lambretta76

Tanoreen has been a favorite of mine for a couple of years now and the three best things are the sujok, the cauliflower, and anything involving lamb. I don't know if they have the best supplier, their lamb is more halal (perhaps its been blessed by a Muslim, Jew, Hindi, Buddhist, and Christian to cover all bases), or whatever - but their lamb is some of the tastiest I've ever had. The only low point in the meal is the olive/pickle "plate" - it's quite possibly one of the saltiest things I've ever had in my life - including that time when I was four and decided to see why my pet rabbit was so enamoured to that little white disc in his cage. Parking should be no problem if you get there early on - but apparently that part of Brooklyn hasn't caught on to the fact that drunk driving is no good for you. Watch out if you decide to get a drink afterwards... on a side note I'm not aware of a BYO policy - perhaps a call ahead would be appropriate as this is at least a partially Muslim-run joint. (If it's allowable, it's also worth picking up a sixer of Casablanca beer at Eagle Provisions on 5th in the Slope - Morocco's finest!)

Zenon Taverna, in Astoria, has been rumoured to have several Cypriot dishes on the menu. Zenon Taverna 34-10 31st Avenue (Queens) Btwn 34th & 35th Streets 718-956-0133

The Maltese bakery in question: JMJ International Bakery aka Jmj Baking 3811 23rd St. LIC

Also, El Timonel in Marbella, on Calle Finlandia, was a really tasty seafood joint. Made passing time in the resorts down there palatable.

I actually loved Malaga, but that was after spending a week in Marbella and Gibraltar. And it also happened to be Carnaval - I had a blast. Only down side was that that stupid church 'La Manquita' rang every 15 minutes throughout the night and I am a very light sleeper... I think I happened on El Tintero II, and it was great. I couldn't get enough of the boquerones. Had some really good tapas in the sketchier part of town up on the hill. Some French got me a really good seafood tagine in the Moroccan neighborhood. And I made some great friends from just hanging out in the cafes and strolling along the promenade at night. It was the friendliest place I had been in Spain. Cafe de Paris was also closed for renovations while I was there, so I didn't get to try it... pitty - it would've been my first Michelin-starred restaurant and from the sounds of it, the food is deserved of this praise.

Actually - Woo Lae Oak is a large international chain started in Seoul back in the 50s... the one in Seoul looked very nice but there was so much better food to be had elsewhere in the little backrooms throughout the city... Dok Suni's and Do Hwa are related to each other - with the latter having Quentin Tarantino as a business partner.

I know it's not ethnic, but the Vernor's ginger ale remark reminds me of my favorite soda of my youth - Tom Thumb Mint Ginger Ale. Love that stuff, and surely Pittsburghers are an ethic group in their own right? Yinz cin fill free ta back me up n'at....

Pan - Istrian food - The Istria Sports Club - 28-09 Astoria Boulevard in LIC The Rudar Sports Club - 34-01 45th Street in Astoria Friulan - Famee Furlane - 20-10 127th Street in College Point Ghanan - Ebe Ye Yie - 2364 Jerome Ave., Bronx Kowus - 3396 Third Ave, Bronx Giftanco - 97-09 57th Ave in Corona (can't find the Brooklyn one, but I will) South African - Madiba (a/k/a i-Shebeen) 195 Dekalb Avenue in Fort Green Eritrean - Caffe Adulis - 39 East 19th Street in Manhattan Massawa - 1239 Amsterdam Avenue Sarajevan (Bosnian) Sarajevo Cevabdzinica - 37-18 34th Ave in Astoria As for the Maltese bakery - I dont' have the address, but it is in Astoria, and I have had its pastizzi which are great. I will try and get this address soon...

Very good Filipino restaurants in Woodside as well... Krystal's and Ihawan come to mind, couple of others I believe as well... Elvie's Turo Turo on 1st and 12th/13th in Manhattan (or thereabouts) makes a mean Chicken Adobo as well. There's a branch of Krystal's across the street and down a block or so...

I've had this on several occasions. I don't know if I really enjoy it or dislike it. It has a weird dish-soap aftertaste, but can be quite pleasant. It's much better than kvas!

bhelpuri - I'm sorry for the confusion. I wasn't implying that the Goan food was comprised of only a few dishes, but that the restaurant Goa, on 6th St., only has a few Goan dishes in spite of its name. Floyd Cardoz' Goan specials at Tabla are quite good, but generally beyond my means for everyday dining. But Tabla is hardly a Goan restuarant. (It is, however, a very good one.) And ned - that sounds very interesting. If I'm ever in Hudson I'll check it out. Is that where most of the Bay Ridge Norwegians ended up? Interesting - seems to be a Norwegina chain that opened its first (?) US shop there... looks interesting! Bølgen and Moi website

Peardrax from Trinidad - a wonderful pear-flavoured soda. I second the rec for Antarctica Guarana. I really enjoy Chilsung Cider from Korea. And though not technically a soft drink, I can't get enough of that wonderful Japanese drink Pocari Sweat. The worst - an Iranian yoghurt soda flavoured with mint, black pepper, and salt. And I've heard Kinnie from Malta is quite nasty. My favorite of all time was a soda from France called Liptonic. I had it back in '94 and still have one bottle left of it. (I'm sure it's since turned, but hey - maybe it ages well!) It was a lime-flavoured iced tea soda. So, sooooooo good!

How about Cafe Kashkar - the Uigher restaurant in Coney Island? (It's fantastic) Nepali food can be had at Mina in Sunnyside (call in advance for momos and whatever else you might be able to think up - it's not on the regular menu but many dishes can be made if ordered in advance.) Lot's of Nepali hang out at Tibetan Yak in Jackson Heights, and the younger waitress there speaks Nepali fluently. (Want to find out the difference between Tibetan and Nepali food - put ketchup on your momos.) Enjoy that wonderful (kidding) butter tea flavoured with ghee and salt. Yes, Cambodian Cuisine is still around, but I grew up with lots of Cambodian food around in Pittsburgh. (Well, not lots, but at least several restaurants.) In Flushing, you'll find lots of different regional Chinese cuisines - go to the Food Courts to get a sampling. In Astoria, there's Istrian cuisine, a Maltese bakery, a yummy little Sarajevan fast food joint. Ghanan kenke can be had in at least three boroughs, and even Eritrea has had some representatives in this city. And South African food can be had near BAM. Notable missing cuisines - Canadian (esp. Quebecois) Norwegian/Finnish Tunisian New Zealand Laotian Goan (heard Goa only had a few dishes)

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the amazing fried watercress salad at Sri... quite possibly one of the best things I've ever eaten. One thing - I ordered it "mild on the Thai scale" and it was one of the hottest things I've ever consumed. A FRIGGIN SALAD had me sweating like mad! I couldn't drink beer fast enough, but it was so good. Next time I order it - it's "American spicy."

God - I haven't been back to Syracuse in a while, and I agree with many of phaelon56's recs. I wish I could remember more accurately, but there was once a tiny little "pseudo"-restaurant in North Syracuse? - it was near a junk shop that looked like an old airplane hangar? Coming from Syracuse and going towards Carousel mall, it was a right turn when you got off of 81 at Hiawatha I believe? (God my memory stinks) Anyways, it was a little Asian grocery store hole in the wall that also happened to have a small kitchen making soups and rice dishes. It was run by a Hmong family, and the food was very similar to Thai and Vietnamese (never had Laotian food, so I can't compare). It was very good, mostly offal meats in soups or stews (kind of curry like) and the food was around $3-$4. There was no English menu or English spoken, but the older woman who ran it was very nice. Went there a couple of times before I graduated, and haven't been back since... don't know if it's still there or not, but it was definitely right off of the main road (I took a wrong turn and decided to just get lost for a bit). Anyone have any idea what the name of this place is or if it's still open? (From what I gathered, Syracuse's Hmong population has moved further into the US, to places like Milwaukee and Minneapolis.) And as for Dinosaur - I agree I'm not up for the scene always, and I don't like blues, but the BBQ is some of the best in the NE. (If not THE best). I'm eagerly awaiting its NYC outpost.

You may want to try the cheescake contraption at Chikalicious in the East Village ... incredibly light, served on a mountain of crushed ice. (This place has many Japanese touches to it as I believe the owner is Japanese.)

Several places in NYC carry their products, and I've seen Sortilege at Astor Place Wines on Lafayette and a wine store in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Duty free in Niagara Falls (coming into the states) also has it - it might be found at other border crossings?

The "dueling tamale ladies" in Sunset Park (46th St) are there until about 7 or so on weekends... the Manhattan ones (that i think you are referring to) I have no idea about.

I've not had this, but how many points do I get for directing people to Eastern Nights Cafe on Steinway Street in Astoria, a fantastic Egyptian hookah cafe with the translated entreé - Tongue and Testicles. Check and mate!

Oh - best worldwide? Grilled chicken hearts on the streets of Seoul w/ soju at 3 in the morning. This amazing tempura on the backstreets of Yokohama. Or freshly grilled sardines on the shores of the Mediterranean just outside of Marbella. Worst ever - this awful takoyaki in Kyoto. The octopus was unchewable and actually bounced when I spit it out. The custardy raw batter had a particularly rotten quality about it. Though I did enjoy the guy who ran a bar out of the back of his van along the river there. 200 yen for a plastic cup filled to the brim with Suntory whiskey - man that kid rocked.

Rico's Tamales Oaxacenos in Sunset Park (46th and 5th) - unbelievably good pollo mole and queso oaxaceno tamales... and only a buck a piece. Also yummy limeade and horchata. Also, the grand dame of all street vendors, the Red Hool Ballfields on weekends in the summer. Must be nearly 20 food stalls set up for the soccer matches. Also, don't forget about the beloved Arepa Lady of Jackson Heights... if she's still out and about. And the yummy, grilled baby octopus out in Flushing. For Manhattan, I second Dosa Hut in Washington Square Park. Man that spicy pondicherry is tasty!

I am a huge fan of this drink, but have yet to come across someone who knows about it here in the States (save for the large number of people I have gotten hooked on it.) To me, it's the taste of winter, and I can't imagine any finer nightcap than a glass of this with a single ice cube (it's a little too "sticky" without it.) It's also fantastic in coffee and in pancakes and french toast. Maison de s Futailles - Sortilege

I really like Jasmine Dragon Pearl tea ... in NYC, from the Tea Lounge (two locations) in Park Slope. Or, Tealuxe in Boston. (used to be on the UWS, but has since closed...) (Bin #162 at Tealuxe.com - $4 for 10 grams or $20 for 50 grams.) TeaLuxe

I'd recommend the Papaya King for earlier in the day, and Grey's after you're trashed and ready to go home for the night. There's just something about the recession special with a Coconut Champagne, with the dogs "with everything" - which is just onions in tomato sauce, sauerkraut, spicy mustard, and ketchup. It's my favorite drunk food. Get the dogs well done so you get a better "crunch" with the skin.