SCORE A PLUS OR STRIKE FOR RESTAURANTS

A neighbor shared with me that she and her husband decided to trek onto Woodhaven’s Jamaica Avenue the Monday after the blizzard. Although it was way after the breakfast hours, they decided to eat breakfast at the New Pop’s Restaurant at 85-22 Jamaica Avenue finding that their bill came to $28. They said that the menu advertises juice as being “fresh squeezed” and came out of a can. I am also told that the waitress reeked from liquor, kept talking to them and that the eggs had to be returned twice because they were cold. A complaint got the waitress to deduct $1 off the check.

How did this restaurant rate? The rating is “pending”, so there is no “A”, ‘B”, or “C” as yet. I decided to go to the website of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene seeking the violation points. New Pop’s Restaurant had a recent inspection and scored 46 violation points! The highest in Woodhaven. So that you get the gist of it “A” means violation points from 0-13, “B” is 14-27, and “C” is 28 and up.

The second highest was Pan U Go Bakery at 84-42 Jamaica Avenue just behind with 41 violation points. I decided to view more in Queens. The highest was Yo, Aqui Me Quedo at 84-10 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights with 131 violation points and was closed by the Board of Health. I couldn’t help but laugh when I viewed another closing of one in Jamaica with a score of 89 violation points. The name of the restaurant is Food Lovers Paradise!

I’ve become a bit skeptic as I dine and review eateries. Thank goodness my favorite Woodhaven spot has scored an “A”! Due to the blizzard and my not wanting to chance the sidewalks I was running out of food to prepare. I’m not one to eat at a restaurant where I can basically cook the same meal. Mama Meena’s Family Restaurant it was, especially after the over abundance of meat that I consumed while in Texas. I think I also craved their Filipino cuisine as well.

Arroz Caldo. A large bowl of rice porridge if you get the idea. I keep forgetting if they use basmati or jasmine rice…both smell and taste so good. Okay, aside from the rice there are some pieces of chicken of the “on the bone” ilk as well as slices of fresh ginger. It is then topped with slices of hardboiled egg, scallions and fried garlic. What a great idea for a winter soothe, let alone the flavor! Using fresh killed chickens does add some savor to flavor.

Combine string beans (the long and thin kind), yam, bitter melon, okra and pork for a dish called Pinakbet that comes with that good rice. One more so that I didn’t have to go back there too soon re the weather. Pancit Bihon is rice noodles sautéed with shrimp, chicken and veggies. Just in case you want to know, Mama Meena’s is located at 94-20 Jamaica Avenue (718-696-888 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              718-696-8882      end_of_the_skype_highlighting2)of this came to about $21 with tax, less than that awful breakfast experience first mentioned.

Speaking of weather. “Nor rain or snow or hail can keep us from…” It’s that famous postman’s “vow”. I don’t know about the rest of you but mail was not delivered on both Monday and Tuesday. I called the post office in Woodhaven and was told that the trucks from the main post office in Jamaica could not get through to Woodhaven. In case it skipped your memory, there are four main post offices in Queens: Flushing (113--); Long Island City (111--); Jamaica (114--); and Rockaway (116--). Mail goes there and then to your town.

I got word that someone was driving passed the Fire Telegraph Station at Forest Park observing a private snow plow coming out of the driveway having just plowed. Where did they place the snow? In the street and just in front of the vehicle as it was approaching. So, let me get this correct. The mayor tells us that it is illegal to do so, yet property owned by the city can do it? Is that not one of those “do as I say, not as I do?

Garbage collection. Bad news is that unless you’re the lucky ones or having a private pickup, garbage has not been collected for a week due to both a holiday and the blizzard. The good news is that whatever garbage might have been rotting is being frozen! Gee I hope it gets picked up before the thaw.

One other thing…catalogue food companies. Nueske’s keeps sending me one and this time I decided to sample some it. The order was supposed to arrive on a Wednesday, two days after being shipped. Due to the weather, it arrived on Friday. Need I say that there was neither dry ice, or whatever was used to keep the food frozen and thus thawed. Fortunately there is a guarantee. I called them just after receiving and although they were supposed to be open, had to leave a message. No one called back. Say “hello” to the garbage and Nueske’s.

WALKING IN WINNIPEG

Winnipeg's Exchange District is one of the downtown neighborhoods, easily in walking distance from the Fairmont. I was to meet a guide at Old Market Square for a tour known as Death & Debauchery which explores the dark secrets of the city that was once known as "the Wickedest City in the Dominion".

Old Market Square, once occupied by the city's central fire station, is a popular location that plays host to a variety of events including the Winnipeg Fringe Festival and the Winnipeg Jazz Festival. I noticed that there was some "setting up" going on to later find out that a Reggae happening was the theme for a few days here. In the meantime, the annual Folk Festival would be going on at a location outside of the city.

Matthew Komus conducted this 45-minute tour which basically startsed out with Winnipeg's history as a politician was tarred and feathered for denying the first bid for the city's incorporation. "We don't know for sure," said Komus, "but we suspect hangings were carried out near the stage. It wasn't a public execution, but you could apparently get a ticket from the sheriff to attend."

Some of the other juicy tidbits were: how Frank Mariaggi, who built Western Canada's first European hotel, escaped a lynch mob; Winnipeg's largest unsolved robbery; the scandalous contractor for whom the Kelly Building on Bannatyne Avenue is named; and
what happened in Room 309 of the Royal Albert Arms Hotel.

Exchange District BIZ conduct other walking tours as well. You can check it out on www.exchangedistrict.org

Having a guide book added to the experience as I was later able to read about the history of many of the buildings as well as check out some eateries and small art galleries. I heard that there was a Filipino bakery nearby and so I headed to McDermont Avenue for Jejomar Bakeshop for a sample of a bun with sugar and butter atop.

Being lunchtime and wanting to try out a new restaurant I headed down Albert Street to a place called kimch'i on albert. Korean fare and named kim, for the owner's mother's nee name and ch'i for energy as well as the fermented pickled cabbage.

What's a bit odd about the restaurant is the "space". There are tables in the front near the window and then there is a couch and cushy chairs situated around a large screen television. Free wifi for those who bring there computers and then more seating in front of a sort of deli counter. You basically go up to the counter and place your order and someone delivers it to you.

I tried the Kalbi Special of bbq short ribs, rice, and marinated veggies in a soup. I decided on the Vietnamese Iced Coffee to cool off the kimchee automatically served at the table. It was perfectly hot enough for me and didn't even require a coffee sip to cool.

Now you may ask what's so odd about the space? I left out the part that on the right side sits another business that sells knitting supplies. Yes, you can meet, knit and eat Korean fare. Perhaps the space should be known as a "knitting cafe". Knit+eat/drink+chill = repeat

Next stop, the Manitoba Museum at 190 Rupert Avenue. The museum is both great for history and art. It has eight interpretive galleries including the Hudson's Bay Company gallery and the full-size replica ship Nonsuch,whose voyage in 1668 led to the founding of the Hudson's Bay Company. There is also an example of a young prairie city of the 1920's in the Urban Gallery. www.manitboamuseum.com

SIX DEGREES OF MERLE EXIT

You've heard about Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? Well now you can go to www.oracleofbacon.org and do one linking my name to another movie actor. Just getting ready to start the Nutrisystem livit. You'll soon be seeing a youtube of me of my "before" stage. I'm hopping on the scale tomorrow. Having my last Fairytale Brownie for a long while. Went off to a restaurant, Mama Meena's Family Restaurant for Filipino food. Had chicken soup, grill skewer of chicken and a veggie dish that had long beans, squash and coconut milk. It will be quite a long time before I eat this one....but it was soooooo good. You'll be seeing youtube on this place pretty soon.