Duck, Duck, Goose: Testing Our Culinary Knowledge at the Duckathlon

The last time I ordered a duck dish at a restaurant, the waiter presented me with beautifully plated pieces of lean duck breast atop a bed of heirloom carrots and caramelized cauliflower with a drizzle of lingonberries compote. Yet, the extent of my knowledge about the dish was limited to the description on the menu and brief explanation by the waiter. That's why my friends and I were stumped when we had to identify different breeds of duck at the first-ever Duckathlon, a food festival that tested our knowledge of the foods we eat every day. To our untrained layman's eyes, these unfeathered game birds with foreign names like Pekin, Muscovy, and Mulard all looked the same until the farmer himself explained to us how to distinguish them by their sizes. At the end of the challenge, we were even rewarded with a skewer of grilled duck heart, foie gras, and fried "white kidney," a euphemism for duck testicle. Created by D'Artagnan -- a purveyor of foie gras, sausages, and game meat -- Duckathlon, which started as a private event for the company's chef clients in 2005, opened to the public for the first time this year as a way to educate consumers about local sourcing and responsible farming by connecting them with farmers who raise the food and chefs who prepare them. For the duration of the event, my friends and I embarked on an experiential journey from farm-to-table as we engaged in a series of interactive challenges for a chance to win prizes like bottles of wine, knives, and whole hams. While some challenges tested our palate, such as discerning brandy from Armagnac and identifying foie gras from chicken liver mousse, others tested our culinary skills, such as carving a thin slice of ham and flipping a crepe. Most challenges were also paired with samples of delicious food like Wagyu meatball BLT, brisket tacos marinated in French onion soup, and, my personal favorite, milk-poached chicken breast with morels, favas, and pickled spring onions. I was also star-struck to see high-profile chefs whom I have only seen on Food Network, including Anita Lo, Harold Moore, and Francois Payard, preparing the food at the event. Although we did not walk away with any prizes at the end of the day, we had a flocking good time with satisfied stomach and newfound food knowledge that we could flaunt at a dinner table. And the next time I order a duck dish, I will be sure to ask what breed it is. Photo courtesy of Vladimir Weinstein Photography

'Cracked' Chicken Wings and Fruity Sangria: Tasty Eats From the Inaugural Taste of Bushwick

I first heard about a neighborhood called Bushwick while binging on Season 1 of HBO's Girls in my college dorm room to celebrate the end of exam period. In my personal favorite episode, "Welcome to Bushwick a.k.a. the Crackcident," the show's protagonists venture into this once-gritty neighborhood in Brooklyn for a party at a warehouse. There, one of the characters accidentally smokes cocaine thinking it is marijuana, while another character finally makes it official with her long-term hook-up after a night of raging. But when I biked over the Williamsburg Bridge toward Bushwick this past Monday, I did it for a very different reason: to attend the first-ever Taste of Bushwick. Similar to other "Taste of" events in different boroughs throughout the city, this inaugural event celebrated foods and drinks of Bushwick with unlimited samples of savory bites and refreshing drinks from local restaurants and bars. The event doubled as a fundraiser to support the upcoming season of the Bushwick Starr, a nonprofit theater that supports work in dance, theater, and puppetry. Upon entering the second floor of the theater, I was greeted by puppeteers dressed in all black, full-bodied costumes maneuvering paper cranes from long poles attached to their fingers. Both the indoor venue and its 1,000-square-foot rooftop overlooking the Manhattan skyline transformed into a pop-up food court with tasty samples from Bushwick's mainstays and up-and-coming restaurants alike. While sipping on my favorite summer drink, strawberry and peach sangria, from Henry's Wine + Spirit, I also tried bites of pabellon arepas with shredded beef, sweet plantains, and black beans from Venezuelan restaurant Arepera Guacuco, cold cantaloupe soup and oysters on half shell from French bistro Mominette, and chicken tacos from a makeshift taco stall inside a tortilla factory, Los Hermanos Tortilleria. Based on the packed crowd enjoying delicious food, drinks, and company, the first-ever Taste of Bushwick was a huge success. Event organizers said that they plan to make it an annual event with more restaurants and bars for the future. Though I left the event early because I was struck by a major food coma, most people stayed for the after-party at Radio Bushwick that included sets by local musicians. My first trip to Bushwick probably wasn't as radical as those experienced by the characters in Girls, but as one attendee biting into salsa-brined chicken wings from Fritzl's Lunch Box aptly put it, "I am certain these chicken wings have crack in them because I keep coming back and can't stop eating them!" And who knows, she may be right because we are in Bushwick, where anything can happen. Photo courtesy of Liz Rogers and Francisco Bravo

Hopping Beer Tasting at the NYC Craft Beer Festival

Having been a college student for the past four years, my predilection for beer has been tainted by a 30-rack of lukewarm PBR, a keg of flat Natural Light or, the worst, a red Solo cup of whatever cheap beer left in the fridge that has been sullied by dirty ping pong ball in a game of beer pong. Coupled with the fear of gaining a mounting beer belly as portrayed by Homer Simpson, I never acquired the taste for beer and would grudgingly drink just a sip of green beer to celebrate St. Patrick's Day once a year. So when I attended the NYC Craft Beer Festival with my beer-loving boyfriend last Friday, it was more of a challenge to test my tolerance for beer than an enjoyment of unlimited tasting for 3.5 hours. Upon entering the massive, open venue at the Lexington Armory, we encountered endless rows of breweries pouring samples of craft beers into our 2-ounce tasting glasses. In total, the festival featured more than 150 varieties of beer and ciders from 75 breweries around the world. People say to never judge a book by its cover, but because I did not know anything about beer to begin with, I decided which beer to drink on a case-by-case basis depending on the design of its can or a bottle. One of my favorites was the sparking ginger beer from the Edinburg-based Crabbie's, which was served with a cube of ice and topped with a slice of lime. I promise the fact that this drink looked more like a fruity cocktail and tasted like ginger ale had little to do with my liking for this beer. Another brewery that caught my eyes was the Magic Hat Brewery from South Burlington, Vermont. Its circus-themed station with a dangling paper skeleton was enough to direct my feet to the booth for a taste of its seasonal Elder Betty, a Weiss-style ale with bready malt flavor balanced by a touch of hops and complemented by the tart berry flavors of elderberry. While most breweries served their best-selling and seasonal ale or lager, there was one "brewery" that distinctively stood out from the others. Tucked away in the basement level of the Connoisseur Lounge, Enlightenment Wines, which operates from a family farmstead in the Hudson Valley, showcased four varieties of meads and botanical fruit wines. Raphael Lyon, the founder of Enlightenment Wines, also led a seminar aimed at educating consumers about this esoteric drink. In addition to the educational seminar, the festival also featured the first-ever Craft Beer Concierge Center, where consumers could ask any beer-related questions to the on-site Cicerones (beer sommeliers), as well as beer pairings like grilled cheese, hot dogs, and pretzels. Since its debut in March 2012, the NYC Craft Beer Festival has grown to three seasonal shows per year. The next tasting will take place in November. While I did not become a beer aficionado by the end of the 3.5-hour long tasting, I now know much more about this thirst quencher -- at the least that there is an expansive selection of craft beers beyond the typical fares from college, of Coors! Photo courtesy of Andrew Dominick

Bites and Sounds of the Season at the Fifth Annual Saveur Summer BBQ

Summer barbecue conjures up images of grilled cuts of meat, cold cans of beer, and loud blasts of music. All these were present at Saveur's Fifth Annual Summer BBQ at the Boat Basin Café, but with a touch of fabulousness. Instead of plain hamburger and cheap beer, guests enjoyed a mix of surf and turf with entrees that ranged from grilled lamb sliders and beef kabobs to vanilla-glazed salmon and barbecued octopus, while sipping on fancy cocktails, wine, and beer from an open bar. The night also included a DJ playing the hottest hits of the season, a photo booth and a #selfie wall, and a beautiful view of the sunset along the Hudson River. The crowds packed the outdoor stage area of the Boat Basin Café's at this sold-out event. Upon entering the venue, I was greeted by the wafting smell of Iraqi Yellow Spice-Rubbed Chicken from Saveur Test Kitchen. The chicken was grilled to perfection, with the crispiness of the charcoaled skin balancing well with the juicy and tender meat inside. The dish was served with tabbouleh, herbed red onion pickles, and a slice of pita bread with a drizzle of basil pesto. A couple tables down, Sean Rembold of Reynard at the Wythe Hotel served what looked like a hotdog, but with a twist. His bite-size Seafood Boudin Blanc topped with bacon bits, pickled cabbage, and a bed of salmon roe on a house-made brioche bun that has been rubbed with avocado aioli had a burst of flavors. I then took a trip to Italy to try Jonathan Benno and Richard Capizzi of Lincoln Ristorante's Paccheri Pasta with Grilled Pork Spareribs. The highlight of this perfectly al dente pasta in the shape of big, flattened round tubes was the pork spareribs, which came off the bone so easily and just melted in my mouth. My favorite dish at the BBQ also happened to be the simplest -- a traditional New England Clam Bake by Joey Campanaro of The Little Owl and Mike Price of The Clam. An ensemble of steamed littleneck clams, mussels, shrimps, corn on the cob, and potatoes steamed in a savory jus was served pile high with a generous scoop of butter. Every bite of the seafood exuded lemon zest jus all over my mouth like an explosion. Other savory dishes prepared by the star-studded lineup of chefs included Amanda Freitag of Empire Diner's Grilled Lamb Slider with green goddess dressing and grilled tomato chutney on brioche sider bun (the lamb was slightly overcooked and dry), Marc Meyer of Cookshop's Little Picnic Box containing BBQ chicken wings with jalapeno coleslaw and BBQ potato chips (the chips got soggy too quickly), and Roberto Caporuscio of Don Antonio's Sorrentina Pizza topped with smoked buffalo mozzarella, sliced lemons, and basil (the thin crust was chewy in the middle and crispy on the edges with some burnt bits). A meal would be incomplete if it didn't end on a sweet note. I loved Dana Cree of Blackbird's Cinnamon Concha. By itself, concha, or shell-shaped Mexican sweet bread, can be a bit bland and dry. But Cree paired this playful dessert with luscious roasted strawberries and airy whipped goat cheese for the perfect dosage of sweetness and moistness. Towards the end of the dinner service, the all-star chefs who dished up delicious food to the guests at the event gathered for a group photo in front of Le Creuset's Selfie Wall. I, of course, seized this opportunity to snag a selfie shot with the chefs in the background! With savory and sweet bites from the country's hottest chefs, refreshing drinks, and upbeat music, Saveur Summer BBQ was a great way to kick off the season. As James Oseland, the editor-in-chief of Saveur, aptly described how this year's event stood out from those of previous years, "[The BBQ] is more fabulous every year." If that is the case, then I am already looking forward to the event in 2015! Photo courtesy of Ang Snaps Photography

From Plain Chicken to Exotic Chicken at Fest of the Best

A dish made with chicken, potato, and pickles may sound a bit mundane, but Emily--a cozy pizza parlor in Brooklyn--prepared one of the most creative dishes using these common ingredients at Thrillist's Fest of the Best this past weekend. Emily was one of many restaurants showcasing their top dishes at Fest of the Best, a mouthwatering foodie event featuring everything from live music to classy cocktails to free giveaways to, of course, lots of delicious food. Upon checking in, all guests received a poker chip that was used to vote for their favorite food item. As dozen or so restaurant chefs engaged in a friendly competition to determine the best of the best, event attendees delighted their taste buds with a full course menu of surf and turf. My favorite dish was the tender smoked chicken from Emily, which was topped with foamy potato puree and pickles with a sprinkle of sunchoke chips. In addition to this savory chicken dish, I also enjoyed the salmon crudo from Crave Fishbar and the guacamole and chips from Horchata. The crunchy prawn dust, the slightly sour lemon prawn oil, and the savory charred cauliflower atop the buttery salmon sashimi created an unbelievable explosion of flavors in my mouth. The creamy guacamole, mashed with ripe avocado, roasted butternut squash, pumpkin seeds, cotija cheese, Serrano chili, and lime, was served with four pieces of crunchy house-made corn tortilla chips. Where there is food, there must be drinks. Guests enjoyed an impressive open bar selection of fancy and classy cocktails, as well as cold beers, craft cola, and boxed water. With all the drinks and food, a little bit of jiving from the crowd was inevitable, especially with live music provided by the roaming saxophonist Kareem Wilkes and the house DJ Kasey Berry. In between the food and the drinks, attendees had a chance to relax in one of the two lounges provided by the event sponsors. In the Grey Goose Vodka Lounge, guests sat down and mingled with others, while posting photos on Instagram with the hashtag #festofthebest for a free printed copy of the photo. In the Samsung Lounge, they learned to photograph their favorite dish and shared them to win prizes. At the end of the 3-hour long food fest, Bacchanal in Little Italy won the People's Choice Award for "Best of 2014" with its hearty lamb shoulder dish. And I, too, won a little something from the event: an oven mitt and a spatula! Perhaps these new kitchen tools will inspire me to do something beyond heating frozen meals in the microwave. One of these days... Photo courtesy of Kimberly Mufferi

Cheers to an Afternoon of Drinking, Dining, and Dancing at the NYC Winter Wine Festival

My wine glass wasn't the only thing being filled at the 6th annual NYC Winter Wine Festival earlier this February. I also filled my stomach with savory and sweet bites, while perusing through the magnificent Best Buy Theater in Times Square filled with live music provided by the Grammy-nominated Special EFX. Without a doubt, it was an afternoon filled with joy! Of the two sessions offered--the first in the afternoon from 3 to 6 p.m. and the second in the evening from 8 to 11 p.m.--my boyfriend and I chose the day drinking option. We figured the earlier session would be less popular and therefore less crowded than the later one, but little did we know that both sessions were sold out with a total of 1,800 people in attendance! After making our way through the crowded Times Square, I was a bit intimidated by the long line that formed outside the Best Buy Theater. Luckily, the high ceiling inside the theater provided an illusion of spaciousness, so I didn't feel too trapped among the crowd. Having food in the stomach prior to drinking is crucial, so we first headed to the table featuring wine's best accompaniments, including cheese and crackers, strawberries and grapes, and olives and nuts. While nibbling on these fares, we browsed through different venues pouring endless glasses of white, red, and sparkling wines curated by the experts of Vintry Fine Wines. Despite having attended several wine events in the past and even being a member of the Wine Society in college (admittedly, my roommate was on the executive team and convinced me to join), I will confess that I am no wine connoisseur. In fact, blindfold me and serve both white and red wines at room temperature, and I probably won't be able to tell one from the other. On that note, my favorite "vendor" at the NYC Winter Wine Festival wasn't a vineyard, but a media start-up called Vinepair whose mission is to remove the pretentiousness of wine by educating consumers about this age-old drink. The representatives from Vinepair brought bottles of Cabernet and Merlot wrapped in silver foil. We sampled a sip of both, and had to guess which was which. According to Vinepair, the flavor of Cabernet is more acidic and gives the mouth that drying sensation, while that of Merlot is softer and supple. I can now flaunt this knowledge at a dinner party! In addition to the wine and the hors d'oeuvres, I also got to sample sweet treats from local artisanal food companies. My favorite were the decadent lemon-lime cheesecake and sweet potato pound cake, both from the Luscious Little Dessert Company. Underneath the top layer of the light, fluffy lemon-lime cheesecake was the chewy gingerbread crust that added an interesting dimension of flavors. Likewise, the moist sweet potato pound cake was drizzled with brown sugar glaze for an extra kick of sweetness. While the general admissions ticket, which gave me access to more than 250 wines, selection of hors d'oeuvres and sweets, and live music, was more than enough to entertain me for the 3-hour duration of the event, this year's event also featured a premium VIP Suite Ticket. Those with the exclusive VIP wristband had access to the lounge area with high-end wines, such as Chateau Montalena, Louis Roederer Cristal, and Dom Perignon, as well as deluxe bites like tuna tartar, fois gras, and filet mignon. About half way into the tasting, the Grammy-nominated Special EFX--led by award-winning guitarist Chieli Mnucci--graced the stage. Founded in 1983, Special EFX is known for paving the road for contemporary jazz during its early years, and has continued to innovate and evolve its style every decade. The smooth jazz music was perfectly fitting for the occasion. I would still not label myself a wine connoisseur by the end of the event, but the NYC Winter Wine Festival's grand tasting not only introduced me to different wines from around the world, but also helped me to assuage the feeling of anxiety and intimidation that naturally accompanies this drink. Perhaps at future wine tasting events, I will learn to distinguish between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Photos courtesy of Timothy Balsamo and Peter Evangelista

The Grandest of Grand Tasting at the 8th Annual Choice Eats

As a self-proclaimed foodie, I have attended many walk-around grand tastings in the years past, including the Thrillist's Fest of the Best, D'Artagnan's Duckathlon, and Saveur's Summer BBQ. However, both the scale and the variety of food and drinks at these "grand" tastings paled in comparison to what I experienced this past Saturday, March 13, at the Village Voice's 8th Annual Choice Eats Tasting Event. The packed crowd at this sold out event sampled some of the best dishes from nearly 70 restaurants from all five New York City boroughs. As I perused through two levels of Metropolitan Pavilion with my paper tray full of food, I enjoyed savory entrees like melt-in-your-mouth grilled beef tongue and chewy, handmade potato pierogies, sweet treats like peanut butter banana pudding pie and rich, creamy ricotta cheese cannoli, as well as complimentary craft beer, wine, and liquor. As though the variety of food wasn't enough to entice my taste buds, the event also highlighted the eclectic and diverse cuisines of New York City, including Vietnamese, Italian, Brazilian, Cambodian, Russian, and Greek. Of all the delicious food I sampled, I want to spotlight some of my favorites from the event for each category. The most innovative from the savory side was the Sea Urchin Panna Cotta from the NoMad. Served in a plastic shot glass, the sea urchin panna cotta was topped with cubes of Granny Smith apples and chives. The chef squirted a generous amount of foam on top before serving the food. The dish was not only presented beautifully, but had many complex flavors from the fruit and the seafood, as well as crispy, foamy, and spongy textures that all balanced perfectly well together. Tied for my favorite savory dishes were Duck and Farro Boudin from King Bee and the Jalapeno Corn Cake with Smoked Pulled Pork from Mable's Smokehouse. First, the bite-sized Duck and Farro Boudin, or sausage, from King Bee, was so juicy and tender that I mistook it for smooth mousse or pate. The boudin was topped with generous amount of mustard seeds and scallions. Second, the dish from Mable's Smokehouse featured round, pan-fried jalapeno corn cake topped with BBQ pulled pork and a drizzle of maple bourbon with a side of collard greens. While the pulled pork was a bit dry, I loved the sweet addition of the maple drizzle. The jalapeno in the corn cake wasn't overpowering. All the desserts were located on the second floor of the venue, perhaps to encourage guests to burn off some calories before diving into the sweet heaven. The dessert selection ranged from ice cream to cupcakes to doughnuts, and also featured assorted cake bites and cannoli from the famous Carlo's Bakery from TLC's Cake Boss. I was really excited to see Robicelli's Nutelasagna, which has been heralded as the new Cronut of New York City. A play on the words "Nutella" and "Lasagna," this dessert had layers of buttery lasagna noodles with cannoli custard, toasted homemade mashmallow, nutella ganache, and all topped with roasted hazelnuts. Personally, the Nutelasagna was a bit too heavy for my liking. One bite was enough! I couldn't stop myself from getting second and third scoops of the Snap, Mallow, Pop ice cream from Ample Hills Creamery. A twist on the traditional Rice Krispie treat, the Snap, Mallow, Pop is made with sweet marshmallow ice cream with buttery, toasted Rice Krispie clusters. Each scoop of the smooth ice cream had plenty of crunchiness from the Rice Krispie. Funnily, my favorite sweet treat was alongside all the savory dishes on the first floor. The Torrejas de Oliva, or bread pudding, from Coppelia was absolutely heavenly. Each morsel of the soft, moist, and perfectly spongy bread pudding had caramelized, sugary coating on top to resemble crème brulee. To finish off, the pudding was topped with fresh blackberry and a dollop of whipped cream. With a week's worth of food in my stomach after more than three hours of tasting, I walked out of this truly grand event with a fuller appreciation for New York City's diverse culinary landscape.