It's the dead of winter. You're in a routine. You have your favorite takeout spots in your neighborhood and you're mostly sticking to 'em. You've ordered dinner on autopilot one too many times.
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, get you outside your culinary comfort zone, and eating with curiosity and intention.
It's time to Eat Something New in Queens!
For this year's challenge, 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 unfamiliar-to-us neighborhoods.
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 a lot of 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! They're a worldly, curious bunch who share tips generously. If you aren't sure what to order in a Bengali or Filipino or Guyanese restaurant, ask if the group and ye shall receive. While the challenge contents are shared over email, there will be daily discussion in the Facebook group.
Sound fun? Sign up for the 5-day challenge to Eat Something New in Queens, hosted by Jackson Heights writer + food tour guide Laura Siciliano-Rosen of Eat Your World. We'll send out daily emails for the challenge and invite discussion in the Facebook group. There will even be prizes!
We start Feb. 14.