46 The Queens Courier • MOTHER’S DAY • MAY 1, 2014 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com French Louisiana 1682 by Bradley Hawks What do you do when an outrageously popular national doughnut chain opens across the street from your N’awlinsinspired café? Do you keep selling powdered sugar-dusted beignets and steaming mugs of java? Or do you incorporate the arsenal of skills you know best to rename and rebrand the café into a full-service restaurant? That is precisely what owners Mina and Jimi did at Cranky’s, the popular café in Long Island City. Now harboring the moniker “1682 French Louisiana,” the new incarnation boasts all of the old favorites, alongside a full menu of classic New Orleans and traditional French dishes. As the website explains, “The restaurant style came naturally as both Mina, a Paris native, and Jimi, a film aficionado, have had a long-term love affair with the beautiful, unique flavors of French- and Cajunstyle food. They describe the French Quarter in New Orleans as walking into a movie, a place that is unlike anywhere else. It is that atmosphere that welcomes you as you enter 1682 French Louisiana. Leave New York City at the doorstep and enter New Orleans.” Dinner service begins with a complimentary basket of peeled sweet potato skins that have been deep fried. They make an irresistibly addictive snack, especially with the herbed aioli served on the side. Actually, many of the dishes served on the side or as small plates were some of the stars of the show at this little Louisiana kitchen. Take, for instance, the cornmeal-crusted fried chicken. The distinctively southern coating of crispy cornmeal served the perfect crunch for the juicy legs and thighs. But the slab of jalapeño cornbread hugging its side THE COURIER/Photo by Bradley Hawks 1682 FRENCH LOUISIANA 48-19 Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City, NY www.1682frenchlouisiananyc.com Open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. was literally dripping with melting butter, and disappeared quicker than Paula Dean can apologize. When it comes to macaroni and cheese, few versions rival my own grandma’s quite as seriously. A luxurious béchamel coats traditional elbows of macaroni, which are then buried under a generous bubbling blend of three melted cheeses flowing over the edge of the dish. Nothing makes me feel like a kid again like a warm strand of cheddar stretching from the plate to my fork. Cajun hush puppies arrive with a kiss of honey. Salads come topped with roasted beets or grass-fed angus beef. And come before 11 a.m. if you want to taste those beignets. Weekend brunch harbors a handful of unique additions, including croques monsieur and madame, eggs benedict, and pancakes with bananas foster or blueberry ricotta mascarpone. From po’ boys and olive-kissed muffaletta to Creole-style barbecue, seafood and chorizo gumbo, and a classic coq au vin, the menu holds a little something for everybody. “I really felt we had to rebrand to let people know that we truly are a full restaurant now,” smiles Mina as a group of twenty enter from a nearby film studio, and she rushes to push tables together. “In this business, you have to be ready for anything.” dining out View Over 200 Reviews at queenscourier.com GEORGIA D I N E R & R E S T A U R A N T Happy Mother’s Day • DINNER INCLUDES • Choice of Appetizer or Cup of Soup or Juice, Celery and Olives, House Salad with Choice of Dressing, Entree, Vegetable, Potato, Challah Bread and Rolls, Any Pastry and Beverage, Dried Fruit and Nuts APPETIZER STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES W/ RICE included FRUIT SALAD COCKTAIL SUPREME .included JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL ........... extra 9.95 FILET OF MARINATED HERRING extra 6.95 BAKED STUFFED CLAMS ................ extra 7.50 CHICKEN FINGERS ............................ extra 5.95 HALF GRAPEFRUIT MARASCHINO .........................................included ASSORTED JUICES ................................included MOZZARELLA STICKS ..................... extra 5.95 BUFFALO WINGS ................................ extra 5.95 POTATO SKINS (6 PIECE) ................. extra 5.95 SOUPS CREAM of TURKEY • MANHATTAN CLAM CHOWDER CHICKEN CONSOMME with Rice, Noodles or Matzoh Balls ENTREES ROAST MARYLAND TURKEY with Apple Raisin Dressing, pot & veg ...........................25.95 VIRGINIA HAM STEAK served with Wild Berry Ragu, pot & veg .....................................24.95 ROAST LEG OF LAMB with Mint Jelly, pot & veg ...............................................................26.95 ROAST PRIME RIB OF BEEF Au Jus, pot & veg ................................................................27.95 CHICKEN PARMIGIANA with Spaghetti ..............................................................................23.95 ROAST CHICKEN with Apple Raisin Dressing, pot & veg ...................................................23.95 CHICKEN FRANCAISE with artichokes, pimento and lemon sauce, pasta or rice ...........23.95 FETTUCCINI ALFREDO with Chicken (with shrimp +$6 ) ................................................23.95 VEAL SCALOPPINI with mushrooms and marsala wine, pot & veg ...................................25.95 MADRID STYLE PORK TENDERLION Sauteed pork tenderloin w/spicy red beans, spanish rice, tomato and green pepper ......................................................................25.95 DUCK MADAGASCAR served with long grain rice and roasted bell peppers ...................27.95 PASTA al FRUTTI DI MARE Angel hair pasta with shrimp, scallops and calamari in marinara sauce...........................................................................................................................27.95 SHRIMP & CRAB CASINO Jumbo Shrimp and Snow Crab in garlic butter and mixed peppers with rice pilaf ................................................................................................29.95 BROILED FILET OF SOLE ALMONDINE topped with Roasted Almonds, pot & veg ..30.95 VEAL CHOP Au Poive with light demi glazed sauce garnished with roasted peppers and mushrooms ...................................................................................................32.95 BROILED HEAVY NEW YORK CUT SIRLION with Mushroom Caps, pot & veg .......33.95 BROILED STUFFED FILET OF SOLE with Crabmeat Stuffi ng, pot & veg ....................34.95 BROILED FILET MIGNON with Mushroom Caps, pot & veg ............................................34.95 BROILED SEAFOOD COMBINATION Shrimp, Scallops, Filet of Sole, Halibut and Baked Clams, pot & veg ...........................................................................................38.95 BROILED LOBSTER TAILS with drawn butter, pot & veg .................................................45.95 BEEF & REEF: FILET MIGNON & TENDER ROCK LOBSTER served w/ salad, potato, vegetables, pot & veg ............................................................................46.95 VEGETABLES: Green Beans Almondine • Sweet Peas • Glazed Baby • Belgian Carrots • Broccoli Spears • Creamed Spinach • Corn on the Cob POTATOES: Baked • Mashed • French Fried • Candied Yams WINE BY THE GLASS CLASSIC RED..................$4.95 CLASSIC WHITE...............$4.95 BLUSH............................$4.95 BEER BUDWEISER....................$5.00 HEINEKEN......................$5.00 AMSTEL..........................$5.00 CORONA..........................$5.00 BEVERAGES: SODA, JUICE, COFFEE OR TEA DESSERTS: APPLE PIE, CHEESE CAKE, ASSORTED DANISH, CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE or Any Other Pastry PRIVATE ROOMS AVAILABLE FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES OUR NEW AND EXCITING MENU AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, OFFERS COCKTAILS, STEAKS, CHOPS, SEAFOOD, PASTA, POULTRY All Baking done on Premises • Private Parties Available 86-55 Queens Boulevard • Elmhurst • 718-651-9000 (one block west of Queens Center Mall) Large Free Parking Lot
QC05012014
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