Five Boro Pizza Challenge

This Oyster Festival is near and dear to my childhood heart. I learned how to swim with oysters under my feet. Since I was 10 his festival, named after the bi-valve and the town I grew up in, has taken over the small North Shore Long Island village. Back then, a few buses of people would amount to 10,000 people over the three-day extravaganza. Now in its 32nd year, 200, 000 attendees flock to what was my sleepy hamlet on the bay. It’s fair to call it BIG TIME. The food vendors now require a food court. There’s a seafood themed shopping pavilion. Music is no longer sourced from the high school band talent. Of course, there are plenty of competitive eating bouts. Most oysters, fastest oysters, biggest oysters, they all get prizes and make for some crowd roars. Being an insider, I tend to hang back. Belly up at one spot and let the action unfold around me. Give it a try. October 15 – 16 Weekend in Oyster Bay, NY.

You’ve heard the names Joey Chesnut and Kobayashi for years. Their world series is pounding down hot dogs in the bottom of the BK on July 4th for Nathan’s 2016 Hot Dog Eating Contest. You should go watch it. It looks something like the above just live and in crazy motion. I promise you’ve never seen people eat food this fast. I’d suggest getting yourself a dog prior to the madness because after you see how they dip and slurp those poor wieners you might be of mind to skip the Nathan’s famous. Good news is, there is plenty more to do down in Coney Island pre and post eat off. Make a day. Hang old school Brooklyn style. 12 noon on July 4th in Brooklyn.

This is a book signing with beer, amongst other delectables. If you read yesterday’s post you already know about Ina Yalof’s Food and the City interviews. No where is more appropriate than Spanish Harlem to sign a book based on what “real” New Yorkers think about food and their passion for working with it, in it, on it and for it. Aside from that, Brooklyn Brewery is serving dishes paired with beer, dishes made with beer and…well…beer for drinking. Add to that it’s in Vendy Plaza and you’ve just booked your Sunday afternoon solid. Sunday, July 24 at 2pm – 4pm in Manhattan.

The organizers say it best. Donut Fest is a celebration of the love of fried sugary dough with a competition of yeast, batter-y, deep-fried treats. The best restaurants and bakeries in each city submit their best cruller, ring or long-john and compete against each other with only one walking away with the coveted title of “Best Donut.” With that bouncing around your foodie brain jump on some tickets. January 23th @ Verboten in Brooklyn. 11:30 and 2:30 entrance.