Steel loves going out to the outer boroughs of New York to find real ethnic cuisine.

Tanya Steel I always am asked what my favorite restaurants are, and I’m always trying to keep some of them close to the vest because I don’t want everyone to go there.  But I . . .  I love, love, love Indian food, and Vietnamese food, and Thai food more than anything.  So whenever I crave things it’s one of those.  It’s kind of very gutsy flavors.  It’s stronger food, so there’s a restaurant in Chinatown called Nha Trang that’s Vietnamese that I’m obsessed with.  And in fact I told … about it once when I was interviewing him, and I described in detail about the soft shell crab, and how it’s perfect, and they do this beautiful salt and pepper soft shell crab.  And I went the next day because I was craving the soft shell crabs, and lo and behold… is sitting next to me having soft shell crab.  So that’s one of my favorite restaurants that’s kind of just . . .  I can go there with my family and order a tremendous amount of delicious food.  That’s one real favorite.  There’s some great Indian places.  I love some restaurants actually in Queens.  Queens has probably the most interesting restaurant scene, the most interesting cuisines of any place in America that I can think of.  I think it’s really the last bubbling pot or whatever . . . melting pot.  It really is.  And it’s got just an incredibly good, high quality level of restaurant cooking every different cuisine that you could possibly want.  So I love going to Queens.  There’s a Thai restaurant in Queens called Silver Pie, which I jump on the number 7 train and go there sometimes for lunch.  And it’s so good, and it’s very, very fiery food, but you know you’re in an authentic place.

 I love going to restaurants where I’m the only English speaker.  I mean for me that’s kind of a thrill.  I just love pointing to something and to say, “Give me that.”  Or, “Just bring me whatever the chef thinks I should eat.”  So that’s really fun for me.