Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Review: QUEENS: A CULINARY PASSPORT, by Andrea Lynn

Queens: A Culinary Passport: Exploring Ethnic Cuisine in New York City's Most Diverse Borough, by Andrea Lynn. Published 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin. Nonfiction. Food Writing. Tourism and Travel.

I've visited New York City many times before I moved here this fall, but nothing prepared me for living in Queens, a crazy hodgepodge of neighborhoods, main drags, side streets and nooks and crannies, a borough populated by folks from all over the world, each with their own little piece of it and each bringing with them their own culture and food. As I learned on my recent walking tour of Jackson Heights, you can cross the street and go from the Philippines to Nepal, Bangladesh to Tibet, and Colombia to Mexico and Ecuador and back again. And that's just in one neighborhood of this eclectic and electric corner of NYC.

I heard about Andrea Lynn's book through a mutual friend of ours and it's become an essential companion on my travels as I explore my new home. It's not the kind of book you necessarily read cover to cover though. It's a guide, and she takes you neighborhood by neighborhood from the Greek and Italian treats in Astoria, to the Jewish and Russian delicacies of Forest Hills and Rego Park,  and more through Woodside, Corona, Sunnyside, Flushing, Elmhurst and that little bit of everything that is Jackson Heights. I've already used it to revisit some of those walking tour experiences, and find new things too.

Along the way she includes interviews with local foodies, recipes and personal anecdotes and advice along with descriptions of each neighborhood. It's a really fascinating and illuminating book and a must-have for every New Yorker as well as visitors who want to know more about this underappreciated and vibrant part of the city. Queens may not be as trendy as Brooklyn or as flashy as Manhattan but it has a lot to offer to those willing to take the time to visit.

Click here for my interview with Andrea Lynn!

Rating: BUY

FTC Disclosure: I did not receive this book for review.

3 comments:

bermudaonion said...

This sounds good - are any recipes included?

As the Crowe Flies and Reads said...

It sounds like you've landed yourself in one amazing neighborhood. I look forward to reading more of your adventures, culinary or otherwise.

Trish said...

Just found out that you had moved to NYC! I'm sure that will be a great, challenging change for you. Hope to follow what is going on with you. You working or was it your husband's work change?