"On February 29, Herrera is opening Hellbender Nighttime Cafe — with the Rolo’s team — a cocktail bar with bites at 68-22 Forest Avenue, at 68th Road, in Ridgewood. It’s her first time joining a business as a partner and as an executive chef who’s building things out from the launch. At Hellbender, Herrera’s food menu is brief — it’s a cocktail bar, first and foremost — but it includes dishes that are more than a cut above drunchies. There is a chamoy plate, where the fruit-based condiment — she makes her own — drips over shards of Asian pear and daikon, rather than the more typical jicama. Instead of mozz sticks, there are Oaxacan fried cheese sticks served with a side of tomatillo salsa. There’s a shrimp cocktail with Clamato, pico de gallo, and tostada. Plus, more entree-sized choices such as a fried tilefish sandwich oozing with cilantro mayo. Then there’s the sure-to-be-bestseller, the volcanic choriqueso — queso fans know how hard it can be to find in New York — served on a cast iron platter; it comes with a side of corn tortillas sourced from Herrera’s former employer, Sobre Masa. There’s also, of course, chips and salsa, among other bites." - Emma Orlow