eat something new in Queens!
Are you ready to switch things up?
It's the dead of winter. Many of us are deep in our meal routines, sticking to favorite takeout spots in our neighborhoods. I get it. It happens to the best of us, even here in Queens.
Which is why we're running this challenge again: to wake up your taste buds and get you outside your culinary comfort zone, eating with curiosity and intention.
It's time to Eat Something New in Queens!
For this year's challenge (beginning March 1), we are not only going to find and eat new-to-us dishes around the borough, we are also going to explore new-to-us grocery items (back by popular demand!) and (for those who can) unfamiliar-to-us neighborhoods in Queens. (To be clear, everyone chooses their own dish and neighborhood they want to explore more of. We do this collectively but individually!)
If you're thinking, Well, actually I do this sort of thing all the time—I promise this will be different. We'll do it together, as neighbors, learning from each other. With intention and community, there's accountability (and more fun!). Together we'll help support our local restaurants and discover new foods and places to love in this endlessly interesting borough.
Bonus: The Facebook group we started for this challenge last year has swelled to 8K members who never stop talking about food in Queens! If you aren't sure what to order in a Bengali or Filipino or Guyanese restaurant, ask in the group and ye shall receive. While the challenge contents are shared over email, there will be daily discussion in the Facebook group. (You do not need to be on Facebook to participate in this challenge though!)
Sound fun? Sign up for the 5-day Eat Something New in Queens challenge, hosted by Jackson Heights-based writer + food tour guide Laura Siciliano-Rosen of Eat Your World.
We have amazing prizes this year! Top participants have the chance to win the following: Jackson Heights food-cart art by local artist Costanza Musumeci ($30 value), gift certificates to various Queens restaurants (Richmond Hill's Sybil's Bakery and Veggie Castle II; $100 value), a Jackson Heights food tour for two with Eat Your World ($140 value), and a grand prize, sponsored by Queens Together, of two VIP tickets to Pig Beach BBQ's 2nd Annual Jeff Michner Foundation BBQ Benefit on April 30 in Astoria ($400 value).
We start Tuesday, March 1.