Summer in the City!: Street Fairs Part I

We know it's the start of summer in the city when we encounter our first street fair of the season. We were in Hell's Kitchen for the Ninth Avenue Food Festival, one of the largest street fairs in Gotham.

So we bypassed the familiar stands of funnel cakes and corn on the cob for the offerings of neighbourhood stores and restaurants.

First up are the fresh seafood from Sea Breeze Fish Market (541 9th Ave btwn W40th and W41st streets)

We chose the blue point oysters from Maryland ($8/half dozen).

The oysters were fresh and very meaty. We added some lemon and hot sauce (there weren't any other condiments around). For $1.33/ea, they weren't bad at all for off the street.

We checked out Siam Grill (592 9th Ave. btwn W42nd and W43rd Sts) for their Thai food.

Steamed veggie dumplings

We chose a curry puff ($1) with sweet chili sauce. This pastry was filled with chicken, potatoes, and spices. It was tasty with lots of filling and a nice crumbly crust.

The Little Pie Company 424 W 43rd St. (between 9th and 10th Aves)

There were so many delicious choices! Slices were $3 each. Chocolate cake, bread pudding, carrot cake, pumpkin pie...and their signature Sour Cream Apple Walnut Pie.

We love thick, flaky crusts! And the fresh apples with the sour cream and walnuts were fantastic! It had a great homemade, rustic taste. All that was missing was a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Poseidon Greek Bakery (629 9th Ave at W44th St) offers many sweet and savory homemade treats.

The family-owned bakery has been around since 1923, with their renowned phyllo pastry being made in their family for over 80 years.

We chose the Spanakopita (Spinach pie, $4.50). This large pastry was rich and fresh. The homemade phyllo gently flakes and melts in your mouth.

Mitchel London Foods creative treats.

The culinary force behind Burgers and Cupcakes (458 9th Ave btwn W35th and W36th streets) offered so many sweet and savory choices!

Creme Brulee ($3.50): When these freshly-made creations were brought out, we made a bee-line for one. The custard was thick and eggy...the toasted top was delicate and crisp. This decadent dessert was better than a few creme brulee treats we've had in some established restaurants!

Kyotofu (705 9th Ave btwn W48th and W49th Sts) is an elegant Japanese dessert bar - perfect for a date or for a girls get-together.

Treats offered were the Chocolate Souffle cupcakes, Yuzu-Vanilla cupcakes, Matcha Green Tea cupcakes, and Miso Chocolate brownies.

The other Greek cuisine mainstay in Hell's Kitchen is Uncle Nick's Greek Cuisine (749 9th Ave btwn W50th and W51st Sts).

Lots of wraps...

And every part of the pig (inside and out) spit-roasting...

Who would've thought you could reinvent the empanada in so many ways?! From classic to contemporary (pepperoni pizza fillings) to sweet (chocolate and bananas), there were plenty of choices! Empanada Mama is located at 763 9th Ave(btwn W50th and W51st Sts)

We're looking forward to more grills, make-shift patio seating, and lots of sampling to come! Summer is finally here!