the weekend buzz

“Harvest in the Square, Le Grand Fooding, Oyster Frenzy, DineOut Irene”

Thursday: Harvest in the Square, unlimited tasting event in Union Square Park

It’s the foodie event that started before the word “foodie” even existed—the 16th annual Harvest in the Square food & wine tasting. After more than a decade of practice, this event, in the heart of Union Square Park, gets it right. General admission tickets ($125) include unlimited tastings from more than 50 of the area’s best restaurants plus pairings from 20 wineries and breweries.

Proceeds benefit the Union Square Partnership’s efforts to maintain the park you know and love. So if you’re already a greenmarket regular, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

To purchase tickets, visit www.harvestinthesquare2011.charityhappenings.org. The tastings take place on September 22, 2011 starting at 7:30pm at Union Square Park’s North Plaza (Union Square West and 16th Street).

—Andrea Branchini

A 52-Hour Pop-up: Le Grand Fooding

For a city that never sleeps, Le Grand Fooding should find itself perfectly at home in New York. Starting on September 23 at 8 p.m., this dining festival that started in France, will serve four-course meals for 40 people on four-hour intervals for 52 hours straight (that’s through Sunday). Thirteen respected chefs — from Andrew Carmellini, Hugue Dufour, Armand Arnal, Brooks Headley, Corey Lee and more — will pair their courses with Veuve Clicquot champagne. In the French tradition, each chef will also use an ingredient by the previous chef in his menu. Tickets are $100 each and you can go to www.legrandfooding.com to buy them. All the dinners take place at Honey Space, 148 Eleventh Avenue (between 21st and 22nd Streets), in West Chelsea. Enjoy! 

—Bao Ong

Ninth Annual Grand Central Oyster Frenzy

On Saturday, September 24, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm head over to the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant for the Grand Central Oyster Frenzy which features the Professional Shucking Championships (grand prize $3,000). Co-sponsored by Blue Island Shellfish Farms and the Oyster Bar, the event also includes chef demonstrations and tastings, the Slurp-Off Eating Competition, which is open to the public.

Q104.3 radio personality and oyster-lover Shelli Sonstein from the Jim Kerr Rock and Roll Morning Show who will host the proceedings. The world renowned Naked Cowboy will be on hand from 2-3:00 pm, in an appearance sponsored by Blue Island Shellfish Farms, will be among the highlights.

Admission: Free/food by consumption
Information: 212.490.6650 or info@oysterbarny.com

Dine Out Irene

Hurricane Irene stormed up the eastern seaboard devastating farmers in the Hudson Valley. Dine Out Irene, a one-night fundraiser taking place in participating New York City restaurants, will benefit local farmers and help them rebuild.

Participating restaurants have committed up to ten percent of their sales from September 25, 2011, to benefit Just Food and GrowNYC (the NYC Greenmarket). These two organizations will distribute the funds directly to area farmers that have been hard-hit by Hurricane Irene. So far nearly 30 restaurants are participanting including Northern Spy Food Co., the Waverly Inn, ilili and Buttermilk Channel, with more signing up every day. 

For more information please visit www.dineoutirene.com.

Happy Weekend!

Posted: September 22, 2011

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