46 The QUEE NS Courier • WELCOME TO • march 20, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com welcome to flushing s WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO EAT By Bradley Hawks Rising from the subway station in Flushing, I was instantly whisked onto the streets of Hong Kong. Ads for mobile carriers appear in only Chinese characters, and the MTA snack bodega also sells bamboo plants. Like being sucked into some enormously strong Pacific rip current, I try my best to blend with the crowd and follow where they lead me. Briskly running up the stairs toward street level, I am hit with breezes of garlic, soy and spices I cannot even remotely identify. I eventually pass an entire block of butchers with whole ducks glistening in the windows, noodle shops, bakeries and grocery stores before I finally find my feet and leap from the rapid stream of people swirling along the sidewalk. I am intoxicated with the sights, sounds and smells of Main Street in Flushing — and this is not my first, or even fifth visit. So as an introduction to Flushing, I offer a few of the first places you might want to consider during a visit. Peking Duck Sandwich Stall At the corner of 40th Road and Main Street For only $1, I receive a delicately fluffy mantou (steamed bun) folded with warm, slow-roasted duck with crispy glazed skin, slivers of cold and crunchy cucumber and scallion, drizzled generously with hoisin sauce. The textures and flavors are all familiar to me, but have never quite harmonized in this perfect combination. It’s the ideal snack to start off with, and my palate is now whet for some serious tasting.
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