Edible Events: February 2017

There are all manner of fun, food events taking place in New York on a daily basis — from lavish, charity-driven galas to crowded, walk-around tastings and an endless array of pop-ups.  But unless you have the time and money to party seven days a week, you’ll have to be somewhat discerning about what goes onto your calendar.  So here are just a few worthy food celebrations we recommend getting tickets (or making reservations) for now!

Women in Food: Beyond the Home Kitchen (2/1): While the restaurant industry has long been considered a “boys club,” today’s kitchens are far from male dominated.  In this installment of Talk & Taste: Evenings at Essex Street Market, four female food entrepreneurs will expound on their successful careers, including DeDe Lahman, co-owner of Clinton Street Baking Company; Claudia Wu, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Cherry Bombe magazine; and Shalini Singh, Founder and Instructor at Shalini’s Kitchen. The evening will start with a 6:30 tasting of savory bites from Clinton Street Bakery and cheese samples from Saxelby Cheesemongers, followed by a panel discussion from 7-8pm.

The Art of Food (2/4): Join Food Network host and celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian and his wife Margaret Zakarian at Sotheby’s to celebrate the very best of the Upper East Side’s fine cuisine and outstanding art.  Top chefs from the area’s most exciting establishments (such as Michael White of Vaucluse, Todd Mitgang of Crave Fishbar, and Lee Anne Wong from Sweetcatch Poke) will create picturesque dishes inspired by Sotheby’s-curated art.

Ripple Effect Artists Chocolate & Wine Gala (2/10): Enjoy decadent food, sample luxurious chocolate, and sip on fine wine while supporting talented theatre-artists.  The Valentine’s Day-adjacent event benefits Ripple Effect Artists; an organization that mounts productions and talk-backs with a purpose of promoting causes and provoking dialogue.  This particular fundraiser finances the current season, dedicated to raising awareness on the global epidemic of sex-trafficking.

Be My Valentine Dinner (2/12 & 14): As part of a cooking class series devoted to Valentine’s Day, Institute of Culinary Education chef, Sue Gonsalves, will walk attendees through the execution of an ideal romantic menu; think Lobster Salad, Sauteed Hearts of Palm with Artichokes and Cherry Tomatoes, Baked and Stuffed Potatoes Provencal, Duo of Beef with Truffle Sauce, and Raspberry Mousse, Mini Red Velvet Cakes, and Chocolate Souffle for dessert.

NYC Beer Week (2/24-3/4): The annual eight-day suds celebration is packed with the best in beer parties, tastings, gastronomy and festivals.  Kick things off with NYC Fermentation Festival (an a la carte market-style experience, featuring a fully diverse array of fermented goods and demos), and endcap the week with the second annual Ruppert’s Cup, which honors the cream of the crop in craft bars, craft bartenders, and craft breweries.

Charcuterie Masters (2/25): Back for its second year at the historic Flushing Town Hall, this first ever competition of its kind brings together more than a dozen professional and amateur makers of artisanal charcuterie, including Nduja Artisans, Caseiro E Bom, The Meat Market, Heather Ridge Farm and Queens’ own Ridgewood European Pork Store.  For $60, guests will have an opportunity to savor prosciuttos, sausages and pates, learn from the makers, and participate in a people’s choice vote of the ‘best-of-the-evening’ bite.