Elite Event: Passport Kick Off at Delhi Heights!

I made the grave mistake of lifting Hari, the owner, off the ground in an exuberant, sweeping hug. His eyes lit up as his feet touched back down on terra firma. A surprisingly swift bear hug later, and there I was, raised up into the air myself, kicking the chin of some girl behind me (Sorry again!). Do I regret it? Not at all. (Well, maybe the kicking. (Still sorry)) The generosity on display merited that sort of happy embrace, and if I’m emasculated in the process by a man who lifts as well as he’s lifted, so be it.
The sheer amount of food laid out for us bordered on ridiculous. After rubbing our eyes upon the realization that there was passed food as well, the amount of food could only be characterized as absurd. Thankfully, we were given tallboys of Singha to wash it down. The first few stammers and gestures of disbelief by the few who ordered them accidentally must have amused the bartender, as mine was handed to me by a man still chuckling. That said, he could have been laughing at the girl I overheard hoping «that there will be a lot of chicken.» Honey child, you came to the right place. I believe the final count on chicken dishes came to seven, a good number on which to stop trying to recall the exact tally, and instead recognize that you shouldn’t interfere with whatever shame-​induced system of memory repression your stomach has in place with your brain.
Better still to think of the company, which was awesome, and the further shenanigans of the CM, Jando, who is the ringleader of awesome. Planning events this fun isn’t easy, in spite of how easy he might make it look. Hats off to you, my man. 寧為太平犬，不做亂世人, as a laowai might say.

One of the GREAT advantage to be an Elite Unilocaler is to Meet other Unilocalers who enjoy the same passion as you do (WHICH IS FOOD, DRINKS, PLACES and CONVERSATION).
Was able to attend to one of Queens Event before year ends (THANK YOU JANDO)
This restaurant itself is one of my favorite spots since they offer a great selection of Indian, Chinese, food. (Specially Brunch Buffett selection). But This night, i was able to Try out MORE than what I’ve usually order or get.
Drinks were Provided by Svedka Vodka and Singha Beer.
Food — Plates and plates of Naan with Different options (Meat, cheese, garlic, plain).
— Paneer
— Chicken plates with assorted ingredients. (Lost count).
I have never had soo much FOOD in an Event. But this one was EPIC! Because it was Elites only (so we can be more intimate with other Elites and no plus one) and Perfect crowd that you can chit chat with everyone.
HIGH FIVE to My Unilocal QUEENS CM Jando along his staff! Another great event to represent Queens!

Elite passport to Queens is the ultimate source for diversity as there is culture and diversity! This event was awesome for these reasons:
* Jando S. know how to organize good parties (he always make me feel sincerely welcomed and included as a part of the Unilocal event)
* No shortage of food and FOOD (the chicken burnt my tongue… Aija!)
* No shortage of Svedka or Singha beer
* A customize name badge with a QR code with my name
* Location very convenient near Roosevelt Jackson Heights F, E train station
* Kick Off start on a Monday night of the work week
* An intimate night to meet and network with Elite members (no plus ones)

So 74^th Street Roosevelt Jackson Heights is just another stop for me on the train. A passing point, a transfer station not a destination but on a chilly Monday night I left the confines of the subway station and headed out, not far to the Passport to Jackson Heights kickoff at Delhi Heights. But for Unilocal I will travel so here I was.
First thing as I got on line for the bar is Lori L. coming to warn me. «They gave me this much vodka.» *indicating the majority of her glass* Indeed the svedka vodka was aflowing I stepped up to the bar and the guy did pour a full glass of vodka with a splash of cranberry for color. There was also singha beer being served which is one of my favorite beers. I was ready for an awesome evening.
What I do remember that followed was trying to avoid Qian W.‘s germs (just kidding but dude was recovering from a cold) and while eating a lot of FOOD. Not just bites but it felt like I had a full meal within the hour. All different types of chicken served in different manners like chicken afghani, chicken kababs, and chili paneer– I cannot remember how much I had but it was all good since I really like indian spices and after a half an hour I was getting to my full point. I know weaksauce but it did soak up some of that svedka vodka. I was so full that I definitely had to call it a night. I ended up missing the rice and naan and curry oh my! All of which I heard great things about. I definitely have to bring my appetite next time. I also missed dessert– I dunno what on God’s green earth put me back on the train but I missed dessert. It was a school night and I ended up retiring early but I downed a svedka cranberry before I headed back which was not the smartest thing I have done lately but it definitely kept me warm. Good thing the train station was steps away. Props to the dapper Jando S. and the Queens Unilocal.
I am glad I came out on a Monday night. These passport events are great and definitely encourages me to step off the train more often and see where my stomach leads me.

Two things that made this event extra sweet:
1. THE FOOD! We started off the night gazing at the buffet setup in the middle of the room, where empty dishes shone back at us as servers made the rounds with trays piled with variously dressed chicken. I didn’t try any of it*… but later, when the buffet began to fill with luscious curries and fragrant biryani, I couldn’t resist. At the same time, servers continued circling with multiple varieties of naan. The lamb naan in particular was fascinating, and delicious.
2. All’a you. Yes, you. I love seeing new and familiar faces and Queens events are always congregations of the friendliest, most beautiful ones! (I’m including the non-​Queens people who showed up too — it’s just that you get more beautiful when you cross the East River.)
Oh, also:
3. Walkable from my humble abode, woohoo.
I admit I’ve gone to Delhi Heights before while looking for a weekend Indian buffet in Jackson Heights. Walked in, surveyed the food, then walked out — it felt more responsible to check out options further down 74^th, and then we just got lazy. Thanks to Unilocal extraordinaires Jando+Matt+Nelson for organizing — but also many thanks to proprietor Hari for your generosity in hosting us, reserving your entire restaurant for our group, and bringing out unexpectedly large amounts of great food. I won’t be walking out next time.
*I almost feel like I should excuse myself from future Unilocal events, because I’m rarely hungry when I arrive. Qian W speculates that this is caused by internal, subconscious panic. Huh.

With the hospitality, ambiance and food, and MORE food, this place and event was larger than life. As a Long Island native, I drove from here from work, (which fascinated some.) I did get a bit lost, but luckily ran into a few lovely Unilocalers, looking up at the sky, trying to find our mecca for the night!
Queens reminds of me a whole new, little Manhattan. It is great. I drove under the «L» on Roosevelt Ave. Very interesting scene that was!
Anyway, once I found Delhi Heights, (thanks to friendly people,) I was basically transported to, well, India? The aromas were like a scent invite, alerting my tastebuds! Wow!
The place is teensy, but that didn’t stop me or anyone I saw, make their way to the bar, restrooms, and of course the chafing dishes of amazing Indian dishes. I was able to try a new beer, which I loved! Singha came in large and EXTRA large! Nice! I stayed away from the Svedka cocktails, but the ladies I met said it was beyond delish and strong. Love it!
I had such a great time and was so lucky to have tried some of the delicious samples of things I have never tried before. I was a party pooper and had to leave a bit early but my favorites were as follows:
— Chilli Paneer — Indian cheese — curds and whey (lol.) Um, this was crazy yummy. It reminded me of tofu, resting in a rich, curry/​saffron infused sauce.
— Hariyali Chicken — wasn’t the most beautiful looking (green sauce, I have an semi-​aversion to green food… that is me though.) I tried it, and it was like food ecstacy! It is like chicken marinated in coriander, and other fragrant spices turning out a very good dish.
— Chicken Afgani — This was chicken in a nutty, creamy sauce. I really like that most of what I ate, tasted as if it were marinated in sauces and spices for days.
(I am so glad I took notes of the names of the dishes!)
— Murgh Malai Kebab — Chicken kebob with a great dipping sauce. Pretty convinced anything kebab, is gonna be a new favorite of mine!
Was so pleased to meet a whole new crowd, see our amazing CM’s and hang with some cool new people. Great time, great venue and the owner, Hari, was great. He has a great staff helping him make his restaurant a huge hit in Queens.

This event was awesome.
— Jando knows how to throw parties! (But where are the Unilocal sticks?)
— My first time getting scanned with the QR code thingy. Cool.
— Ahhhhh! That naan burned my tongue!
— Everything at the curry stations were divine. Especially the paneer dish.
— Raita and rice pudding was available to cool your tongue.
— Singha beer.
P. S. I’ve been to Delhi Heights many times before, and it’s interesting to see all the tables and chairs gone for the party.

My very first Queens YEE and I’m stuffing my face with plates of Indian buffet? Awesome.
I should admit: my standards for Indian food are pretty low. If it’s not grossly greasy and it doesn’t make me sick, it gets my love.
That said, the food here was good! I’d have enjoyed it even if my standards were stringent, I think. And the dishes offered weren’t all the buffet defaults, either. I mean they didn’t make us saag paneer or channa massala or aloo gobi. (All those are wonderful, but they’re so common they’re available in pouches in Trader Joe’s.) Instead, we got a great goat bhuna and kadai lamb (aka karahi lamb, apparently). And that’s just two of the buffet dishes. There were four or five others, plus four or five appetizer plates. Oh, and naan! Again, I think they didn’t stick only to the typical stuff. The standout for me was a kashmiri naan I’ve never had before (covered in a sweet-​ish red sauce – not sure what it’s made of). Everything was delicious.
Kudos to Delhi Heights for cooking up so much goodness.
As for the drinks, I would’ve loved to see Taj or Kingfisher – Indian beers! – but the infinitely flowing Singha got my thumbs up – one thumb for the regular bottles and two for the jumbo.
And as for Queens Unilocalers…
You guys? I’m not gonna throw my beloved Manhattan and Brooklyn Unilocalers under the proverbial bus here, but, just sayin: you all are a chill bunch.
Jando! Ruggy! Thank you.

I walk up to the front door of Delhi Heights and another Unilocaler says to me, «Oh the last Unilocal event I saw you at, my wife was tugging on your underwear.» Whoa, wait a second, back up a minute. I guess this was a foreshadowing of the night to come.
A huge shout-​out to Jando, Ruggy and Matt for putting together such a great event. I mean, prior to coming, I was a bit skeptical. I was thinking, could Indian food work for a Unilocal event? And sure enough, the magnificent Unilocal team pulled it off.
Lots of Singha beer on hand, and even a big bottle of Singha offered that looked like a 40. Hahahaha. The vodka was interesting. Every time I ordered a vodka and tonic, I got blank stares. No problemo. Just throw some Sprite on it and we all good.
Great Indian/​Nepalese food. I was able to eat the chili paneer and also a paneer korrma. It wasn’t dairy free, but I am not complaining. Also tons of delicious piping hot garlic naan floating around. I even asked for more and they whipped up a batch for me!
Great staff, very friendly and helpful. Space was nice and lots of room to move around and mingle with Unilocalers.
Finally met the infamous Chi N. and also some a pretty hot stuff Jeff O. roaming around. We were blessed with Unilocal celebrity here in Jackson Heights.
Great event and by the evening, I was saying back to same Unilocaler that greeted me at the door, «your wife can tug on my underwear anytime… well at a Unilocal event, that is. «Wink! Wink! The end…

QYE are the best!
I had a fantastic time last night at the Passport Kick Off. And what an awesome venue for an intimate night with our QYE. Thanks to everyone at Delhi Heights, Jando, and Unilocal crew for putting on a great show. Thanks to all the visitors from other boroughs coming out to see what Queens is really about.
The food was amazing and more than plentiful. We ate like kings! The staff served it up and let us at the buffet. And HUGE props to Singha for bringing the beer and showing up to our little shindig. It was great to see yet another beer company represent, and an ASIAN beer no less!
Again, it was an amazing time reconnecting with the QYE community and meeting more of our QYE! Bravo!

Who’s a lucky girl that lives for the first time like 5 blocks away from a Unilocal event? Not this girl! Ha. Rather, my friend. But, seriously, great event to actually slug all the way out to Jackson Heights for. There was so much food it was ridiculous. After checking in we were given the option of either actual shots of Svedka vodka with a splash of cranberry. (I’m sorry, that was not a cocktail. That was a shooter!) Or Singha beer, which is actually really kind of tasty and light and went well with the copious amounts of chicken floating around. There were also big boy sized bottles of Singha for the more adventurous.
Out of the many rotating meats, my favorite was between the chicken Afghani that tasted strongly of saffron and I think it was the Murgh Malai Kabob. Whatever was the creamy chicken with cilantro. The chili paneer we stood debating over for several minutes as to what it actually was made out of: «It’s chicken.» «No, it tastes like cheesy buttery goodness.» «Maybe it’s tofu?» «Maybe. But it still tastes like cheese!» «No, it’s chicken.» «Excuse me, what is this?» «Cheese.» «Shoot.» Everything tastes like chicken to me. I’m not sure on what all of the curries were that I sampled. After the appetizers and tandoori chicken skewed meat went around I thought that was it and did not expect giant vats of curry and rice pudding to be brought out! Amazing and such a lovely presentation with the designs whirled in on top of them. I think the only one that I wasn’t keen on was the goat curry because of the bones and toughness of the meat. Everything else — two thumbs up. But I can always use a kick more of heat in some of it all.
Rice pudding was the only thing I really did not like. At all. It was very soupy. The warm naan bread was amazing. Garlic, onion, bread made with dried fruits — so good. I would be back here for sure if I lived anywhere near here or had a reason to come out here. Steph P. for sure will be! lol. Great event and it was wonderful to meet both new and old faces of Unilocalers. Good talking to both Jando and Ruggy. Thanks so much! And thank you Delhi Heights for having all of us.

Another great event organized by Jando!
Delhi Heights is small, but the owner and staff were so friendly that you almost thought you were in their living room.
It was an intimate atmosphere that made it easy to meet a group of elite Unilocalers that I haven’t met before.
The real star of the night was the food! The only thing I did not care for was the onion nan — a little too strong for my taste. But the passed around chicken dishes had me dreaming about coming back last night. There were three or four different chickens being passes around that were amazing! The chicken was cooked perfectly — super juicy and tender. The different styles were fantastic. I do not like hot spicy food, but these dishes had spices and flavors that I’ve never had before without being hot. The flavors exploded in my mouth! I eat so much before the buffet opened that I didn’t even try anything else they put out.
There is definitely a return trip to Delhi Heights in my near future!

Even as a Queens «native», this event opened up horizons to for me. I know that the town next door, Elmhurst, has a huge Chinese population, but I didn’t realize that there was such a large Indian population in this area.
Food: the Chicken Afghani was the best, but all the other chicken dishes were actually quite impressive. Singha beer is interesting. It’s probably closer to Beck’s in terms of taste and texture. I had a «few.» Wish I could have stayed for the curry tasting. Who has meetings at 9 p.m.
Service: the bar tender seemed very new at his job. I watched, with great amusement, Lori L. get poured a vodka cranberry with ¾ vodka and ¼ cranberry juice. After she was finished with it, I generously offered her another… she declined. I wonder why. Every server was extremely friendly and so happy to be there.
Décor: this venue is quite clean and it’s in a surprisingly busy area. Thank God it was Monday night so parking was a breeze.
Aside from the food, the attendees are what make a Unilocal Event great. The usual attendees: Lori L., Tony C., and Ju L. really make things so much fun. I also had the pleasure of meeting some new people!
Thanks, Jando, for a great evening. Nelson — I need a photo with you!

Little India? I didn’t even know a place like this existed in Queens! If Delhi Heights is any representation of what this area has to offer, considered me sold!
With all the tables removed and chairs to the side, we Unilocalers had space to do our thing. Owner Hari extended his hospitality to us with what seemed like countless waves of chicken in different types of spices and sauces. As if that wasn’t enough, there was also several different types of naan as well as a buffet setup in the last hour which was amazing! Svedka vodka and Singha beer were a welcome treat for the festivities.
From sassy haircuts to a story about a racist albino Ukrainian, there was definitely a lot of shenanigans going on last night which makes for an epic time! Shout out to the ever so talented Mr. Jando S. for being a gracious host and Ruggy for the assist!
Always a good time at the Queens events. Cue the song please
*oh oh oh it’s magic… you knowww

Another spectacular Unilocal event! Started the night with a Singha beer and wonderful conversations with fellow Unilocalers. There was a selection of appetizers including chilly paneer, malai kabob, chicken afghani, and garlic naan. Also to mention the open buffet of Indian rice, several types of curry, and a refreshing coconut dessert were delicious. My biggest regret was eating dinner before the event, but that didn’t stop me from chowing down. Had a great time meeting new friends, seeing familiar faces, and talking with Unilocal celebrities. Also to note the Unilocal merchandise never disappoints! The rainyday superhero kit with definitely come in handy one day. Thanks to Jando for organizing and the staff at Delhi Heights for the hospitality!

There are two food capitals of Queens in my opinion, aka Flushing and Jackson Heights. And when it comes to Indian/​Middle Eastern food, no where does it better than Jackson Heights. Delhi Heights along with Unilocal hosted an awesome event showing off delicious traditional curries, grilled meats, and naan breads.
The curries were packed with flavor and spices which are soaked up by the aromatic biryani rice. Loved the lamb curry! While everyone was drinking the beer and vodka (generously provided by Singha Beer and SVEDKA Vodka), the lightweight that I am was taking shots of rice pudding (which is a great antidote to the heat from the food).
I really enjoyed this Elite only event because only the most passionate are here with the goal to meet new people. I met many Unilocal veterans and Unilocal newbies and everyone was super nice. This event was a success in my eyes not because of my about to burst stomach, but because how the venue managed to bring people together to make new friends. Yay cramped spaces!
Thanks Jando for denying my exit and forcing me to stay for the curry tasting haha.

Seriously Jando? Stop spoiling me… No, j/​k! Keep spoiling me. Make me feel special… As if you are hosting these events just for me.
And really, you’ve outdone yourself. Why? Well, because…
1: It’s Queens! It’s Jackson Heights! And oh so close to me.
2: You know it’s going to be an amazing time when 2 CMs are present. That’s right folks, Ruggy ventured out to Queens!
3: So much food. SO MUCH FOOD!
4: Queens. Brooklyn. Manhattan. Jersey. Elites from all over came out.
5: Alcohol… Never. Ending. Alcohol.
Thank you for such an amazing night! Jando, Nelson, Matthew, Ruggy… You are all such great hosts. Looking forward to all the future events!

I was very happy that there was going to be a Passport to Jackson Heights, because it is my neighborhood.
I thought it would be great, though I still think that no one realizes how many amazing gems are on my side of the neighborhood.
I was happy to attend the elite event, but there was no particular excitement or expectation on my part.
Mistake.
I never know Delhi had such good food. Really. I learned so much today. It wasn’t that I didn’t know, it was that I just didn’t know. Sometimes we confuse being acquainted with something with knowing.
I knew there was Singha. Been there, done that. I did not know that Singha has a bigger size, called a Singha Bomber. Now I do. I was acquainted. I didn’t know.
74^th Street is an important place for Indian food. This is especially the case when you are not Indian. I know that. Everyone knows that. I am partial to a place down the block that I will not name, but is not the place you probably think I am talking about. I always go there.
Mistake.
This is the part of the review when I admit that Jeff O, the other JO of Jackson Heights, has told me for years about a couple of trends and a couple of places. Blah, blah, I am a superstar. I know.
Mistake.
Delhi Heights has food. The owner of the place discussed this with me before he started putting the food out. He said, we would sample, and then, in an hour, he would put food out. Blah, Blah, I know, I got this, and I have my Singha Bomber.
Mistake.
I was not ready for some of the things that were about to happen. Seriously, I was not ready. I should have taken out a pad and taken notes. Me. I got schooled.
After several Chicken plates, which were traditional, a certain Unilocaler, who knew what Delhi was capable of stated «I warned him not to just send out chicken» and complained that this was american food.
However, the night was not over. As promised, food filled the middle of the restaurant, an hour in, after small chicken platters had already been passed around and given people a sample of what Indian food can be.
Aromas filled the air, lines formed, and a Singha Bomber that strayed from someone’s hand in a bombing mission to the floor burst.
Opa!
A moment had arrived when Delhi Heights let us all know that this wasn’t Greece and the stamp on your Unilocal passport said Jackson Heights…
Unprepared, I took not a note, but I did the next best thing… I ate.
Marsalas and Paneers and rices. There was so much food. I stopped taking note of what was going on and I just ate. I ate it all. It was soo much better than I expected.
In a moment that would make anyone thankful for all of the good in the world that they have been fortunate to encounter, a man came around with garlic Naan and what I believe was the Delhi Heights Special Kashmiri Naan, which was special white flour bread made with dry fruits baked in a day oven. I had never had anything like that Kashmiri Naan and since I really don’t know what it was, all I can say is that it was FUCKING AWESOME! I am so happy that I said fucking awesome on Unilocal.I don’t know if you can do that, but I blame it on the Kashmiri Naan. If you tasted it, in the sauces, dipped, alone, however, it was, you know, what I said above. If you missed the event, or if you went to this event and you missed that moment, I feel sorry for you. You have missed a great life moment. It isn’t that I am better than you, it is that my experience was.
That is what being in Jackson Heights is like. That is what living in Jackson Heights is like. It isn’t that I am better than you, it is that my experience in eating is.
Act like you Know.

This is why Queens events are the best:
1) When it comes to diversity, Queens sets the standard whether it’s regarding to food or the people. Special thanks to Jando (Pronounce it with the H and not the J… hehehe). Jando truly tries to include everyone to his events. Today, I’ve met people from Manhattan, Long Island, Queens, and did someone say New Jersey too?!? Props for the people who hiked out from Boondocks (just kidding)! It was a wonderful pleasure to finally put a face to a name.
2) The food! Some people might have seen me chasing after the server who was serving garlic naan bread. I also ate like 4 cups of that rice pudding, which was delicious! There were a variety of chickens served and it truly allowed me to try more authentic Indian food compared to my usually Chicken Tikka Marsala (Yes, my Indian friends all yell at me and tell me it’s not truly Indian food and that it was actually invented by the English).
3) Again, thanks to the awesome Unilocal team for setting this event up. Jando, thanks for always including me (I know I can be a pain in the butt when I run to you last minute). Matt, thanks for signing everyone in. I’ll learn how to print the party passes one of these days (ok maybe I lied… but let me in anyways). Nelson, thanks for sneaking up to us and snapping your camera away. I can’t wait to see those silly pictures! Thanks Ruggy, I’m sure I’ll make it to one of the Manhattan events soon!!! Lastly, thanks Hari for welcoming us into your kitchen!

Amazing food. Some of the best chicken I have ever had courtesy of Unilocal.
Hari, the owner is awesome and finally Unilocal comes to my neighborhood. I can WALK home from here.
Will elaborate more tomorrow, but definitely a bajillion stars… but 5 on Unilocal,yay!