Taste of the Nation 2017: Eating and Drinking Aplenty So Our Little Ones May Simply Have Enough to Eat and Drink

Parade of strawberry-and-cream Underwest Donuts. Photo by Neil Wolfson.

BY NEIL WOLFSON and JOEL LEVIN

WE arrive at the 2017 edition of the NYC Taste of the Nation (TOTN) a couple of days ago, auspiciously beating the rainstorms.

Immediately, we are elated to discover Walter's Hot Dogs team members serving from their truck at the entrance of the TOTN venue at 180 Maiden Lane. Its venerable art-deco pagoda in Mamaroneck has been a regular culinary destination for Westchesterites and travelers since 1919.

Aerial view of Taste of the Nation's colorful party for No Kid Hungry. Photo by Joel Levin.

While waiting for a signature snappy and succulent dog, we chat with the always-personable Danny Meyer, honorary chair of the benefit for the worthy No Kid Hungry,

the program administered by Share Our Strength.

The restaurateur, head of the Union Square Hospitality Group and the Shake Shack empire, is pleased with the turnout here and mentions that he is awaiting upcoming reviews of his newly relocated flagship Union Square Cafe.

Massoni's savory caponata cannoli are cheesy and crunchy. Photo by Joel Levin.

Inside the multi-level space, we feast on offerings from more than 50 purveyors of food and drink arrayed temptingly in the high-ceilinged lobby. Standout dishes:
*Freek's Mill: delicious gnochetti with rabbit ragout and guanciale
*Bessou: smoked soy-pickled eggs with shiitake "bacon" in karashi cram
*Massoni: addictively crunchy eggplant caponata with mozzarella and cocoa nibs in cannoli wrappers
*Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill: (coming soon) gingery crudo
*Pig Bleecker: toothsome "eggs and ham": deviled eggs with prosciutto di Parma

Equally kaleidoscopic are the creations of NYC's inventive corps of mixologists, working with the likes of Monkey 47 gin from Germany, New York Honey Rye Whiskey (from Catskill Provisions), Fords London Dry Gin formulated by four New York City bartenders, as well as Virgil Kaine Ginger-Infused Bourbon.

New York Honey Whiskey from Catskill Provisions. Photo by Joel Levin.

Among the many desserts are amazing strawberry-and-cream donuts from Underwest Donuts and pb&j ice cream from Oddfellows Ice Cream. No one should leave this splendid event hungry or thirsty.

Upstairs, we encounter more culinary environments, including a grouping of sweets: Mexican ice pops, cotton candy, chocolate, a row of corporate hospitality cabanas. Also here is a game-equipped casino where Empire Casino's restaurant is serving buttery lobster-and-crab ravioli and prime-beef sliders.

Freek's Mill's creative preparation of rabbit ragu with guanciale. Photo by Joel Levin.

Since the mission of No Kid Hungry is to end childhood hunger, depending on how one views it, TOTN shows either poetic irony or poetic justice, in that it takes a bounteous feast to enable the fulfillment of basic needs for underserved youngsters.

Still, last year’s TOTN raised enough dough to help feed needy children more than one million healthful meals through City Harvest, Hunger Solutions NY, Food Bank for New York City and Hunger Free America.

Visit http://www.bit.ly/2nbKoxr to learn more about Taste of the Nation 2017 and https://www.nokidhungry.org/ to learn more about NO Kid Hungry.

From NYCWFF Day 3: Arian Daguin Goes Straight to the Source at Foie Gras Fete

D'Artagnan CEO Arian Daguin holds aloft a moulard foie gras duck from which she has extracted the liver. Photo by VW.

BY VW

THE bacon is a hit. As is the slider.

However, the hit of the Foie Gras Fete is the spectacle of the butchering.

It unfolds at The Wayfarer on Day 3 of the ninth annual Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival.

Net proceeds from NYCWFF go to No Kid Hungry and Food Bank for New York City.

Watch the videos to see
D'Artagnan CEO Arian Daguin butcher a moulard foie gras duck.

Viewer discretion is advised.

Visit the following websites to learn more:

The ninth annual Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival
http://www.nycwff.org

No Kid Hungry
http://www.nokidhungry.org

Food Bank for New York City
http://www.foodbanknyc.org

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

A Thanksgiving Challenge From No Kid Hungry

REGARDLESS how one feels about Thanksgiving, an often polarizing celebration on the calendar in the fine, but flawed United States of America, no one believes that children should go hungry.

As America prepares to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow by shopping, overeating, arguing with family and watching football – in that order – the good, fine folks at Share Our Strength make a strong appeal.

They are asking those (you know who you are) with the means to part with at least $46 (but any amount will help) to their No Kid Hungry campaign. The campaign’s national spokesperson Jeff Bridges is canvassing, too. (http://www.bit.ly/SaWcJp; see above video of previous canvass that is still in play).

While most are aware that there are many children around the world facing hunger and going hungry, precious few, incredibly, associate this problem with the United States. In reality, an estimated 16 million children in this country face hunger. The numbers will continue to grow as long as the so-called Great Recession persists. Further, Hurricane Sandy has also added to woes.

No Kid Hungry has self-issued a Thanksgiving challenge to raise $300,000 by 30 Nov. As of this writing, it is almost two-thirds of the way there. Surely, those who really don’t need that extra mobile device, flatscreen TV or pair of Manolos can throw that money at a cause dedicated to ending childhood hunger by ensuring that children have food where they live, learn and play. (See video below.)

Get this; $46 can do a whole heap. According to Save Our Strength, that amount kept a Colorado kid in meals all summer and on average a school year of breakfasts. It would cost a bit more to do that in New York state, but talk about stretching a dollar!

It costs so little to do so much that it is difficult to believe that the good, fine folks of America won’t step up and propel No Kid Hungry far beyond its goal.

Just sayin’.

Visit http://www.nokidhungry.org/ to learn more about No Kid Hungry and Share Our Strength. Rx