Amid autumn’s rainiest evening, hundreds of festive guests braved some of mother nature’s most challenging conditions on Thursday night, boarding The Hornblower Infinity Cruise Ship for a trek around the Hudson River. The 3rd Annual “Holiday Spirits” cocktail event would again go off without a hitch presented by The Village Voice where more than two dozen wineries and spirits purveyors would dole out some unique and tasty concoctions to the waiting hands of a particularly hungry audience. Setting sail for some two hours, the trip toward the Statue of Liberty would be hindered some by the weather, but the overall jovial atmosphere inside the vessel would have a spirit that refused to be suppressed.

A sea of umbrellas would flood the ship’s coat check as a sopping wet crowd comfortably boarded the sizable structure. Equipped with commemorative tasting glasses in hand, there was no shortage of options for guests to sample. Varietals from Brooklyn Winery and Barefoot Wine and Bubbly proved to be particularly easy drinking, while a beer selection sponsored by Asahi was perfectly suitable to wash down the numerous pastas, barbecue and Asian-inspired offerings available at any of the dinner buffets on each of the ship’s three levels. But when guests weren’t posing for pictures at the Village Voice photo booth or enjoying the live salsa band performing in the Rums of Puerto Rico Lounge, there was a multitude of refreshing drink options for guests to wet their whistle.

Fortunately, the brunt of the spirits being poured during the evening were produced locally in the New York area and so sipping on the likes of Queens Courage Gin and Manhattan’s Atsby Vermouth would prove even more satisfying. Tanteo Tequila proved to be an immediate favorite early on in the evening. Their fiery “Jalapeno Margarita” was prepared with plenty of kick at the back end of each ice cold glass. Enhanced by some tangy lime juice and fresh agave nectar, the tequila was undoubtedly smooth despite its usual propensity to be a fairly intense liquor. On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve been following the story of Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur for many years and as such, really enjoyed servings of their “Intense Hot Apple Cider” was a nicely unique method of utilizing their brand. The drink was a wonderfully seasonal cold weather beverage, with just enough ginger liquor to be noticed amid the subtly sweet, piping hot serving.

Speaking of cider, Tito’s Handmade Vodka has a knack for concocting stand out beverages whenever they serve at tasting events and their mint-focused, chilled cider aboard the ship was no different. Loaded with ice, the sweet apples made the silky vodka almost unnoticeable as we downed pour after pour of the stuff- to the delight of the friendly staff on hand. But the evening’s finest cocktail by our estimation came all the way from Mexico, where Scorpion Mezcal’s “Hot Smokin’ Chocolate” was truly innovative. The typically smoky Mezcal Reposado was drowned in hot Mexican chocolate and garnished with tiny marshmallows or whipped cream depending on attendee preference. But the end result was an array of complementing yet complex flavors that managed to be a fairly balanced and utterly satisfying cup of spiked ‘hot cocoa.’ Typically, we steer away from different mezcals, but Scorpion managed to make all of the ingredients work in this instance.

As the pouring rain pummeled the ship making it nearly impossible to step outside to enjoy any of the picturesque views of the Manhattan skyline, guests inside didn’t seem to mind. DJ Tim Martell worked the first floor crowd into a tizzy with a makeshift dance party on the first floor while other guests made sure to grab seats right from the get go and didn’t move much from their tables all evening- these tables were prime real estate. Nevertheless, those of us left standing managed to revel in the festive atmosphere aboard the ship, on a night that was hardly ideal, but was one that all guests seemed to really enjoy as a result of the efforts of the participating staff and purveyors. In what’s become the official kickoff to the countdown of the holiday season, the team at Village Voice once again delivered despite the conditions working against them initially.

- Dave Gendelson

Typically the unorthodox idea of being on a boat on the water in the middle November might give some folks reason to run. And run you should, toward the Holiday Spirits Cocktail Cruise 2015, presented by the folks at The Village Voice. For one special night this winter season, the Hornblower Infinity Cruise Ship will again play host to an array distilleries and wineries pouring different tasting samples for a few hundred well-to-do guests. Coupled with a complimentary buffet, the $55 General Admission tickets are a veritable steal for the four hour tour at sea out toward the Statue of Liberty, around Manhattan and back again.

Faithful readers of our website will surely recall our coverage of 2014’s festivities aboard the same vessel, where live music and pours of Asahi Beer, Widow Jane Whiskey and Tito’s Handmade Vodka stole the proverbial show. Participants at this year’s tasteful affair include popular names like Brooklyn Winery, Kings County Distillery, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Tuthilltown Spirits and up-and-comers like Tanteo Tequila, Denning’s Point Distillery and Queens Courage, giving attendees the opportunity to taste some new local purveyors. Additionally a full dinner service offering passed around hors d’oeuvres alongside pasta and carving stations, barbecue and Asian-inspired fare is certain to satiate even the hungriest of eventgoers.

The spacious ship offers indoor and outdoor access, weather permitting- but there’s simply nothing quite like a weeknight evening on the Hudson River. If you’ve attended any of the Village Voice’s annual food events from Choice Eats to Brooklyn Pour, there’s nary a down moment at one of their expertly run evenings- and if 2014’s Holiday Spirits Cocktail Cruise was any indication, 2015 is poised to be another memorable evening. You’ll be sure to eat and drink your face off- regardless of whether or not you’re equipped with sea legs.

- Dave Gendelson

]]> http://www.localbozo.com/2015/11/the-village-voice-brings-holiday-spirits-to-land-and-sea/feed/ 0 http://www.localbozo.com/2015/09/swimming-in-suds-at-the-village-voices-brooklyn-pour/ http://www.localbozo.com/2015/09/swimming-in-suds-at-the-village-voices-brooklyn-pour/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2015 09:50:59 +0000 LocalBozo http://www.localbozo.com/?p=11891

With the recent dip in temperatures, we’ve found ourselves longing for the likes of heavier porters and ales begin to come back into season. Fortunately, Saturday afternoon provided us with the perfect avenue to become reacquainted with some of our old favorites and taste some delicious brand new beers as The Village Voice returned with their seasonal sudsy event, 2015’s “Brooklyn Pour.” If the vast selection of beers wasn’t enough of a draw, the fact that a portion of ticket sales were going to Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue was definitely an incentive for guests to purchase tickets. Emanating this year from Greenpoint’s Brooklyn Expo Center, we following throngs of flannel-clad beer lovers in forming a jittery line that wrapped around the building’s floor-to-ceiling glass panels.

Once inside, more than 67 different beer vendors lay at our disposal. The brightly lit center provided the perfect set-up for pourers, giving attendees three full rows of casks with plenty of space to mingle, a necessity once the second wave of ticket holders entered the space. To our right, a VIP section held delicious flatbreads from Granddaisy Bakery, the most savory and satisfying “Smoked Lamb Shoulder” from The Gorbals, and easily the most interesting beer on tap from Big Alice Brewing- a “Hi’biskes Goes-Us” that was mildly sweet, but big on floral flavor. This 5th year of “Brooklyn Pour” boasted its first-ever outdoor patio featuring games of giant beer pong- volleyballs in trash cans-, cornhole, and horseshoes that proved to be endlessly entertaining for both participants and observers. Turns out, no matter how big the beer pong set-up is, it never gets any easier. Non VIP-ers were treated to delicious food truck bites from the likes of Nuchas, Papaya King, and Coney Shack and if a meal wasn’t in the cards, soft and salty pretzels from Zum Schneider became a great beer companion.

This being a Brooklyn event, Queens Brewery was the first table that stood out. We would find out this was a big day for them; their “Queens Blvd” beer had just been casked the day before and was ready for tasting. We were the lucky first consumers, ever, and were treated to a full pour of this slightly tangy, delicious ale. Though we would have stuck around for another glass or two, there were over 120 beers to sample. Turns out Queens wasn’t the furthest place brewers were coming from. The likes of Vermont (Otter Creek), Pennsylvania (Victory Brewing), and Texas (Austin Eastciders), were each well represented, though more than 25 of the vendors were from the New York area.

If there was an unfortunate non-beer lover in the house, Crabbie’s, Down East Cider House, Ace Cider, and Angry Orchard were offering helpings of ginger beer and seasonal cider (like Ace Cider’s “Pumpkin Cider”), but despite the alternatives, the day simply revolves around the best in brews. For the total beer enthusiast, perhaps inspired by some of the day’s finest microbrews, Brooklyn Brew Shop was not only pouring their “Chocolate Maple Porter”- which is rich and dark with a slip of caramel- but also selling their famous beer making kits for the more lofty and crafty beer aficionados. Speakeasy Ales won in our eyes for coolest bottle: a Metropolis Ale brew where bottlenecks peered and leered over a six pack holder. It didn’t hurt that their “Baby Daddy IPA” was the perfect mid-session refresher.

While we meandered, there were loads of non-alcoholic party pleasers to distract guests from the seemingly never-ending array of taps. Whole Foods Market had a life-size 6 pack (of people!) that made for excellent photos, and their crowd-favorite pretzel necklaces could be seen on almost every attendee. Sponsor Flat Rate Moving meanwhile knew that no good event was complete without a photo booth, and the addition of an Instagram Bingo game with a lucrative prize proved most difficult. Obviously, we came up short.

Other standouts included Third Rail Beer with their ever popular “Skyland,” Smuttynose Brewing with the afternoon’s best “Pumpkin Ale” that was malty and fruity instead of heavy, and, of course, Brooklyn Brewery’s “Intensified Coffee Porter” that was the perfect kick-in-the-pants to keep us going during the marathon four hours of beer tasting. As the day wore on, we were treated to gorgeous views of the skyline as the sun began to set. Many patrons filtered outside to mingle at picnic tables, to grab a drunk snack, or to squeeze in one more competitive game. After a round of cornhole proved fruitless, we called it a day as well. Our complementary Fodor’s Brooklyn totes were stuffed with beer koozies, bottle openers, Zico coconut waters, and Kettle Brand chips. We left feeling quite satisfied (and tipsy) as we stumbled out of the Expo Center, and frankly, the French fries that we ordered once back in our apartment never stood a chance.

- Emily Ziemski

More than one hundred different craft beers will be on display for the tasting on Saturday, September 26th at one of the season’s most diverse and exciting booze-fueled festivals. The Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint plays as the newest host to the Village Voice’s 5th Annual ‘Brooklyn Pour,’ a fall classic that combines suds, eats and festivities for three action packed hours. If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience any of the event’s previous happenings- well, you’ve still got time to pick up some general admission or VIP tickets to the smorgasbord for beer lovers.

A commemorative tasting glass gets you in on the action- where your outstretched arm will lead your journey through the jam packed festival. Whether you’re a more casual or expert beer drinker, a lover of microbrews or more traditional varieties, ‘Brooklyn Pour’s’ got a cavalcade of different options for any taste. Local breweries like Coney Island Brewing, Queens Brewery, Sixpoint Craft Ales, Alphabet City Brewing Company and Brooklyn Brewery join international beermakers Asahi, Krombacher and Weihenstephan just to name a few brands slated to be poured on site. And if you’re not typically a beer fan? No problem. ACE Premium Hard Ciders, Angry Orchard, Downeast Cider House and Rekorderlig Cider and Crabbie’s Ginger Beer are some delicious alternatives should more traditional beers not be your thang.

Aside from the sea of suds slated to fill the Expo Center, Q104.3 on air personality Jonathan Clarke will DJ and emcee the afternoon as games and photo booths are sure to fill the remaining open areas of the sizable venue. Tickets for the 5th Annual ‘Brooklyn Pour’ are available now. Don’t get shut out, because an event of this size and caliber goes down but once a year.

- Jane Van Arsdale

The rumbling of food truck engines was rivaled only by the rumbling stomachs of the thousands of guests flocking to Manhattan’s west side on Tuesday evening. The spectacular views of the Hudson River from the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum provided an unparalleled backdrop for The Village Voice’s 4th Annual “Choice Streets” event, which would feature some of New York City’s finest purveyors of culinary delights on wheels. If history was any indication, the sizable outdoor patio space would be swarmed with hungry folks in no time, which made moving from truck to truck a particularly methodical exercise in eating.

More than a dozen different food trucks would assemble for the 2015 “Choice Streets” event offering an array of distinctive delicacies with inspiration drawn from a multitude of different regions. Our ‘Early Entry’ badges granted us event access before General Admission ticketholders, but we still managed to find hundreds of VIP guests already inside upon our arrival, grabbing food samples from whichever truck lines seemed most manageable. Fortunately, pours of Stella Artois and Shocktop Brewing Company could be found at different brewsites within walking distance which allowed us to quickly wash down some of the more savory fare while continuing to press forward along this mini food-crawl. Though there were interactive games, a live mariachi band and a handful of photo booths right on site, our focus never wavered from the food-fueled task at hand.

While there were certainly outliers- like Big D’s Grub Truck‘s savory “Bangkok Basil Spicy Pork Fried Rice” and Sweet Chili‘s spicy “Sriracha Fries”- traditional food truck fare like pizzas, grilled cheese sandwiches and tacos proved to the be most common offerings amongst the participants. Speaking of tacos, it was hard to surpass Korilla BBQ‘s sensational blend of Korean and Mexican fare with a kimchi laced “Spicy Pork” and “Chicken” taco, each of which was loaded with shredded cheese, onion and a rich creamy sriracha drizzle. Though the taco had a bit of a kick, it was nicely balanced by the textural and temperature contrast of the other ingredients which paired excellently with the tender shredded meats. Equally as juicy, Domo Taco served a similarly delectable “5 Spice Braised Pork” style taco- a style that leaned considerably more Mexican with accoutrements like pico de gallo, Monterey jack cheese and a combination of miso slaw and sesame crema for some added distinction.

After noshing on three different varieties of personal pizza slices- the best of which was Pizza Luca‘s mouthwatering “Filetti,” delicately adorned with mozzarella di bufala, sliced grape tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil- we indulged in perhaps the evening’s finest dish. Blending sweet and sticky maple syrup into the thick rustic Shewolf Bakery sourdough bread, Snowday’s “Signature Maple Grilled Cheese” was as dynamic and delicious as anything that touched our lips throughout the evening. Between each thick slice lay the meat from a smoky pork rib, which when paired with sharp cheddar cheese would be both deadly and decadent. The dollop of extra syrup on our small plate would be pivotal for covering our remaining crust as we polished off everything that had been handed to us from the Snowday truck.

Gorilla Cheese‘s delicious “American Melt” and Langos Truck‘s creamy and sweet “Hungarian Langos” were also notably tasty dishes that we grabbed during our trek around the sprawling space, before that familiar level of complete satiety would set in. We had reached our fill, despite the prospect of the dessert trucks that stood in front of us. Candidly, we managed to grab some of the 45 flavors being offered at Andy’s Italian Ice NYC & Espresso Bar- because, well, Italian ices are typically lighter fare or so we rationalized. Unfortunately, we realized that it would be a challenge even to finish off the small samples of “Cake Batter” and “Rainbow” flavors, found the nearest garbage can and headed for home- filled to the gills, but completely satisfied knowing that some of New York’s most inventive cooks are doing some really great work right behind the wheel.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Food Highlights from Village Voice’s “Choice Streets 2015″

Big D’s Grub Truck: “Bangkok Basil Spicy Pork Fried Rice with Runny Egg”

Snowday: “Signature Maple Grilled Cheese”

Luzzo’s:  “Neopolitan Pizza Margherita”

Sweet Chili: “Sriracha Fries Topped with Spicy Sriracha and Aioli”

Korilla BBQ: “Chicken Tacos” & “Spicy Pork Tacos”

 

Pizza Luca: “Filetti – Grape Tomatoes, Mozzarella di Bufala, Fresh Garlic, Basil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil”

Valducci’s Pizza: “Thin Crust Sicilian Pizza”

Langos Truck: “Hungarian Langos”

Mofongo NY

Domo Taco: “5 Spice Braised Pork on Corn Tortilla with Miso Slaw, Pico de Gallo, Monterey Jack Cheese & Sesame Crema”

Gorilla Cheese NYC: “Classic American Melts on White American”

Andy’s Italian Ice NYC & Espresso Bar: 45 Flavors of Water and Creme Italian Ices

 

There are only a handful of venues with the capacity to house several thousand food-seekers for a tasting event of the magnitude of The Village Voice’s annual ‘Choice Eats’ extravaganza. Back for the eighth time, more than fifty restaurants carefully selected by the legendary New York media institution crowded Chelsea’s Metropolitan Pavilion on Friday night, joined by a cavalcade of craft beers, wines and spirits. The sheer spectacle of it all can be downright daunting- especially for first-timers- given the sea of hungry eaters and the vast array of restaurants doling out samples inside. But the event is a rare opportunity to sample some great fare from undiscovered neighborhood gems as well as places that are both famous and familiar and to meet some of the talented folks that masterfully put each dish together.

With our commemorative tasting glasses in hand, we arrived at 6:30pm and ‘Choice Eats’ was already very much underway with a large portion of VIP guests happily enjoying the festivities. Undoubtedly, Fridays in springtime can be a challenge for some eaters- especially prior to Easter- but that simply made some of the meatless options more enjoyable around the room. Exceptional dishes like Commerce’s chilled “Winter Vegetable Fricasse,” Brucie’s stratcciatella “Crostini,” and Juliette’s bulbous “Spicy Florida Rock Shrimp Slider” served to satiate some of the evening’s more fickle eaters, while perpetual staple Luke’s Lobsters’ unparalleled “Maine Shrimp Roll” garnered some of the night’s longest lines as per usual.

Though Manhattan is most often the most widely represented of the boroughs at ‘Choice Eats,’ stars like Fort Greene’s No. 7 (“Broccoli Tacos”), Carroll Gardens’ Wilma Jean (“Fried Bologna Sandwich”), Sunnyside’s Venturo Osteria & Wine Bar (“Black and Green Lasagna”) and Astoria’s Queens Comfort (“Steak Au Poivre Mac & Cheese”) each represented their neighborhoods admirably with some truly eclectic dishes. Strategically, most of the beer and wine purveyors were left along the outside of the fracas meaning guests knew exactly where to head once their glasses were emptied. Filling up on tasty pours of Sixpoint’s “Abigale,” Abita’s refreshing “Strawberry Harvest Lager” and crisp pours of New England cider courtesy of Down East Cider allowed the evening of gluttony to continue without a hitch, as restaurants like The NoMad, Huertas and Rubirosa each vied for our attention with their memorable samples.

Briefly, we made a trip to the venue’s second floor space where ‘Choice Sweets’ would showcase different dessert offerings from Robicelli’s Bakery, Butter & Scotch, Carlo’s Bakery and Sugar Couture- but for us, savory was the word of the day. Back downstairs we went, chatting with some likeminded guests about our favorite dishes of the night- namely the “Pizza Balls with Tomato Sauce” from The Meatball Shop, a delightfully “Sour Braised Beef Short Rib” from Delaware and Hudson and a brilliantly spicy “Laing” from Woodside’s Papa’s Kitchen- a smattering of taro leaves kicked up a with fiery chili that pleasantly popped up on the back end of each bite. But that’s part of the annual event’s charm- discovering new places in and around New York City that might not receive as much fanfare from your local food expert. And that’s what makes ‘Choice Eats’ the year’s most grand food tasting affair, trademarked by a slew of restaurants and wave after wave of excitable guests- all of which always manages to culminate in some delicious fun.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Photos from Village Voice ‘Choice Eats 2015′

Brucie: “Crostini”

Egg: “Country Ham ‘Nduja Toasts”

John Brown Smokehouse: “Pecan Smoked Pastrami Reuben Sliders”

Untamed Sandwiches: “The Hot Goldie Sandwich”

Huertas: “Tortilla de Garbanzos y Morcilla”

Delaware and Hudson: “Sour Braised Beef Short Rib with Caramelized Onion Puree”

Commerce: “Winter Vegetable Fricasse”

Tabata Noodle Restaurant: “Garlic Noodle”

Juliette:  “Spicy Florida Rock Shrimp Slider”

Fort Defiance: “Deviled Eggs“

Xe May Sandwich Shop: “Vermicelli Salad”

Edi & The Wolf: “Chicken Schnitzel”

Coppelia: “Torrejas de Oliva”

Veselka Restaurant: “A Mini Ukrainian Combo Plate”

Red Hook Lobster Pound: “Downeast Bisque”

2 Duck Goose: “Pineapple Bun Sliders”

Rubirosa Ristorante & Pizzeria: “Osso Buco Tortelloni”

Baz Bagel & Restaurant: “Latkes Dill-luxe”

The East Pole: “Braised Heritage Goat Sandwich”

Luke’s Lobster: “Maine Shrimp Rolls”

Bustan: “Lamb Shawarma”

Genuine: “Ahi Tartare Tostadas”

Papa’s Kitchen: “Laing”

Awadh: “Murgh Korma” & “Biryani”

 

Queens Comfort: “Steak Au Poivre Mac & Cheese”

Boomwich: “Dr. Cubano Slider”

Los Tacos No. 1: “Taco Sampler”

The Meatball Shop: “Pizza Balls with Tomato Sauce”

No. 7: “Broccoli Tacos”

Wilma Jean: “Fried Bologna Sandwich”

Brooklyn Koloache Co.: “Sausage, Jalapeno & Cheese” & “Blueberry Sweet Cheese”

 

Venturo Osteria: “Black and Green Lasagna”

Mable’s Smokehouse: “Sweet & Savory Corn Cakes with BBQ Pulled Pork”

The Nomad: “Sea Urchin Panna Cotta”

The Kati Roll Company: “Authentic Calcuttan Street Food: Kati Rolls”

Sigmund’s Pretzels: “Oven Fresh Hand Rolled Pretzels and a Surprise in a Blanket”

Pickle Shack: “Banh-Mi”

Recette: “Grilled Kingfish, Jicama Squash Salad, Parsnip and Black Garlic Puree”

The Gorbals: “Skewered Grilled Beef Tongue”

Tuome: “Beets”

Calle Dao: “Lechon Asado”

The Queens Kickshaw: “Broccoli Soup”

It’s among the year’s most well attended eating festivals by both scenester guests and participating restaurants. And it’s one you may have read about on our site either here, here, here or here. Typically, Friday the 13th is reserved for those of us with bad luck- fortunately, The Village Voice has your four-leaf clover in the form of “Choice Eats 2015,” the 8th annual frenzied feast that emanates this year from Chelsea’s Metropolitan Pavilion.

For more than three hours, hundreds of hungry eating enthusiasts will swarm the sprawling setting to devour delicious fare from upwards of fifty different restaurants doling out sweet and savory samples. This year, the event is drawing out restaurants from the surrounding boroughs where Queens eateries John Brown Smokehouse, Queens Comfort and Casa del Chef join the likes of Brooklyn’s Butter & Scotch, Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue, The Gorbals and Littleneck to ensure that guests all leave satisfied. The participants from Manhattan are too numerous to mention but notables like Luke’s Lobster, Kuma Inn, Casa Mono, Commerce Restaurant, Huertas and many more are already signed on for the festivities.

Couple the endless array of delicious bites with an unlimited supply of differing beers, wines and cocktails and a sea of different desserts – ‘Choice Sweets’ and you’d be hard pressed to find a more complete collection of the dining life here in New York City. With live entertainment and a commemorative tasting glass, affordably priced tickets are available now. Can’t make “Choice Eats?” Fear not- as the team from The Village Voice returns on Tuesday, May 5th with the spring’s best food truck-centric event “Choice Streets.” Don’t just stare at your friend’s photos from the festivites on Instagram- make plans to secure your space while tickets last.

- Jane Van Arsdale

Backed by a house DJ, the dimly lit ship was lavishly outfitted with a cavalcade of plush seating and tables setup throughout the space, where the evening’s earliest attendees quickly gobbled up most of the available chairs. In anticipation of the ninety minute cruise, the staff worked in cruise-like fashion to unveil multiple buffet spreads on each floor, replete with chicken and beef sliders, pulled pork and other fixings as other workers delivered some light passed around fare to the attendees more focused on the assortment of drinks. Fortunately, there was no shortage of food at this year’s “Holiday Spirits,” a pleasant surprise considering the sheer mass of liquor being poured on the ship.

Almost immediately, we headed to the top floor where the VIP level boasted some bites from Grandaisy Bakery and live music courtesy of The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn. To our delight, we stumbled upon the table represented by Slow and Low, among the event’s primary sponsors. The brand’s bottled 84 proof ‘Rock & Rye’ is an open-and-pour styled “Old-Fashioned” which is as authentic (and strong) as tasty as any freshly prepared style at a renowned cocktail bar. The next step is finding it locally and bringing it home. Next we headed downstairs to the Asahi Bar where the Japanese beer sponsor was doling out a ton of swag- from sunglasses to glow sticks- as well as some of their light “Asahi Super Dry” and “Asahi Black” bottles to the waiting hands of more traditional drink seekers.

Part of what made “Holiday Spirits” such a distinctive experience was the fact that the spirits purveyors utilized their brands in different drinks rather than thimble-sized tastes of each liquor. While we don’t typically imbibe in different rums, the “It’s Rum Time Bar” from Rums of Puerto Rico used the likes of Bacardi and DonQ to dole out pours of “White Sangria.” Mixed with sparkling white grape juice, orange juice and pineapple juice, the concoction was deliciously sweet- a nice change of pace to other offerings like an array of Barefoot Wines’ deliciously flavored sparkling wines, Tanteo Tequila‘s fiery “Jalapeno Margarita,” Tito’s Handmade Vodka’s tangy and refreshing “The Go To,” and pours of Widow Jane “Rye Whiskey,” each of which left a nice taste on our palates.

With picturesque views of New York City, the Hornblower Infinity Ship didn’t stray too far from the ‘mainland’ but we got up close and personal with the Statue of Liberty as the boat turned in place in the center of the water. Though downing a good amount of booze amid a relatively rocky Hudson River in November took a bit of getting used to, everyone in the house managed to maintain their equilibrium for the duration of the evening. The 2014 “Holiday Spirits” was perhaps the most unique affair yet thrown by the folks at The Village Voice. And as per usual, it was both fun and entirely memorable, despite being on the water during one of 2014′s coldest evenings yet.

- Dave Gendelson

Roughly two dozen food trucks setup shop aboard the USS Intrepid’s Pier 86 on Wednesday night as the spacious outdoor layout became a carnival of sorts for the very best in New York City street food. Presented by the Village Voice, the 3rd Annual ‘Choice Streets’ brought hundreds of hungry connoisseurs toward the west side venue at dusk to enjoy an evening of unlimited drinks on the Hudson River waterfront.

Arrival times were staggered in three intervals, each separated by half-hour increments with VIPs, Early Entries, and General Admission guests all set to enter the fray. Upon arriving, entrants were handed a plastic tasting glass and a food passport which would grant one food sample at each truck, hole-punched by a nearby staffer tasked with keeping everything running smoothly. Fortunately the forecast called for a relatively clear night, so with a breeze coming off the water, the clear and cool evening with music being spun in the background, made for an entirely vibrant setting for the affair.

Now as veterans of ‘Choice Streets’ historically, we learned to be methodical in our approach since the hustling food truck vendors tend to perfect each plate which can at times cause their lines (and reputations for great food) to build. It’s imperative to move quickly, and often to eat one truck’s food whilst at the tail end of another’s line. With cocktail samples already slurped down from Tito’s Homemade Vodka and Four Roses Bourbon, we grabbed a frothy cup of Shocktop “Belgian White” and headed toward the very back of the sprawling area, where Luke’s Lobster unsurprisingly had a quickly growing line. Luke’s “Shrimp Rolls” as always, were a big hit, overstuffing their mini-garlic bun with fresh chilled shrimp and a dollop of creamy aioli- the combination of which is an absolute home run time after time.

Challenging Luke’s for the evening’s longest line, Uncle Gussy’s was serving up some delicious and traditional Greek fare. Their “Chicken Gyros” were stuffed with lettuce and a spread of tasty white tzatziki sauce and wrapped in aluminum foil, rivaling only the Souvlaki GR truck’s salty and savory “Chicken Skewers” for Greece inspired supremacy. Both were notable servings though, doled out by each truck’s overly friendly staff. Though seeing and tasting the likes of more familiar trucks like Nuchas, Korilla BBQ and Coolhaus was certainly worth our while, we reveled in the opportunity to experience some trucks for the very first time.

Mike ‘N’ Willies has been doling out savory tacos and sliders since roughly 2012, but we completely devoured their “Lil Piggies” for the first time at ‘Choice Streets.’ With a mound of freshly pulled pork enveloped in a fluffy brioche bun and smothered in a chipotle lime slaw and sauce, Mike ‘N’ Willies pulled out all the stops with this sizable offering, among the best that we tasted all evening long. Just a few mere feet away, we grabbed styrofoam containers filled with excellent comfort food from Yankee Doodle Dandy’s truck and noshed on a piping hot “Chicken Finger with Buffalo Sauce,” perfectly cooked French fries, and crispy Texas style toast. The portion was generous and downright finger-licking as we eliminated the remains of the small tray.

Though we’ve outlined the array of eats below in picture form, other mentionables include the recently shuttered Murray Hill haunt Carl’s Steaks (“Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks”) whose food truck is in full swing, Shanghai Sogo (“Chive & Pork Dumpling”), Luzzo’s La Pizza Napoletana (“Neapolitan Pizza Margherita”) and Moo Shu Grill, whose “Toasted Moo Shu Wrap” with chicken, cucumber, cilantro and some sweet and sticky sauces was mouthwatering to say the least. Once guests had been stuffed to the gills, they were welcomed to pose for pictures in the Fairway Market sponsored photo booth or along the Focus Camera sponsored red carpet, or enjoy desserts courtesy of The Treats Truck or Kelvin Natural Slush Co. (with or without alcohol). But for us- we had been completely satiated by the delicious and inspired international eats served by some of the City’s most well known trucks as well as some up and comers who equally made our heads spin with delight.

- Dave Gendelson

Love Mamak & Lucky Yim: “Rendang Chicken Served with Pandanus Indused Coconut Thai Jasmine Rice”

Taipan Fusion Express: “Thai and Chinese Appetizers Cooked in Indian Spices”

Souvlaki GR: “Chicken Skewers“

 

Sweet Chili: “Bean Sprout Salad with Oranges, Herbs & House Sweet Chili Sauce”

Moo Shu Grill: “Toasted Moo Shu Wrap with Hoisen Sauce & Filled with Cucumber, Cilantro, Carrots, and Famous Ginger Scallion Aioli”

  

Luke’s Lobster: “Maine Shrimp Rolls“

Korilla BBQ: “Korean Tacos”

Carl’s Steaks: “Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks – Cheese Whiz with Grilled Onions”

Big D’s Grub Truck: “Thai Green Curry over Jasmine Rice”

Luzzo’s La Pizza Napoletana: “Neapolitan Pizza Margherita”

Comme Ci Comme Ca: “Lemon Chicken Cous Cous“

Toum: “Mini Chicken Shawarma Pita Pocket“

Shanghai Sogo: “Chive & Pork Dumpling and Five Spiced Egg“

Mike ‘N Willies: “Lil Piggies: Slow Roasted Pulled Pork in Homemade Chipotle Sauce Topped with Chipotle Lime Slaw”

Solber Pupusas: “Pupusas: Corn Patties with Chicken, Cheese and Fillings with Pickled Cabbage and Homemade Tomato Sauce”

Yankee Doodle Dandy’s: “Buffalo Chicken Finger with French Fries and Toast”

Nuchas: “A Variety of Empanadas“

Uncle Gussy’s: Mini Pitas, Pork Souvlaki and Chicken Gyro

The Village Voice’s 7th Annual ‘Choice Eats’ event returned for their seventh annual eating frenzy on Tuesday night, moving the feast from the confines of the Lexington Avenue Armory to the downtown sprawling Basketball City. 2014 would be perhaps the Voice’s most ambitious undertaking yet with upwards of eighty different vendors being brought in from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and even New Jersey to dole out samples to the hungry masses. And with General Admission tickets priced at just $60, ‘Choice Eats’ isn’t simply among the most spectacular eating events of the calendar year, it’s also among the most reasonable.

There was no lull to speak of even as the VIP Hour commenced at 6pm as those in the know flocked to some of the more highly anticipated food tables in advance of the crowds that would follow. With tasting glasses and ‘Choice Eats’ guidebooks in hand, we began to traverse around the room, picking and choosing our spots based solely on what looked most delicious. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it all that far though as The Meatball Shop was front and center at Table #1. The exploding empire of Michael Chernow and Daniel Holzman now offers four locations in Manhattan and one in Williamsburg, and with good reason considering how they’ve harnessed the perfected creation of a comfort food staple. Their offering on this night, “Beef Meatballs with Classic Tomato Sauce,” was their signature take on the most traditional meatball, lacquered in The Shop’s sweet, delicious tomato sauce and sprinkled with fresh parmesan cheese. It only lasted two bites, but each morsel was utterly scrumptious.

In between tastes we slugged down smaller beer pours from Lagunitas and Blue Point Brewing, two of our perennial favorites as well as Smuttynose Brewing Company. But we found ourselves returning to the Stella Artois Beer Garden in the corner of the massive room more often than not for larger pours of Stella, Widmer Brothers and Goose Island “312 Urban Wheat” beers, despite a steadily growing line as the evening wore on. Though we shied away from the spirits on hand as we were stuffing ourselves with food, the likes of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Four Roses Bourbon and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly all seemed to be fairly popular with the crowd in attendance on this night judging by the collection of folks in front of each table.

Maintaining a steady pace of noshing proved pivotal in surviving the main ‘Choice Eats’ floor with so many samples to choose from. We’ve showcased pictures from some of our favorites below, but there were plenty of tasty eats that were worthy of praise. Familiar staples like John Brown Smokehouse’s “Smoked Pastrami with Cole Slaw” was creatively dubbed ‘The Best BBQ You Have Ever Tasted’ and after sopping up each tender bite of pink meat with our triangle of white bread, we were hard pressed to argue with them. Luke’s Lobster’s “Maine Crab Roll” was unsurprisingly a huge hit and as usual, drew the longest line of waiting guests during the evening. The buttery hot dog roll and fresh white crab meat just pairs together incredibly well, reminding us time and time again how thoroughly Luke’s has truly mastered the art of perfectly prepared seafood rolls. Meanwhile, No. 7 of Fort Greene, Brooklyn saw their samples run out fairly early in the evening. With a “Shrimp and Mortadella Salad” served over fresh Brussels Sprouts and doused with a Black Vinaigrette, the shop instantly soared to the top of our short list for the event’s best dishes as the seemingly strange pairing of these elements worked together excellently.

Though we made sure to visit some of the usual suspects - Kuma Inn’s “Adobo Braised Pork Shoulder and Pan de Sal” was salty and succulent and was our favorite overall dish of the evening, while Swine’s “Bacon Wrapped Dates” were a close runner-up – it was some of the lesser known restaurants that really struck our fancy. Hell’s Kitchen’s ramen haunt Tabata Noodle served a fantastic “Dark Men,” or a black sesame paste noodle soup with crunchy scallions and small hunks of spicy pork. With a city-wide resurgence of ramen, it was nice to taste such a well rounded style noodle dish in this setting. The “Lemongrass Chicken Taco” from Xe May Sandwich Shop on St. Marks Place, the “Sweet Heat Grilled Cheese” from Brooklyn’s Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen (VIP) and the “Greek Coffee Steak” from Astoria’s Ovelia Psistaria Bar (served with Poutine!) were each uniquely tasty in their own right.

As crowds began to swell during the three hour event, we had room for basically one dessert before reaching our personal limit. Options included local favorites like Liddabit Sweets, La Newyorkina, Butter & Scotch, and Hoboken uber-favorite Carlo’s Bakery, but it was Robicelli’s “Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars” that were out of this world. Richly sweet, the pretzel infused cookie bars were sizable and decadent and once washed down with an ideal helping from Pushcart Coffee, we knew that our evening was finished. But not before we reflected upon a night filled with incredible food tastings and pairings and learned about some new spots in New York City that we are focused on visiting in person. Because if a restaurant is good enough to be a part of the Village Voice’s ‘Choice Eats,’ it’s certainly good enough for us.

If you missed out on the festivities of Tuesday night’s ‘Choice Eats,’ you don’t have to wait until next year – the outlet returns on May 7th with ‘Choice Streets,’ an unparalleled outdoor tasting of more than twenty New York City food trucks aboard Pier 86 of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. And tickets are on sale now!

The Meatball Shop - Beef Meatballs with Classic Tomato Sauce and Parmesan Cheese

Sheep Station - Roasted (Aussie) Leg of Lamb Sandwich

Tabata Noodle Restaurant - Dark Men (Black Sesame Paste Noodle Soup with Spicy Ground Pork and Scallions)

Ovelia Psistaria Bar - Greek Coffee Steak with Mushroom Halloumi Poutine

Mexico Lindo - Banana Leaf Steamed Local Rabbit Tacos

Jones Wood Foundry – Fresh and Scottish Smoked Salmon / Pickled Pear and Blue Stilton

 

Distilled - Liver Pate

John Brown Smokehouse - The Best BBQ You Have Ever Tasted (Smoked Pastrami with Cole Slaw)

Black Tree - Short Rib

Little Prince - Steak Tartare with Fried Capers, Aioli and Grilled Bread

Anella - Red Endive Cups with Smoked Salmon, Avocado and Creme Fraiche

Xe May Sandwich Shop - Lemongrass Chicken with Chili Mayo

Luke’s Lobster - Maine Crab Rolls

No. 7 - Shrimp and Mortadella Salad, Brussels Sprouts with Black Vinaigrette

Louro - Bacon Cornbread with Braised Chorizo

Dirt Candy - Broccoli Hot Dogs with Broccoli Sauerkraut

Kuma Inn - Adobo Braised Pork Shoulder and Pan de Sal

Beecher’s Homemade Cheese - Tuna Tartar

Coppelia - Corn Cake and Shredded Chicken Arepas

Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue - Burnt Ends

Rosamunde Sausage Grill - Sausage and Bratwurst Variety

Clarke’s Standard - Mini Standard Cheeseburgers

Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen - Sweet Heat Grilled Cheese

Pickle Shack - Mini Pickle Sandwiches

Robicelli’s - Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars