Ethnojunkets?
An ethnojunket is a food-focused walking tour through one of New York City’s many ethnic enclaves; my mission is to introduce you to some delicious, accessible, international treats (hence, “ethno-”) that you’ve never tasted but soon will never be able to live without (hence, “-junkie”).
As a Sightseeing Guide licensed by the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, I’ve covered most of the five boroughs at one time or another; we’ve eaten our way through Flushing’s Chinatown and sampled Filipino, Indian, Bangladeshi, and South American treats in Jackson Heights and Woodside, prowled around Staten Island’s Sri Lankan area, and picnicked on Eastern European delicacies in Brighton Beach’s Little Odessa – to name but a few.
The Tours:
Exploring Eastern European Food in Little Odessa
On this ethnojunket, we’ll sample the delights of Eastern European, Central Asian, and Russian cuisine along Brighton Beach Avenue in Brooklyn. We’ll share Georgian cheese bread as well as Turkish and Russian sweets and treats along with amazing dumplings, savory meat pies, authentic ethnic dishes, and so much more.
Some photos from past ethnojunkets:
(Click on any image to view it in high resolution.)
Click here to see details and book a tour!
Snacking in Flushing: The Best of the Best
On this ethnojunket, we’ll choose from a seemingly endless collection of authentic regional delights from all over China: Heilongjiang, Shandong, Henan, Shanghai, Shaanxi, Guangzhou, Hubei, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and Japan and Taiwan as well. We’ll enjoy Chinese crêpes, juicy dumplings, tasty noodle dishes, yummy dim sum, and distinctive snacks from the savory to the sweet. And as if that weren’t enough, we’ll finish with some amazingly rich Chinese influenced American ice cream! If you’re into cooking, we can also check out JMart, a sprawling Asian supermarket. All this within four blocks!
Some photos from past ethnojunkets:
(Click on any image to view it in high resolution.)
Click here to see details and book a tour!
Ethnic Eats in Elmhurst
It is said that Queens is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world. Its Elmhurst neighborhood reflects that characteristic in its own microcosm of Latinx and Asian populations, and on this tour, we’ll zoom in still further for a look at the sheer diversity of its Asian community and their culinary treasures.
On this Ethnic Eats in Elmhurst adventure, we’ll savor goodies from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Tibet, Nepal, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and elsewhere in Southeast Asia and parts of China – surprising snacks that are practically addictive, unique Himalayan dumplings, exotic noodle dishes, sweet yogurt comfort food from South Asia, Taiwanese street food, and lots more! And if you’re into cooking, we can explore a large Pan-Asian supermarket along the way.
Some photos from past ethnojunkets:
(Click on any image to view it in high resolution.)
Click here to see details and book a tour!
The Flavors of Little Levant in Bay Ridge
Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge is home to so many Middle Eastern restaurants and bakeries that it should have earned the moniker “Little Levant” long ago; the influx of Lebanese, Yemeni, and other Middle Eastern and Arab Americans makes it the ideal neighborhood for an ethnic food tour. (Did you know that Bay Ridge and Beirut are cognates? Just kidding.)
But there’s a lot more to it than that: the locale was formerly home to a thriving Norwegian community and now welcomes shops and markets representing Greece, Mexico, Poland and more – and our mission is to sample the flavors of all of them! It will be an afternoon of treats and sweets as we make our way through Little Levant: Lebanese manakish, Middle Eastern shawarma and toum, cheesy pide and chocolate baklava from Turkey, spanakopita from Greece, sweets and unique mastic ice cream plus lots more like kielbasa from Poland.
Some photos from past ethnojunkets:
(Click on any image to view it in high resolution.)
Click here to see details and book a tour!
Not Your Ordinary Chinatown Tour
Most tours of Manhattan’s Chinatown focus on its history and include a nod to its cuisine. Most cover pretty much the same information and sights. Most are time constrained and relatively crowded. But as the title says, this one is Not Your Ordinary Chinatown Tour!
Like all my ethnojunkets, our focus is on food. We’ll prowl around less touristy, off-the-beaten-path streets that might not be in the guidebooks as well as some areas that will probably come as a surprise to you. Don’t worry though: we’ll definitely check out a few landmarks and squeeze in a little history for good measure. And yes, the Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is on the itinerary. But at its heart, this food tour is a unique adventure!
Some photos from past ethnojunkets:
(Click on any image to view it in high resolution.)
Click here to see details and book a tour!
Details:
The cost of any tour is $85 per person (cash only, please) and includes a veritable cornucopia of food so bring your appetite: you won’t leave hungry, and you will leave happy!
Tours usually begin at 1pm and typically run about 3 to 4 hours (depending upon the neighborhood); we’ll sample delectable indulgences from a hand-picked selection of restaurants, bakeries, and street vendors. If you’re into cooking, these tours are for you: we always hit a market or two where I’ll be happy to answer your questions about all that unusual produce and the contents of those intriguing jars and cans and packages wrapped in seemingly indecipherable labels written in some foreign tongue.
Please note: While I generally have a pretty good idea of what ingredients go into whatever we’re consuming, I can’t vouch for salt or sugar or gluten or so many other clandestine buzz killers. If you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies, please be mindful of that and take responsibility for them just as you would if you were dining under any other circumstances. (I’m a foodie, not a doctor!) By the same token, if something troublesome happens to you along the way, I can’t take the liability for that any more than if you were just walking along the street or in a shop by yourself. (I’m a writer, not a lawyer!) In other words, when you join one of my ethnojunkets, you are taking complete responsibility for your own welfare and safety.
What I can do is bring you a few hours of entertaining, educational, and delicious fun!
Book a tour at your convenience!
Simply send me a note in the “Leave a Reply” section below (or write to me directly at rich[at]ethnojunkie[dot]com) and tell me when you’d like to experience a food adventure and which ethnojunket you’re interested in – I’ll bet we can find a mutually convenient day! I’ll email you with details.
Now Boarding: July 28 at 1pm!
There are still some openings available on our Exploring Eastern European Food in Little Odessa ethnojunket on Sunday, July 28 and here’s your opportunity to join in the fun!
For more information and to sign up, send me a note in the “Leave a Reply” section at the bottom of this page or write to me directly at rich[at]ethnojunkie[dot]com and I’ll email you with details.
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Some reviews of my ethnojunkets…
Wonderful time with Rich. He is so funny; we totally have the same humor and he was such a joy to be around. He knows so much about food and culture. He does his research and his due diligence before each tour and comes prepared. We stopped at so many places, Georgian, Turkish, Russian, and even Korean-Russian fusion…at all kinds of stores, like grocery/supermarkets, cafes, restaurant, and gift shops. We really got a taste of all kinds of foods – sweet, savory, candies/desserts, and beverages. I learned so much and cannot wait to return to NYC just to do another one of his other food tours!
Rose, September 2019
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Just rest back and one of the best food tours will be navigated by Rich in this enclave of residents from former Soviet republics and Russia. Every detail has been contemplated.
Have good walking shoes and an open palette!
This neighborhood is its own ecosystem and not as much English is spoken here than one may assume. Frankly, this is one area of New York City that I needed to be guided around and I am native born to the City. Because Rich has facility in Russian, the tour runs smoothly.
He is also a cooking enthusiast, which gives his tour more culinary depth as he shares information about the dishes (how it is prepared, evolution of the dish, ingredients, etc.) versus a curated list of dishes to eat, which I could do with a little reading on Wikipedia to develop a list top/national dishes from these former Soviet republics. But the food nerd in me wants more than just eating everything in my path.
I really appreciated that we skipped certain stops because I am already familiar with what he wanted to show giving more time to focus on other stops. I enjoy the personalization and felt that my money AND time were well spent.
I am looking forward to go on more culinary ethnojunkets with Rich.
Julie, April 2019
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This is a unique experience. The tour is wonderful and Rich is a master; he knows everything about this part of the city. I think he knows a lot about a lot of things. The food was amazing. We decided to go on this adventure as a Father’s Day present for my father-in-law and this was the best present ever. Rich took the four of us into a gastronomic experience, he knows every single spot in this neighborhood. He had us try things that we never tried before and he picked the best places to do so. You need to take this tour if you want to get out of the conventional tour and have a very authentic experience.
PS: Wandering around the neighborhood in one of the stops we found one of my favorite fruits from Colombia, feijoas, hiding in a Russian market. Gracias, Rich!!!
Carolina, June 2019
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Whether you live in NYC or are just visiting, and you enjoy trying new and interesting foods you cannot miss Rich’s experience. He knows the perfect places for delicious food from all over the world. From snacks to main courses to desserts, we went through them all. (Seriously, you have to make sure you’re hungry for this one!) Rich is very knowledgeable about different cuisines and cultures, we learned a lot. Definitely five stars.
Carlos, October 2019
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Rich is a brilliant and caring person who guides you to discover the city and its multiethnic side, through extended tours and calculated on everyone’s interests. My visit ran through bakeries, supermarkets, hot boards, bookstores, small kiosks, and Brighton Beach’s streets and waterfront. This has allowed me to understand the neighborhood in a way that would have been impossible for me on my own. I recommend this experience to anyone.
Andrea, November 2023
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Terrific Food Tour!
I’ve done several food tours at different places around the world, and this one was the best! Rich did a great job of explaining the food selections, always tying the food in with its history, and the history of the nation from which each selection originates. The food itself was great, and well selected. As Rich says in his description, “You won’t leave hungry and you will leave happy!” Highly recommended!
Gary, September 2023
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
If you want to be totally immersed into the culture and food of Brighton Beach, Rich is your man! The Ethnojunkie food tour we took was fabulous. As a chef, I am always looking for some new food I have not tried and to be able to try 8 new foods on 1 tour – yeah, I was very happy – you could say like a “kid in a candy store!” Thanks for a great afternoon Rich! I highly recommend taking this food tour.
Jacquie, June 2019
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Unique, informative and delicious. I’ve always wanted to know more about the epicenter of the most diverse county in the US – and I learned more than I ever expected. Rich loves what he does; his knowledge and enthusiasm made this a very special experience. There were at least 10 dishes to taste and dessert was the best of its kind. (I won’t reveal where we stopped – I’ll leave that to him!) I highly recommend this experience.
Donald, August 2019
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Rich is a great host! I highly recommend this food tour to anyone that likes great ethnic food and likes to explore new places and flavors. We had main entrees and dessert and even a fruit that was delicious. Go hungry because there is a lot to try. Rich is an expert and makes us feel welcome and comfortable. Thanks Rich for the great experience!!
Doris, October 2019
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Rich was an amazing host and we learned so much from our tour. The food was very good and we were able to try so many things we had never tasted. I would highly recommend taking the tour and learning about all the interesting area and food.
Rick, June 2022
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Rich is an incredible host and the food is amazing! It’s a great way to see a part of Brooklyn you may not have visited before and learn about the culture there.
Bradley, April 2022
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Enjoyed the unique trip into the food and culture of Brighton Beach. Rich shared the great tastes of the many cultures in this community.
Andrew, October 2019
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Loved this tour, highly recommend! And Rich is a wonderful human. I am grateful for this experience.
Breanne, May 2024
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
I loved the Flushing tour with Rich. Food was excellent and I really loved that Rich and I share the same passion for the same kinda food. I can’t wait to join Rich on other tours.
Gaurav, July 2024
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Leave a review of your experience!
If you’ve taken one of my food tours and you’d like to leave a review, send me a note in the “Leave a Reply” section below. I’m always eager to hear your comments!
Questions? Feel free to write to me directly at rich[at]ethnojunkie[dot]com.
Note: If you’ve left a reply below and it appears that you haven’t heard back from me, it’s possible that my response ended up in your junk email box (that’s just the way things work here on the interwebs) so please check there!