10/27/10

The Snack Hour

http://ia700202.us.archive.org/14/items/SnackHour/SnackHour.m4a

10/24/10

Garden City Bistro

Amidst the busy suburb of Garden City, a one block oasis of cobblestone and eateries called 7th Street lays in the center of town. 7th Street is a quaint little area were the sidewalks are done up in cobblestone, and business men, housewives, and school children flock to the various interest points that range from popular franchises such as Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks to independent food stops that more so catch my eye.

Tucked away in the back parking lot for 7th Street is Garden City Bistro, a small gourmet shop that offers soups, salads, and paninis but specializes in their wraps.

Back Entrance From Parking Lot


At the food peaks of the day, especially lunch time, the narrow but long Bistro is filled with a long single line of businessfolk, teens, and everyone in between.  The employees behind the counter make everything right in front of you, stirring ingredients for the wraps in large salad bowls to integrate the flavors, and throw chicken, steak, and other favorites right on the griddle. Their bacon is like a steak in itself, thick and chopped up fresh, and may be the best actual bacon I've had out in terms of its flavor and consistency- not crumbly, but juicy.

There are a ton of wrap places on Long Island, but what makes GC Bistro stand out isnt just its quality, gourmet ingredients. The size and shape of the wraps make them their own unique entity, and two meals in one. The wraps arent the usual flat, food roll-ups I'm used too. They are big, bulky, burrito-esque torpedos of flaver.

The wraps come in Regular, Whole Wheat, Tomato-Basil, and Spinach


While there are plenty of great options that range from spicy, to savory, to sweet, such as the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and the Steak Wrap, my personal favorite is rooted in simplicity, which further celebrates Bistro as a simple concept that has something special about it. The BLT Wrap is the best item on the menu, taking the standard concept of bacon, lettuce, and tomato, and turning it into a flavorful, juicy treat. Besides the bacon, which Ive already praised, the key ingredient to the wrap (and maybe to the whole place) is a Basil-Aioli dressing, which takes the place of mayo in the creation, which takes everything to a whole new level. I'm a huge fan of special dressing or sauce- it can make or break an entire meal, concept, or restaurant- and this particular one has it down. I always ask for a little extra, and sometimes I'm out of luck because they run out quick.

The wraps are a bit pricey, which isn't a surprise given that they live in Garden City, but considering how expensive crappy wraps are, it's worth it in my book.

Bistro is located on:
662 Franklin Ave. (Or enter through 7th Street Parking Lot)
Garden City, NY
Mon-Sat: 8:00am-6:00pm
CLOSED Sunday

(516) 747-3696
Major Cards Accepted
GC Bistro

10/11/10

Harbes Family Farm

It's important to remember that Long Island is just that, a long island, and that food experiences don't have to end in central L.I. Although it's a trip, venturing toward the end of the island can not only make for a wonderful fall trip, but it can expose you to some of the great, fresh, simple fare that Long Island's farm and wine country have to offer.

Harbes Family Farm is just one of these examples. Harbes sports three farms, but the one with the good food is located in Jamesport, in the heart of the North Fork's wine pulse. It has great Fall activities to offer, including pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and wine, something for the whole family.

The best thing offered however, is simply the roasted corn. Good corn in a luxury that goes unappreciated on L.I. Sure, you can get it absolutely anywhere, but people who haven't had good corn are really missing out, and people who have had it are spoiled forever.

If you find yourself out on the Island, farm fresh roasted corn and fresh apple cider should be a must for you. Harbes offers these items along with others. The roasted corn is just amazing, crunchy, and fresh. On a nice Fall day you really can't beat the whole experience being far out on L.I.

Harbes also offers some unique items that I also really enjoyed, that also complimented the corn, and was all made from the farm as well. Harbes' apples were used to make delicious Apple Cider, even better and rarer Apple Cider Slushies, and even warm Apple Cider Donuts.


Harbes is out there at:
1223 Main Road
Jamesport, NY
Open Daily (Jul.-Nov.1) 9:00am-6:00pm

(631) 722-2022
FREE PARKING

http://www.harbesfamilyfarm.com/