Sometimes I lie awake at night dreaming of the Greek isles. The pure blue sea, the salty air, the white washed houses…who am I kidding? That’s not what I crave. I miss the food! The honey-soaked pastries, the octopus caught just yards from my table at an outdoor café, the rich lamb kebabs…

Lucky for me, a taste of Greece is only an N-train ride away. On a recent sunny day I skipped lunch and made a mini tour-de-Astoria.

First stop: Artopolis, 23-18 31st St.

The second I walked in this bakery pastisserie, I felt like I’d entered a shrine to the god of all things baked. Tiers of platters brimming with perfectly crafted desserts dazzled my eyes while the sweet smell of honey drew me in. Grand displays offered up an enormous selection of sweets– pistachio shortbread cookies, diples (twisty curls of pastry made from vodka and flour, dipped in honey and sprinkled with walnuts), melomakarona (dark cookies made with flour, cinnamon, cloves, walnuts, nutmeg, sugar, orange juice and sunflower oil and dipped in honey), kourambiethes (butter cookies made with almonds and Greek brandy and then rolled in powdered sugar), baklava (ground walnuts and almonds, wrapped in layers of butter phyllo, baked and drenched in honey)–and breads. more…

Check out our first Blog Talk Radio show, where we interview and field questions to Adam Roberts, the Amateur Gourmet.  He talks about his upcoming show, the Amateur Gourmet, on the Food Network’s Food2.com and answers caller questions about off beat foods in New York City.

Just before the lunch rush hits, the Kati Roll Company has the makings for their signature dish sizzling on the grill in anticipation of the hungry passersby.  Steaming skewers of grilled chicken, cheese, and beef top the grill and on an adjacent grill there is a huge mass of a spicy potato and peas mixture.  These are the main ingredients that can be found in a Kati Roll, a mixture of meats, vegetables and cheeses, marinated in a blend of spices, and rolled in an Indian flatbread.

The exterior of the flatbread is slick from oil and brown grill spots are scattered all over its malleable surface.   The achari paneer roll, a spicy cheese roll, is filled with large spongy cheese cubes and mixed with green peppers, tomatoes, red onions and a cilantro chutney.

more…

Ever wonder where to get live frogs in New York City? Probably not, but if you’ve ever asked yourself, “Where can I find…?” you should check out our upcoming radio show! This Friday at 2 pm (EST) The Amateur Gourmet will visit us via Blog Talk Radio to answer all your questions about finding weird food in this crazy city.

Click here to find out where to call in and get your questions answered:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jessica-Simeone/2009/05/15/The-Amatuer-Gourmet-Dishes-Out-Foodie-Tips

The old adage says you shouldn’t go shopping hungry, but I dare you to spend more than 5 minutes in this Jackson Heights megamarket and not feel a little rumbling in your tummy.  It’s impossible not to dream up fantastic Indian feasts, or if you’re like me, plan what savory snack you’re going to buy for the long subway ride home.

I’m a lover of condiments, so I always head for the back right corner of the store to get a little inspiration.  There’s coriander chutney, sweet lime chutney, tamarind paste, gor keri (a relish of mango cubes, mustard seeds, fenugreek, red chili and spices), chhundo (a sweet & tangy shredded mango chutney with a touch of cumin and date palm sugar), tahini and sriracha (sun-ripened chilies ground into a paste with garlic, sugar, salt and vinegar). more…