Summertime. Food, drinks, friends, parties, rooftops, food trucks and bucket lists. Living in one of the greatest cities I have access to so much culture, music, and people. What better way to experience these cultures than via their food? What better way to do that then to check out the bazillion foodie events in NYC. Now there are so many I’d be here for years talking about them, so I’ve picked out my faves and future “need to get there” and compiled my summer food bucketlist, or bucketbites.
But where to start::rubs chin deep in thought::…….I need a platform that allows me to search by city and experience and get tickets if needed. EVENTBRITE! Now I’ve used them before and love that I its one place to go to find events and get tickets for all these great things to do citywide. So with the help of this fantastic technology I can compile my list, get tickets and be happier than a hog in mud. BTW planning an event check out their sell tickets to events page to get started on organizing your own event. And um tell a girl if it involves food, I’d like to come you know……
So here is my list
- The vendy awards http://www.vendyawards.streetvendor.org/
- Blues BBQ http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/EVENTS/SERIES/BLUES-BBQ
- The Jerk Festival - http://www.jerkfestivalny.com/
- Smorgusboard http://www.smorgasburg.com/
- Ferragosto http://www.arthuravenuebronx.com/ferragosto/
- Broadway bites http://urbanspacenyc.com/broadway-bites/
Now I do the Broadway Bites once a week. I work around the corner so gotta get my fix. There are some killer things to try, like Korean style tacos anyone? I’m dying to try Palenque as I love me some arepas and they offer a fantastic line up. If I could afford it I’d try it all, but alas a girl has bills to pay.
So moving along..
Smorgasboard – what CAN I say? How dare you live in NYC (and surrounding areas) and not go! Well I haven’t and this makes my bucket list every year. This event alone have over 100+ vendors and is becoming one of the most do’s in NYC for summer time. I mean food. FOOD EVERYWHERE!
The Vendy Awards – THE annual festival that determines who really is the best taco cart out there…this festival can make a food truck be the place to eat. And it covers almost every cuisine out there (hello the movie chef?). I want to go just because often I’m out and about and want a quick snack that’s lighter on my wallet than say waistline? Enter food trucks or what NY’ers call it, street meat.
Blues BBQ – ok when talking about BBQ you have to mention blues and vice versa. And I love me some BBQ (big apple BBQ anyone? Missed it this year). Now this happens in August but is the best way to see some of the top blues performers and showcases the best in NYC “cue. What better way to spend a day than listening to music, eating and enjoying the sights along the pier.
The Jerk Festival – No not a gathering of idiots, but if you know anything about West Indian culture you know that Jerk is where it’s at. Served alongside rice n peas, stewed cabbage, mac n cheese and Johnny cakes (or festival cakes) washed down with sorrel, it just can’t be beat. Plus each vendor has the chance to compete to be declared the JERK CHAMPION! This is a great way to bring the family together and eat, I mean the above are to, but honestly this girl LOOOOVES her some jerk. It’s like my caviar. This happens in queens and showcases Caribbean cuisine, and there is more jerk than you can shake a stick at! I went last year and marked my calendar for this year (might become a tradition…)
Ferragosto – it’s the Bronx’s version of San Gennaro, just less people. Carbs, followed by carbs then maybe some protein in the form of sausage and peppers. This should be all delicious things Italian. Being that I just moved to the boogie down I will have to go.
So this is my list, and I love to eat (official fatass here). Of course NYC has festivals ALLLLLLL the time for various things and there is always food. But these are my tops picks to nosh on this year.
What about you? Did I miss anything? Let a girl know so I can go gets up on it…..
