Taste of Sydney

It was 20 years ago now we first sampled Kansas City, Missouri (don’t be confused with Kansas Kansas) at a little roadside joint named LC’s. From the moment one of their burnt ends hit my tongue they were on my map for life. No doubt the barbecue mecca birthed a fest that marries both the BBQ favorite beverages to one crazy slow cooked meat festival. Touting the best bourbons and beers Missouri has to offer, the Pig and Swig is three hours of afternoon, stomach debouchery. While you indulge in your destruction you’ll have some feeding music compliments of the festival and local radio stations. Need some exercise between chow downs? Lawn games will also, appropriately, be on hand. I’d imagine later in the day that just turns into a bourbon-beer fueled slapstick comedy show. Fun all around. Saturday July 30th from 3-6pm in Kansas City, Missouri.

You don’t have any particular breakfast plans for Labor Day weekend? We got you. Grab tix for The BreakFestival, the waterfront eating extravaganza dedicated to the most important meal of the day, the meal that brought you such classics as avocado toast and Berry, Berry Kix (RIP). Whether you go in hopes of making up for the lost hours you’ve spent waiting for a table at brunch or simply in anticipation of breakfast without bounds, this is your opportunity to have your pancake and eat it, too. It’s the only event of the year where a rotating cast of top chefs and food personalities are there to make your wildest breakfast dreams come true, and we swear they won’t bat an eye if you decide to take full advantage of the occasion by eating an omelet with a side of pancakes with a side of french toast with a side of bacon with a side of chipotle aioli eggs benedict served on a toasted everything bagel. Not okay might be you deciding to break out your favorite pair of space-themed PJs for the occasion, in which case, don’t blame us if they think twice about serving you a bottle of breakfast beer to quench your breakfast-fueled thirst. September 3-4 at 2 or 6pm in NYC.

We’ve gone on record several times tout “New Orleans has the best food in the country on a per bite basis.” The Taste of Louisiana Festival will give you a chance to test our theory with 100’s of available bites from some of the greatest creole and cajun chefs the bayou state has to order. The only catch with this one is that it’s being held in Texas. We still can’t figure that one out. Saturday, March 19 @ 1:00 PM in Sugarland Texas.

Now that we’re officially moving to Queens, there’s nothing we love more than a celebration of all things Brooklyn. Held in the new epicenter of Brooklyn making culture (Industry City), the eight-hour Best of Brooklyn Festival is a roundup of everything from craft beer to artisanal food to indie music to the best of Brooklyn product makers. That last one might not be true but the festival organizers tout “in-the-know finds”. We interpreted that as “stuff”. Tickets run you 30 bucks without upgrades. Early entry, a book and after party perks drive ‘em up to $125. Depending on how thick your beard or how colorful your jumper will determine what the necessary spend will be for you. No matter what your choice, ALL the BK bests will be in one giant, industrial, hard to get to space. Make the trip, the line-up will not disappoint.