It's not large, this mango-passion fruit-vanilla mochi. But, being mochi, it's much too pillowy and chewy to be gobbled down; multiple nibbles are needed to reveal the rice cake's near-liquid core. All the better. At Pavlo Mochi, Ave. B, Manhattan.

Magangni, eggplant-and-okra stew loaded with lamb, from 2M Guinea Food. Hefty, especially the rice, for my $12. The truck, still wearing some old Mexican signage, parks on Ave. A just above Tompkins Square Park, near a bike-delivery hub that seems to supply most of its customers.

Leeks with dried tofu and glass vermicelli, one of the lesser-known but colorful combos at the wonderful Dongbei restaurant Golden Palace Gourmet, Flushing, Queens. Also shown: chive pockets; scrambled eggs with chopped toon leaves; dry-sautéed string beans with minced pork.

The season finale of the Queens Night Market is just one of many New York-area food events for October 23-30 bit.ly/nyfoodevents-o…

Christmas red and green arrive early: stuffed tomatoes and peppers at the St. Spyridon Greek Food Festival and Bazaar, Wadsworth Ave., Manhattan. Continues Saturday, noon-6:00, and Sunday, with a dance performance (arrive early to beat the after-church rush!), noon-5:00.

Pyongyang soondae, by Ma Youngae, at the recent Korean Harvest & Multicultural Festival in Murray Hill, Queens, is one of my favorite local festival foods for eating some now, then tucking away some to eat later. Invariably, it's never much later.

Bubur cha cha (also advertised as pengat) and bubur gandum, coconut-milk-enriched desserts from the new Malaysia Food stall, in a repaved alley at the base of the LIRR platform, Flushing, Queens. Not rushing for a train? Have them heat up your dessert! H/T Kim, Carta di Musica

Pork ribs with garlic are a chef's special, buried at the very bottom, on the menu of Hot Kitchen Sichuan Style in Flushing, Queens. There's no reason they can't be an appetizer! Also shown: wontons in hot oil, sautéed pea sprouts, and fish filets with bean curd sauce.

In chilly weather, a warm blanket — of cheese — on a mortadella-stracchiatella square at Luigi's Pizza, Ozone Park, Queens

Observances of Día de los Muertos headline New York-area food events, October 30-November 6 bit.ly/nyfoodevents-o…

Onion bialy (biteaway view), Kossar's, West 72nd St., Manhattan

Beef rendang, lempur ayam, and lontong sayur, Indonesian dishes served to a gamelan soundtrack at tiny Indo Mix, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

An almojábana, my favorite Colombian cheesebread, at El Cafetal, 10225 Jamaica Ave., Richmond Hill, Queens. If you'd prefer pan de bono, pan de yuca, or perhaps even something sweet, no worries — the extensive bakery display offers many temptations.

No syrup provided, none needed: excellent oatmeal griddle cakes at Breakfast by Salt's Cure, Morton St., Manhattan. Molasses in the batter, and in the cinnamon butter, more than balanced the saltiness of soft-scrambled eggs. Should've ordered sausage, too!

Eat chili, help fund a food pantry: Read my roundup of this and other New York-area food events for November 6-13 bit.ly/nyfoodevents-n…

Shabiat, phyllo filled with ashta, lightly dressed with syrup and crushed pistachios, one of many homemade desserts at the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church Bazaar, Ridgefield, NJ. The bazaar concludes Sunday, 1-4, with assorted mezze, a midday lamb dinner, more desserts.

The Gobbler, a Thanksgiving-season sandwich dressed with mushroom stuffing and cranberry sauce on a garlic baguette, featuring not turkey but the chicken that you'd expect at a restaurant called Poulet Sans Tête, Amsterdam Ave., Manhattan

A torta salata with squash (Long Island cheese squash) and pancetta (more evident to the palate than to the eye) on an autumn afternoon outside Bread and Salt, Jersey City

A BLT at the cozy counter of Aloha Kitchen (whose awning continues to carry the name Highway Deli & Coffee Shop), 6111 173rd St., Hillcrest, Queens

Filipina bibingka prepared the traditional way, over (and under) charcoal, return in my roundup of New York-area food events for November 13-20 bit.ly/nyfoodevents-n…