"Research Meals" in Jackson Heights

Why not every restaurant I go to makes it into a video

I’ve made between 150 and 200 food videos per year since 2022.

But one thing I have never done is make a video where the owner or chef pays me to come in. I don’t really respond to invites or DMs, offering me free meals in exchange for coverage. A business owner recently donated $100 to my channel—I offered to return it if he thought it meant I would be more likely to cover his business.

A real example of the types of emails I get daily

What this means is that I actually have to eat at most places before I cover them. I sit, I eat, I try to sense the vibe of the restaurant. I might ask polite-but-prying questions to the staff. And if I’m sure that I want to cover the place, I deploy a well-practiced shpiel in English or Spanish, and hope for the best.

Food writers call these “Research Meals”. It’s the work of actually finding interesting stories, and it’s how I started my week of Jackson Heights content off with a street vendor making Colombian buñuelos and a taqueria run by a 22-year old.

Here’s what a typical week of scouting looks like for me, and I’ll try to explain why I either succeeded or failed at getting the story I wanted. I’m a bit hesitant to share this—please don’t cover these spots before I can. Or do, it doesn’t really change anything.

First Bite: Dulce de Leche Cinnamon Bun

I drove to Northern Boulevard on Saturday to scout my first spot. A year ago, I attended a mini food festival at the Queens Museum. That was the first time I tried food from a Colombian bakery called Parva, and I kept it in mind for a future story.

As I walked in, I was surprised how deep the bakery went. Then I realized that the bakery wasn’t itself very large, but continued through an open hallway into a laundromat. That’s cool.

The pastry case held copious stacks of croissants and baked empanadas, but what really drew my eye was the cinnamon bun. Within each laminated swirl was a layer of dulce de leche. It was buttery and delicious.

Will I film here? I left my information, and reached out via Instagram. I returned the next day to try to speak to the owners, and sent an email. Fingers crossed.

📍 Parva Bakeshop

8201 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Second Bite: A sourdough-fermented New York slice