Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park

When I think about Googa Mooga (and especially about this “Extra Mooga” VIP thing), I’m reminded of the first time I heard about the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii. In that area, there’s a mega-resort where guests arrive at the parking lot and then board either a monorail or a gondola to take them to the check-in location. Once checked in, guests can then opt to swim with and, if so desired, kiss the dolphins the resort has imprisoned in a lagoon on site. For the privilege of all this, of course, guests pay a pretty penny.

When we visited the Big Island a number of years ago, we decided to stop in here en route to somewhere else and, well, gawk at the kind of people who would go to a paradise like the Big Island yet choose not to experience the real deal. We were not disappointed.

Upon entering the courtyard area, we stumbled upon a few social climber types who were all fawning over another guest (the celebrity they’d just met and were presently talking to). It was none other Crocodile Dundee Paul Hogan himself. “Oh hiiiiiiii Paul!!!! And what are YOU doing today?!!!”

My point with this story is that as far as I’m concerned Googa Mooga, dolphin kissing?—THAT’S your brand and Paul Hogan fawners?—THAT’S your community.

And $267/person for “Extra Mooga?” Really? If somebody has that much cash lying around to blow on a food festival, they need to have their taxes raised.

So I say beware Brooklyn! In your neighborhood, choose the real deal. Because if you support stuff like Googa Mooga, overpriced, culinary drivel will declare open season on your borough and chase out every last bit of down-to-earth gastronomic goodness that you have.

And boy, am I glad I live in Queens where there’s enough vinyl siding and shiny stainless steel fencing to repel the type of person who would choose to be a party to such nonsense. It’s times like this that make me appreciate both the power and beauty of “tacky”!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry…

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Are there any old-time soda parlor/candy shops still around?

Hi Greg,

Confession: I have eaten at Johnny Rockets. To this day, I don't understand how we ended up there that day we were at The Shops at Atlas Park but, alas, we did. And, we ett summa that stuff.

The food was edible but (of course) not the least bit interesting or genuine. It's almost worth stopping by though. Don't stay. Just walk in so that you can have the fresh-scrubbed, Disney-esque staff of uniformly fair-skinned youngins suddenly exclaim in unison, "HELLO AND WELCOME TO JOHNNY ROCKETS!!!" Then do a 180 and run away screaming like a little school girl.

Yes, it's that scary. "Back to the Future" really was, at its heart, a horror movie.

But, I digress. I still think there must be old-time food establishments in this city that manage to keep it both clean and real. (And places like Eddie's or Katz's can always pick up a mop occasionally).

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Pok Pok NY...good, not great

Hi parkslopemama,

I can't speak for what it's like during the week since I've never been around that area at that time.

On weekends during the day, however, parking is pretty easy so if you're doing lunch driving shouldn't be too bad.

Hope this helps you out!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Are there any old-time soda parlor/candy shops still around?

Hi Greg,

I've been to Eddie's about three times in the past two years. Sadly, the nostalgia here can best be described as dusty. It's also pricey. As a result, I fear this would end up being a disappointment to the original poster.

The only reason I've been to Eddie's at all recently is because we were in the area for Wafa's and it was the cold weather season when Artisanal Creamery in Glendale is closed (Artisanal is only open from May to September).

On an unexpected happy note, I didn't know that Hinsch's had reopened. I heard only about the closing—not the rebirthing.

For a little different kind of nostalgia in Brooklyn, perhaps the original poster could check out Roll n Roaster:

http://rollnroaster.com/custom/rollnroaster/commercial.htm

This song just makes me happy!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Breakfast in Astoria Near Ditmars

Hi Everybody!

Dr. Nick and I are looking for a breakfast place (not brunch - this will be an early day) in the above area.

We've been to Neptune Diner a number of times and it makes us want to blarg. Sorry, it's true, so please no recs for that (BLARG!! Okay, I feel better now.).

Any ideas? We'll be in that zone at around 8:30-ish in the morning on a Saturday and be driving.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Weekend Breakfast/Brunch Near the Grand Street Stop of the L Train in East Williamsburg

Hi ChiefHDB,

Thanks, I do love Roberta's brunch but unfortunately it's still too far from the Grand Street L train station for this excursion.

From what little I can research using google maps, a place that looks suitable - both in distance and with regard to menu (as shown on their web site) is Il Passatore on Bushwick Avenue. Have you ever been there and if so would you recommend it?

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Weekend Breakfast/Brunch Near the Grand Street Stop of the L Train in East Williamsburg

Hi gort,

Thanks for the suggestion!

My trek to those environs will before the 13th so that's not an issue. However, the brunch menu on their web site, while it looks lovely, is a little high-end for that day's plans. (some prices approach Googa Mooga Land—Yikes!)

Have you liked anything in that area that's a little lighter on the wallet?

Please let me know and again thanks for the reply.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Weekend Breakfast/Brunch Near the Grand Street Stop of the L Train in East Williamsburg

Greetings hounds,

I am looking for a relaxing, sit-down, breakfasty place in the very immediate area of the above (four-block radius—tops).

I'm not too familiar with this particular part of Williamsburg and was hoping some of you might be able to recommend something suitable with decent food.

If they were closer, I'd do either Dumont or Kellogg Diner but they're both really too far away given the constraints specific to this jaunt.

I'm open to any and all cuisines.

Thanks!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Websites/Resources for Food Events and Festivals?

Hi maryinthecity,

Please add this to your favorites:

http://www.eatingintranslation.com/

At the end of the work week, the amazing Dave Cook has a list of food-oriented events that will coming up.

I hope this helps you out!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Googa Mooga Food Festival in Prospect Park

At $250/person, how about Dinner for Schmucks? Seriously.

How good could it possibly be to warrant that price? Is this the future of eating in Brooklyn? I certainly hope not.

But, maybe this is a good thing.

It gives the type of people who would shell out this much money for an event like this a place to go and keeps them away from regular folk, their children and small defenseless animals.

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Taci's on Metropolitan, Turkish in Forest Hills, new?

Hi janie,

Went here this weekend. I'm finding it very hard to evaluate it without thinking about Wafa's since Turkish food has a lot in common with Lebanese food and the two restaurants are within spitting distance of one another. (...Must....Not...Compare...)

Oh well, here goes...

Taci's appears to be going for a fine, slightly high-end dining experience (for Queens).

We started with some kidney bean stew (earthy, homey) and eggplant spread. Both were good (eggplant spread had dill in it—liked that) and came with Turkish style pita (thicker and puffier than what most of us think of as pita). The bread was hot when it arrived. I think they might make it themselves.

Many of the entrees apparently were originally served over rice but not now ("rice " was whited out on the menu). Now they come over the toasty Turkish style pita bread and, in the case of the chicken kebabs we had, doused with a generous dollop of what tasted like home-made yogurt. The kebabs were moist, which must be tough to accomplish with such lean animal flesh.

The best thing though was the pide, a Turkish style "pizza." A pide at Taci's is a super thin crust stuffed with a filling then (perhaps) topped with mozzarella cheese and baked perfectly. The cheese may be an American influence and Taci's offers other varieties of pide without it. This is what I will get the next time we go here. Had the pastrami and cheese version ("Turkish pastrami"—whatever that is, maybe lamb pastrami, don't know).

Ended the meal with traditional Turkish coffee, which I liked very much (this coffee wasn't overly bitter—something I've had problems with in the past with Turkish or Greek style coffees).

With regard to getting up to speed kitchen-wise, it still seems a work in progress but they seem very committed so I'm confident they'll improve.

Worth a look.

ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Need lunch restaurant near Cypress Hill Cemetery in Glendale, Queens.

Hi Nyum,

Places fairly close to Cypress Hills Cemetery in Glendale that sound suitable include those mentioned previously by another poster (Antica and Zumm) as well as Edison Place (71-28 Cooper Ave., Glendale) and Trattoria Cerbone (71-24 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood).

As the other poster mentioned, parking will be difficult in this area. Please take that into account. As an alternative, you could go a little ways away to the Shops at Atlas Park where they have a pay-to-park garage although I don't know if they have a restaurant that would be appropriate for a gathering following a funeral.

Also, no matter where you go, I recommend contacting the restaurant in advance to make certain they can accommodate your party. Most restaurants around this part of Queens tend to be on the small side and are perhaps relatively unaccustomed to serving groups of this size.

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Taci's on Metropolitan, Turkish in Forest Hills, new?

Hi janie,

According to their website http://www.tacisrestaurant.com/

Yes, they are related to a Taci's in Brooklyn and also have a location in Union City, New Jersey.

Haven't been yet though.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Soft shell crab sightings?

Hi jinx, (no pun intended)

It's not Brooklyn but just over the line in Glendale at Tazzina they had a special fritto misto (sp?) as of this past weekend.

It had stuffed soft-shell crab as well as shrimp and calamari. The portion was substantial. It was awfully darn delicious and came with a home-made tartar sauce that had bits of fresh raw garlic in it. Both were stupendous—alone and together.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Some thoughts on a culinary exploration of Brooklyn

Hi wingman,

Welcome back! Glad to hear you've liked what you tried so far in Brooklyn. Don't discount the other Outré Boroughs though. There's plenty of great, resonably priced chow to be had in Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island as well (a lot of it ethnic).

Do some sniffing around on this board and you'll discover quite a few gems.

Is there anything in particular you want to find that you haven't yet encountered in Brooklyn? Please let us know. Folks will likely chime in with gusto.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

What's the Longest Anyone Has Ever Had to Wait to be Seated at a Restaurant in Queens?

Hi EricMM,

I was actually surprised at some of the responses here.

I guess I've been comparatively lucky with regard to wait times since I'm almost always an early bird. Perhaps the way to reduce wait times is to pretend you live in Salt Lake City and plan accordingly.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

What's the Longest Anyone Has Ever Had to Wait to be Seated at a Restaurant in Queens?

Some time back when I ate at M. Wells (then on Hunter's Point Avenue), my friends and I waited about 20 minutes to be seated. It was a Saturday fairly close to lunch time. That's the longest waiting time I can recall for getting a seat at any place in Queens.

If you reply, please tell what restaurant you were at, the day and time and how long you waited to be seated.

Thanks!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Hungarian Meat Markets?

Many moons ago, in a far off place, but not lately.

Hope your Pan-Bacon Symphony sizzles!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Hungarian Meat Markets?

Hi rschwim,

Very glad you checked out Muncan! Smokey Eastern European meat is amazing!

I hope you'll return to the Ridgewood/Glendale frontier sometime and try some of the other meat meccas in the area. I think Morscher's is also quite good though they're more of a fresh sausage/fresh meat butcher of the Slovenian-German variety whereas Muncan is run/owned by Romanians who used to live in an ethnic conclave in Croatia. (perhaps your visit could inspire a pan-Balkan-themed composition?)

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Donuts

Hi Daniel76,

I think that's a little more than I wanted to know about... anybody...

But Tina is hilarious!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Donuts

Hi Peter Cuce,

I didn't have either of those experiences. Or, perhaps we had some of the same experiences and I enjoyed them. Don't know.

I found the texture of the doughnuts at Dough to be soft and chewy. I liked the chewiness—but they weren't like RAW dough. I wouldn't have enjoyed that.

As far as the sweetness not being balanced, I think you might mean that, to you, they were overly sweet to the point where the flavor was unable to shine through. I didn't experience that. Lemon meringue, cheesecake, café au lait, chocolate with chocolate nibs, blood orange, toasted coconut were all sweet but I was able to taste all of the flavors quite well.

I admit I have yet to try all of the flavors at Dough so it's possible I would agree with you for some selections but it hasn't happened yet.

I haven't been to Dun-well Doughnuts but I'll check it out.

Thanks for the info!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Donuts

HI nooyawka,

Here's a thread on Dough in Bed-Stuy.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/793845

I like Peter Pan and Doughnut Plant although I consider them to be different animals—like cat and dog.

But for me, Dough trumps them both. Don't know if you've tried them yet. If you haven't, might be worth a look-see.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

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Peter Pan Donut & Pastry
727 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Dough
305 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Looking for Polish Food Tour

...And there's always Ridgewood - the other Greenpoint.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Kreden's

Krolewskie Jadlo

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Kredens
66-36 Fresh Pond Rd, Queens, NY 11385

Krolewskie Jadlo
66-21 Fresh Pond Rd, Queens, NY 11385

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Vegetarian caterer or restaurant in the boroughs

Hi cherib,

Have you considered Wafa's in Forest Hills?

I don't believe they have a private room but I know they do catering and you can have a pretty fabulous vegetarian or even vegan meal with minimal effort given what they always have on their menu.

Hope this helps you out!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

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Wafa's
100-05 Metropolitan Ave, Queens, NY 11375

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Suggestions Wanted For Elmhurst Chinatown Food Crawl

Hi scoopG,

I've heard of five of them - Chinatown in Manhattan, Flushing, Elmhurst of course, Sunset Park and Homecrest. What are the other two? Or, are some of the others being counted in more than one piece? (i.e., in Manhattan, Chinatown proper and East Broadway)

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Hungarian Meat Markets?

Hi rschwim,

I never went to the Yorkville Meat Emporium so I'm not sure what those snacks were like but I'd recommend checking out Muncan's (two locations - Astoria and Ridgewood).

Both have wonderful, voluminous selections of delectable eastern European meats - a true sausage party if ever there was one.

Smokey and not, Hungarian and hot, Croatian, Romanian, etc. It's overwhelming actually.

The Astoria location is more convenient to Manhattan if that's where you're coming from but Ridgewood has the advantage of being close to several other European style butchers as well in the event that Muncan's doesn't have what you want. (Ridgewood Pork Store, Morscher's Pork Store, Zum Stammtisch Pork Store)

Please note - out of all of the above, Zum Stammtisch is the only one open on Sundays (it closes on Mondays).

Hope this helps you out!

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

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Zum Stammtisch
69-46 Myrtle Ave, Queens, NY 11385

Muncan Food Corp.
43-09 Broadway, Queens, NY 11103

Muncan Food Corp.
60-86 Myrtle Ave, Queens, NY 11385

Ridgewood Pork Store
516 Seneca Ave, Queens, NY 11385

Morscher's Pork Store
58-44 Catalpa Ave, Queens, NY 11385

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Is There Any Restaurant in the Outer Boroughs That Makes Egg Coffee?

Hi ratgirlagogo,

Thanks for asking! I adore your enthusiasm!

So far, I've tried adding crumbled up eggshells (previously boiled) to the grounds in a drip coffee maker. I've tried it in incremental amounts and it DOES make a difference. A little bit (maybe a pinch or two) makes the coffee less bitter and harsh tasting yet it still tastes good and strong. However, not too much more after a pinch or two, the coffee starts to taste a little eggy - kinda weird.

I started with the shells first because of what I'd read on line and because of what the eye shadow guy in the Norwegian egg coffee video clip says about it having an "eggy nose."

But have no fear.

I am working my way up to the "full egg" and will report back once I have cracked it.

Boldly,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Thanks once again, OB 'hounds!

Hi twan55,

I wish Tofu on 7th were near me. I love "authentic Chinese" as well as "Americanized Chinese"—as long as it's made well (crispy when appropriate, not overly greasy or gloppy, not sugar coma-inducingly sweet, not prefab, having some savory flavor other than salt, etc.).

Amercianized Chinese food as described above can still be delicious and evokes fond memories for a lot of folks. I'm sort of surprised that someone hasn't caught on to this and used it as a starting point for opening a restaurant. There'd be a loyal clientele for the nostalgia alone.

But hey, what do I know? I'm just a dumb Amurikkin.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Outer Boroughs

Shaw-Howard U Metro stop - casual sit-down,

Hello DC hounds!

I'm going to be down in DC on a weeknight and taking some friends to dinner.

I'm looking for a casual quiet sit-down place within walking distance of the Shaw-Howard U Metro stop.

My friends aren't too adventurous so I don't think they would be up for Ethiopian or other African, which seems to be readily available in this area.

Are there any restaurants in this area that would fit my description? I saw info about Thai X-ing, which sounds good but seems awfully expensive from the menu on their web site.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

Glendale is hungry in Washington DC & Baltimore Area