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Eating In Translation

@davemcook.bsky.social
53 followers 2 following 489 posts

Eating In Translation examines interesting, usually inexpensive food in and around New York, and occasionally farther afield.

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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Burmese, Egyptian, Greek, Indonesian, West African, and a rare opportunity to enjoy Panamanian bofe con hojaldre (shown) bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
An exceptional nam khao with pickled pork — exceptional, even after I'd chowed down on grilled sai oua — at the Lao pop-up Heunkuoa, in the backyard of the Greenpoint, Brooklyn bar Troost, 1011 Manhattan Ave. The pop-up returns today, October 3, 4:30 till sold out. www.instagram.com/heunkuoa/
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Make room for an overstuffed weekend of New York-area food events: Chinese, Creole, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Filipino, German, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, pan-Latin American, Native American, Nigerian, Romanian, Slavonic, Ukrainian, and more bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A root beer freeze — though not nearly as colorful as the hand-drawn menu board, it hits the spot during the last gasp of summery weather — at The Screen Door, 4819 Skillman Ave., Sunnyside, Queens
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The most notable herb in this bún chả Hà Nội isn't heaped on the plate. Xương sông, wrapped around minced-pork patties, adds peppery and somewhat astringent notes when herb and pork are chargrilled together. It's hard to source in New York; Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen, on Second Ave., grows its own.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Cold sesame noodles from Pán Dà (previously known as Panda, with the usual iconography), Catherine St., Manhattan. Weighty and lush, they'll provide two meals for any reasonable appetite. Indulge in late-night noodles, available till 2:00 a.m., and enjoy leftovers when you wake!
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Seen in passing, on a much nicer day: Shad Crossing (2004), glass mosaics designed by Ming Fay and fabricated by Franz Meyer of Munich, in the Delancey St.-Essex St. station, Manhattan
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Cheesesteak kinfolk? A pirata de carne asada, in which a flour tortilla is wedded to yellow cheese before being heaped with strip steak (and onions, at your pleasure), Tacos Domingo, First Ave., Manhattan. Several options at the salsa bar; Whiz is not one of them.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
New York-area food events, September 24-30: When it's windy, it helps to have food with a handle! bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Rice with seafood redux: arroz chaufa de mariscos, fried Chinese-style with octopus, mussels, shrimp, squid, and perhaps clams, too, at Simple Peruvian, Ridgewood, Queens
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Thiebou djeun (white; prepared with snapper), Mado, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., Manhattan. Uncommon: a cup of tamarind sauce on the side, for customizing tartness. Typical: trios of men, at other tables, digging into communal portions of this Senegalese dish, each with his own tablespoon.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Rough-and-tumble salt-baked soft-shell crabs, and the Chinese greens of the day, at Great N.Y. Noodletown, Bowery, Manhattan. Also shown: the storefront by night, years back.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Armenian, Egyptian, Ethiopian, German, Greek, Guatemalan, Himalayan, Indonesian, Italian, Mexican, more: bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Pe ywet thoke, blanched pea leaf and peanut salad, and nga hin, fish curry (both comped), at Burmese Bites, recently transplanted to a sunny corner of Astoria, Queens. Looking forward to exploring the greatly expanded menu!
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Hot and sour soup, and a lunch-special baby eggplant with spicy garlic sauce, at Szechuan Gourmet, which just completed its move from West 39th to West 105th, in Manhattan Valley, on the site of the old Szechuan Garden
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
A heapin' helpin' of esquites Fritos, and the makings thereof, by Frutilandia Gaby of Passaic, New Jersey, at Sunday's Festival México Herencia Hispana, East 116th St., Manhattan
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Cheesecake, decorated with caramel and chocolate, from the Metamorfosis stand, raising money for senior care in Acapa, Municipio de Tlahuiltepa, Hidalgo, at Sunday's Festival México Herencia Hispana, East 116th St., Manhattan
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Armenian, Central American, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Greek, Himalayan, Indonesian — New York-area food events, September 10-16 — Italian, Korean, Macedonian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Norwegian, Polish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Poppy seed cheesecake, East Village Meat Market, Second Ave., Manhattan
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Since dim sum is best shared, I watched this cart wheel on by — and several others, too, each with its own temptations — asking only for a photo. My consolation on this first visit to Wu's Dynasty, newly opened on West 70th St., Manhattan: crispy pan-fried noodles with seafood.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Seen in passing: Shafique's Sweet Betel Paan and the even more compact Paan by Bondu, two tiny corner shops making a living for their proprietors on Diversity Plaza, Jackson Heights, Queens
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A Brazilian street fair in Astoria highlights my roundup of New York-area food events for Labor Day Weekend bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Herb-laced, leaf-wrapped, grilled Kachin chicken from the bountiful table of Ma Jar Bu, at the recent street festival organized by National Humanitarian Fundraising for Myanmar (NHFMM) in Elmhurst, Queens. More photos from past years: bit.ly/NHFMM-photos...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
An excellent lamb "burger," replete with off-cuts as well as muscle meat, at Mongolian Momo King, which has staked out a small storefront at 327 East 12th St., Manhattan. Also shown, take-one milk candies at the counter — caramel, also camel.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
From late spring: my last "lady's cake" (a.k.a. wife cake, sweetheart cake, lao po bing) from Ka Wah Bakery, Eldridge St., Manhattan. Several months ago Ka Wah quietly went dark, and the shop front (shown a baker's dozen summers ago) is now shuttered and signless. I miss it.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
A fatty lamb liver skewer, and noodles with grilled lamb (too bad the tea-scented chicken rice was 86'ed this afternoon!), at Qazaq Halal BBQ, which recently settled down in a storefront at 5513 Metropolitan Ave., Maspeth, Queens
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Sweet tarts on sticks: tomato tanghulu, coated in a hardened sugar shell, by QQ Yummy Sweet, at a random Manhattan street fair earlier this year
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
New York-area food events, late August bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Rada-style dorade — herb-stuffed, bran-crusted, and grilled — at Egyptian seafood restaurant Ibn Hamido, Astoria, Queens. More from our seafood-heavy lunch: grilled shrimp, grilled squid, and singari-style striped bass — butterflied, topped with seasoned vegetables, and baked.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
For people who chew betel leaf, any buzz is delivered by the areca nut that's tucked inside, not from the leaf itself. When it's wrapped around grilled beef, Vienamese style, betel leaf simply adds a peppery flavor.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
A cheese slice at Lillo's Tomato Pies, Forest Hills, Queens. Also shown: dining room artwork (Hugo Mejia Guerra, a.k.a. Hugus, 2026) pointing to South Jersey roots and cheesesteak pride.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Grilled beef in betel leaves, mango pomelo salad, beef tartare and bone marrow, and turmeric fish with dill at Vietnamese restaurant Ginger & Lemongrass, which reopened last month at a new location (and with a spacious patio!) in Whitestone, Queens
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Mango and jicama with bagoong (buh-go-Ong), a rich, salty, and often pungent Filipino seafood condiment, by Kain Tayo NYC, returning Sunday to the Little Manila street festival, Woodside, Queens
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
A massive Ilocos empanada (note the quarter, for scale), stuffed with green papaya, crumbled longanisa, and, deep down, hardboiled egg, by Merienda NYC, returning Sunday to the Little Manila street festival, Woodside, Queens. Also: assorted skewers; melon juice (all items comped).
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Bolivian, Burmese, Filipino, Grenadian, Indonesian, Italian, Mexican, Pakistani: Read my roundup of New York-area food events for August 20-23 bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
A quipe from the keep-warm countertop box at El Guayo Deli Grocery, 2298 Amsterdam Ave., Manhattan. Artwork (c. 2025) by Snoeman, who has decorated many shops in Washington Heights, their ice machines in particular.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Baked eggplant with minced pork and preserved vegetable, sautéed lotus root with bean paste, lobster with ginger and scallion, and sizzling plate chicken with fermented black bean, Congee Village, Flushing, Queens
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
It's been a minute: a juicy, cumin-scented Uzbek pilaf at Taam-Tov, in the upstairs dining room overlooking West 47th St., Manhattan. Also shown, decades ago: a sandwich-board man on the street outside.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Georgian brunch: pear khachapuri, drizzled with just enough honey to take the edge off the salty cheeses, at Sipsteria, Amsterdam Ave., Manhattan
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Georgian brunch: pear khachapuri, drizzled with just enough honey to take the edge off the salty cheeses, at Sipsteria, Amsterdam Ave., Manhattan
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
A thin-crusted Hot Head slice, with pepperoni and hot honey, at Masani Pizza, Forest Hills, Queens. Also shown: where to make the tip like O.G. Anunoby.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Meat-free Friday: soft-shell crabs, A Taste of Seafood, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Manhattan
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Looks like a beautiful weekend for outdoor celebrations! Read my roundup of New York-area food events for mid-August: bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Seen in passing: no tanghulu inside please, a polite, very specific, hand-drawn prohibition notice posted in the West 30s, Manhattan. Thank you for your understanding.
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Picadera frita ("pequeña"), pernil, pollo, and arroz con calamares, Malecon, Broadway, Manhattan. Our usually ravenous group ultimately didn't find room for that entire Dominican appetizer platter; good thing we only ordered the "small"!
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Fried chicken on a buttermilk biscuit (comped) from Cheeky Sandwiches — reopened after three-plus years, on limited hours for now, with just a two-sandwich menu — in the Essex Market, Essex St., Manhattan. Can't wait for the po' boys!
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
Nectarine sorbet — a generous single scoop, packed far down into my cake cone — a seasonal flavor at @JuliaJeansIceCream, Clinton St., Manhattan H/T @mahirarivers.bsky.social
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Babaghanoush, maklouba, and lamb kebabs, Ayat, Ave. C, Manhattan
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
When you bite into a salteña, lean in! Read my roundup of New York-area food events for August 6-9 — not just Bolivian, but also Ecuadorian, Indonesian, Italian, Pakistani, Peruvian, and more bit.ly/nyfoodevents...
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Eating In Translation @davemcook.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Guo bao rou — the Northeast Chinese version of sweet and sour pork, sugar downplayed in favor of vinegar — at Dongbei, Columbus Ave., Manhattan
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