red Hook Food Vendors, Saturday and Sunday
Governors Island food carts and trucks, busiest Saturday and Sunday
Grand Bazaar NYC, Sunday
Smorgasburg, various days and locations

On the radar
Bayonne Coptic Festival, July 30-August 1; Suriname Day, August 1; Giglio di Sant' Antonio Feast, East Harlem, August 5-8; Indonesian bazaar at St. James Episcopal Church, August 7; Ghana Fest NY, August 7; Gran Festival de Comida Boliviana, August 7; Uptown Night Market, August 12; Greek Jewish block party, August 15; Burmese street fair, August 15; Grenada Sports Day, August 22; Japanese street fair, August 29

Merguez & Frites

Thinner, crisper, and perhaps a tad tangier than Philly tomato pie: a square of olive-adorned Algerian-style pizza.

H/T Queens Qustodian and Food and Footprints

Merguez & Frites
4006 25th Ave. (Steinway-41st Sts.), Astoria, Queens
718-255-6253
www.RestaurantAstoria.com