If fall was exemplified it would be warm, spicy, flavorful, and anything pumpkin. The food that brings in a cozy feeling to any person. So to capture that feeling I already did all the work for you-, went on a food Krawl all around Queens to find the BEST fall eats to enjoy this season. From local eateries to small cafes I have cultivated the top 4 spots to go to. Starting from corn and carrot cake ice cream to Pumpkin stew -, Fern & Aurora, Max & Mina’s, Sybil’s, and Smile of the Beyond, you will see how each place cultivates the autumn spirit.
Fern & Aurora: Artistry Meets Aroma
I went into Fern and Aurora the scent of warm bread, cinnamon and pumpkin spice filled my nose. I first off started with their pumpkin flan that was served in a cute glass container. The sweet, creamy, pumpkin caramel sauce gave the dish a sugary yet tart ending. The flan was very thick which carried the pumpkin flavor throughout.
On to their dense yet appropriately moist pumpkin scone. This rustic, triangular pastry was browned and showered with sugar crystals. Its crumbly outside and delicious glaze makes for a perfect fall snack with a hot beverage. Mildly sweet, warm, and earthy – perfect.
“The coffee we use is café feminino. So it’s a ground for a change” said Cherry Adame, the owner of Fern & Aurora. “In Latin America, like farmers… women farmers, they teach them. They get paid more. So we like supporting little causes like that.” Cherry’s sense of care extends to everything in the café, from the handmade treats to the cozy décor filled with local artwork and a community library to keep kids reading.
Max and Mina’s
This creativity hub is insane, from the decor to the flavors and the owners eclectic vibe, the ice cream has crazy quirky flavors. The rum and pumpkin spice ice cream had a cool, velvety, and slightly sticky finish from the strong rum sauce. I could see the orange colors and the tiny minced pieces of pumpkin mixed in with the cozy spices. “My favorite flavor changes every day,” said owner Bruce Backer. “At any moment, you feel different, you put on a different shirt, right? It’s the same thing in life.”
Next I had to try, the corn and carrot cake ice cream shocked me with its flavor – cold, creamy, and filled with chunks of sweet carrot and chewy cake. The corn had natural sweet and a slight crunchiness, which blended superbly with the vanilla and spicy carrot cake flavors. Max and Mina’s also offered staple flavors that my family was able to try, like the coffee which had such an intense and rich flavor. The experience was amazing coupled with the ambiance I will definitely be coming back.
Sybil’s
When you step into Sybil’s, you are met with a gigantic menu and an array of pastries. Just around the corner there is hot food being served and people in the back working tirelessly to get more fresh food out. The air carried the spicy warmth of different Caribbean food like oxtail and curry chicken but what stood out to me was the fried pumpkin stew.
This stew was marvelous, the melt-in-your-mouth chunks coupled with the spicy pepper and this unsuspecting sweetness all worked together.
They also offered this light plush scrumptious butter flap bread. Similar to coco bread it was delicious just by itself. These two foods together made the perfect coalescence.
Smile of the beyond
This place is an amalgamation of mindfulness and delectable vegan and vegetarian food. This restaurant is founded by the followers of the spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy. The restaurant is filled with relaxing, ambient music – a nice touch while you eat. With their walls lined with photographs of him during some of his great achievements like meeting with Nelson Mandela and a small shrine dedicated to honoring him.
While there I was able to try the Pumpkin spice pancakse (of course vegetarian with the option of vegan), they were unlike any other type of pancakes I’ve tried. These pancakes were covered with a blanket of hot pumpkin spice sauce that was soaked into every layer. And although the pumpkin had a very prominent flavor so was the cinnamon, and vanilla. The sweetness was balanced by the pumpkin flavor and made you feel like you were eating a pumpkin latte. The combination of their spirituality, the waft of food that hits your nose when you walk in, and the peaceful music really made this place stand out.
Fall is all pumpkin, spice, and EvEryThiNg nice. These fall restaurants are the perfect place to spend your money and get that fall flavor everyone knows and loves.
