FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JANUARY 12, 2017 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 39 dining out Chopped champ is a local champ BY PEARL ADLER With a huge yet shy smile on her face, Maria Petridis shared her 10-month journey that culminated with her competing on the Food Network’s hit show, “Chopped.” Although she had fi lmed it months before it aired last month, she was required to keep it a secret that she even competed. Now the lid was off the pot and we could all enjoy her victory and know the Bayside restaurant was now a part of TV immortality. Yes, the food is as good as the judges claimed in choosing her cooking over her three competitors. I’m lucky that Th e Courier offi ce is only steps away from the warm intimate photo fi lled restaurant appropriately called “Maria’s.” Th e pictures on the walls are of her family in Greece where she lived until her teens then immigrated to America to build a family and open her namesake restaurant. Although I’ve enjoyed lunches and dinners many times, I returned for dinner to sample some of the dishes she cooked on TV. Her signature is taking fresh, high-quality ingredients and cooking them simply with traditional seasonings. My friend and I began our meal by sharing the classic Greek salad fi lled with luscious ruby red tomatoes, not seen oft en now that the season is over. Another appetizer has my mouth watering even now just thinking about it: feta saganaki, a chunk of feta cheese wrapped in a crispy crunchy sesame seed wrapping, pan fried (but not greasy) and drizzled with honey. It’s a perfect appetizer to excite your palate for the remarkably authentic Greek cuisine. We also had had Maria’s oysters in the shell with sautéed spinach, Parmesan cheese with a beurre blanc sauce—a unique combination. So was the haloumi grilled goat cheese. For our entrees, we had a huge grilled octopus cooked crispy on the outside and soft and succulent to the bite. My favorite, whole branzino, is one of their many gluten-free choices. It is served with fresh cut crispy French fries; I added one of the multiple side choices off ered—the steamed vegetables. Traditional Greek specialties fi ll the menu, including spanakopita (spinach pie), moussaka (layered eggplant, potato, ground meat with bechamel) and more than a dozen diff erent meat and seafood dishes. Although I was full from my heavenly food experience, I had to have Maria’s amazing dessert, the grand fi nale of a memorable meal. It’s a layered spectacular treat beginning with custard on a crispy fi la dough base sprinkled with a little honey, and topped with freshly made whipped cream. It’s a must-taste dessert to fi nish a meal you will want to repeat. I actually returned the next day for lunch. Once you try Maria’s, you’ll love it immediately, and will keep coming back! Maria’s, 38-11 Bell Blvd., Bayside. 718- 279-1606. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, children’s menu and catering available, curbside pickup available, wheelchair accessible. CHOPPED CHAMPION Bayside Chef MARIA PETRIDIS Wins on Food Network's CHOPPED MariasOnBell.com 38-11 Bell Blvd. Bayside, NY 11361 718-279-1606 -Open 7 Days A Weekwww.
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