the weekend buzz

“The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, Indian Cooking and the debut of the Brooklyn Bridge Flea”

All Weekend Long: Seventh Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party



Foodies, especially New Yorkers, love to debate where to get the best pizza, hamburger, cupcake, you name it. Barbecue is undoubtedly on that list.

So why not settle the contest at this year’s seventh annual Big Apple Barbecue? The block party, sponsored by Snapple this year, returns to Madison Square Park Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. It’s free to get in and each vendor charges $8 per plate.

The ‘cue event of the year has been extended two hours each day and features 15 of the country’s top pit masters (a record for the block party). And if you have friends who are BBQ connoisseurs, you know each state has its own twist. In one day, you can sample the best New York has to offer: Hill Country’s juicy smoked brisket, a succulent pulled-pork should from Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and hearty baby back ribs from Rack & Soul on the Upper West Side. You won’t want to miss out on Texas-based The Salt BBQ’s beef brisket (our Texas friends claim there’s no comparison). But of course you may have a friend who claim Raleigh’s The Pit’s whole-roasted hog is in a class of its own or that Blue Smoke’s Kansas City ribs is a carnivore’s nirvana. Other pit masters from Alabama, Tennessee, Illinois and Missouri will also vie for your attention.

If that’s not enough for you, the weekend is packed with free seminars (Texas: The Barbecue Empire), cooking demos (how to make great ribs, grilling tips) and music.  

So join the thousands of New Yorkers expected to attend the event (more than 120,000 ‘cue fans flocked to the park last year and consumed nearly 53,000 pounds of meat in two days) and be the judge of the best barbecue yourself. Enjoy!

The 7th Annual Snapple Big Apple Barbecue Block Party takes place Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Madison Square Park. Each vendor charges $8 per plate. This year’s BBQ benefits the Madison Square Park Conservancy. For more information, visit www.bigapplebbq.org.

— Bao Ong

Saturday: Learn to Cook India’s Greatest Hits at Bombay Talkie, 189 Ninth Avenue, call 212-242-1900

If you’re like me, your Indian food repertoire is limited to Lexington Avenue curry spots and the occasional trip to fancy joints like Devi and Tamarind. But that need not be the case. If you’ve got ambition, you could omit the restaurant experience all together (or at least cut down) and learn how to make your favorite dishes at home. Starting this Saturday afternoon (from 2-4pm and continuing on four subsequent Saturdays skipping July 4th), Bombay Talkie’s chef and owner Sunitha Ramaiah will be sharing a lifetime of lessons in the kitchen (her Dad owns the popular Curry Hill vegetarian spot Saravana Bhavan) and demonstrating how to make some of the most popular menu items at her four-year-old Chelsea restaurant. You’ll learn how to make the Southern Indian dosas with a choice of fillings—the classic Chicken Tikka Masala (Ramaiah will reveal BT’s secret ingredient), and the paneer that goes into the spinach and cheese dish Palaak Paneer. Cocktails and food will be served throughout the class, and you’ll even get to take home a trio of spices and recipes. Upcoming classes, on subsequent Saturdays (skipping July 4), include Indian Street Food and Snacks, Vegetarian Indian Cooking, and Indian Breads and Sauces. $35/class, $100/series of four.

Sunday: Brooklyn Bridge Flea, Water and New Dock St., directly under the Brooklyn Bridge on the waterfront, next to River Cafe

Fans of Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene, get ready for its brand new sibling, hatching this Sunday from 11am-6pm: Brooklyn Bridge Flea. In addition to great antiques vintage clothing, and artisan wares, creator Eric Demby has already lined up a super line of food vendors including lobster rolls from the new Red Hook Lobster Pound (starting 6/28), Stumptown Coffee, and several current Flea vendors including Rick's Picks, McClure's Pickles, Fine + Raw Chocolate, Whimsy + Spice, and Early Bird Foods granola. More food vendors are signing on as we speak (or as I write).

This Sunday only, the Flea has partnered with Time Out NY for a "Curated Corner" with a twist—all the proceeds from sales at its booth of donated items will benefit the local Madison Square Boys + Girls Club's cultural programs. Time Out editors have curated designer clothing from Tracy Reese, Clu, Cri de Coeur; quirky housewares from Kiosk; vintage jewelry from Treasures + Pleasures; and gear and decor from Smith + Butler, among others--all at Flea-friendly prices.

The Brooklyn Bridge Flea will run every Sunday through at least Oct. 25. Enjoy!

And that’s your Strong (weekend) Buzz for this week! Be sure to check in with the Strong Buzz daily for more cutting edge news, reviews, events and more!

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