Five shops in Sunnyside, Astoria, Rego Park, and LIC for New Year's Eve food goodies

Now that Christmas is over and Kwanzaa is in full swing, it’s time to think about New Year’s Eve. Some of you may be throwing a party, so we thought we’d tell you about some of our favorite spots for goodies (AKA food!) that could be considered for a tasty spread at your shindig.

Butcher Block. 43-46 41st St., Sunnyside, NY 11104 (GMAP). If you are craving treats from Ireland and the UK, this is the place to go in Queens. It’s located just a couple of blocks from the 7 train in Sunnyside. Here is a wondrous display of sweet and savory imports like Cadbury bars (regular size and minis), Taytos (we like the salt & vinegar but there are many flavors), candy, and biscuits. They also prepare food at the shop, including roast meats, stews, sausages, and chicken curry. Pick up some beer while you’re there, too. You can even pick up a package of Irish potato farls (a flat bread that you fry in fat) and homemade black pudding for your recovery breakfast the next morning.

Image source: Titan Food

Titan Food. 25-56 31st St., Astoria, NY 11102 (GMAP). Often referred to as the “Greek Zabar’s,” Titan (pronounced “tee-TAN”) is home to all sorts of delicious Green specialties. Here you’ll find many kinds of feta cheeses to choose from, olives, olive oils, vinegars, nuts, and some Greek tinned vegetables like giant beans in tomato sauce and grilled eggplant with tomato (both delicious). In the frozen area you’ll find souvlaki and gyro meats, spanakopita (spinach pie), and tiropita (savory cheese pie). They have a bakery where you can pick up Greek sweets like cookies, baklava, and bougatsa (phyllo leaves filled with sweet cream). Adjacent to the market is a small parking lot – bonus for drivers.

Image source: goodiesfirst on Flickr

Trader Joe’s. 90-30 Metropolitan Ave., Rego Park, NY 11374 (GMAP). Sure, it’s not a mom-and-pop shop but TJ’s is a wonderful spot for party food. They have a bunch of fresh prepared foods, from appetizers, such as salsas, spinach dip, 7 layer dip, salads, as well as frozen foods, such as tamales, pierogies, fish, ravioli, and mini quiches. Jarred salsas, beans, sauces, dried fruit and nuts can also be found here easily. They have a variety of baked goods, from bread to cakes to cookies. And then there is a small but decent selection of beer, as well as sparkling fruit juices.

Family Market. 29-15 Broadway, Astoria, NY 11106 (GMAP). Welcome to one of the only Japanese markets in Queens. It is chock full of delicious things – a wide array of Pocky, daifuku (red bean wrapped in mochi), snacks (spicy rice crackers and those wrapped in seaweed), onigiri (rice balls), various kinds of noodles and lots of rice. There is also a selection of frozen dumplings, gyoza, and buns, as well as sponge cake.

Image source: Slovak Czech Varieties – some of the products they sell

Solvak Czech Varieties. 10-59 Jackson Ave., Long Island City, NY 11101 (GMAP). This place is sort of hidden in plain sight, since it’s a small shop, and very unassuming. But enter it, and you are in another world. Along the right side of the store are bins full of Czech and Slovak chocolates and candy, including Milka bars and Fidorka brand wafer chocolates. A boule of hearty wheat bread from New Jersey is sold there, and they have a refrigerator filled with Slovak cheeses and some meats. They sell sausages, too – check in the back of the store, where they often hang dry the sausages to age them slightly.

Also, back in October, we gave you some recommendations for where to get your Halloween party supplies in Queens, and those are still applicable, too! Stammtisch Pork Store & Imports in Glendale (GMAP), Despaña in Jackson Heights (GMAP), Fairway in Douglaston (GMAP), and Astor Bake Shop in Astoria (GMAP) are all excellent resources. And Rubie’s in Richmond Hill (GMAP) and Party City in LIC (GMAP) can help with decor, too.