Edible Events: January 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!

 

Bar Car Nights at the Holiday Train Show (January 9 and 10): At this adults-only event, you’ll get to visit the New York Botanical Gardens’ spectacular “Holiday Train Show” after dark, and sip on complimentary cocktails as you journey through a series of station stops.  You’ll view ice sculpture carving demonstrations under the stars as well as a dazzling performance from Cirque de Light, take in a jazz concert in The Pine Tree Café, and enjoy festive treats, such as spiked hot cocoa and roasted chestnuts.

7th Annual Cassoulet Cookoff (Jan. 11th): When better than blustery January to feast on multiple renditions of that beloved French comfort food dish, cassoulet (beans and meat slow-cooked in an earthenware crock)?  For the seventh straight year, a number of chefs (both professional and non) will converge at Jimmy’s No. 43, to compete for the title of the Best Cassoulet in New York.  And for the low price of $30 (with proceeds benefiting NYC’s Greenmarket programs), you’ll get to taste each delectable entry and help determine the winner!

Good Spirits Brooklyn (Jan. 22nd): For the very first time, Edible Manhattan is moving their popular cocktail and food pairing event to Brooklyn, at the Invisible Dog Art Center — housed in an 1800’s-era factory building in Cobble Hill.  $60 tickets will grant you unlimited tastes of artisan spirits (such as sips of Owney’s Rum, Mizu Sochu, and Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur), as well as local bites, including nibbles from James, Taco Santo and more.

Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival (Jan. 24th): This mid-winter porkapalooza celebrates all that Southerners hold dear, namely, beer, bourbon, barbecue, bacon and bluegrass!  Held at The Tunnel in Chelsea, tickets are available for three sessions; the Bacon Bash Tasting (featuring tables piled high with gourmet bacon and bacon-centric dishes), Whole Hog Picking (celebrating the glory of pork), and The Grand Poobah Chicken N’ Biscuits, which includes a rare bourbon tasting, and a sampling of the best fried chicken and biscuits from throughout the country.

Cochon 555 New Porc City (Jan. 25th): Pork seems to be a running theme throughout January, and if pig is your thing, you won’t want to miss one of the most esteemed festivals of all; Cochon 555.  The traveling culinary competition, which promotes the sustainable farming of heritage breed pigs, will make a pit stop in New York on January 25th.  The day will start with a whole pig cook-off, featuring Francis Derby of The Cannibal, Anthony Sasso of Bar Jamon and Hooni Kim of Danji (each hoping to be crowned the “Prince of Porc”) followed by an all-pork tasting event, complete with wine tastings and a Pop-Up Butcher Shop showcasing a live butchering demonstration with Erika Nakamura of The Breslin.