Around the world in 80 bites
The Queens International Night Market in Flushing Meadows Corona Park offers tastes from around the globe
New York City has become
awash in food markets over
the past decade, but there’s
none more unique or exciting than
the Queens International Night Market,
which sets up shop every Saturday
night at the New York Hall of Science,
in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Now in its fourth year, the Night
Market — which aims to celebrate
“the rich cultural diversity and heritage
of NYC and Queens” — offers
a staggering array of international
taste treats from up to 55 vendors
representing dozens of countries.
And nearly everything is priced at
$5 and under.
On any given night you might
find Colombian arepas, Trinidadian
shark sandwiches, Laotian larb,
Peruvian ceviche, Indian paratha,
Jamaican jerk chicken, Russian pelmeni,
Japaneze Takoyaki and Brazilian
coxinha.
While there’s plenty that will appeal
to a broad range of eaters – Italian
porchetta (roast pork) sandwiches,
Hong Kong egg waffles, Pad Thai
noodles, ice cream – the market also
offers some beguiling opportunities
to take a bite on the wild side: Thai
roast crickets, for example, or Wenzhou
style chicken feet and lotus
root skewers.
In all some 80 countries have been
represented at the market’s stalls, says
founder John Wang. A former lawyer
who grew up in Texas in a Taiwanese-
American family, Wang modeled the
market after the night markets he
visited with his family on summer
trips to Taiwan, and other local food
markets he’s visited abroad. He aims
to showcase vendors from every city
represented in New York, and he seeks
out vendors who have a deep cultural
connection to the foods they sell.
The offerings go beyond just food:
there are a couple dozen vendors
selling merchandise and art, from
Mexican handcrafts and Tibetanthemed
apparel to small-batch soaps,
stationery and candles. And there’s
live music that’s nearly as diverse as
the food, with bands that might be
playing reggae, jazz, cumbia or any
number of other styles.
The market offers a picnic tables, a
beer and wine garden, portable sinks
for washing up and an ATM machine.
And admission is free.
The Queens International Night
Market is located at the New York Hall
of Science in Flushing Meadows Corona
Park, about a mile from LeFrak City. It
runs every Saturday until August 18,
and from September 29 to October 27,
from 6 p.m until midnight. See queensnightmarket.
com for more info.
Photos : Dean Mos es
lefrak city courier | www.qns.com | JLUY 2018 19
/www.qns.com