However the decision to create events came about, it is somewhat surprising that the weekly alternative newspaper The Village Voice is the host of eclectic food and drink events in New York. From their beer-focused event ‘Brooklyn Pour’ to last year’s first ever ‘Holiday Spirits’ themed around alcohol, The Village Voice‘s events’ have a variety of characteristics that make them unique in style, location and quality. But the crowd jewel of the Voice‘s functions has to be their ‘Choice Eats’ event, now going into it’s seventh year, with its array of restaurants serving all you can eat (for entry-price) samples, with desserts under the banner ‘Choice Sweets’ and booze as well. It pays to get to this event early so you can stock up on your favorites and beat the crowds. That’s something I learned back in 2012 when I covered the 2012 incarnation of ‘Choice Eats’.
I would have suggested buying a VIP ticket so you can get in early but, even before the announcement of twenty-one more restaurants added to the slate (expanding the list to 47 restaurants), those premium tickets were sold out. The event is just that in demand and there are more additions to the lineup still expected to be announced. You can line up early or at least arrive on time to make sure you get to taste everything — expect the lobster rolls to be gone well before 10 pm (though planners may have learned from before). Additionally, you could consider volunteering to help at this event in return for tickets to ‘Choice Streets’ (the food truck themed event). To apply, you must be 21 years or older and fill out an application http://bit.ly/CEvolunteer.
Typically held at the 69th Armory, ‘Choice Eats’ is happening further downtown this year at Pier 36 at Basketball City. Entertainment will be provided by Brooklyn indie-rockers DIIV (Z. Cole Smith) doing a DJ set though things could change on that front given that it is a four-hour event. What hasn’t and won’t changed? ‘Choice Eats’ will be a great event with lots of food to swell your bellies, booze to wash it down and sweets to devour on top of all that so that you feel even more gluttonous.
TICKETS: On Sale Now: http://www.villagevoice.com/choiceeats
VENUE: Basketball City | 299 South St. | New York, NY 10002
$85 – VIP (SOLD OUT); $60 – General Admission (STILL AVAILABLE)
6:00-7:00pm – VIP HOUR; 7:00-10:00pm – EVENT
The forty-seven currently announced vendors for “Choice Eats” are:
606 R&D
Ample Hills Creamery
Anella
Bear
Bhatti Indian Grill
Bien Cuit
Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter
Brooklyn Kolache Co.
Butter & Scotch
Coppelia
Devi
Dirt Candy
Edi and the Wolf
Egg
Fay Da Bakery
Fletcher’s Brooklyn Barbecue
Fonda
Indian Clove
Jimmy’s No. 43
John Brown Smokehouse
Kaia Wine Bar
La Newyorkina
Larb Ubol
Littleneck
Louro
Luke’s Lobster
Mables Smokehouse
Maima’s Liberian Bistro
Max
No. 7
Oda House
OddFellows Ice Cream Co.
Ovelia Psistaria
Pete Zaaz
Queens Comfort
Red Hook Lobster Pound
Robicelli’s
SCRATCHbread
Sheep Station
Spicy Bampa
Tabata Noodle Restaurant
The Kati Roll Company
The Meatball Shop
The Pines
Xe May Sandwich Shop
Yunnan Kitchen
Zenon Taverna