FLUSHING — If you were looking to avoid carbs and go on a high protein diet, Tuesday may not have been the best day to start.
From penne pasta to cheesecake, carbs ruled at 10th annual Queens Taste, an impressive array of global cuisine showcasing the best food of the borough.
Italian food ruled this year as Bayside’s Papazzio Restaurant won the ‘Best Appetizer’ award for their traditional Italian meatless soup — Pasta e Fagioli.
Flushing’s Magna Restaurant bagged the "Best Entrée" award with Penne alla Siciliana — pasta with eggplant and mozzarella — accompanied by a breaded Chicken Romano.
Tropisec cleaned up in the "Best Dessert" section with their Colombian-inspired dried fruit creations.
Jackson Heights favorites Uncle Peter’s and Pop Diner didn’t earn any awards at the event but they went home plenty of new fans. Food blogger Kristen Hess was particular impressed by Uncle Peter’s dulce de leche, exclaiming, “Oh my god! Fuggedaboutit!”
As visitors snaked around the buffet table, they had a chance to sample French-inspired desserts, wasabi-flavored marshmallows and specialty flavored ice pops from small businesses housed in Long Island City’s food and business incubator, The Entrepreneur Space.
"You have so many great places in Queens," said Laurelton resident Mary Grant, “but you never get to visit them all.”
The Queens Economic Development Corporation, which organized the event at Citifield's Caesars Club, hopes to draw more people into the borough from elsewhere.
“We want to support small businesses, new businesses and also bring in more tourists into Queens,” said Seth Bornstein, the group's executive director.
Bayside resident Mathew Silverstein, summed up the true intent of the event, saying, “I think it’s a great way to show the rest of the city that there is more to it than just Manhattan.”
