Eating local is a goal shared by many New Yorkers, and one worth celebrating – especially this week. The 4th annual Eat Drink Local Week kicks off on June 20th at the Union Square Farmers Market with cool prize giveaways and demonstrations from chefs, then officially begins on June 23rd with eight days of events, discounts and delicious restaurant specials.
The aim of the festival is to focus on promoting local foods in all forms, from restaurants to home cooking, to getting to know the people behind the food. The festival will highlight eight local, seasonal ingredients: Spinach, eggs, goat milk and cheese, radishes, rosé wine, porgy (fish sometimes called sea bream), fava beans and Hudson Valley hops.
Several partner restaurants have created prix-fixe menus as part of the festivities, and all menus will feature some combination of the featured ingredients. Make a reservation at a Clean Plates-approved, participating restaurant – Craft, Five Points, Jimmy’s No. 43, Telepan, or Northern Spy Food Co. – to see what chefs have up their toques for the festival.
In addition to dining out, Eat Drink Local week has partnered with businesses for discounts at bakeries, cheese shops and local wine stores, including Whole Foods Markets, Murray’s Cheese, Amy’s Bread, Waterfront Wines & Spirits and many more. Check out the neighborhood guide to find discounts near you.
There are also several events scheduled to celebrate Eat Drink Local Week: “Meet Your Maker” at the Brooklyn Brewery, chef demos at the Grand Army Plaza farmers market and fun, healthy-eating events for kids, like the Eat Play Local Day at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.
Image courtesy of EDLW.
