Ep 2. Queens

In season 2, episode 2 of The Zimmern List, host Andrew Zimmern explores the culinary delights of Queens, New York. Queens is known for being the most culturally diverse borough in New York City, with over 150 nationalities represented. This makes for a rich and diverse food culture that Zimmern is excited to dive into.

The episode begins with Zimmern visiting a Vietnamese restaurant called Bunker. Here, he tries one of their signature dishes, the pho dip. The pho dip is a twist on the traditional Vietnamese soup, pho. The dish is served with thinly sliced beef that is dipped into a rich and flavorful broth. Zimmern is impressed with the dish, noting that the broth is unlike any he has tasted before.

Next, Zimmern visits Joe's Shanghai, a restaurant known for its soup dumplings. Zimmern tries both the pork and crab soup dumplings and is blown away by the flavors. He notes that the dough of the dumplings is thin and delicate, while the broth inside is rich and savory.

Zimmern continues his culinary journey by visiting SriPraPhai, a Thai restaurant known for its spicy dishes. Here, he tries the pad kee mao, also known as drunken noodles. The dish is made with flat rice noodles, Thai basil, and chili peppers. Zimmern notes that the dish has a nice balance of spice and sweetness.

Zimmern then visits Tortilleria Nixtamal, a Mexican restaurant that makes its own tortillas from scratch. Here, he tries their tacos al pastor, which are made with marinated pork cooked on a spit. Zimmern notes that the flavors of the pork are complex and well-balanced.

In the next segment, Zimmern visits the Queens Night Market, a food festival that takes place in the borough every Saturday. Zimmern tries a variety of dishes at the market, including Taiwanese popcorn chicken, Malaysian curry puffs, and Ecuadorian empanadas. He notes that the market is a great representation of Queens' diverse food culture.

Zimmern then visits the Arepa Lady, a food cart known for their arepas, a traditional Venezuelan dish made with cornmeal dough. Zimmern tries the arepa with cheese and notes that the dough is soft and fluffy. He also tries the arepa with chicharron, a type of fried pork, and notes that the flavors are bold and complex.

The episode concludes with Zimmern visiting the House of Inasal, a Filipino restaurant known for its grilled chicken. Zimmern tries the chicken inasal, which is marinated in a mixture of vinegar, lime, and spices. He notes that the chicken is tender and juicy, with a nice balance of sweet and sour flavors.

Overall, season 2, episode 2 of The Zimmern List is a great representation of Queens' diverse food culture. Zimmern explores a variety of cuisines and dishes, showcasing the rich culinary traditions of the borough. Fans of the show or anyone interested in food culture will find this episode to be a delightful and informative watch.