Shopping and Eating in the Outer Boroughs of New York

Desperately seeking a good Mexican market in Queens:

Today we are preparing Oaxacan botanas (appetizers)  for the opening of the exhibition of works by  famed Oaxacan artist Francisco Toledo at the Instituto Cervantes and went to Queens to try to find dried shrimp and other ingredients.  Things have  changed so much since I was last there that I immediately called my trusty, gorgeous and committed Mexicophile  and volunteer, Emmanuel, who in turned called his Mexican friends and he sent me the following:

Quickly, before it’s too late and you are not in the neighborhood anymore: I just talked to Luz from Mano a Mano, and her favorite Mexican grocery store is at Roosevelt and 88 St, it’s called “Mexican Bakery” (just next to the Cholula Bakery).  We ended up two blocks away at 90-30 Roosevelt Avenue at a well-stocked supermarket BRAVO where I found everything I  needed.

Eating:

I’ve taken to eating in Brooklyn and Queens but other than my favorite Chinese restaurants in Flushing I often don’t know where to go.  Emmanuel sent the following suggestions:

a) http://www.eatingintranslation.com/flushing/ : This is a truly exceptional food-blog of an eater discovering all ethnic neighborhoods of the city. The link takes you directly to all places he visited in Flushing, including supermarkets and other food produce location. Several of the smaller stalls he reviews are located within the “Golden Mall” which looks like a place well worth visiting.

b) Chowhound’s “Outer Borogh” Board: There are countless fascinating posts on Flushing “holes in the wall”, such as http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/714292?tag=search_results;results_list, http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/530266?tag=search_results;results_list, and on the Golden Mall: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/681146?tag=search_results;results_list Much reading, but interesting!

. Two other interesting places: on 104 Street, 2-3 blocks north of Roosevelt Av., there is a restaurant that makes its proper pulque! I have never tried it, but it seems interesting! And lastly, the best tacos and most interesting Mexican daily specials (according to Chowhound and my own opinion) you may find at Taqueria Coatzingo, on Roosevelt and 76 St.

I definitely hope to be part of your discovery team at some later occasion – maybe for a visit of 108 Street in Corona which is the center of the Bukharian enclave. The food is beautiful and unique (see for example http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/bukharan_broadway_or_bukharian_broadway_108th_street_in_reg