Shauna Eats Sunnyside

RU-GA-LAAAAAAAA!

We’ve been longtime fans of the light, buttery fruit rugala by-the-pound at Euro Shop (on Queens Blvd. b/w 42nd and 43rd Sts.) on mornings at the pub. It pairs so well with Magners and Manchester United…

This morning, I paid Euro Shop a visit during halftime to pick up some snacks. The owner promptly ushered me to the rear and pointed out a decorated pastry in the refrigerated section which he referred to as a “famous Hungarian national dish,” though he never told me its name. He cheerfully informed me that he’d made a fresh pot of goulash and stuffed cabbage, though I was in more of a sweets mood and opted instead for a half-pound ($7.99/lb.) of assorted apricot, raspberry, and plum rugala, that mystery Hungarian specialty sweet, and two mini cheese biscuit balls, for good measure.

When I returned to our staple pub, Flynn’s (on Queens Blvd. b/w 43rd and 44th Sts.), the game was back on and B was elbowed up to the bar, taking a 10:30am shot of Jameson with a three-scotch-deep Irishman who was celebrating the Liverpool win. Whatever.

I, for the most part, ignored their rabble-rousing and focused solely on my Euro treats. The Hungarian sweet’s fluffy (almost marshmallowy) top layer was kinda weird, though after a few bites the flavors really started workin together nicely. Rather than marshmallow, I believe that pillowy fluff to be whipped egg whites, with light drizzlings of berry sauce and honey. There’s an unoffensive layer of creamy cheese nestled within, an essence of lime reminiscent of my mama’s traditional lime bars, and a buttery cookie base. Quite lovely, in fact.

The cheese balls (hehe. balls.) were novel and amusing to look at (two for 90 cents), but really just cute little conjoined biscuits with a crisp sprinkling of shredded cheese on top.

Our booty of Yiddish pastries, on the other hand, was plentiful and bangin’. I feel like Euro may have altered their rugala recipe in recent months, as the last time we had them, they were more bready and less fruity… this time around, the crust was awesomely flaky and a little less dense, and there were considerable fruit bursts thanks to ample preserves in the core. We’d never had plum before, which turned out to be our favorite variety, though apricot and raspberry were equally light and scrumptious. While B entertained drunken debate regarding the historical context of his lifelong disdain for Liverpool, I buckled down and stealthily inhaled many of the buttery fruit nugs alongside my Magners on ice… and Man. U’s 5-0 final over Stoke City was the icing on the cake.

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Euro Shop Meat Market and Bakery
42-07 Queens Blvd (b/w 42nd and 43rd sts)
Sunnyside, NY 11104 
718-786-6026 

Flynn’s Pub
43-13 Queens Blvd (b/w 43rd and 44th sts)
Sunnyside, NY 11104
718-786-6756