Ep 4. Queens NY: World's Best Food Town
- July 22, 2013
Bizarre Foods America season 10 episode 4 takes viewers on a culinary ride through Queens, New York, a melting pot of cultures and one of the world's best food towns. Host Andrew Zimmern explores the borough's diverse neighborhoods and samples dishes from around the globe.
The episode starts in Jackson Heights, where Zimmern learns about Colombian cuisine at La Esquina del Sabor. He tries chicharron, a crispy fried pork belly, and bandeja paisa, a platter of rice, beans, beef, chorizo, and avocado. Next, he stops by Patacon Pisao for a taste of Venezuelan food, including arepas, fried cheese sticks, and patacones (fried plantains).
Moving on to Elmhurst, Zimmern visits JoJu for a Vietnamese-style banh mi sandwich with a twist – it's made with bulgogi-marinated beef, pickled daikon, and kimchi sauce. He also checks out Lao-style papaya salad and roasted pig at Khao Kang.
In Astoria, Zimmern visits Artopolis Bakery, a Greek bakery that specializes in spanakopita (spinach pie), tiropita (cheese pie), and baklava (pastry made with nuts, honey, and phyllo dough). He also tries chicken souvlaki (grilled chicken skewers) at Gregory's 26 Corner Taverna and lamb gyro (roasted meat in a pita wrap) at BZ Grill.
Next, Zimmern explores the diverse food scene in Flushing. He tries Taiwanese-style soup dumplings at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao and Shanghainese-style pan-fried pork buns at White Bear. He also visits Golden Shopping Mall, a food court with vendors serving Chinese specialties such as Sichuan-style noodles, lamb kebabs, and hand-pulled noodles.
The episode ends in Forest Hills, where Zimmern visits Danny Brown Wine Bar & Kitchen for French-inspired dishes with a twist. He tries escargot (snails) with black garlic butter, chicken liver mousse with cherry compote, and bone marrow with onion jam.
Throughout the episode, Zimmern talks to the chefs and vendors about their culinary traditions and how they've adapted their dishes to suit American audiences. He also explores the cultural significance of food in Queens, where immigrants from around the world have created a unique culinary landscape.
Overall, Bizarre Foods America season 10 episode 4 is a tantalizing exploration of Queens, NY as the world's best food town, and the diverse flavors and traditions that make it so unique.
