Edible Events: January 2016

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!

Cassoulet Cookoff (1/10): Granted, temps clocked in at a whopping 70-degrees during Christmas this year, but winter is generally when we warm up with rustic soups and stews.  And Jimmy’s No. 43 isn’t letting a bit of unseasonable weather get in the way of their Eighth Annual Cassoulet Cook-Off — which allows both amateur and professional chefs to compete against each other with their own cassoulet recipes, both traditional and non.  The ticket price of $30 allows you to be a judge at the extra tasty event, and includes one free glass of beer, wine or cider, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Grow NYC’s Greenmarket programs.

NYC Restaurant Week (1/18-2/5): It’s hard to believe it, but it’s almost Restaurant Week again, with hundreds of eateries offering three course meals for $25 during lunch or $38 at dinner.  So consider it a prime opportunity to make a dent in your ever-growing must-visit list, with past participants including Jean-George’s Mercer Kitchen, Seamus Mullen’s Tertulia, sushi master Nobu Matsuhisa’s Nobu, and the infamous Mr. Chow.

New Orleans Mardi Gras Crawfish Boil (1/22): Mardi Gras may not officially begin until February, but Michael Psilakis is getting a jumpstart on the unbridled, bead-throwing celebration at his new Williamsburg event space & restaurant, The Hall at MP.  In addition to welcoming in the Jambalaya Brass Band, the celebrity chef will cook up a festive Crawfish Boil accompanied by an authentic, N’awlin’s-inspired menu, as well as an extended, 2-for-1 happy hour featuring Hurricanes, Sazeracs and beer.  Bring on the Abita!

NYC Pinot Days (1/23): We don’t tend to play favorites when it comes to red wine varietals, but Pinot enthusiasts won’t want to miss this hyper-focused, end-of-month event.  Producers from throughout California, Oregon and New Zealand are gathering at City Winery for an exclusive grand festival and tasting — for $75, visitors will sample over 100 pinots from every important domestic pinot noir region, from the Russian River Valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands, to the Anderson Valley and the Sonoma Coast.

Cochon 555, New Porc City (1/24): Leading up to the Grand Cochon in June (where 10 chefs compete for the title of “King or Queen of Porc,”), this nationwide tour is touching down in NYC this January, featuring five toques cooking five heritage breed pigs in a friendly competition for a cause.  Dedicated to helping Piggy Bank create the first open-source agriculture platform for heritage species, while raising global awareness for socially responsible farming, the event unites consumers with local farmers, renowned chefs, prominent winemakers, restaurateurs, craft brewers and distillers for a nose-to-tail culinary showdown.

Beer, Bourbon and Barbecue Festival (1/30): Did Cochon 555 only whet your whistle for the other white meat?  It’s all about the pig at this annual, booze-soaked festival as well, with tickets available for a Bacon Bash Tasting Session, a Whole Hog Picking Party, and a Grand Poobah Meat-A-Rama blowout, setting the stage for a day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, bluegrass listenin’, cigar smokin’, and of course, no-holds-barred barbeque eatin.’