Butcher Paper Dinners are Back at the Brooklyn Grange

Another thing I love about the summer is the ample amount of events held all over Astoria and LIC.  I also love it because LIC's Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm is in full swing, bearing a bounty of fresh produce for all of us to enjoy.  Aside from the raw veggies you can get at their Farmers Market, they're also bringing back the series of Butcher Paper dinners.

Allowing us to enjoy the facilities of the farm, including the awesome open air atmosphere of the rooftop, the Butcher Paper dinners bring together the community with a great local restaurant or food producer. The beauty of these dinners is that they're truly communal, hosted on the farm's massive reclaimed wood table, enabling guests to mix, mingle and share not only food but experiences.  Here's more info about their first event, which takes place at the end of this month.  I hope you get to experience it!

Butcher Paper Dinner: Summer Eats with Momo Sushi Shack
Sunday, July 20th at 5 p.m.
$80/person - get your tickets here

Momo Sushi Shack is bringing some asian flair to the farm with seasonal seafood and ever-popular pork belly, all in very finger friendly formats. The guys making the magic happen, Phillip Gilmour, Chance Johnston, Ismael Alvarez  and Makoto Suzuki, opened Momo Sushi Shack in 2010, combining fresh American ingredients with traditional Japanese technique. 

The result is a tremendously popular spot in Bushwick that has received rave reviews from Yelpers (a true achievement), as well as a Michelin Guide recommendation. Their food is enough to win anyone over, but we love them even more for their commitment to sourcing locally from places like Heritage Food, Bushwick Campus Farms, and Brooklyn Grange!

So pop on up, ready your palate, grab a brew from Queens Brewery or some chilled white wine courtesy of Boundary Breaks, and kick back for a summery Sunday Butcher Paper Dinner!

MENU: 

Wasabi Shrimp and Oyster Cocktail
Tako (Octopus) Tacos with Lobster
Pork Belly and Scallop Skewers

Yuzu Curd with Animal Crackers

Queens Brewery Beer
Boundary Breaks Wine

SCHEDULE: 

5pm - 6pm: Arrival, farm tours, cocktail hour. Wander and enjoy!
6pm - 6:30: Appetizers and Farm Salad
6:30-8:30: Dinner is served! Sip, savor and enjoy the sunset

The Brooklyn Grange Farm - 37-18 Northern Blvd LIC, NY 11101
347.670.3660
R Train to 36th Street
brooklyngrangefarm.com

New Urban Farm Graces Astoria by Way of The Queens Kickshaw

Image by Hellgate Farm

More exciting news on the Astorian urban farm front, with another newcomer in the mix.  Aside from the Brooklyn Grange, please give a warm welcome to the new Hellgate Farm, brought to you by longtime Astorians and food preservationists, Stephanos Koullias and Rob McGrath.  These guys have an enormous food reputation in the nabe, Stephanos leading many food workshops, composting initiatives and all things responsible-food related.

Their new farm, run out of their residences, is home to responsibly clean food including various veggies, fruits, and even two bee hives.  After these goods are harvested, they're sold exclusively through their private farm stand set up in partnership with the fabulous Queens Kickshaw, one of my Astoria-newcomer favorites.  Here are more details about how you can get your hands on these deliciously organic, local goodies.

The Hellgate Farmstand at The Queens Kickshaw
Every Sunday from 9 a.m. - Noon

Get there early to ensure you get the best goods!  Happy shopping.

The Queens Kickshaw - 40-17 Broadway, Astoria NY 11103
718.777.0913
M/R Train to Steinway Street
www.thequeenskickshaw.com

bobo + Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Dinner

If you need a reason for going to an outdoor dinner party featuring local produce, we’ve got a few for you

1) It’s getting cold outside (even though this week hasn’t really proven that)
2) You can’t beat a sunset overlooking the city skyline
3) Tomato season is ending soon :(

But really, who needs a reason to dine al fresco as fall settles into our fair city? Since it’s just a matter of picking your location, how about the Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm? This coming Tuesday and Wednesday, they’re pairing with bobo Restaurant for a sunset dinner featuring 5-6 courses of vegetables straight from the farm, paired with meat, seafood, and cheeses from bobo chef Patrick Connolly’s favorite farms.

Vegetables from the surrounding roof will likely include sweet heirloom tomatoes, eggplant, sweet peppers, swiss chard, collard greens, radishes, carrots, spinach, green tomatoes, and herbs. Yum!

Space is limited so make your reservations soon!

Where: Brooklyn Grange Rooftop Farm, 37-18 Northern Blvd. Long Island City.
Trains: R/M to 36th St stop.
When: Tuesday September 28th and Wednesday the 29th, 6:30 - 10:00PM.Tickets: $75 + tax
To order tickets click on the link or call bobo restaurant at 212 488-2626.

UPDATE: Next week's dinners are sold out, but they'll have another October 9!