CULINARY-OCCASIONS
If you like food at all then you've come to the right place! Tasting Brooklyn is an annual event that celebrates Brooklyn's diverse food and dining culture. The event, which took place this past Tuesday evening, brought together countless restaurants and food and drink purveyors. The proceeds from this year's event will benefit The Brookyln Recovery Fund, which provides support to local nonprofit organizations working with the communities and individuals most affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Jay Astafa is on a mission to show the New York City dining scene that vegan dining can be elegant, delicious, fun, and most importantly doesn’t require a menu filled with meat and dairy replicas. The 20-year old Chef and graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, explains that “it’s [his] mission…to show people that you can have a fun, gourmet dining experience that doesn’t have to harm animals.” The best way to prove his point? An 8-course tasting menu at his two-day pop-up restaurant, Jay Kitchen. The pop-up restaurant also acts as a prelude to what is to come when he opens his flagship restaurant location, also named Jay Kitchen, later this year.
You’ll sweat bullets, you’ll be red in the face, your eyes will water, and your mouth will burn but chances are you asked for it. This weekend, April 20-21st, join the ‘hottest show on earth’ at Brooklyn’s East River State Park for the First Annual NYC Hot Sauce Expo. The hot sauce industry had its own ‘small jolt of capsaicin’ with the rise of adventurous eaters in the United States. The increase of people searching new, exotic, and often spicy flavors helped trigger an increase in hot sauce production making the hot sauce industry the tenth fasting-growing industry in the country. Just think about how many restaurants now carry Sriracha right next to the ketchup where only a few years ago the red super spicy Thai sauce craved by many was found only in Asian grocers and restaurants.
With so many fabulous restaurants and events going on every day in the city, it can be hard to narrow your focus. Make sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming events!
Infuse Your Own Soju: Mono + Mono is launching an amazing 'Infuse Your Own Soju' program that will take place every Monday evening during the month of May. Soju expert and owner, MJ Chung, will guide diners through using fresh fruits and herbs to imbue Korea's national spirit with amazing flavors. All you have to do is make a reservation!
For the third year in a row, Hamptonites will have the amazing opportunity to indulge in the tastiest food around at Dan's Taste of Two Forks. Presented by Farrell Building Company, famed Chef Bobby Flay will serve as the host of the main event on Saturday evening, July 13th. The event takes place at Sayre Park in Bridgehampton. This culinary event is known as the food and wine event in the Hamptons, where attendees can sample the best dishes from local restaurants, sip on wine from local vineyards, and sample goods from East End purveyors. The event will also feature music from DJ Phresh. A portion of this year's proceeds will go toward All For the East End, an organization dedicated to generating new and creative sources of funding and support for the non-profits of Long Island's East End townships.
If you’re the type of person whose eyes light up at the sight or sound of the word “Michelin,” then next week is made for you, and it’s all happening in Miami! United Way Miami’s annual Wine & Food Festival, April 17th-20th, is celebrating its 18th year by undergoing a very upscale, very haute cuisine makeover that is sure to draw in South Florida’s serious gourmands. Eschewing its old moniker, the festival is now going by the name VERITAGEMIAMI, and to show the South Florida food scene that it means business, they are having none other than the legendary Michelin-starred Chef Daniel Boulud to headline the four day event.
Brooklyn Flea’s Smorgasburg must’ve brought out the spring weather when they set up for the first day of the weekend food market. This past Saturday kicked off the Smorgasburg season at the new Saturday location, an empty gravel lot next to the East River State Park in Williamsburg. Due to the move, SmorgasBAR won’t be returning on Satrudays until at least June because since it’s a new location, Brooklyn Flea organizers need to reapply for a their liquor license. Annoying, right?
Do you consider yourself a foodie? I mean even if you don’t, you live in New York so you must have an appreciation for the diversity and unique blend of foods that are in surplus. If so, you should check out the exhibit at The Museum of Natural History called Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture. You may have seen an ad for it on the NYC streets or subway. The exhbit features attractions such as a recreation of an acient market, an inside peek into the dining room's of illustrious people, and a chance for guests to cook a virtual meal. Joonbug went there last weekend and left with such an appreciation for how food has evolved. The exhibit covered so much information about food; the parallels across cultures, how our sensory experiences affect our choices, the evolution of foods and agriculture, and innovative ideas that will shape the future.
Recently, Joonbug had the pleasure of attending the phenomenal Fifth Annual New Jersey Wine & Food Festival at Crystal Springs Resort. Crystal Springs is a beautiful getaway destination located in Sussex County, NJ. There was an abundance of delicious and exciting culinary events that took place during the weekend. Proceeds from the weekend are to benefit the James Beard Foundation and World Central Kitchen.
After a bumpy first run Great Googa Mooga is back for the second installment of the food, drink and music festival. Thought of as an “amusement park” for foodies, guests of the inaugural Mooga were disappointed and frustrated to say the least but event organizer, Superfly (Bonnaroo, Outside Lands), heard the cries of the people and reorganized their event. Instead of just a 2-day event, the 2013 Great Googa Mooga will be three days, May 17th through May 19th at Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
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