54 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUZZ • OCTOBER 31, 2019 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
dining out
Photo courtesy of Brandtree
Try one of 380 pastries
at Biskoti in Astoria
BY JESSICA MILITELLO
At Biskoti Bakery and Café, dessert isn’t
an aft erthought to a meal; it’s the main
event. Th e restaurant café off ers a fi ne
dining experience centering around dessert
and coff ee, inviting you to sit down
with friends and family and indulge your
sugar cravings.
Th e café opened in mid-September on
30th Avenue, taking over the space previously
occupied by Flo Lounge. It features
over 380 pastries along with more than
52 kinds of chocolates, as well as freshly
baked bread, coff ee and more treats. Th e
café is open from early in the morning at 7
a.m. all the way to midnight for Astorians
who might have a craving to satisfy a latenight
sweet tooth. Owner Tommy Stagias,
who grew up in Astoria, wanted to bring
a unique and special experience for the
community to be able to enjoy.
“I love my neighborhood,” Stagias said.
“I grew up here and I’ve seen the changes
over the years. It’s becoming more
people that like to try new things, and
Mediterranean pastries were missing from
Astoria. Th is café is unique, besides the
look — I’m talking about the ingredients.”
While Stagias grew up in Astoria, he
worked at a bakery before paying his way
through school to become a baker. With
Biskoti, he was fi nally able to realize his
dream of owning his own bakery. He has
made it a point to be exact down to every
detail of each treat, making an exceptional
experience for guests who come to
indulge. Th e aesthetically pleasing design
and décor of the café make it clear that
guests are in for a special experience as
soon as they approach the restaurant.
Th e café’s exterior seating area is decorated
with colorful fl owers and shrubbery.
As guests walk into the cozy indoor seating
area, there are brightly lit cases fi lled
with fresh, carefully made pastries.
Biskoti’s 380 pastries off erings include
chocolate mousse, 15 diff erent kinds of
cheesecake, 52 diff erent biscotti and 27
Biskoti
37-20 30th Ave., Astoria
844-247-5684
biskoti.com
INSTAGRAM: @biskotinyc
kinds of Mediterranean pitas. Th e café’s
carries large, thick slices of classic baklava,
which is authentically prepared with
real honey and a walnut fi lling. Th ere are
also quarter bites of baklava with a variety
of fi llings, and the small size makes it easy
to sample a few.
Stagias also explained a key component
to preserving the freshness of their baklava,
which comes from using the proper
technology and care at the café: “Th e
refrigeration comes from the bottom,”
Stagias said. “Th e reason being if you cool
it from the top, the fi lling becomes mushy.”
Th e café’s chocolates are also made
in-house, and the 52 varieties include
peanut, walnut, strawberry, cherry, peanut
butter and more.
Th e café carries their own brand of coffee
beans, and it’s worth making a visit
just to try the cappuccino. Th e café uses
a new machine to print beautiful images
and designs onto the froth.
Stagias certainly has no plans of stopping
at one storefront; he plans to open
more Biskoti locations in the future,
and his sights are set on Westbury, Long
Island. Until then, Biskoti seems to be well
on its way to becoming a great addition to
the neighborhood and a delightful spot to
share happy memories with friends and
family. As for the recipe for Biskoti’s continued
success, according to Stagias, the
answer is simple:
“We have great ingredients, great atmosphere.
Come down and enjoy your coffee,
outdoor or indoor,” Stagias said.
“We’ve got a good European environment
and that was missing from Astoria to me;
somewhere with the right ingredients and
the right refrigeration.”
JUDGES:
BAYSIDE LIVE TV
• Gregg P. Sullivan
PROFESSIONAL CHEFS
• Adam Gandelman
• Brett Reichler
MEDIA PERSONALITY
• Merle Exit
Temple Beth Sholom presents our
4th Annual
Chicken Soup
Cook-Off
Bring your appetite –
We’ll supply the rest!
Admission includes chicken soup
tasting, bagels, ice cream, and
more! Join our esteemed judges
and cast your votes!
Awards will be presented.
Adults $18 • Children (5-13) $6
Children under 5 are free
Family maximum $50
Saturday, November 9, 2019
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Temple Beth Sholom
171-39 Northern Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11358
RSVP at (718) 463-4143
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