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I had already been thinking about what to do with myself for the next 6 weeks before I start my new job, and this segment helped crystallize an idea I had floating in my head. Now I'm organizing culinary staycations for my friends in the 5 boroughs and New Jersey!

Anything to recommend in the northern suburbs?

My favorite place for chaat (Indian savory snack foods) is Maharaja Sweets. Tourists rarely find it, even though it's right around the corner from the 74th Street "Little India" strip. Any of the chaat is good, but I usually go for the aloo papdi chaat.

Listen for good eats

There are plenty of lunch counter kinds of places serving Dominican food uptown, but my favorite hidden gem is a more upscale Dominican place in Inwood called 809. Right next to the Dyckman Street station on the 1 train, any of the fish dishes are usually good. I'm very fond of the lobster soup, and go there by myself at least once every few weeks.

Off the Broadway stop on the "N" subway line in Astoria/LIC there is a FANTASTIC and inexpensive authentic Greek restaurant called "Uncle Georges". A very wealthy friend of ours spent a summer in the Greek Isles and when she said she was from New York her Greek host suggested that if she likes the food she should try Uncle Georges.