44 The Queens Courier • may 21, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Queens Taste 2015 satisfies appetite of hundreds BY ALINA SURIEL [email protected] @alinangelica Here’s to another year of fun and fancy foods. The Queens Economic Development Corporation’s 13th annual Queens Taste festival drew attendees from the whole city on May 12 to sample some of the borough’s most diverse and delectable dishes and drinks. The New York Hall of Science hosted a total of 67 vendors providing every imaginable flavor to attendees, who jumped from crunchy, creamy, spicy and salty, and from bite to bite. Live Afro-Latin jazz music drifted over the crowd as food from 20 different countries was eaten, a considerable growth since the event’s first year of only 12 vendors. “We’ve got a little bit of everything, which, to me, is the beauty of Queens: its diversity,” said Rob MacKay, director of public relations, marketing and tourism for the QEDC, which works to create jobs by promoting tourism and business development. “And it’s not just diverse people; we also have diverse cuisine.” Local eateries had to keep up a quick pace to satisfy the appetite of the 650 guests. Many of the booths featured chefs creating fresh dishes from raw ingredients as if by magic, flipping burgers, frying chicken and slicing beef tenderloin for passersby to admire. With so many options available, anyone lucky enough to attend left the night with a very full stomach. “It was full. There were a lot of people,” said Christina Nastasi, pastry chef at Rudy’s Bakery and Cafe in Ridgewood. “I totally finished everything. I had 500 desserts, and it’s gone an hour before the event is even finished.” For many restaurateurs, the event was an opportunity to reach out to new audiences who had not yet tried their styles of cuisine. Luccas Leite of Beija Flor, a familyowned Brazilian eatery in Long Island City, said that the event was a chance to introduce people to the culture of the South American nation, which can also be experienced as a total package in live music performances at the restaurant. “Brazilian food isn’t very popular but we’re very happy to be able to expose people to not only the food but a couple of drinks too,” Leite said. While guests may have had their head spinning because of all the excitement surrounding the event, most knew which flavors stood out as their favorites. “I really like spicy food,” said Sarah Kam, who said that one of her favorite flavors was the Tango Chili hot sauce, a tangy and salty Central-American-born condiment with a hint of lime. Kam also enjoyed a cocktail made with fresh cucumber, celery and Queens Courage gin from Astoria Distilling Company. Craig Tamamoto said that while he enjoyed being able to taste the more unusual culinary fare at the festival, his favorite flavor was the classic burger from Bareburger, which sells organic and gourmet hamburgers in Astoria, Bayside, Forest Hills and LIC. “It had a bacon jam on top of it, which I’d never heard of before,” said Tamamoto. Perhaps the only person in the room who did not eat anything was QEDC Executive Director Seth Bornstein. He said that he enjoys going to all the restaurants throughout the year, but he was so busy hosting that he would have to settle for a late-night snack at home later that night. “I’ve got to be on to speak to everybody so I’m busy chatting,” said Bornstein. “That’s the irony. It’s all this wonderful food and I’m told it’s great, but my role is to be the host and make sure everybody has a good time.” THE COURIER/Photo by Alina Suriel The Queens Economic Development Corporation’s 13th annual Queens Taste festival. Martin A. Funeral Home L.L.C. – Call for a FREE Planning Guide – • Our Services are available in all areas • Large Parking Facilities at all Locations • Personal Service, 24 Hours a Day • Burial and Cremation Services Available • Family Owned and Operated • FDIC Insured Pre-Plan Accounts • Pre-Arrangements Available • Out of Town Service, Call Us First • Shipping Specialists We Speak Spanish John A. Golden: Member of K. of C. and C*KHS; Thomas A. Golden III: Member AOH, KHS (Owner, Operators) 149-20 Northern Boulevard • Flushing • 718-359-6300 10-25 150th Street • Whitestone • 718-359-1122 36-46 Bell Boulevard • Bayside • 718-428-2210 Please Visit Our Website @ www.gleasonsfuneral.com Martin A. Gleason Funeral Home L.L.C.: The Preferred Choice Legally Speaking By: Scott Baron, Attorney at Law CAREFUL WITH MY BROOM Q: I am employed by a roofing contractor. As a preliminary to applying the roofing felt and the shingles, I must identify the rotted areas and patch them. For a patch, the homeowner told me to use her own plywood. After I had done this on one side of the roof, the plywood ran out. The owner wanted to pay for no more. She told me to use pieces of the old roof-decking material, instead. After I had applied the roofing felt, but before I could begin the shingling, it began to snow. “Finish it right away,” said the owner, “or I won’t be paying you!” She gave me a broom, for sweeping away the snow. “Be careful, it means a lot to me!” I went back up and was doing my best to sweep away the snow. Eventually, I stepped on a piece of the old wood decking. It gave way, causing me to fall. Permit me to add that, before I began the actual roof work, the owner took me aside and asked me to seal her gutters, first. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.” She was insistent, so I did. A: In a roofing accident, although the Labor Law makes many owners liable for your damages, it grants an exception for owners of one- and two-family dwellings who do not direct or control the work. In your case, the homeowner’s activities went well beyond those of a normal interested homeowner. She did far more than simply present ideas, make mild observations and casually inspect the work. The owner’s direction to reuse her old planking rather than install new plywood was a material contributing factor in your injury. In general, she interfered with the manner of your performance. The owner’s intermeddling constituted direction and control that is sufficient to remove the homeowner’s exemption that otherwise exists under the Labor Law. Advertorial The law responds to changed conditions; exceptions and variations abound. Here, the information is general; always seek out competent counsel This article shall not be construed as legal advice. Copyright © 2014 Scott Baron & Associates, P.C. All rights reserved. 159-49 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach, New York 11414 1750 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710(718) 738-9800, (914) 337-9800, 1-866-927-4878
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