Eating In Translation
@davemcook.bsky.social
Eating In Translation examines interesting, usually inexpensive food in and around New York, and occasionally farther afield.
New York-area food events, January 10-11 and after bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
January 9, 2026 at 2:34 PM
New York-area food events, January 10-11 and after bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
Żurek — a sort of white borscht, soured with a rye rather than a wheat starter — at Pierogi Boys, Ridgewood, Queens. This was the substantial first course, in fact, to a progressive lunch that continued with a meatball parm at Arrigo's. Dessert to be noted, too, by and by.
January 8, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Żurek — a sort of white borscht, soured with a rye rather than a wheat starter — at Pierogi Boys, Ridgewood, Queens. This was the substantial first course, in fact, to a progressive lunch that continued with a meatball parm at Arrigo's. Dessert to be noted, too, by and by.
Meatball parm, Arrigo's of Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, Queens
January 7, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Meatball parm, Arrigo's of Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, Queens
Fried sardines, grilled octopus, sautéed shrimp, and grilled dorade, Le Petit Pêcheur, Astoria, Queens. Not shown from this you-pick-it, they-cook-it Algerian seafood restaurant: more sardines, with a different provenance; whiting; salad; and garlic bread, replenished as needed.
January 6, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Fried sardines, grilled octopus, sautéed shrimp, and grilled dorade, Le Petit Pêcheur, Astoria, Queens. Not shown from this you-pick-it, they-cook-it Algerian seafood restaurant: more sardines, with a different provenance; whiting; salad; and garlic bread, replenished as needed.
Lemon drops, I understand, can be cocktails, too. This one, from Joe's Sicilian Bakery in Bayside, Queens, was the prelude to a nearby meal, so a three-cookie lunch was out of the question.
January 5, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Lemon drops, I understand, can be cocktails, too. This one, from Joe's Sicilian Bakery in Bayside, Queens, was the prelude to a nearby meal, so a three-cookie lunch was out of the question.
Shan noodles by Ma Ma Nu, upstairs at Nangma in Elmhurst, Queens. Mine, freighted with pork, was prepared in front of me by hand (gloved hand) at one of the weekly Burmese breakfasts that begin on Sunday morning and stretch through brunchtime. No mimosas here; think milk tea.
January 4, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Shan noodles by Ma Ma Nu, upstairs at Nangma in Elmhurst, Queens. Mine, freighted with pork, was prepared in front of me by hand (gloved hand) at one of the weekly Burmese breakfasts that begin on Sunday morning and stretch through brunchtime. No mimosas here; think milk tea.
Flaps down: a boxed scone with homemade blackberry jam and Irish butter, the default presentation at Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop, East 7th St., Manhattan. Many scones, mine included, travel no farther than the sidewalk outside.
January 3, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Flaps down: a boxed scone with homemade blackberry jam and Irish butter, the default presentation at Mary O's Irish Soda Bread Shop, East 7th St., Manhattan. Many scones, mine included, travel no farther than the sidewalk outside.
Sometimes "just a good slice" is just what I need. Nothing fancy, though a little hand-grated cheese wouldn't hurt. At Cello's Pizzeria, St. Mark's Pl., Manhattan
January 2, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Sometimes "just a good slice" is just what I need. Nothing fancy, though a little hand-grated cheese wouldn't hurt. At Cello's Pizzeria, St. Mark's Pl., Manhattan
Back in action: a sesame and a poppy from New Absolute Bagels. The original Absolute, which closed a year ago, has been rebuilt top to bottom, but the bagels themselves — comped during the bakery's late December soft opening — seem unchanged.
January 1, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Back in action: a sesame and a poppy from New Absolute Bagels. The original Absolute, which closed a year ago, has been rebuilt top to bottom, but the bagels themselves — comped during the bakery's late December soft opening — seem unchanged.
Pork belly, beef brisket, and "Cora's broccoli salad" — a nice complement to the meats, which I'd never tried — at Fette Sau in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After nearly two decades, Fette Sau will close its doors (and its gate) forever on Sunday evening, December 21.
December 19, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Pork belly, beef brisket, and "Cora's broccoli salad" — a nice complement to the meats, which I'd never tried — at Fette Sau in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. After nearly two decades, Fette Sau will close its doors (and its gate) forever on Sunday evening, December 21.
More to come in the New Year!
bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
December 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
More to come in the New Year!
bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
Initial signage has been posted at the future Ever Prosper Food Court, Flushing, Queens. At its predecessor, the Landmark Quest Mall, Joe's Steam Rice Roll was the most notable tenant, so it's sad to see artist's conceptions for Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks.
December 18, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Initial signage has been posted at the future Ever Prosper Food Court, Flushing, Queens. At its predecessor, the Landmark Quest Mall, Joe's Steam Rice Roll was the most notable tenant, so it's sad to see artist's conceptions for Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks.
Hotdog with chili-onion relish, Boulevard Drinks, Jersey City
December 17, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Hotdog with chili-onion relish, Boulevard Drinks, Jersey City
A fat slice — fatter than my photo can show — of chocolate blackout cake at Brooklyn Diner, West 57th St., Manhattan. This was the finale to a small family gathering; the four of us very nearly finished it.
December 16, 2025 at 3:01 PM
A fat slice — fatter than my photo can show — of chocolate blackout cake at Brooklyn Diner, West 57th St., Manhattan. This was the finale to a small family gathering; the four of us very nearly finished it.
Midmorning hand pie: This Bukharian bichak, or pumpkin samsa, might have been cloying if not for onion and pepper, which dialed down the sweetness. Mine, from Chaikhana Sem Sorak in Rego Park, Queens, became an appetizer before a nearby group lunch.
December 15, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Midmorning hand pie: This Bukharian bichak, or pumpkin samsa, might have been cloying if not for onion and pepper, which dialed down the sweetness. Mine, from Chaikhana Sem Sorak in Rego Park, Queens, became an appetizer before a nearby group lunch.
Do delivery robots get a snow day? Two cross paths, earlier this year, on a Jersey City sidewalk.
December 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Do delivery robots get a snow day? Two cross paths, earlier this year, on a Jersey City sidewalk.
'Tis the season for Ukrainian cake, Finnish rice porridge, and lots of holiday cookies: New York-area food events, December 11-18 bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
December 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
'Tis the season for Ukrainian cake, Finnish rice porridge, and lots of holiday cookies: New York-area food events, December 11-18 bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
A sampler from Tacos los Gueros, a tamale de comino from Tamales Doña Lupe, and nieves de piña y limón from Nieves Cortés at Plaza Cuauhtémoc (partially comped). Every Sunday, 11:00-9:00 (liveliest beginning in midafternoon), indoors at 219 Cook St., Bushwick, Brooklyn
December 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
A sampler from Tacos los Gueros, a tamale de comino from Tamales Doña Lupe, and nieves de piña y limón from Nieves Cortés at Plaza Cuauhtémoc (partially comped). Every Sunday, 11:00-9:00 (liveliest beginning in midafternoon), indoors at 219 Cook St., Bushwick, Brooklyn
Deep-dish hamentash — here, in prune — from Bonelle Pastry Shop, Forest Hills, Queens
December 9, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Deep-dish hamentash — here, in prune — from Bonelle Pastry Shop, Forest Hills, Queens
The Andy Boy — imported hot soppressata, hot capocollo, broccoli rabe, imported sharp provolone, and Sicilian olive oil — on a seeded hero, from Angelina's Italian Deli, Newtown, Connecticut
December 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The Andy Boy — imported hot soppressata, hot capocollo, broccoli rabe, imported sharp provolone, and Sicilian olive oil — on a seeded hero, from Angelina's Italian Deli, Newtown, Connecticut
A rare event for Estonian eats, the opening of a major exhibition on street food, and pie, pie, pie: New York-area food events, December 4-11 bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
December 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
A rare event for Estonian eats, the opening of a major exhibition on street food, and pie, pie, pie: New York-area food events, December 4-11 bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
A lush Hakka-style ha mai cherng — dried shrimp, scallion, and minced pork rolled in a thick, chewy room-temperature rice noodle — outside Ho Won on Forsyth, a new sibling to Ho Won Bake Shoppe in Manhattan's Chinatown
December 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
A lush Hakka-style ha mai cherng — dried shrimp, scallion, and minced pork rolled in a thick, chewy room-temperature rice noodle — outside Ho Won on Forsyth, a new sibling to Ho Won Bake Shoppe in Manhattan's Chinatown
Staying on-topic: "We are happy to serve you" at the coffee table during installation of Street Food City, a new exhibition at the Museum of Food and Drink, Dumbo, Brooklyn. I'll be back after it opens (Dec. 6) to get a VR-headset view of working conditions inside a food truck. And to get a pretzel.
December 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Staying on-topic: "We are happy to serve you" at the coffee table during installation of Street Food City, a new exhibition at the Museum of Food and Drink, Dumbo, Brooklyn. I'll be back after it opens (Dec. 6) to get a VR-headset view of working conditions inside a food truck. And to get a pretzel.
A seafood pancake, grilled aged pork belly, braised beef short rib, and pan-grilled semi-dried croaker at the delightful Jang Dok Dae, Murray Hill, Queens
December 2, 2025 at 1:10 PM
A seafood pancake, grilled aged pork belly, braised beef short rib, and pan-grilled semi-dried croaker at the delightful Jang Dok Dae, Murray Hill, Queens
A red date confection at the Fuzhanggui cart, serving "traditional handmade sugar from old Beijing," on Main near the southwest corner with Sanford, Flushing, Queens. Mind the little pits, or try another flavor — walnut, red-skinned peanut, cashew, honey sunflower, black sesame.
December 1, 2025 at 2:17 PM
A red date confection at the Fuzhanggui cart, serving "traditional handmade sugar from old Beijing," on Main near the southwest corner with Sanford, Flushing, Queens. Mind the little pits, or try another flavor — walnut, red-skinned peanut, cashew, honey sunflower, black sesame.