Something very big is coming to New York City, something that has never been done before in America. Hint: if it smells like Latin flavors, sounds like Latin music, and tastes like Latin wine, it must be a Gourmet Latino Festival taking place from June 4-12, 2010.  (Tickets for the event are available at www.gourmetlatinofestival.com). Taking place at the Astor Center, the festival aims to showcase Latin gastronomy, through which a deeper awareness of the culture and soul of Latin America can be understood and appreciated.

Spearheaded by festival ambassadors Aarón Sanchez and Steve Olson, the festival will bring together top chefs, wine experts, mixologists, and cookbook authors to share their culinary knowledge and passion for countries including Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and Uruguay. How will they pass along such knowledge? Through regional cuisines, wines, spirits, beers, cocktails and gourmet coffees. What better way to learn than to experience the culture in tactile forms like washing down a bite of empanada from Mexico with a wine from Chile. The grand tastings will have themes like "A day in Latin America," focusing on foods found in a typical town in Latin America. "Live the Spirit of Carnival" will feature the excitement of Carnival. With food, music and a lively, celebratory atmosphere, you can party Latino style.

The festival is also committed to social responsibility by honoring and improving the lives of Latino farmers in the U.S. and Latin America. The Latino Festival's message goes beyond the mere act of eating and dives into the process of how we acquire these foods, by what means and through whom. Therefore, they have partnered with Greenmarket, the Rainforest Alliance and the Fair Trade Federation to raise awareness for sustainable living and fair trade practices, as well as the importance of local farmers. The festival will  remain eco-friendly by limiting paper use, using exotic fruit as flyers and promoting through electronic social networks, Facebook and Twitter among the many. 

I was able to sample some of the food and drink this past Monday at a preview of what is to come. What surprised me most is that I am rarely able to experience such flavors. Not only were the bites delicious, but refreshing in their flavor profiles. I hit the bar first, where the knowledgeable mixologists Phil Ward of Mayahuel and Leo DeGroff from aka Wine Geek shook up some tasty creations - a Loop Tonic made with tequila, vermouth, Chartreuse and lime, and a Watermelon Mojito, respectively. I tried DeGroff's watermelon mojito, although part of me feared a sugary-sweet watermelon-flavored cocktail. Not the case. The fresh watermelon juice and sprigs of mint made it perfectly refreshing for a warm day. (Even though that night was cold and rainy, it transported me to a warm June day.) The lump crab meat and fresh herbs on a crispy little tortilla was light and refreshing, a perfect opener to make way for some of the other heavy hitters. Crispy sweetbreads skewered on toothpicks with potato confit and a splash of lemon melted in my mouth, but remained bright with the acidic touch of lemon left lingering gently on my palate. And then there was the duck arepa. Lying atop a ducky mountain of shredded and seared breast was a richly golden quail egg. The yolk broke, and the creaminess dripped down the sides, down to the arepa itself, and mixed with the slightly sweet brown sauce on the bottom of the plate.  What ensued was a state somewhere between utopia and heaven.

Another facet to this festival is their Gourmet Latino Authentic Dining Week being held from June 8-12. This will feature Latin-inspired menus from participating restaurants in New York City and New Jersey. Some of the New York City restaurants include: Centrico, Fonda, Macondo, Mercadito, Paladar, Palo Santo, Yerba Buena, and Zatra.   

The incredible sense of community, cultural awareness and social action taking place is reason enough to go check out the Astor Center from June 4-12. Couple that with the live music, tons of great food, cocktails, wine and coffee, and there's no excuse not to participate. Additional information, festival updates, and ticket sales can be found at www.gourmetlatinofestival.com. Be part of something groundbreaking!