64 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • APRIL 4, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com THE COURIER/Photo by Bradley Hawks Honoo Grill & Noodle is Astoria’s newest pan-Asian restaurant. East ‘meats’ West at Honoo Grill & Noodle BY BRADLEY HAWKS When 9-year-old Samuel Lu’s family moved from China next door to the family of 10-year-old Ben Lam in Flushing, a lifelong friendship was started over some good old-fashioned rounds of hoops after school. Lu’s father had been a chef at a fi ve star restaurant in the Guanzhong region of China, and while the two boys tossed the basketball, they dreamt aloud of one day opening their own restaurant together. Just two decades later, that dream became a reality when Honoo Grill & Noodle opened its doors on Ditmars this past January. The Japanese word for “fl ame”—a nod to the grilled preparation of many of the restaurants offerings— Honoo is Astoria’s newest pan- Asian restaurant. Bringing together Lu and Lam’s favorite dishes from the diverse continent, they serve several Japanese-style street foods, Chinese entrees, and Thai, Malaysian, and Korean plates, all with a Western Twist. The twist is “in the sauces we use, and in the presentation,” explains Lu. A tasty introduction to the fusion going on here is the plate of three fried wonton tacos stuffed with braised beef and peppers. The seafood wontons are also standouts, hand-stuffed with white fi sh and shrimp, and served with a sweet Thai chili sauce. Other traditional street foods include fried takoyaki, as well as a broad selection of yakitori. With kebabs ranging from just $2 to $7, these yakitori are ideal for mixing and matching as a full meal, or simply adding as a supplement to another entrée or noodle dish. Try the herbed beef short ribs, spicy cumin lamb, or a family recipe of tare-glazed chicken skewers. A house favorite, the cumin seasoning crystallizes on the meats, a crunchy coating which gives way to HONOO GRILL & NOODLE 33-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria, NY 11105 (718) 606-0653 www.honoo33.com Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m sweet and juicy bite-sized meats. The Honoo Special Noodles soup is exceptional, with a creamy broth rendered from boiling pork bones overnight, releasing the marrow and deep fl avors into the soup. Take a moment to savor the egg crowning the bowl of soup like a cherry on a sundae. Initially softboiled, the egg is then pickled in soy sauce and secret seasonings overnight, cut in half, then carefully stirred into the piping hot broth. The main ingredient, the cha-shu pork, is fi rst seared and caramelized to seal in fl avor, then slowroasted for several hours, rendering it exceptionally tender. The sum of all of the components is a labor-and-fl avorintensive bowl of comfort soup. Entrees of note are the bone-in lemongrass pork chops; sweet-and-spicy glazed jumbo tiger prawns; and a grilled chicken breast with a Thai basil pesto laced with mint, cilantro, and jalapeno. Honoo now serves a full range of beer, wine, and sake. Lu also promises a soon-to-come sushi bar, which will offer a full selection of fresh sashimi and sushi, along with twelve special rolls. The best idea—share the tacos, some cumin skewers, the special soup, and an entrée, all washed back with a Japanese brew. For lunch, build any combo of skewers with a salad and miso soup for $9. View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com dining out Established 1974 of the 2012 RESERVATIONS FOR ALL YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS 4 Course Dinner including Wine & Soda $31.00 Per Person (plus tax & tip) Catering up to 100 people IT’S Serving Gourmet Italian & American RESTAURANT WEEK EVERY WEEK! 4 Course Complete Dinner $25 Per Person Cuisine PARMIGIANA NIGHT 3 COURSES per person Daily Reduced Price Specials Live Music Every Thursday 110-80 Queens Boulevard, Forest Hills 718.520.1123 Sun. thru Thurs. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. • Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 12 midnight LUNCH SERVED: Mon. thru Sat. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com $13 95 Every Monday & Tuesday EARLY BIRD SPECIAL $1695 Monday-Thursday from 3–6PM SAVE THE DATE THE QUEENS COURIER & QUEENS BUSINESS ULTIMATE NETWORKING EVENT Eleventh Annual TOP WOMEN IN BUSINESS An event honoring influential women in business whose major achievements and whose participation in many community activities throughout the years has helped the borough grow. Do you know an outstanding “Woman in Business” leader? If so nominate them for the “Top Women in Business Award” Nominees are chosen based on the information sent to The Queens Courier. The deadline for submission of nominations is Friday March 29th, 2013 All nominees will be informed by Tuesday, April 2 if they have been chosen. You can submit your nomination online at www.queenscourier.com/nominations or via email to mromero@queenscourier.com Thursday May 9, 2013 6p.m. - 7:30p.m. Networking Business Expo 8pm Awards Dinner Terrace On The Park, 52-11 111th Street, Flushing Meadow Park, NY 11368 For Sponsorship/participation opportunities or to purchase dinner & networking tickets @$90 please contact Maria at 718.224.5863 Ext. 226 or mromero@queenscourier.com Purchase Tickets online at www.queenscourier.com/events
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