ASTORIA — Astoria eatery The Queens Kickshaw will celebrate the holidays this year with a special Christmas Eve mash-up brunch combining Asian and Jewish delicacies including ramen noodle kugel and Szechuan eggs in a latke basket.
Owner Ben Sandler said the themed brunch is inspired by Wox and Lox, an annual Jewish-and-Chinese Christmas event thrown by Queens residents Jeff Orlick and Veronica Chan to celebrate the holiday connection between the two cultures, based on the tradition of Chinese food restaurants being one of the few places open on Christmas.
"They're the inspiration — they're the mastermind behind the idea of putting together a meal for people who otherwise feel left off the Christmas day spirit," said Sandler, who owns Queens Kickshaw with his wife, Jennifer Lim.
The restaurant hosted Wox and Lox the last two years, and while the event will be taking place in Chinatown this year, Sandler and Lim decided they wanted to keep a version of the tradition going.
"We would love to host it again next year if it works out," Sandler said. "We wanted to continue the spirit in some way."
Other dishes at mash-up brunch will include challah French toast with a Chinese five-spice pear compote; Okonomi Matza Brei, a hybrid between a savory Japanese pancake and the traditional Jewish egg and matza dish; and kimchi shakshouka.
Patrons will be able to sip on egg cream bubble teas or a "Szechuan Matzo Beer," from local brewery SingleCut Beersmiths.
The brunch will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, with all dishes served a la carte. The restaurant will not be taking reservations and will be closed for dinner.
