Announcing the Ridgefood Grocery Shopping Tour! 8/31/2013

Ridgefood Grocery Shopping Tour

Hello, loyal reader! We here at Ridgefood have been digitally leading you around Queens’s most accessible polslavomexidoreanese neighborhood for a while, but now it’s time for us to give you the opportunity to follow us around in person!

That’s right: We’re giving a tour.

And not just any tour, but a RIDGEFOOD GROCERY SHOPPING TOUR. Have you always wanted to go into that Arab bodega and buy the groceries in the back, but you’re not sure how to use them? Do you need a step-by-step introduction to the glorious wonder that is Parrot Coffee? Do you know which fruit stand sells pristine Halal meat in the back? Are you confused about which Polish drink syrup to buy? Do you want to walk around the ‘hood, talk history and recipes, and eat sausage sticks from Morscher’s with the ladies of your neighborhood food blog on a sunny summer day?

THEN THIS TOUR IS FOR YOU. Continue reading

Hello Ridgefood Neighbor: Henry

Henry

Henry

Every once in awhile we’ll feature a Ridgewood resident and get his or her take on the neighborhood’s best spots to eat, shop, and hang out. Meet Henry, a “true local” who’s traveled around the world!


Tell us about yourself!

My name is Henry Chelune, Jr. I am a married 28-year-old college student. I am currently a senior at Lehman College, CUNY. I am majoring in history with a minor in Middle School Education. I am also a veteran of the U.S. Army — I did one tour in Afghanistan from 2010–2011. Lastly I am a foodie!  Continue reading

Ask Ridgefood: Farmer’s Markets

 

Dear Ridgefood,

I’m a Queens native that just moved to Ridgewood after a few years in Bushwick and I was wondering if you knew of any Farmer’s Markets in the area this season? I know the one by Maria Hernandez is pretty close, but anything any more local?

Thanks! Keep up the good work!

–Beth

Continue reading

Ridgewood Food Cart Roundup

El Bochinche

Need to try next time: El Bochinche on St. Nicholas Ave

Welcome to our official recap of Food Cart Month(s) 2013! We’re suffering from food cart fatigue so this will be brief. Here’s what we learned:

While Ridgewood is not yet a major player in the food cart scene like 7-train Queens or Midtown, we’ve got plenty going on! We have a pretty legit halal cart, a wildly popular empanada cart, a taco truck that makes tasty fish tacos and cemitas, some llapachingos with potential, and of course our old friend the tamale cartContinue reading

Breakfast at the Myrtle-Wyckoff Tamale Cart

tamales

Salsa roja y mole tamales

Food Cart Month wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention the tamale cart that sits prominently outside the Myrtle-Wyckoff subway station and is our beacon of deliciousness. We often visit first thing in the morning as we head out for the day’s adventures. The delicious, hot tamales make a filling breakfast, and they also travel well and serve as a satisfying lunch component later in the day (try one with soup or a salad!). Plus, they’re cheap — just $1 each!  Continue reading

Llapingachos, Ayacas de Pollo, and Locro de Papas

Llapingachos

Llapingachos, an Ecuadorian speciality

We’re trying to wrap up Food Cart Month(s), so here’s a quick look at the Ecuadorian (yes, again) cart that’s parked outside the Gates Avenue Food Bazaar on Sundays and sometimes Saturdays. (Sometimes there’s a second unrelated Ecuadorian cart parked across the street, but it’s a bit chaotic and unappetizing so we’re focusing on this one here.)  Continue reading

Grover Cleveland Salchipapas Cart

grover-cleveland-cart.jpg

The last couple of weeks have been very busy, not to mention rainy as all heck, so we’ve extended Food Cart Month into June. On Memorial Day weekend we double-Ecuadorian-carted it, first stopping by the cart outside the Grover Cleveland Park fútbol fields, and then the one near Food Bazaar. This was our first visit to the Grover Cleveland cart. The Mexican lady who runs it sets up shop every weekend, when the fields are full of hungry athletic folks. Grilled chicken & pork skewers and our old friend salchipapas are the main offerings here.  Continue reading

What Happened to the Tacos La Carcachita Truck?

fish tacos

Fish tacos

Here’s a look at last night’s tacos from Tacos La Carcachita, home of the best cemitas in almost-Ridgewood. You may have noticed the Carcachita truck’s absence for the past week and a half (due to repairs) — and in its place, the loaner waffle-wich truck that advertises “private and corporate waffling” (haha).  Continue reading

Midtown-Style Lunch Deli ‘Crunchy Brunch’ Opening in Ridgewood

crunchy brunch

Exclusive look inside Crunchy Brunch!

Crunchy Brunch, a spacious two-story Midtown Manhattan–style lunch deli, is coming to 57-37 Myrtle Avenue. A woman we met at the space told us they hope to open next month, and according to the “coming soon” sign outside, they’ll serve sushi, sandwiches, wraps, and smoothiesContinue reading

El Palacio de las Empanadas Ecuatorianas

el-palacio-de-las-empanadas-ecuatorianas-chicken

Chicken empanada

Our next food cart stop might be the busiest cart in Ridgewood. El Palacio de las Empanadas Ecuatorianas greets you as you enter the Myrtle Avenue BID (on the Duane Reade side). As the day progresses and appetites swell, there’s often several people hanging around the cart, catching up on the day’s activities while they enjoy their chicken and chicken and cheese empanadas ($1.50 each).  Continue reading