Edible Events: June 2015

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!

New York African Restaurant Week (May 3st- June 14th): New York City’s restaurant scene is well regarded for its unique multiculturalism, offering everything from Laotian food to Awadhi cuisine and Georgian fare.  But we agree that it’s high time our African eateries got a bit more love and attention as well, which is why we’re so looking forward to New York African Restaurant Week, featuring three-course dinners for only $28.95, at establishes as diverse as the Ethiopian Zoma to the Moroccan Le Souk and the Senegalese Jollof.

Tasting Table’s Lobster Rumble (June 4th): Before you blanch at the cost of tickets to Tasting Table’s annual Lobster Rumble ($165), think of what it would cost to go on a summer-long crustacean crawl, seeking out the tastiest lobster rolls available on the Eastern Seaboard.  Reaching for your wallet yet? You should, because this Thursday’s event features 25 of the nations top lobster roll purveyors, competing for “Best Lobster Roll” bragging rights.  But with tastes of shellfish sandwiches from esteemed contenders like Maine’s The Clam Shack, Virginia’s Ford Fish Shack, San Fran’s Old Port Lobster Shack, and NYC’s own Red Hook Lobster Pound, it’s plain to see that patrons are the clear-cut winners.

A Taste of Excellence (June 4th): Held at the glittering Time Warner Center, this fine wine and dining event showcases the very best restaurants located near Columbus Circle.  For only $110 per person, guests will enjoy passed canapés and an open bar from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Events, as well as cocktails from Center Bar and Stone Rose Lounge, followed by a sit-down dinner, featuring off-menu dishes and curated wine pairings, from the chefs and sommeliers of Masa, Landmarc, A Voce and Porter House New York.

Toasting the Town’s Heritage Salon and Bounty (June 5th): Hosted by the e-publication Toasting the Town, which celebrates the culinary and cultural history of old New York, $135 tickets to this swinging social gathering include music, an auction, live performances and creative exhibits, as well as unlimited food tastings from classic spots like Nick & Harry’s Italian, McSorley’s Ale House and Serendipity, and cocktails from renowned mixology kingpin, Dale Degroff.

Big Apple BBQ Block Party (June 13th-15th): Summer may not officially begin until the 21st, but this weekend-long festival of slow-cooked meat definitely gets the city into the leisurely, smoke-infused swing of the season.  Admission is free, with the option to buy plates piled high with ‘cue from some of the most talented pitmasters in the country, including Pulled Pork Sandwiches from Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson BBQ in Alabama, Beef Brisket and Sausage from Scott Roberts of The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que in Texas, and Jamaican Jerk St. Louis Ribs courtesy of Billy Durney from local favorite, Hometown.

Workmen’s Circle Taste of Jewish Culture Street Fair (June 21st): New York City has a proud history of serving some of the country’s best Jewish food, a tradition that has been more than carried on by a slew of young, hip eateries, owned by faithful members of the tribe.  And this bustling fair ably showcases both classic and modern Jewish cuisine, featuring bites from dozens of purveyors, from Kossar’s Bialys to Black Seed Bagels, and Marani Glatt Kosher Georgian Restaurant to Dassara Brooklyn Ramen.