MAY 2018 I BOROMAG.COM 17
Swansong and Golden Delicious put on a
wild, raucous, no-holds-barred show. It runs
the gamut from Disney mashups made decidedly
R-rated to Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton
and, of course, Broadway favorites. Audience
participation is not only encouraged
but pretty much required. If you don’t want
a skirt thrust over your head, sit against the
wall. And bring plenty of dollar bills — these
ladies aren’t lip syncing for their health.
At Fresco’s, don’t expect bottomless drinks
but don’t expect to go home thirsty, either.
The cantina offers a carafe of Martinez’s own
sangria recipe or the classic mimosa plus
an entree for $35 per person (plus tax and
gratuity). And trust me, you’re not going to
need more than one carafe.
The menu runs the gamut as well, offering
a brunch version of the cantina’s Mexican and
South American flavors with a twist. Martinez
pointed out the “Lomo al Caballo,” or the cantina’s
take on steak and eggs, as their bestseller.
A heaping pile of perfectly crunchy french fries
comes with tender marinated skirt steak, onions
and tomatoes with a fried egg on top. Pro
tip: dunk your fries and steak in the egg yolk for
a umami bomb that will spoil you for any other
steak and eggs platter.
On the sweeter side, don’t sleep on the
churro French toast. French bread tossed in
cinnamon sugar gets drizzled with Nutella
dulce de leche and topped with just a whisper
of whipped cream. A side of scrambled
eggs and crispy bacon makes the perfect
Fresco’s Cantina at 12-14 31st Ave. has already
made a name for itself on the heels of
its awesome “Mexican reinvented” cuisine,
its popular happy hour and eclectic atmosphere.
In January, owner Brian Martinez decided
to try out a drag brunch to boost sales
in the post-holiday slump that plagues the
industry. And it blew up like a glitter cannon.
As a member of the community himself,
Martinez wanted to create a place where
Astoria’s vibrant LGBT population could go
to let their hair down.
“Even though we have a large LGBT
population, we only really have a couple of
gay bars,” he explained. “I’d been to drag
brunches in the city and I thought, why
not?” It started with a four-week trial run,
but the event’s popularity has kept it going
ever since.
Brunch fans of all stripes enjoy throwing
down a few mimosas and belting out
a song or two with Martinez’s cadre of
queens. But Martinez does not necessarily
recommend kids join in on the fun.
Because the subject matter can get spicier
than the breakfast burrito, he wouldn’t recommend
it for anyone under 16.
“Let’s put it this way,” he said, laughing.
“It’s up to you what you want to expose
your kids to, but we’re not the ones who
have to answer the questions when you
get home!”
And once the show starts, it’s easy to
see what he means. Drag queens Gloria