Rockaway Beach Food Tour This Sunday

By Katie McFadden

Tantalizing Thai treats, unique Uzbek cuisine, the ever popular pizza and even ice cream are just a few of the things that will tickle the taste buds of hundreds of people during the second Taste of Rockaway Beach event on this busy pre-summer weekend.

On Sunday, May 4 from 12 to 6 p.m., all are welcome to try out foods of all kinds during the peninsula’s only food tour. For just a $10 pass, anyone can visit the 11 participating eateries and bars to sample something that each restaurant offers during the six-hour span. The restaurants include The New Irish Circle, The Other End Pizza Parlour, Rockaway Taco, Surfside Bagels, The Rock NYC Wine and Beer Bar, Uma’s, Elegante, Uncle Louie G Italian Ices and Ice Cream, Sayra’s Wine Bar, Thai Rock and theRockaway Beach Surf Club. Passes are available for purchase at each restaurant and the pass entitles a holder to get one taste at each of the 11 participating eateries between Beach 87th Street and Beach 102nd in any order they wish.

Taste of Rockaway Beach is an event sponsored by the new Hospitality and Entertainment Association for Restaurants and Taverns for Rockaway Beach (HEART). Robert Kaskel, owner of Thai Rock and founder of HEART, recognized that with the opening of so many new eateries after Sandy, the area of Rockaway Beach was becoming a district of sorts and he wanted to shed some light on that. “Even though we’re competitors, we’re a district together and should be working together. When people are trying to decide where to eat, I want them to say, ‘Let’s go to Rockaway Beach.’ That’s what a district is,” Kaskel said.

Kaskel believes that supporting other businesses in the area is better for business overall, which is another reason the HEART organization was formed. “If someone walks into my place and I don’t have a seat available, it’s okay for me to tell them to visit a neighboring restaurant. They can always come down to my place next time or come back for a drink after they eat somewhere else. I believe sharing the business is a much better way to build business than to think you’re an island by yourself.”

In going along with the mission of sharing business, the Taste of Rockaway Beach event was formed. Residents were able to experience the first-ever Rock- away food tour on a chilly afternoon on December 7. Roughly 350 people attended the first event and restaurant owners are expecting double the number this time around. The last event included the Bungalow Bar, 101 Deli and Veggie Island, but due to scheduling conflicts, renovations and other reasons, those eateries couldn’t participate this time. However residents won’t be underserved. With the weather warming up and business booming along Rockaway’s own restaurant row, four new places have joined the lineup.

As Rockaway Taco kicked off its summer season on Thursday, May 1, the popular taco stand is joining the tour for the first time. The Rockaway Beach Surf Club will be serving up treats on the tour for the first time as well. There are also some new guys on the block who are hoping to make a big first impression on residents. Uncle Louie G Italian Ices & Ice Cream is now open for business as of April 26 and will be a part of the tour. Residents will also be able to get a first look at the brand new wine bar, The Rock NYC.

Kaskel says the event will be a good way for these newcomers to get some exposure and will give them the boost they need to get recognized, which is something he personally struggled with when Thai Rock first opened. “It wasn’t that long ago that I was the new guy on the block. Even though this is a small and fairly tight-knit community, it can take a while for a new place to break in. You have to get people to change their behavior and give a new place a try.”

Mara Valentino, who opened the new Uncle Louie G’s Italian ice and ice cream shop with her nephew, Christopher, is hoping the event will put the store on the map. “A lot of people still don’t know we’re here. Hopefully with the Taste of Rockaway event, they’ll start to recognize us,” Valentino said. She’ll be giving guests a sample of any flavor of their choice during the tour. Valentino’s introduction to the block hasn’t been a bad one. In the first week of business, Valentino said that neighbors have been positive and welcoming and the ice cream and ices have been particularly popular among local school kids who stop by when school lets out. “It’s great. Everyone has been very receptive and nice,” she said.

Cecil Brando, owner of the brand new Rock NYC Wine and Beer bar, is also excited to let residents see his place for the first time. He hopes that guests are able to get a Manhattan type feel without having to cross a bridge. “I want people to say ‘Wow, I don’t have to go to Manhattan to have good food and a great experience. I can come to a place in my own backyard for a great price.’” Brando wouldn’t reveal what he’ll be serving from his international tapas menu, but he believes guests will be pleasantly surprised. “You’re gonna be in for a treat!” he said. He’s also excited to be a part of the revitalization of Rockaway Beach. “We’re trying to make this the best block by the beach. Build it and they will come. It’s just going to be fantastic,” he said. “I think the Taste of Rockaway Beach event is going to be very exciting.”

Relatively new restaurant owners say the last Taste of Rockaway Beach event was a good boost for business. “People who didn’t know us now know about Sayra’s Wine Bar,” co-owner Rashida Jackson said. “It gave us a chance to meet our neighbors and it brought people to our spot that wouldn’t normally come to our spot,” she said.

“People were able to recognize how much fun it is and what a good vibe we had,” Jackson’s business partner, Patrick Flibotte said. Sayra’s Wine Bar gave guests a taste of their popular spicy meatballs, which they’ll be serving up again on Sunday, while keeping guests entertained with live jazz performances.

Conrad Karl, owner of Uma’s, also reaped the benefits of the Taste of Rockaway event. “For months following the event, we had people say they came during the tour and now they come to eat dinner here. We got some pretty regular customers from this event. It may be one of the best marketing things we’ve done so far.” Guests who stop by Uma’s this Sunday can try bichakis, or pastries filled with things like greens and squash, as well as Russian pierogies.

While Taste of Rockaway Beach may give local restaurants some exposure, Kaskel says the event is more about giving back to the community. He says that the participating restaurants don’t make any money from the $10 passes that are purchased for the event. All of the money made covers the costs of printing flyers and advertising for the event, so the restaurants are essentially giving food samples for free. “This is really a chance for us to give a gift to the neighborhood. As much as we want customers to come and see us, this is a way for all of the restaurants to thank our community,” Kaskel said. “The big winners are those who come out and participate. You’ll get a tremendous amount of varied food, from appetizers to main courses, all for a low price.”

Although it is still developing, the members of HEART are hoping to expand and do more events in the future. Kaskel says the organization is in the process of becoming a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group. Karl says the group is hoping to be able to contribute to the community by doing beautification projects in the future. There are also talks of a fall festival that will feature food samplings, entertainment and more.