Booze In The Backyard, Tacos Off A Truck & A Quasi-Celeb Sighting In Queens

A visit to Queens had been on my "to-do" list for a while. My friend Jenn lives in the Woodside section and insisted that I paid call for an evening that would span the globe from Ireland to Mexico in mere blocks.

Her tour didn't disappoint. A bit o' the Irish was found in the backyard of a friendly pub called Gaslight Bar. We didn't get very lit there, but definitely lit enough to ramble down Queens Boulevard and onto Roosevelt Avenue chattering away with bad Irish brogues.

Then I saw it.

A sight that made my eyes pop and my mouth water: a bonafide taco truck. And, from the smells radiating from the small vehicle and the Mexican patrons lining up for evening repast this seemed like a chowhound experience not to be missed.

I ordered up a Carnitas Taco and the woman by the grill set to work.

Within minutes it appeared.

Within seconds it was gone.

The tortilla was warm from the grill, emanating the seductive aroma of maize. The meat was well-seasoned and slightly chewy. The diced onions and bright green of the cilantro gave the dish some necessary zest. The green salsa was pretty darn good too.

Mmmm...

To think, dinner was yet to come!

We walked a couple more blocks and grabbed a seat at the itty, bitty neighborhood fave La Flor, where a bizarre mix of Mexican and Continental fare greeted us on the menu. But there was no going back to Continental after that truck taco.

Mexican was the plan. Mexican was ordered.

Then I saw him.

A sight that made my eyes pop and my face twist in confusion.

There, sitting at a long table filled with garrulous men decked out in various modes of stylish dress was the New York gossip icon himself - Michael Musto.

I didn't think La Dolce ever left the isle of Manhattan, let alone would venture to a common-place outer-borough establishment like La Flor.

Yet, there he was.

Hmmm...

Did this mean I was in a certifiable "it" hot spot?

One bite into the kitchen's Chicken Enchiladas, drowned in mole sauce and I knew the answer was no.

On the other hand, the Flan was fantastic and Musto and company did seem to be having a fabulous time.

Guess another trip to Queens will be in order this summer.

I'm hoping to spy Perez Hilton next time around.

Comments

[joaquin ochoa]

you are correct, Vampy...too much mole sauce is a killer for enchiladas...oh, for the record, Enchiladas is always a good measuring stick.

[truck rental]

I don't know if it is the unique cooking abilities of the trucks' chefs (are they?) or the gasoline fumes mixing up on the hot metal stove - The food they are making there is sooo tasty!