111 Places in Queens That You Must Not Miss

Queens-based food writer, culinary tour guide and champion of Queens Joe DiStefano has been exploring the borough's diverse global cuisines and cultures for more than a decade. He's fond of referring to the bustling Chinatown that is downtown Flushing as 'America's Greatest Chinatown'. An intrepid eater and explorer, he's widely recognized by such culinary luminaries as Andrew Zimmern as a go-to source on the borough's rich tapestry of cuisines and cultures, from Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy to actual Thai and Hindu temples where food is served. He is the founder and publisher of the Queenscentric food blog CHOPSTICKS & MARROW, and a co-founder of New York Epicurean Events and Queens Dinner Club. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Gourmet, Food Republic, and Serious Eats. His clients include Starbucks, the Boys Club of New York, Hormel, The Food Group, and Next Restaurant. DiStefano aims to shoot a video teaser showing some of the places featured in this book, and perhaps plan a scavenger hunt revolving around one of the featured neighborhoods, most likely Jackson Heights. In addition to DiStefano's robust social media presence, he is something of a local celebrity having appeared on the Queens episode of Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern. Born in Queens, raised in Brooklyn, Clay Williams is a lifelong New Yorker who photographs food, drinks and events for The New York Times, Edible Communities magazines, and the James Beard Foundation. With his camera in tow, Clay has hung on to the back of food trucks in Paris, trudged through farms in Argentina, and squeezed into tiny kitchens with world famous chefs. When he’s not documenting the food system, he’s at home, cooking dishes inspired by what he photographs every day. Clay lives in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, with his wife Tammi, a fellow New York native.

Queens has taken its place alongside cities like Paris, Venice, Hong Kong and San Francisco in the "111 Places" series of global travel books, crammed with insider tips. About a third of the one-page recommendations will direct you to something to eat in New York's most ethnically diverse borough.--Florence Fabricant "The New York Times "