The World’s Fare

I’ve been going to Raffetto’s for as long as I can remember to stock up for our traditional Italian Sunday suppers. My father grew up just a few blocks away on Thompson Street and when I moved to the city in the 90’s I was at Rafetto’s every week. Over the years a lot has changed around the neighborhood but Raffetto’s still has the simplicity and old-world charm of doing one thing really really well. I don’t think the pasta chart has changed since I was a kid. Pick a flavor. Pick a size. Done. One thing that has changed at Raffetto’s is Sarah Raffetto, the fourth generation great-granddaughter of Marcello Raffetto. She grew up and opened a pop-up pasta restaurant inside the shop. With her partner Emily Fedner, of @foodloversdiary, they offer intimate meals on Sunday and Monday when the retail shop is closed. Dubbed Petite Pasta Joint, the experience is a food and story filled evening hosted by the two carb fanatic founders. We expect nothing short of the fresh and perfect Rafetto’s pasta paired with some equally delicious sauces and sides. Currently, it seems events are by inquiry only. We can only imagine COVID restrictions are to blame.

This was bound to happen. No surprise it is happening in Brooklyn. I’d be a jerk if I pretended that I wasn’t excited but the over used term for the Insta phenom of food photography is almost as ubiquitous as the selfie. Never-the-less how do you not attend this promise of the digital food you swipe past and double tap all day being layered onto a bed that you can roll around on with your friends. Short of that dream coming true there will be ALL THINGS FOOD according to the organizers. Come to Food Porn Fest with an empty stomach and leave with an STD. Satiated, Tired and Digesting. Sat, Nov 5+6, 11am – 7:00pm in Brooklyn.

As part of the Food Book Fair, Foodieodicals has become one of the most popular events of the weekend. Given the increased influx of Food Zines this past year, we’re sure this is going to be bigger and better and tastier than all previous years combined. With shot outs like “Coachella of writing about eating,” or “a voracious reader’s dream,” and “food geek heaven”, it’s now wonder where you’ll find us in early May. Let’s not fight over the last copy of Life&Thyme…OK?…Please?…See you in the BK. May 1 from 2-6PM @ Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn.

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.