June 8, 2014, Burmese Food Fair, Egg Rolls and Egg Creams Festival, Rockaway Tacos, etc.

7th Annual Burmese Food Fair organized by Moegyo Humanitarian Foundation at Aviation High School. Pictured above, Tohu Nway, custardy Shan Burmese Tofu Sauce with rice noodles, garnished with fried shallots, crushed peanuts, seasame seed, spice oil, and preserved mustard greens. Unlike Chinese tofu made from soybeans, Burmese tofu is made from “besan” flour, which is ground chickpeas.

Among so many delicious things to choose from, I only sampled one dish, Mohinga, and it was tasty; thin rice noodles with lemongrass fish broth, garnished with crispy yellow bean frites, and cilantro. The crispy bean frites made the dish adding a crunchy aspect to the stew. It’s sort of like crispy samosas mixed into an indian bean dish, i.e., samosa chaat. I know it’s wrong, but they remind me of Fritos.

Laphet Thohk, tea leaf salad made with picked tea leaves, split peas, sesame seed, crushed peanuts, fried garlic, cabbage, tomato, and some peanut oil.

Yaykae Thohk, shaved ice dessert topped with various jellies, topped with condensed milk

Rakhine Mote Ti, thin rice noodles mixed with spicy pepper fish, chili paste, scallions, crispy fried onion and cilantro.

Wet Thone Htat Thar Kyoot Kyoot Kyaw, Crispy Fried Pork Belly. Imagine super thick slices of deep fried bacon.

Entrance into Aviation High School cafeteria.

Egg Rolls and Egg Creams is one of my favorite festivals celebrating Chinese and Jewish communities in the lower east side. Because of the stop at the Burmese Food Fair, came to Egg Rolls and Egg Creams rather late in the day, took video of the metropolitan klezmer orchestra, and making of chinese and jewish dumplings. video is currently delayed, still (slowly) editing several videos for the theater for the new city that I really not in the mood for, but work obligations.

Some photos of Qi Shu Fang Peking Orchestra.

Dumplings! with Northern style Dumpling maker Xiao Weili, and kreplach Maker Laura Nova.

Went next to Rockaway Beach, B105 St

Beach 97th St Concessions include the Santa Salsa Venezuelan hot dog stand. The Perros con todo is a kosher hot dog with everything on it.  shredded cheese (well… meat and cheese is not kosher), ketchup, mustard, mayo, onions, cabbage, and crushed potato chips.

They also have a vegetarian option consisting of grilled asparagus dog with the works. pictured is the “Pepitos” steak sandwich.

At Beach 96th St and Rockaway Blvd sits several popular eateries. Bushwick-based Roberta’s brick oven Pizza operating out of a small shipping container. (Below) A small corner cafe serving the “Waterman Breakfast” consisting of a whole fried flounder, eggs, potatoes, and toast and salsa; they source most of their ingredients locally, and I think also grow some of their own vegetables.

and next door, Rockaway Taco.

They are notable for their Fish Taco. $3.50 nets you a big crispy beer battered tipilia fillet topped with red cabbage slaw, and radish.

UPDATE JUNE 14, 2014. I went back again today, and ordered two fish tacos, and a watermelon drink to go. The tacos came together in a paper container; ONE of the tacos was good, BUT THEY RIPPED ME OFF ON THE OTHER ONE. The other one had barely half a piece of fucking fish in it, and there was one sliver of lime in the order. This was close to 7pm, and there was 2-3 other people behind me when I ordered so the place was not at all busy. DEFINITE QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES AT THIS PLACE.

A small, but shady seating area.

Across the street.

A ban fracking sticker prominently displayed at Rockaway Taco