This past weekend, Dan and I covered the Bacon & Beer Classic event at Citi Field. By "covered," I mean that we were "on duty" to taste all the craft beer and bacon that our bellies can handle and report back to you on the result. Acting as my official photographer for the night, Dan took one for the team so to speak and worked Citi Field with both the camera and his beer and bacon appetite. My appetite didn't disappoint either.
About the Bacon & Beer Classic:Hosted in a few locations around the country including Houston, Seattle and now New York, the Bacon and Beer Classic is meant to channel our American spirit by exemplifying the best of these all-time American treats. Taking place in iconic ballparks around the country, including our very own City Field, the event offers up a casual, playful vibe and grants some visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal to the stadium's awesome facilities.
Fortunate enough to get the VIP experience, Dan and I went down to the field, walked around and checked around the bullpen. Other visitors got their shot at practicing at the batting cages and pretending to catch some foul balls as well.
Food & Drinks Highlights:
Bacon wrapped bacon – The Certe booth served up this delicious sin on a stick that Dan and I devoured. Made up of tender pieces of pork belly, wrapped in thin sliced bacon, it was the ultimate treat, served up ever so elegantly with pretty micro greens on the side.
Sweet Dreams bacon donuts – Excited by the look of this donut operation, it was great to see these babies being made right on the spot. Small enough to not feel guilty about them, they were light as air, further jazzed up with some bacon glaze.
Make My Cake Chocolate chip bacon cookies – This is one of my all time favorite combinations, as I’ve also made them first-hand. Enjoying this version, it was both chewy and a little crunchy on the outside. The amount of bacon inside was perfect, as it wasn’t overpowering and adequately satisfied our savory tooth.
Brooklyn Brewery Limited Edition Brews – Part of the VIP tasting, which was located right on the field, Dan and I were impressed by the limited edition brew varieties such as the Silver Anniversary Lager and the GreenMarket Wheat. Rich in flavor and a tad smoky, a little sip went a long way when imbibing these unique beers.
Overall, the evening was a lot of fun and I liked how the festival utilized the ballpark for this cheery summer event. It was great to see lots of people out and about, enjoying the atmosphere, the cool weather and of course copious amounts of bacon and beer.
This week, Dan and I got to attend a really great press event at Citi Field, in honor of the upcoming baseball season, and the new eats featured at the stadium. It was so much fun checking out all the different concessions, including the well known ones from Union Square Sports & Entertainment Group, World's Fare Market, Brooklyn Burger, Delta Sky360 Club, Promenade Club and the eats at Metropolitan Hospitality.
Everyone brought out the big guns and I was excited to see all the executive chefs, proudly displaying their new dishes for us to try. As most tasting events, it was thrilling, wonderful and overwhelming at the same time, but we managed. Trying a little bit of everything (in small bites of course), here are some of my standouts, as well as videos with two of the chefs, whose dishes caught my attention. Enjoy!
Buffalo Dog at Box Frites - This was pretty incredible because even though it looked like a hot dog, it tasted exactly like a fabulous buffalo chicken sandwich, complete with tangy blue cheese sauce and fixin's of pickled carrot and celery, which elevated it from something ordinary. A smoky bacon dipping sauce that came as a side with the dog spoke volumes, and Chef, Scott Levine will tell you more about it in my interview with him.Interview with Chef, Scott Levine
Pastrachos from General Concessions - A big step up from your traditional stadium nachos, these are called pastrachos, as they embody all the characteristics of a classic Reuben sandwich, except in nacho form. "How innovative!" I thought, as I kept reaching for seconds. The sour taste from the sauerkraut, the savory nature of the pastrami and the creamy thousand island dressing make you want to close your eyes and envision being at a Jewish deli. YUM! Check out the interview with Chef, Javier Delgado as he reveals more details about this awesome new treat.
Interview with Chef, Javier Delgado
Fried Flounder Sandwich at Delta Sky360 Club - I loved the look of this bite sized sandwich, resembling a good sized slider. The inside was filled with fried fresh flounder, which was light and flaky, but also topped with a tomato-parsley salad, which added a nice zestiness to the whole thing. When the dish becomes officially available at the stadium, it'll also be served with guacamole and steak fries.
Fried Fruit Pies at Box Frites - How can I forget about mentioning dessert...this is often my favorite part of any tasting! The fried fruit pie was one of the first things we saw when we came in, but obviously saved it for last. Boasting two flavors including apple crumb and mixed berry, we went for the latter and absolutely loved the crunchy sugary crust and the warm, thick and syrupy filling that was also slightly chunky. Overall, it was pretty easy to eat and I think it'd make a great stadium dessert.
Banana Bread Pudding at Citi Field Desserts - Another awesome dessert was the cute little portion of banana bread pudding cups you see above. Filled with warm banana cake that had a crunchy top and a gooey middle, each bite was pleasure, with a hint of cinnamon at the end that made you reach for another spoonful.
Hope this little ballpark preview has piqued your interest for the upcoming season. Take me out...to Citi Field!
Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure to attend--and judge--Queens...A Taste of the World at the new Citi Field. The evening brought together a mix of local restaurateurs, foodies and enthusiastic members of the Queens community. Mayor Bloomberg spoke at the event, commending Queens on its multicultural richness and its abundance of ethnic cuisine. It was a lovely celebration where much deliciousness was consumed and I could safely say that no one walked away with an empty stomach.
In addition to the evening being a showcase for Queens' culinary bests, it was also a competition, in which we judges--along with the public--decided on the "best of" in categories such as appetizer, entree, dessert, drink and an overall Taste Master's Award.
The Winners:
The results of the competition weren't surprising and Steinway restaurant of Elmhurst stole the show again, winning for Best Entree, Best Drink and the Taste Master's Award. I was happy to see that the Bantry Bay Pub of LIC won for Best Appetizer with their sensational bacon covered dates with a crunchy pecan middle. Dessert was a tight battle but once again, Cascon Bakery of Whitestone took the title of Best Dessert, with a rich offering of cheesecakes, cannolis, homemade truffles and so much more to please any sweet tooth.
Other Favorites:
With over 40 restaurants and food suppliers, there was so much excellence and deliciousness in the air, that I have to note a couple of personal favorites:
Fretzels by Jill - Gourmet chocolate covered pretzels with whimsical toppings such as mini M&Ms, Recee's Pieces, non-pareils and even toffee easily won me over. The pretzels were the perfect size and the ratio of topping to pretzel was just right. I tasted an M&Ms fretzel and loved the chocolatey crunch in every bite. Jill herself is a young entrepreneur and happens to be from the same town as my parents--small world. You can order her confections online and even customize them for special occasions.
La Fusta - This Argentinian restaurant from Elmhurst made a good impression on me with its "street meat" topped with chimichurri sauce and the veal stuffed with egg, spinach and red peppers. The veal reminded me of my mom's meatloaf, as she also uses an egg in the middle. For me, the combination of hearty meat with the creamy egg yolk and the earthy veggies was wonderful--it felt like a complete meal rather than one course.
Armando's - What stood out here were the desserts, including the ricotta cheesecake with amaretto and the tiramisu. The tiramisu was especially memorable, as it was super light, had a nice coffee flavor but didn't skimp on decadence. My fellow judges agreed that these desserts ruled supreme.
Ovelia - I'm a bit partial to my own neighborhood but there was a reason why Ovelia's booth had a constant line of people. In my opinion, it was their spicy feta spread and the homemade sausage, providing a perfect mix of modern and traditional Greek food. Chris and Pete, the charming brothers who run Ovelia also kept the crowd plentiful.
Zenon Taverna - Another Astoria favorite, I couldn't get enough of their Cypriot meatballs with fresh spices and a hint of lemon. Their stuffed grape leaves were a nice veggie option. I liked that they were light on the stomach and felt refreshing, especially after the sauce-heavy dishes that were showcased at other booths.
Overall, the event was a success--both for the restaurants and for the public. I had a great time tasting everything and meeting nice people. My fellow judges included a trio from the Young Chefs Academy of Forest Hills, a wonderful organization that teaches kids new cooking skills and educates them about nutrition.
To see more pictures from Queens...A Taste of the World, see my homepage slideshow.
Do you want to be one of the first to check out the new Citi Field stadium? You can, at the Queens...A Taste of the World event that's coming to the new METS stadium on Tuesday, April 21st. Enjoy a generous sampling of fabulous restaurants in Queens and the variety couldn't be bigger, running the gamut from Latin to Italian, Pan-Asian to American and much more.
Last year's event was a blast and I was happy to see that Steinway Restaurant (chefs pictured above) at the Laguardia Marriott won for best appetizer (spinach and mushroom gnocchi), best alcoholic beverage (pomegranate margarita) as well as the overall, taste master's award. I sampled so many goodies that night and my eyes were bigger than my stomach. If you're wondering whether you'll get your money's worth, the answer is a clear yes. Below are further details about this exciting night:
The 7th Annual Queens...A Taste of the World
Citi Field, Flushing, Queens
Participating restaurants: Austin Steak & Ale, Castel Mare, Deluge, Durso's, Dazies, La Fusta, London Lennie's, Mezzo Mezzo, Riverview, Russo on the Bay, Sapori D'Ischia, Water's Edge, Zenon Taverna and more.
Tickets are $65 until April 3rd and $75 after this date. Purchase them here.And as always with big events, the key is to get there early--you don't want to miss the best food.
