🚕 Titan Foods Returns to Queens with a Fresh New Look

Good Morning NY!

Queens is reclaiming its grocery crown with the return of a beloved Greek market.
Local food media giants are earning Emmy nods for telling New York’s tastiest stories.

A recent health scare at a popular poke spot sparks questions — and clarity — around safety.

Spanish flavors find a new home in the West Village with a chef bringing authentic Madrid vibes.

Brooklyn’s culinary rise continues, adding eight fresh Michelin stars to the borough’s growing list.

Whether you’re stocking your kitchen or planning your next night out, this week’s roundup has you covered.

Let’s dive in.

Titan Foods Returns to Queens With a Fresh New Look

Titan Foods, once the largest Greek supermarket in the U.S., is officially back in Astoria.

The iconic grocer will reopen its doors on Friday, August 1, at a new location on 23-53 Steinway Street.

Founded in the 1970s by Kostas and Stavroula Mastoras, the store became a staple for Greek ingredients—especially its 20+ varieties of feta.

Now led by their daughter, Anna Mastoras, Titan Foods is reintroducing itself with a redesigned interior and modern layout.

This marks a new chapter while staying rooted in its deep community ties.

Alongside the grocery store, the family continues to operate Titan Bakery in Deer Park, serving wholesale customers under the Optima brand.

The relaunch has been highly anticipated by Astoria locals and longtime fans alike.

Whether you're stocking up on olives or hunting down the perfect Greek pastry, Titan is ready to welcome you home.

Eater & Thrillist Score Three New York Emmy Nominations

Eater and Thrillist just scored three nominations at the 68th Annual New York Emmy Awards.

Eater's “Mise en Place” was nominated in the Lifestyle category for its feature on Coqodaq’s $38 Korean fried chicken bucket.

The episode highlights chef SK Kim and restaurateur Simon Kim as they prepare the dish with banchan and noodles.

In the Informational/Instructional category, Eater’s “The Experts” was recognized for profiling Nuts4Nuts co-founder Alejandro Rad.

It dives into how the iconic street cart business roasts nearly 300,000 pounds of nuts every year.

Thrillist also grabbed a nomination in the Human Interest category for “The Extra Mile.”

The episode follows Etanya Tisdale, an MTA conductor who shares a personal look inside New York’s subway system.

Winners will be announced on October 11.

Eater has previously taken home five New York Emmys, including awards in both 2021 and 2022.

Fishbowl Responds to NYC Illness Concerns at ThisBowl Location

Australian poke chain Fishbowl, operating as ThisBowl in New York, has addressed a recent illness outbreak linked to one of its NYC locations.

In June, several staff and customers fell sick after an employee unknowingly worked while contagious.

Social media users speculated that the salmon may have been to blame.
However, the company insists the incident was not foodborne.

ThisBowl says it worked closely with the NYC Department of Health and third-party experts, who found no violations.

Co-founder Nathan Dalah called the outbreak an isolated “outlier.”

He emphasized the brand’s sanitation protocols, including hourly glove changes and professional daily cleanings.

The location in question currently holds an “A” health grade.

Despite the setback, Dalah says customer support has remained strong.

Fishbowl says it remains committed to transparency and high food safety standards as it continues to grow in New York.

Bartolo Brings Authentic Madrid Flavors to the West Village

Bartolo, a new Spanish restaurant, opened on July 31 in NYC’s West Village.

Located at 310–312 West Fourth Street, it offers a true taste of Madrid dining.

Chef Ryan Bartlow, also behind Ernesto’s in Two Bridges, leads the kitchen.

The restaurant embraces old-world Spain with low ceilings, white tablecloths, and uniformed waitstaff.

The menu highlights include ajo blanco, Madrid-style tripe, and red wine-braised oxtail.

Dessert features flan and a unique blue cheese-infused tarta de queso.

Drinks showcase Spanish wines, saffron cocktails, and house-branded cava.

Bartolo sources key ingredients from renowned importer Lidia Sanchez.

The restaurant is part of the Terracotta group, aiming to bring refined, authentic Spanish cuisine to New York.

Bartolo promises a sophisticated yet genuine Spanish dining experience in the heart of the city.

Brooklyn Takes the Lead with 8 New Michelin-Starred Restaurants

The 2025 Michelin Guide added 14 new restaurants to its New York City list.

Brooklyn led the way with eight new entries, showcasing its rising culinary scene.

Among Brooklyn’s newcomers are Yemenat in Bay Ridge, serving Middle Eastern dishes, and Mango Bay in Fort Greene, offering Caribbean flavors.

Other Brooklyn additions include 6 Restaurant, Café Kestrel, Taqueria El Chato, Enso sushi bar, Glin Thai Bistro, and Hungry Thirsty.

Manhattan added six new spots, including Adda and Kabawa in the East Village and Joomak and Laliko in the West Village.

Maison Passerelle in the Financial District and Papa San on West 34th Street also made the list.

Despite Brooklyn’s growth, Manhattan still leads with 263 Michelin-listed restaurants compared to Brooklyn’s 82.

This update highlights Brooklyn’s growing prominence in NYC’s vibrant food landscape.

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