Pinky Finger Up

 Well, this year flew by. It seems like yesterday I was sipping on beers at Other Half’s brew bash back in June. I took the summer off to enjoy some disco dancing, a little traveling, watch my son’s baseball games and of course eat. With corduroy and sweater season on deck, I’m getting ready for a fun-filled Fall season.

My October calendar is stuffed with food orientated events. From openings to festivals,  October is shaping up to be the best month of the year.

Of course, there’s that huge food festival that takes place every year, but we been there done that. Every year it gets ever more SuperWhack!!! Stay away!

There are also some other promising festivals in their first and second year that will be game-changers in the years to come. I will keep you posted in the future.

If there is an event you need to pull up to, it’s the New York Taste 2019. You might want to save the date of 10/21/2019 in your Androids and IPhones because this one is gonna be stellar.

New York Taste is basically like having the best tasting menu on earth at a reasonable price with unlimited drinks. On top of that, you have a great host, cool venue and a lineup that is filled with all the buzziest restaurants of 2019.

Do your self a favor and get your tickets now! This will sell out.

http://taste.nymag.com/

A few months ago, I experienced probably the best beer party under one roof. It had a fun theme, music, the best breweries in the world and wrestling.  Sipping stouts on a crisp Spring day was like taking a nice stroll in the park.

Well, the Brooklyn team, Other Half is back with the  2nd annual Green City and it looks likes it gonna be fire! A day of celebrating IPA’S, with a  super lineup is the best summer kick-off.  Other Half you guys have successfully raised the bar. Get GA tickets at greencity.otherhalfbrewing.com

Summer in the city has unofficially started. I guess some can argue that Memorial Day is the official unofficial first day of summer but for me it’s different.  The first day of summer should be full of sunshine, refreshing drinks, some banging bites. The perfect summer day to me is going to the annual  Chefs’ Tribute to Citymeal. Right now go to the citymeal.org   and get your tickets to the Gala and pray for sunshine. This event rocks year after year. Every year, there is some type of cool theme. This year’s theme is called The Butcher, the Baker, and the Cocktail Maker.  It is self – explanatory what to expect for the evening. Lots of food, drinks, and fun. The lineup is pretty killer too. Yes, there will be an array of some of New York superb chefs. Also, the lineup consists of some of the finest across the globe as well.  The lineup has some heavy hitters including Marc Forgione, Johnathan Waxman, and Daniel Boulud. On June 10th, all roads lead to the Rockefeller Center.

The forecast for this weekend is looking very good. So get up get out and do something that has to do with eating. Ha! One of the top destinations for this weekend is definitely Harlem. For the fifth consecutive year,  Harlem hosts a dinner series featuring chefs like Marcus Samuelsson and recent James Beard Mashama Bailey. Also, the very popular Harlem Stroll which puts the spotlight some of the neighborhoods best bites on Saturday and Sunday.  Grab your tickets for an exciting day of food, drinks, and dancing. Always a fun time out. Get your tickets at harlemeatup.com.

Summer in the city will soon be reality ……..hopefully. Last year, brought New York City the fourth wettest summer ever. The winter wasn’t so rough but the spring hasn’t really sung. Let’s hope for a summer that truly sings this year. Speaking of summer, the unofficial first day of summer in New York usually starts in the Upper West Side. Not something you would expect to hear from a long time Brooklynite who hardly ever frequents the UWS.

The most consistent New York City food event returns on  May 17th and 18th.

Taste Upper West Side returns for the 12th year with the same format. Two days of food, drinks, music and straight up fun.  Friday night will be Summer in the City.  Expect to tickle your tastebuds with some picnic and summertime favorites. On Saturday, brings back the ever-popular Best of the West. Best of the West will have some of the top establishments from the UPW under one roof.

Be smart and cop your tickets for a really fun time out.  www.tasteuws.com

Another New York  Beer week has come and gone but its influence will be felt in the next year with every new brew that coursed through the city in that time. The kickoff party was an enormous success, and the future looks bright for the local beer industry.  One of the leaders of the pack, Other Half Brewery, has set the pace with a Pre-Spring blast that will satisfy all sweet tooths. Although Other Half Brewery is best known for their all-green and cheese brews, it is now collaborating with few friends to produce something pretty sweet.

The first annual Other Half experience called Pastrytown. has the potential to become one of the best beer festivals to hit the city. I have a feeling there will be more to follow.  Follow this link for tickets.

This is your opportunity to sample a stout with notes of a black forest cake or Boston cream pie.  Expect a lot of fruity barreled age goodness as well. Sipping brews while taking in some live wrestling in a pretty dope venue is a no brainer. The event will take place at Industry City, a spacious indoor-outdoor facility that is perfect for all food festivals.

The line up is sick and features some of the best brews and bites in our country and abroad.  Don’t miss out on the dessert slangers like Brooklyn’s  Ample Hills Ice Cream and the out of this world pastries from Supermoon Bakehouse.  WOW!

The local beer scene  in New York has blown up overnight.  So many taprooms is opening in NYC alone and I’m loving it. The colabs, cover art, the fresh ingredients, the frequent drops,  you will never see me sipping on a major brand (Sorry Bud and Heineken) unless its a Guiness.  Well our great city celebrates one week celebrating  happy hops. NYC Brewers Guild presents NYC beer week 2019 .  Kicking off the week, all roads leads to the Brooklyn Expo Center for Opening Week Bash. Get your tickets at nycbrewed.com . The lineup is pretty killer. Locally, we are well represented  with Grimm Artisanal Ales, Other Half Brewing , KCBC and Interboro to name a few.  Then there will be  other breweries  coming from as far as Sweeden. Get your  tickets now for one of the two session now.

Fun event Alert!

We have been blessed with a rather reasonable Old man winter. Within weeks you may be able to put away your Uniqlo Heattech and start getting back out in the thick of things. For those of you who spent the winter on some Netflix and Chill shhhh, its time to go out there explore. As we start to settle in the Month of February, few events  are starting to pop up all over town.

Mark your calendar, the first stellar culinary event is on February 19th at the very spacious venue Capitale. This  is one not to be missed. Starchefs for years has been the industry insiders for all things you need to know about in food universe. The latest trends , latest in the products, the hottest chefs on the rise and if you need a job  Starchefs.com is a dependable source.

The 2019 installment of Rising Stars will be another award winning night of eats. Awards will be given out to best new faces you need to look out in the near future . Some of the categories of awards includes, chefs, hotel chef and sommeliers to name a few.  Personally, I’m looking forward to tasting Nico Russell’s plate. Nico, is the chef at Oxalis which recently opened up in my hood.

Score your tickets  here at http://www.starchefs.com/cook/events/rising-stars/2019/new-york.  A portion of ticket proceeds will be donated to C-Cap another program I support.