BY: BILL WALLIS

Hey there, Terp Bros loyal! It’s that time once again, and no, we aren’t talking about the new 4:30 sunset time thanks to Daylight Savings. We also aren’t talking about how turkey bros are once again holding people hostage for minutes on end to mansplain the best way to dry brine your bird. We’re talking about it being Tuesday (or Terpsday) which means it’s time for us to drop another list of new products on the shelves here at Terp Bros Astoria and Ozone Park! Not only that! As always, we’re also shouting out some amazing local eateries and fun events happening this week right here in Queens and all over NYC! Sit back, relax, and spark a J. Make sure to take notes, too. There’s bound to be something on the list you just can’t miss! 

WEEKLY FEATURED PRODUCTS

1. Heady Tree Pre Rolls (Infused & Non-infused) New Strains (Astori & OZP)

If you’ve done any research into what the best pre rolls in NYC are, you’ve likely heard of Heady Tree. Their flower is top tier, and their pre rolls suffer no dip in quality, which is a rare occurrence, regardless of which legal market you’re in. Heady Tree has been dominating the pre roll game here at Terp Bros and for good reason. Their classic and widely loved strains like Candy Fumez, Pineapple Slushee, and Da Yayo (sativas) are all top sellers and their OG hybrid and indica strains (Blue Zushi and Cap Junkie) fill in the gaps for those that don’t need any help in the anxiety department. They also offer supremely potent seven packs of pre rolls infused with kief that reach impressive numbers on testing. They aren’t messing around when they say 40%+ and it shows with each puff! They also recently dropped new strains of their full gram single pre rolls. The Pirate’s Milk (hybrid) may have a weird name but the smoke will have you thinking you’ve got a parrot on your shoulder and the Lip Smacker (hybrid) is a flavor savor if we’ve ever tasted one! Don’t skip their single infused joints either, available in Blue Lobster (indica) and Pink Elephants (hybrid). No matter what kind of pre roll you’re in the market for, Heady Tree has what you need! 

2. Punch Bars – 100mg – Assorted Flavors

You read that right, Terp Bros shoppers! Punch Bars are back and finally making waves in the legal New York market. These things pack a, well… punch! We suppose that’s how they got their name. They are as potent as they are delicious so make sure you dose yourself correctly or you’ll end up knocked out. Keep someone you trust in your corner for when the munchies kick in and someone needs to place the order. If you eat the whole bar, that’s not going to be you. Currently available in three flavors here at Terp Bros Astoria, The dark chocolate sea salt (indica) will have you snoozing before you can ask “You think I should take another piece?” The cookies and cream (hybrid) will have you coasting for hours and wondering why Hershey’s didn’t put weed in their cookies and cream bar. Missed opportunity. The milk chocolate (sativa) is the most popular because New York is always busy and getting ready for the next thing on their to-do list. Regardless of which flavor or effect sounds right for you, Punch Bar has you covered and Terp Bros Astoria has the budtenders to make sure you get the perfect one for you! 

3. Rolling Green Flower – 3.5g – Assorted Strains (Ozone Park Lineup) 

When it comes to the best brands of flower in New York, Rolling Green inevitably enters the conversation. They have high quality strains, grown properly, with extreme attention to detail from start to finish. Terp Bros Astoria shoppers are already familiar with Rolling Green’s quality across the board, but now that we have a second location in Ozone Park, we’ve got an opportunity to procure and highlight even more strains than we could at just our Astoria location. For that reason, we thought we’d take a moment to highlight the Rolling Green strains you can currently only get at our Ozone Park location! First up, the green jar exclusive, Obsidian Kush (hybrid). Blending the sweet berry and creamy flavor profile with the decidedly different gassy spice profile for a unique flavor experience with a potent, relaxing high. Next up, and a step higher in quality are the orange jars. Scented Marker and Ruthless Runtz (hybrids) bring two different but delicious flavor profiles to the table. The Scented Marker brings the gassy funk with a hint of citrus and the Ruthless Runtz is more creamy with hints of tropical fruits and earthiness on the back end. Both are great for night smokes and perfect to relax with. Finally, the purple jars. The Mint Tao is a creamy, earthy smoke with potent giggly and euphoric effects while the Mac Flurry brings vanilla and citrus terps to the party. Like smoking a creamsicle without getting yelled at by Mr. Softee. If you’re new to Rolling Green or if you know and love them and need to try some new strains, head to Ozone Park today and stop by Terp Bros! 

WEEKLY RESTAURANT HIGHLIGHT – MI ESPIGUITA TAQUERIA (DOLLAR TACO)

No, that wasn’t a typo. We said Dollar Taco. As in tacos… for one dollar. Like, each taco only costs a dollar. Sorry, but living in New York has conditioned us to believe that deals like that simply don’t exist anymore, or are so bad they aren’t worth trying in the first place. Let us be the first to tell you that the tiny, delicious, dollar tacos Mi Espiguita Taqueria is serving up are most definitely worth the price. These things scream authenticity. From their handmade corn tortillas to their slow cooked meats and housemade salsas, this place does not miss! If you’re familiar with California style street tacos, and living in New York, you’ve likely been on the hunt for a taco that can scratch that itch and thus far have been highly disappointed. Sure, New York is a hub for all kinds of international cuisine and you can find just about anything your taste buds desire here in the five boroughs, but Cali style street tacos have been something that eludes those of us with an affinity for them. However, your hunt may just be coming to a close when you walk through the doors of this unassuming Mexican restaurant.

 The moment you cross the threshold, your senses are bombarded. From the smells of freshly stewed meats and grilled tortillas, to the sounds of classic mariachi music and hungry happy customers chowing down and placing orders, there is a lot going on at Mi Espiguita. Dollar Taco, a concept of theirs that offers smaller, street style tacos for a dollar each is why you want to come here. Sure, they also serve full sized tacos along with delicious burritos, flautas, and even birria options, but their dollar tacos is where they truly shine! There’s just something about a tiny street taco you can eat in two bites (one if you’re hungry) that warms your heart. Beyond being available at an unmatched price point (especially for NYC), these tiny tacos pack the flavor! Available in carnitas or tinga (stewed spicy chicken), it will be hard to not order more when you’re done. Also, at a dollar a piece, go for it! Nobody is breaking the bank here, even though the food is at the quality of a much pricier sit down restaurant. If you’re looking for delivery, they’re also on the apps as ‘Dollar Taco’ so you can enjoy these savory pockets of joy from the comfort of your own home! We’ll be honest. For those who have spent time in Cali and fallen in love with their fantastic and diverse street taco scene, you can finally stop your search. We found them for you. They’re at Mi Espiguita Taqueria right here in Astoria, Queens. You’re welcome, taco lovers. Now go. Go and eat and cry the tears of joy we’ve already cried. Join us in the land of taco fulfillment. Rejoice! 

WHAT TO DO IN (NYC) THIS WEEK

1. Support a struggling small business (and eat good Thai food while doing it!)

Small businesses are what keep this country going. Whether it’s keeping us clothed, providing us with essential products for our daily lives, or filling our stomachs with delicious food so we’ve got the energy to wake up tomorrow and do this whole life thing all over again. Without small businesses, this country would be a lot less fun and a lot more miserable. We’re a small business ourselves, and if we’ve had a positive impact on you or your life, we want to ask you to trust us when we say that Pattanian Thai is not a small business you want to see fail. The family owned Thai Restaurant in Ridgewood Queens has been struggling to get influencers to promote their business, and because of this, is facing the possibility of having to shut down if they can’t get more people in the door to compete with other, newer restaurants in the area. However, new doesn’t mean better. Pattanian has been serving southern Thai specialties for years and the chefs and wait staff who come straight from Thailand themselves are some of the most talented and caring people we have ever met! Eating here was truly an experience from start to finish. The wait staff is attentive and fast, the restaurant itself is very clean and nicely decorated, and the food is a ten out of ten. True, authentic Thai flavors you do not want to miss. So, in a departure from our normal ‘suggestions’ for what to do in Queens this week, we’re making a request. If you like Thai food, take a night to try this spot if you haven’t. Order in or go see them in person. You’ll be happy you made the short trip and so will your tummy! Make sure to tell them we sent you when you get there! 

2. Find the best Gobbler sandwich before the Gobbler season ends! 

We can already tell. Some of you are scratching your heads trying to figure out what the heck a ‘Gobbler’ sandwich is. Be careful, don’t scratch your head while holding a joint. That’s dangerous. Also, we got you. A Gobbler is essentially a leftover Thanksgiving dinner sandwich. Some key components are turkey (obviously) as well as stuffing and cranberry sauce. After that, the variations run wild. Some even include green bean casserole or are fully dunked in turkey gravy before being served. However you like it, NYC goes hard with Thanksgiving cheer, at least in the form of sandwiches. That means there are a number of local eateries (and even national chains) that have jumped on the trend, leaving you with countless options and little time to try them all. Lucky for you, we’re professional munchies havers, so we’ve done the bulk of the research for you. Here is the A.B.C. on the best G.O.B. in the city!

• Black Friday – Comfortland – Astoria, Queens

Alright, so this one is a bit of a departure from the classic Gobbler in one obvious way. It subs the often dry, roasted turkey meat for juicy, deep fried chicken. On top of that, they add a thick layer of herbaceous stuffing, followed by a generous dollop of tangy and sweet cranberry sauce. Finally, a layer of housemade slaw and a coating of spicy mayo grace the brioche bottom bun and the monstrosity is fully assembled. If that hour after Thanksgiving dinner zone out session is appealing to you, run to Comfortland before the season is over! 

• Thanksgiving on a Roll – Good Eats – Maspeth, Queens

If you love Thanksgiving, this sandwich is for you. Slow roasted, juicy turkey meat is piled high along with stuffing, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, and mayo all served on a fluffy, brioche bun. This sandwich can also be served with fries or mashed potatoes to fill out the Thanksgiving vibes. Pro tip: order it with crispy fried onion strips for an added salty crunch to break up the consistency! 

• Gobbler – Mission Sandwich – Williamsburg, Brooklyn

While Queens certainly has an amazing number of restaurants that offer this instant classic of a sandwich, we had to hit up Brooklyn for at least one of our recommendations. This sandwich truly embodies the idea of what a Gobbler sandwich can be. All of the nostalgic flavors of Thanksgiving, while still being what we know and love as a classic deli sandwich. It comes with the juicy roasted turkey breast, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. However, this one veers toward sandwichland hard by adding melted provolone cheese, thick cut smoky bacon, thin sliced onion, lettuce, tomato, and mayo all served on their signature San Francisco style Dutch Crunch bread. It isn’t one you want to miss!  

3. Spend too much money on fun foods at a Winter Village (City wide) 

It’s officially the holiday season and that means one thing. It’s time to spend way too much money! Gotta love capitalism! But hey, while you’re stuck in an endless cycle of working and spending just to make rich people richer, you might as well take some time to have fun with it! New York offers multiple Winter Villages in which you can find amazing gifts, hand made crafts like ornaments and scarves, and of course, delicious food that’s almost as high in price as it is in calories. Sure, swimsuit season is just around the corner (like it always is) but for now the temps are low and the cravings for deep fried, cheese filled deliciousness are high and we’re here to help guide your taste buds on an overpriced journey they won’t soon forget! For consolidation purposes, and because it has the highest concentration of viral food options, we’re focusing this week on the Bryant Park Winter Village in Manhattan. Here are the three foods we think are must try options when visiting! 

• Fried Pickles on a Stick – Pickle Me Pete 

Alright, so fried pickles aren’t on your Christmas foods list. We don’t blame you. However, we think you’ll understand why we’re highlighting them once you take your first bite! These things are fried to crispy perfection and served with a dipping sauce of your choice. Also, no greasy fingers because they’re on a stick like the rest of the best foods in the world! 

• Schnitzel Bowls – 12 Chairs

Sure, Schnitzel may also be one of the foods that is under represented on your Christmas treats list. Unfortunately for you, you might need to make a last minute addition to the lineup. 12 Chairs is offering piping hot Schnitzel bowls with delectable chunks of fried chicken cutlet (or Schnitzel) on top of creamy mashed potatoes and whatever toppings you like. It’s a bowl of warmth that lasts for hours which is nice on a brisk November day. KFC could never!

• Truffle Cheesesteak – The Truffliest 

Few things go together as well as cold weather and hot cheesy steak sandwiches coated with medallions of freshly shaved truffle. Sure, your wallet likely won’t thank you for ordering this monstrosity of decadence, but your tongue surely will. They use thinly sliced Pat La Frieda ribeye steak, grill it to perfection with peppers, onions (and mushrooms if you like it slimy) and add it to a freshly baked hero. Next, they drizzle it with truffle aioli and shave an ungodly amount of fresh winter truffle right on top. It may as well be covered in gold leaf with the flavor this thing is cranking out! It’s a must try if you’re going to the Bryant Park Winter Village. Pro Tip: Skip the Cheese Wheel Pasta. It’s all hype and no flavor. I just saved you thirty dollars. You’re welcome. 

Here we are once again, folks. The end of an extra long, munchies filled newsletter that is guaranteed to have you eating good for the next week. Also, until we meet again next Tuesday, feel free to hit us up with suggestions for restaurants, events, and your favorite products here at Terp Bros Astoria and Ozone Park to be highlighted in upcoming newsletters! We love sorting through, trying, and highlighting the places you love and introducing them to new people! Thanks again for reading week after week! We’re nothing without you! Until next Tuesday, stay lit, Queens!