The neighborhood I grew up in, Jamaica, is vastly overlooked. When it comes to Queens neighborhoods that everyone is talking about, Jamaica is often at the bottom of the list. 

Perhaps it’s because most people only see Jamaica from the highway on their way to or from JFK. This is not what you would call the prettiest section of the borough—or even the area, for that matter—and at first glance it doesn’t give the impression of somewhere you’d want to stop in for a meal. From the highway, the entire area looks grey—part residential, part industrial.

Chef Judy Lai’s creations are more than just camera-worthy. At Silk Cakes, her jewel-like shop in Forest Hills, her pastries pay homage to her culture, blended with a playful, dramatic flair. Silk Cakes is a modern Asian American cake shop bringing together East Asian culture and Western pastry.

Ed Lefkowicz is a photographer and the photo editor of Edible Queens. He likes to cook and to eat. He took a surprising number of factory and industrial tours with his father, who was a big fan of stainless steel. And hot dogs. Follow him on Instagram!

To celebrate Edible Queens’ relaunch, we are embarking on a This is My Queens campaign. What is Queens to you? Be a part of the movement. Tag #ThisIsMyQueens for a chance to have your image featured on our EQ Online page in the next issue.

Fall feels like a victory lap a gardener takes after three seasons of increasingly intense work—from enriching the soil and preparing the seeds to the backbreaking tilling, weeding, and watering that every flourishing vegetable patch needs. Come September, it’s pretty much time to savor the embarrassment of riches. Earthy eggplant slices or blistering peppers sizzle on the grill; chopped tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and fresh herbs morph into all sorts of tasty sides. 

It is difficult to overemphasize how stunningly diverse Central Queens has become over the past several decades. Perhaps in no neighborhood is this more evident than Elmhurst, a former colonial village that is now home to thousands of immigrants from Southeast Asia and Latin America. Over the past decade, the neighborhood has become the epicenter of Thai culture in New York, growing immensely in the three years since the Asian American Federation reported of the neighborhood only 843 Thai immigrants in Elmhurst.

Queens, a borough famous for its authentic approximations of dishes from across the globe—in Astoria’s Greek tavernas, Flushing’s food malls and Little Tibet’s momo counters—it remains difficult to find serious mole or a quality tortilla.

Chef Cosme Aguilar has taken it upon himself to fill this gap, not only creating serious Mexican food, but earning a Michelin star in the process. 

“What do you eat at home?”

Michael Mignano’s first love was hip-hop. As a teenager in Astoria in the 1990s, the first-generation Sicilian-American was a devotee of Video Music Box, local cable’s uncensored antidote to MTV, and a prolific spray paint vandal. On Sunday mornings, he’d grab a window seat in the front car of the train, and scan for Saturday night’s fresh graffiti before the MTA scrubbed it away. 

In a quiet house tucked away on a side street in the Rockaways, Rachel Krieger begins to cook. Depending on the night, anywhere from eight to 25 women might show up and she wants to make sure every mouth is fed. 

This month, we're proud to present the Bread & Grains issue—dedicated to all manner of doughs, dosas and baked desserts made in Queens. To coincide with the print issue (you'll be able to pick up a print copy very soon!), every weekday throughout the month of February, we're featuring a different bakery in the borough.

Like any angry New Yorker, Superstorm Sandy hit with a bang in 2012. Sandy left destruction and chaos in her path, but things were pretty far-off in Far Rockaway even before the storm came along.

On a recent Sunday inside the brightly lit Szechuan House, manager Lisa Li is taking calls for delivery just a few minutes after opening. A Chinese soap opera plays on the TV and Lunar New Year decorations line the wall and ceiling.

Sugarcube Dessert & Coffee (now shuttered) in Long Island City may look like any other high-end pastry shop, but there is more to the story. Opened last spring, its sleek floor-to-ceiling glass invites even the less curious to take a peek. Owner and chef, Peter Zaharatos, shows just how much he enjoys playing with angles as well as sugar.

On February 25, 2017 Ridgewood Market curated local vendors and artisans for their family-friendly event at The Footlight on Seneca Avenue.

You can hear Bridge and Tunnel Brewery before you see it. Black Sabbath thrashes over the stereo in a converted garage on Ridgewood’s Decatur Street. Inside, brewers Rich Castagna and John Oe Danyi have been working since 4am. By 10am, the self-styled “Mr. Green” (Castagna, for his environmentally conscious inclinations) and “Mr.

On a recent weeknight in Long Island City, John Brown Smokehouse was packed with a loud and rowdy crowd. High energy aside, the clientele had something else in common: a pair of brightly colored climbing shoes clipped to nearly every patron’s bag.

Gjovalin Nikçi was a high-schooler when he first saw Groucho Marx, in the Marx Brothers film The Cocoanuts. 

Gina Ciliberto has traveled to 25 countries and lived in 3. She now writes about places that feel like home. Find her on Instagram @gsillyberto or Twitter @GinaCiliberto.

Mikkeller’s rich, creamy coffee-and-oatmeal stout is a cult favorite. While we’re lucky enough to have a Mikkeller tap room in Flushing, we love a good DIY kitchen project. Keep this kit, a collaboration between the brewery and Brooklyn Brew Shop, or give it to your friend who loves stouts and hates having nothing to do on a snowy Sunday.

Truffles from fashion-executive-turned-chocolatier Milène Jardine are paired with cheeses curated by Brooklyn’s Cheese Grotto. They’ve collaborated on a handful of gift sets, ideal for your New Year’s Eve party or that post-holiday gift exchange. 

Enter to win below, and check out our gift guide for more ideas.

Inside the chic Boro Hotel in Long Island City, Beebe’s is a bright-and-airy pizza destination with solid beer and wine lists. We’re giving away a $50 gift card to keep for yourself or give to someone who wants to eat great pizza in a fun space.

Enter to win below, and check out our gift guide for more ideas!

Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei’s “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors” installation features constructed fences around iconic sites in New York City. The project is a response the global migration crisis and a reflection on the profound social and political impulse to divide people from each other.