Astoria Queens July 2007

A brief reconnaissance in force to explore a small area in Astoria for suitability for Cafe FISTFA.. Within about 6 blocks of the Broadway stop of the N train there was an astonishing variety of reasonable cafes and restaurants and one sizable bookshop. The bookshop was formerly Stowel & Sons but is now Seaburn books, 33-18 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106, tel 718-267-7929 (www.seaburn.com). The Mexican place had some items I had never seen before such as scrambled eggs with cactus and exotic tropical shakes. A lot of places were closed for the 4th of July, like Mundo Cafe at 31-18 E Broadway with one owner who is Turkish and the other Argentine and the cuisine apparently reflects both. The Polish butcher was likewise closed. The Colombian restaurant presents a cuisine that looks sharply different from the Puerto Rican and Dominican that I have a passing aquaintance with This is to the good because I am convinced that only barbarians relish deep fried foods.

Astoria Queens July 2007