Zen

Zen Fusion Cuisine 
79-28 Parsons Blvd 
Flushing, NY 11367

If you’re a fan of Kyoto Restaurant in Fresh Meadows, then you’ll definitely enjoy their newest competitor, Zen Fusion Cuisine. It’s the newest Asian fusion establishment in Queens and they’re only a block away from each other. Kyoto is one of my favorite local joint and has been around for years with plenty of loyal customers, so I like having another restaurant just like it. Both places carry a lengthy menu with similar dishes, serving Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine. 

Garden salad served with ginger dressing

Spicy maki combo - spicy salmon, spicy yellowtail, and spicy tuna

Cooked maki combo - shrimp tempura, eel with cucumber, and Boston roll

Shrimp tempura

Fried calamari

Green curry - eggplant, zucchini, peppers, asparagus, onion and basil with beef

Masaman curry - potato, zucchini, peppers, asparagus, onion and basil with chicken

Bo Luc Lac - stir fried steak cubes

Ca Chien - crispy fried whole Sea Bass

Thai twin lobsters

Pineapple fried rice with chicken

Yaki stir fried noodle with shrimp

The interior is trendy with a nice vibe, comparable to restaurants located in the city. It’s always nice to have a few good options in the local area when I really need a quick sushi fix, some sizzling hot beef, or even some Thai ice tea; Zen is definitely a place with a good variety. The food was all presented beautifully and the service was excellent. This isn't the best fusion restaurant ever, but it would definitely be the go-to-spot, if and when you don’t feel like cooking dinner.

Mickey’s rating: 7/10 
Price range: $$

Wooly's Ice is nice

Wooly's Ice 
79 Elizabeth Street
New York, NY 10013

Wooly’s Ice is a yummy collaboration between three cousins, established the summer of 2011. I’ve only managed to catch them twice since they opened. So when I finally bumped into Wooly’s Ice stand again at South Street Seaport, it was an unexpected yet delightful surprise because I’ve been craving Wooly's for months.

Meet one of Wooly's Co-Founder/Co-Owner, David Sat

This Hawaiian and Taiwanese inspired shaved ice is a healthier alternative to Pinkberry and Red Mango treats. The flavored ice comes in different flavors, such as mango, strawberry, green tea, or my favorite - condensed milk! The big block of flavored ice is shaved paper thin with a frozen cotton candy texture that’s fluffy and delicious. It’s like eating fresh powdered snow soaked up in sweet delectable flavors, laced with condensed milk, and topped with amazingly fresh fruits. 

Berry delicious shaved ice is so refreshingly good

Mango madness with fresh mango and blueberry

Original condensed milk flavored shaved ice topped with fresh strawberry, kiwi, and a drizzle of condensed milk. So heavenly good!

Wooly’s is a great way to cool off during the summer heat, and to satiate your sweet tooth. They even won The Vendy Award for best dessert, so you know this place is legit. So capture this wonderful blizzard in your mouth and follow them here!

Mickey's rating: 9.5/10 
Price range: $$

Reel engagement

This is how he did it. :)

Reading the reel, Thompson starts off by listing all the places he tried to kiss me. Then, at the end he says, “But it’s my birthday, so here’s my wish... Will you marry me?!”

Thompson's story: “I’m turning 30 this year and I’ve always wanted to hike up Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Mickey was sweet enough to plan a trip for us and 4 other friends to camp and hike in the park for Memorial Day weekend. Half dome is about 8800 feet elevation so I wanted to use the Image3D viewer to replicate the touristy viewfinder experience you would get on the top of the Empire State Building. The hike was strenuous and took almost 7 hours to get to the top. When we got to the top she was already overwhelmed with emotions. We sat off to the side to enjoy the view and I presented her with the Image3D viewer as a reciprocal early birthday gift. She started laughing with every slide, completely unsuspecting of what was coming at the end. I counted each click.. 6 clicks in total before I bent down on one knee and asked her to marry me. She paused and asked “what are you doing?!” It took her a few seconds before she was able to process what was happening and realize that I was proposing. We cried a little together, laughed a little and she said yes.”

After asking many many times “what are you doing?!”... of course I said "YES!". Climbing Yosemite Half Dome was probably the scariest and most dangerous thing I've ever experienced and it took 14.5 hours to complete... but it also became the most amazing and memorable day ever! Thank you TBW for being there with us.

Our story is featured here.