Pete's Grill: The Place to Eat?

 

(RIP Casa Romana)

Okay. Pete's Grill isn't great. In fact, sometimes it's kinda bad. 

BUT

Pete's Grill is the place you can stumble into at 4:30 in the morning (if the Taco Truck is gone) and get a Bacon Cheeseburger with Sweet Potato Fries and a darn good milkshake or whatever else tickles your drunken fancy. It's a true New York diner, so you can basically get anything that you want, anytime. Lamb Souvlaki Platter for breakfast? Why not?!

("oatmeal." served with packaged honey and cinnamon. what I imagine "gruel" to taste like)

The other good thing about Pete's Grill is that they are quick on their delivery. This could also be due to the fact that I live extraordinarily close to Pete's Grill, but still... let's just say that the morning after (/during? /did it even happen? I was too drunk to know) Hurricane Irene, while other businesses had shuttered their windows and doors, I ordered breakfast from Pete's and it came within 8 minutes.

("double espresso.")

The morning I went to Pete's and took these pictures, someone at the table next to us choked and had to have the Heimlich Maneuver performed on them! It was pretty intense. The weirdest part was that they were celebrating someone's birthday, opening presents and such, and it got pretty awkward after the whole choking incident... 

anyway,

(pancakes, bacon, eggs. you can't really go wrong.)

 So, if you live in Sunnyside and it is late at night and you have a sudden craving to order 4 different types of french fries (this happened, i have the receipt on my fridge to prove it), call up Pete's Grill. Otherwise, check out NY Style Eats, La Flor or any of the other great breakfast spots in the 'hood.

(c'mon, Pete. a little effort next time.)

Their sign claims that Pete's is "The Place to Eat." Maybe "Pete's Grill: A Place to Eat" would be more appropriate.

 

Pete's Grill

39-14 Queens Blvd
Sunnyside, NY 11104

(718) 937-2220

O, Tannenbaum!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur
  zur Sommerzeit,
Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!

This Christmas, my wonderfully amazing friends Jim & Jocelyn had a festive party for those of us who couldn't make it home to our families 

:(

It was loads of fun, and included candied bacon, lots of cheese and Peking duck latkes. In addition, they created a few unique cocktails for the holiday occasion. 

My favorite was called the "O, Tannenbaum," and I wanted to share their ingenuity with the world (aka my 4 loyal followers and other people who randomly happen upon this blog....).

           (Spruce? Douglas Fir? we never figured it out...)

 An "O, Tannnenbaum" starts a couple of weeks before the party-date. Jim and Jocelyn made their own Xmas Tree-infused vodka by simply sticking some Xmas tree branches in a big jar of vodka and letting it sit. 

!!

genius!

 Once your Xmas Tree-infused vodka is prepared, measure 1 oz. and pour into your glass.

The next step also starts pre-party. Freeze specialty ice cubes, each containing one fresh cranberry!

I love this step because it's kind of a badge of honor, showcasing how many O, Tannenbaums you've consumed by the number of cranberries at the bottom of your glass. 

The next step is to add 4 oz. of GingerAle.

 Now, add fresh pomegranate seeds! Mmmmmm...

(a perpetual motion of flavor!)

 Here, Jim points out how they first sink to the bottom of the glass, then catch the GingerAle's fizzy bubbles and rise up to the surface again!

 Lastly, add a splash of Pom, or another pomegranate juice, and enjoy your Pine-tastic libation!

O, Tannenbaum, indeed!