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Story + Images by Bradley Hawks Everyone enjoys a healthy meal that is prepared quickly with fresh ingredients. It’s even sweeter when you can grab it on the way to work, returning from the gym or have it delivered quickly to your home. Create on 30th Avenue has been a neighborhood favorite for precisely that kind of meal for several years. But whatever 30th Avenue has, Ditmars quickly wants for itself. In some instances, Ditmars does it even better. Create recently opened its sister location, known as Create Ditmars. The new spot is positioned just around the corner from Trattoria L’Incontro in the overflow space formerly known as Vino di Vino. Now the wine bar and pizzeria has officially morphed into a destination of its own. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the expansive restaurant feels industrial and pristine, achieving an ambiance that is comfortable, yet lends itself to a quick turning of the table. Customers can still design their own custom salads, as the toppings are far more reasonably priced than most Manhattan competitors. But the real draw seems to be freshly squeezed juices with alluring names (one, The Swag, blends carrots and oranges with lemon, kale, and ginger) and breakfast sandwiches adorned with Astoriainspired monikers (The Ditty stacks grilled turkey with pepper jack and avocado). You can also enjoy paleo, quinoa, turkey burger, and acai bowls, as well as yogurt bowls, steal cut oatmeal, and a selection of wraps, ‘slamwiches’ and salads. A market table offers vegetable eggplant balls, sofrito tofu and an array of meats and proteins. Smashed avocado toast sandwiches blend that delicious, creamy verdigris with toppings such as fried eggs, hummus and pico de gallo. A selection of almost a dozen varieties of mac and cheese bowls is one of the most notable new offerings. Customers can indulge in the cheeseblanketed elbow macaroni adorned with toppings that range from truffle oil to barbecue chicken, salmon and turkey meatballs. French fry lovers can mix it up, ordering anything from classic disco fries to truffled sweet potato fries, or even a chipotle version complete with melted queso fresco. Everything is delicious, prepared fresh, and available in preset recipes, or easily customized to meet almost any dietary preference or need. One morning, I started the day with The Ditty and a Matcha Green Latte with almond milk and agave. It was estimated to arrive between 30 and 40 minutes, but my buzzer rang after only 20 had passed. Now that’s the kind of service that will keep me coming back. 29-21 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105 36-03 30th Ave, Astoria, NY 11103 C FOOD & DRINK r ea t e 42 I BOROMAG.COM I APRIL 2016


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