Photos by Michael Rapp
Spring is here, and that means it’s time for the
Taste of Sunnyside! Hosted by the non-profit
organization Sunnyside Shines Business
Improvement District, over the years, this
flavorful and fun food festival has become
30 APRIL 2019 I LIC COURIER I www.qns.com
a try and true local tradition in Queens, New
York. The event brings together an eclectic
mix of restaurants and breweries, reflect-ing
the glorious diversity of people in the
World’s Borough.
For an all-inclusive admission fee, at-tendees
have access to the most deca-dent
food of Sunnyside under one roof,
ranging from Queens Boulevard’s Dazies,
an Italian fine dining locale since 1972, to the
recently opened Rincon Melania, a family-owned
restaurant specializing in traditional Ecuadorian
dishes (we heard that their popular ceviche dish
might be in the cards for the Taste). Newcomers
to the Taste, include Lion City Coffee, a pop-up
café paying homage to kopitam (Singaporean
breakfast), which includes items like kaya toast
(toast with coconut and pandan flavored jam)
and more.
Since the event’s inception, which started as a BID
initiative to highlight the array of local food options in
Sunnyside, Tito Rad’s, a family-style Flippino restaurant
has been an avid participant. Owned by the charming
duo Mario and Susan Albenio, the restaurant is known
for their sisig (baked and charred pork belly), an array
of meat dishes, and that garlic rice.
“I’m very happy and excited to participate again
this year. There’s always a lot of fun, games, and
food,” Susan said.
“This year, we will be serving our grilled chicken
and sisig,” adds Mario. “Sisig is a mix of pork belly and
liver marinated in lemon and pepper.”
The Taste of Sunnyside will also curate an expansive
list of breweries and beverage sponsors. Taste beers
and wine from participants such as Queens Brewery,
Brooklyn Brewery, Big aLICe Brewing, LIC Beer
Project, Rockaway Brewing, Lowery Wine & Liquor,
ICONNYC Brewing, Green Valley Marketplace, Palm
Sunnyside Shines
TASTE OF
SUNNYSIDE
RETURNS FOR
ITS NINTH YEAR
/www.qns.com
/www.qns.com
