Hello food enthusiasts!  My next few posts are going to look at another side of the food world which I have been privileged enough to experience in the past few months, food events.  Besides being the equivalent of Foodie Heaven these events are a great place to meet fellow foodies and find out about amazing restaurants and places you may otherwise never have the chance to experience.  So, without further delay, join me in what was…2009: A Food Odyssey.

It seems that everyone in New York City believes that great food can only be found in Manhattan.  For twelve years the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has put on the Brooklyn Eats event to show that this simply is not the case.  Attempting to show the best an entire borough has to offer to the food junkie in one night sounds like an impossible task, but this event did exactly that.  Displaying more than 40 of Brooklyn’s finest restaurants, bars, and beverage distributors, the Brooklyn Eats event opened this reviewer’s eyes to all the wonderful places the people of New York City have only to hop on the subway to discover.

I wish it were possible to write up each and every restaurant and bar that was at the event, as they all truly deserve it, as every establishment put their best foot forward to offer a glimpse of what they have to offer.  As the night went on it became clear that one man could never actually consume every dish – try as I might!  That is why as the evening went it was amazing to see how the experience itself brought people together, everyone bonding over their shared love of food, telling everyone else what they thought simply could not be missed.  In short, the Brooklyn Eats event became like one giant family gathering, with all of the attendees giving their two cents and their own reviews of everything available.  For the foodie who wants to attend a great food event without feeling like an outsider, the annual Brooklyn Eats event is a cannot miss.

Now that the experience itself has been explained, it is time to speak about the real attraction of the event – the food!  The first stop of the night was at the table for Scottadito Osteria Toscana, where the head chef was serving prosciutto filled with goat cheese, topped with caramelized shallots and a balsamic reduction.  If all that terminology sounds overwhelming let me put the end result in layman’s terms – delicious!  This small taste of what the restaurant has to offer overall definitely arouses the food lover’s curiosity and was just a taste of what the rest of the night would have to offer.  For more information on Scottadito Osteria Toscana visit their website at www.scottadito.com, you will not be disappointed.

Another standout on the evening was the salmon a la vodka dish from La Stalla Restaurant & Bar.  The salmon was so perfectly done and the sauce complimented it so well that even the most “fish phobic” food lover will be converted.  The best thing about La Stalla was seeing that they have managed to create great food and still offer great deals in a city where those two do not often go hand in hand.  La Stall features a happy hour from 1 PM to 6 PM every day and a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays for under ten dollars that offers all you can drink mimosas, bloody marys, or coffee.  La Stall offers the less-than-ordinary combination of Italian and Mexican cuisine, but the food also proves itself to be extraordinary, proving that when done right, anything can be combined.

After experiencing the food that other cultures have brought to Brooklyn, it was time to have the ultimate American experience, soul food.  The Soul Spot (www.thesoulspot.com) was serving jerk chicken with rice and black eyed peas.  These dishes were all new experiences for this reviewer and after tasting them I wondered why I had spent so much of my life without tasting these flavors.  After you get yourself to The Soul Spot, I imagine you will be thinking the same thing.

The three restaurants mentioned above are only a few of the great culinary experiences from the evening, and a few more the standouts on the evening are mentioned below for those of you who want to get out and find everything that Brooklyn has to offer.  For anyone wondering what a great food event is like, the answer is the annual Brooklyn Eats event, it’s just a shame that we all have to wait another year to experience it again, but when it rolls around, make sure to attend, it’s a decision you will not regret!

Other Standout Restaurants and Bars

-Buttermilk Channel

Visit www.buttermilkchannelnyc.com for more information

-Bussaco

Features an excellent full menu prix fixe and wine pairing, see www.bussacobklyn.com

-Vue Restaurant & Lounge

Visit www.vuerest.com to see what this excellent bar and restaurant has to offer

-Waterfront Ale House

See their website www.waterfrontalehouse.com to see everything this classic ale house and bar food eatery has to offer

-Cake Man Raven Confectionary

Experience why this man deserves this name, you will not be disappointed, but you will be stuffed!  Visit www.cakemanraven.com for more information

-Clover Club

The prototypical cool bar, check out their website at www.cloverclubny.com and enjoy the Spicy Pete (a personal favorite)

-The Sweet Tooth

This desert specialty restaurant proves there is no such thing as being too sweet.  Check out their website at www.shakoorssweettooth.com for more information

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