Eating In Translation

New York-area food events, July 4-11

Note: Since the extended holiday weekend offers only a few specially scheduled food events, this roundup highlights several more from my "ongoing" section. Perhaps it's a good time to catch up with one or more of these recurring outdoor events, by day or by night.

Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest
Thursday, July 4, 10:00ish-1:00ish
Outside Nathan's Famous, corner of Surf and Stillwell Aves., Coney Island, Brooklyn
www.NathansFamous.com/hot-dog-eating-contest
Free admission

LIC Flea 4th of July Market
Thursday, July 4, noon-8:00
LIC Flea & Food, 5-25 46th Ave. (at 5th St.), Long Island City, Queens
www.Facebook.com/LICFlea/posts/2204568932962547:0
Free admission

International African Arts Festival
Thursday through Sunday, July 4-7, 11:00-9:00
Commodore Barry Park, Fort Greene, Brooklyn
www.IAAFestival.org
Previously: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2007/07/comida-divina.html
Tickets: $10 and up

Bonsai Kakigori

Shaved ice usually takes its flavor from syrup. That's true in Japan, too, but this particular kakigori also wears a crown of whipped cream and crumbled graham crackers. It evokes Key lime pie but discourages slices.

Inside Canal Street Market, 265 Canal St. (Lafayette St.-Broadway), Manhattan
Also at 100 Stanton St. (Orchard-Ludlow Sts.)
www.BonsaiKakigori.com

La Morena

Dominican economy lunch: rice and beans, in bulk. The ladies behind the counter will also gladly make you a plate or assemble a tidy takeaway portion, as you please. You'll fare best by speaking Spanish.

La Morena
1151 Tiffany St. (East 167th-East 169th Sts.), Foxhurst, Bronx
718-893-6079

Bravas kiosk

From a refueling stop near the northern end of the High Line: fried cubed potatoes dressed with spicy tomato sauce and, vitally, aioli.

Bravas kiosk
Inside Mercado Little Spain, 10 Hudson Yards (Tenth Ave. at 30th St.), Manhattan
646-495-1242
www.LittleSpain.com/kiosks/bravas

Streetside produce stand

"Sweet" is the typical come-on that Chinatown fruit sellers apply to their handwritten signs. A few fruits are "very sweet"; some, merely "delicious." The moniker "Thailan[d] kiwi," however, seems to have been the invention of this one particular vendor. The fruit is known as chicozapote in Mexico and subtropical Florida, and by many other names — including chikoo, sapodilla, and sapota — around the world.

Its flavor mingles brown sugar and pear, Margret Hefner observes in Frutas y Verduras, with some of a ripe pear's granularity. Too bad that this one, like the rest of the batch, was rock-hard, and not nearly ripe. Ready to eat, it's considerably softer. Like a kiwi.

Streetside produce stand
Near the southeast corner of Mulberry St. with Canal St., Manhattan

Sidewalk zongzi vendor

Candied date zongzi, from a new (and perhaps short-lived) entrant to the street-food scene near Columbia University.

Sidewalk zongzi vendor
This afternoon, on the east side of Broadway between 109th and 110th Sts., Morningside Heights, Manhattan

Angel Candy Store Coffee Shop

Breakfast burrito — eggs, home fries, cheddar, avocado, salsa, queso, chorizo. Stuffed. On return visit, during daybreak shift, will swap in bacon for chorizo, and inquire further about bygone Tom & Gus.

Angel Candy Store Coffee Shop (aka G's Coffee Shop)
634 West 207th St. (at Cooper St.), Manhattan
212-942-0679

New York-area food events, June 27-July 4

Charting the Future of Urban Agriculture in New York City
Thursday, June 27, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
CUNY School of Public Health, 55 West 125th St. (Fifth-Sixth-Aves., 7th fl.), Manhattan
www.Eventbrite.com/e/charting-the-future-of-urban-agriculture-in-new-york-city-tickets-63234863178
Free admission with online registration
Via Edible Manhattan

Solo: Anita Lo in conversation with Kian Lam Kho
Thursday, June 27, 6:30-7:30
Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre St. (Grand-Howard Sts.), Manhattan
www.MOCANYC.org/visit/events/moca_food_talks_with_anita_lo_hosted_by_kian_lam_kho
Tickets: $15

Bug Night
Thursday, June 27, 6:30-9:30
New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St. (at 47th Ave., inside Flushing Meadows Corona Park), Queens
www.NYSCI.org/event/bug-night
Tickets: $20 advance/$25 onsite

Kermesse Peruana Familiar Bailable
Saturday, June 29, 1:00-9:00
Iglesia Santa Roma de Lima, 11 Gray St. (Orange-West Market Sts.), Newark, New Jersey
www.Facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10216385224656786&set=gm.419904298826221
Free admission

House of Gyro & Shawarma

Made from a loose-knit house blend of pork and lamb, "Draculas" are "named after my country," said the Romanian counterman. (Note the Greek and Romanian national colors at the top of the hand-drawn sign). Contrary to what I imagined, Draculas are not blood sausages, just very juicy sausages.

House of Gyro & Shawarma
6901 Fresh Pond Rd. (at Cypress Hills St.), Ridgewood, Queens
347-844-9183
www.Facebook.com /House-of-GyroShawarma -1613143872333512

Oasia Jimma Juice Bar

Breakfasttime lentil sambusa — a fried Ethiopian pastry, in this instance also seasoned with jalapeño, pepper, cilantro, and onion.

Oasia Jimma Juice Bar
3163 Broadway (La Salle St.-Tiemann Pl.), Morningside Heights, Manhattan
646-590-0685
Also at 600 W 139th St. (Broadway-Riverside Dr.), Hamilton Heights
646-918-6729
www.OasisJJB.com