Queens Food Tours – Long Island City, New York
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I am from Queens, New York. I love exploring and learning more about my borough. It is the largest and more diverse in New York City. Queens has so much to offer, but many people don’t realize it. A great way to get an introduction to Queens is to go on a food tour. Queens Food Tours has started giving food tours in Long Island City and I got the chance to check out a neighborhood in my borough in a different light.
The day of the tour was one of those days you think about staying in bed looking like a burrito. It was pouring rain and cold, but I was excited to go on the tour. We met at our first stop on the food tour and waited for everyone to arrive. It was a nice small group of 8 people.
Meeting Location and First Stop on the Tour ©2016 HollyDayz 
Meeting Location and First Stop on the Tour ©2016 HollyDayz
I really liked the decor of the first location. We started off at this really cool place that had delicious burgers. We were given the BG Burger. The bun had a nice crisp to it and the meat was flavorful. I have to say it was one of my favorites on the tour. I was sad I only got to eat half of the burger, but knew there was more to eat so I couldn’t get full. I will however definitely go back there to order the burger and try some other items.
Before leaving to head out on the rest of the tour we stood outside, umbrellas up, listening to some of the history that had taken place right outside our meet up location. Finding out the mob used to stand there talking and making deals and even seeing a bullet hole that was still there was pretty interesting! From there we headed over to City Hall to learn about some history there. I love history and learning about things so it was really interesting.
Bullet Hole ©2016 HollyDayz 
City Hall ©2016 HollyDayz
We continued to walk making periodic stops to learn some more history on our way to the next food location. We were all happy to get out of the rain and into a warm environment on our next stop. We happily went inside and were soon handed plates with a nice sized cookie. It was a sea salted chocolate chip cookie. It was good and gooey. Some tour goers raved how it was one of the best chocolate chip cookies they have tasted.
By the time we left from eating our cookies the rain had stopped which was awesome! We continued walking around. I saw different buildings in Long Island City I wasn’t even aware existed. I even learned about an Italian restaurant that most would never know was there when walking by. Apparently many celebrities have frequented it. I will have to randomly show up there one day!
Beautiful homes in Long Island City ©2016 HollyDayz 
Italian Restaurant ©2016 HollyDayz
Continuing to walk we of course learned some more about the area and neighborhood. Long Island City has been building luxurious apartments for a while now. We were informed more buildings would be knocked down so that more high rises could replace them. The area is really a nice neighborhood right next to Manhattan. Our next stop was on a street I had driven up and down plenty of times, but never walked or stopped into anywhere.
We all took a seat and moments later we were given plates with Scotch Eggs on them. This is exactly what this tour is for! Not just learning about the neighborhood and eating the local eats, but going into establishments you never may have and trying things you would never think to order. We were told Scotch Eggs were more popular than burgers. I have personally never heard of them much less tried them. They were interesting. I am still trying to figure out how I feel about them, they were tasty though.
After we left there we walked to the next stop which was to get margarita pizza. The owner of the establishment is known for her ingredients being home-grown and made. She also works with different dietary needs. I was very excited to try it and I wasn’t disappointed. The pizza was absolutely delicious and I tried it with some of her own olive oil. I will be returning there and I would like to try the other food on the menu.
Margarita Pizza ©2016 HollyDayz 
Olive Oil ©2016 HollyDayz
The last food stop was at a French Bakery with the noted Patisserie on the glass making it a notable place to get some goodies. In fact we were told many times the place has sold out of some of their notable items, but luckily we were getting ready to try one, their almond croissant. The bakery is very laid back and we sat around a huge wooden table. It was still chilly outside so I paired my croissant with some tea.
The almond croissant was much bigger than I anticipated. It tasted very rich and it was the best croissant of any kind that I have ever had! Some of the guys were eating other people’s croissants since they were full, while another was eating the rest of the flakes that fell off on to the plate. It was just that good! I think I want to bring a box of them home to indulge.
The tour ended at Gantry State Park. I had no clue of some of the history, such as the time capsule on the smallest island or Colin Powell working at the Pepsi Cola factory. I hadn’t even realized that Gantry State Park was built to vie for the Summer Olympic Games. The Queens Food Tour gave much more than just food, but a lot of interesting background and history of Long Island City.
I am a local and I thought the tour was excellent. You don’t have to be a tourist to enjoy this tour. I am looking forward to them expanding through the rest of Queens as it is a diverse borough with so much history, culture, and of course food to offer! If you are a New Yorker or coming to visit I highly suggest booking a tour with them. If you want to try the great food I had and learn more you have to give it a go! You won’t be disappointed!
Have you been on the Queens Food Tours?
Disclaimer: Thank You to Queens Food Tours for having us. Whilst receiving an invitation all opinions and views are my own and have not been influenced.
If you would like to get more of a glimpse of Long Island City check out my Queens of the Boroughs series!
Joanna
Omg!!! Everything on here looks amazing and delicious. I now have to make it a point to try these foods
Holly Dayz
It is a great tour that introduced me to many places I have never heard of or been and will be going back to because the food was great!
Ty
Sounds like a cool trip but I’m still trying to figure out those Scotch Eggs. I have never heard of them either. I’m sure they were very interesting.
Holly Dayz
It was a nice tour. Ha yea I was like ooo interesting and different, but apparently very popular.
Raquel Serrano
I personally stayed in LIC for a little but but never got to try the food tours! What have I missed??
Holly Dayz
You missed a lot and now you must come back and take the tour lol. You would enjoy it!
kemkem
I’m in.. all the way. Everything looks scrumptious, especially the pizza 🙂
Holly Dayz
It was so good. I can’t wait to go back.
SocaMom® (@SocaMomDC)
The scotch eggs look interesting. What is in those exactly? I haven’t been on a food tour before, but it sounds like an amazing experience!
Holly Dayz
They were. You should take one. It was eggs with some batter on the outside. Very interesting.
naetorious
Scotch eggs? Never even heard of em. The next time we’re home, I’ve got to check out this tour!
Holly Dayz
Me either. Apparently they are very popular. Great tour!
CJ | Thirty30Courtney.com
I think taking a food tour of your city is genius. I’ve been wanting to take a staycation anyway and this would be an awesome bonus! Thanks for the idea!
Holly Dayz
Very welcome. It is also great to take one in other places to explore the culinary scene.
Carlana Charles
That must have been a mouth watering experience. I like the idea of a food tour. It’s definitely something I’d want to do with a couple of my friends.
Holly Dayz
It was really good and I loved learning some history about Queens I was unaware of.
F. Corde
I used to go to Queen quite frequently during my college days. My roommate was from there. Exploring your local area exposes you to so much more than your daily routines.
Holly Dayz
I hope you come back and take the tour it was fun with some good food.
Latoya Scott
I went on a food tour in Charleston, SC once. It’s good to know they do these in other cities.
Holly Dayz
Oh that is a great city to take a food tour. Hopefully you can come up this way and take this one.
Antoinette Cain
Food and history. I would thoroughly enjoy this type of tour.
Holly Dayz
My 2 favorites too so definitely you would enjoy it.
Jamila
A food tour sound so like fun and that pizza looks so good.
Holly Dayz
It was fun and that pizza was amazing!!
LaQuisha Hall
This is such a great idea! What better experience on a tour? The food looks great!
Holly Dayz
The food was great. Something fun to try.
Tia
I am such a foodie so I’d love a tour like this! I love how you tried all different cuisine.
Holly Dayz
I gave it all or a whirl. Discovered some new places to eat and learned some cool things.
MakeTime2SeeTheWorld (@VickiLouise86)
This food tour looks great! I’d love to try the Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie – and the architecture on the tour was lovely to see. I should try and find one of the these kinds of tours in my hometown – I think it’s a great way to see an old place in a new light.
Holly Dayz
It is a great way to see so much. It was a really nice tour. Come visit and try the cookie!
Karla | karlaroundtheworld
OMG, I tried several food tours while there but this one seems really interesting. I enjoy doing food tours, I feel like apart from knowing the local flavor, you get a good history of the place.
Holly Dayz
Food tours are fun. You are right! I learned some new things myself so that was great.
Sarah Stierch (@Sarah_Stierch)
A food tour in Queens? Who’d a think! Sounds great – and yeah, that sea salt cookie, yum. I also love the Mafia bits – I’m a sucker for historical bullet holes! 🙂
Holly Dayz
Queens has tons to offer. People show come visit and check it out. Mafia stuff is cool to learn about, next time take the tour and come see the bullet hole lol.
knycx.journeying
Thanks for the info! Doesn’t get better to hear about Queens from sombody from Queens! The food scene is exciting!!
Holly Dayz
There are so many different things to eat in Queens from around the world it is amazing!
Wanderlust Marriage
Love food tours!! Usually a great way to start a trip as you can learn so much about a city! We haven’t been to Queens, but a good croissant in the US is very hard to find… so we’d love to check out the bakery 🙂
Holly Dayz
Come on out to Queens! You can travel the world especially in the culinary scene just in this one place.
Natasha
We almost lived in LIC when we lived in New York. We got so excited for all the great food in the area. Unfortunately the apartment fell through 🙁
Holly Dayz
Aww that stinks, sorry to hear that. Well if you ever get back around here then you should def check out the tour and food in the area. Some pretty good places I was introduced to.
authenticfoodquest
What a fun tour. It’s always so wonderful to see your hometown from a different point of view. The cookies and burger looked absolutely delicious. What a yummy tour and glad the weather got better 🙂
Holly Dayz
I agree! Learn some new things and get some good food. We were all very glad the weather got better!